Mothers Day Expectations...

I must admit my hubby hasn’t risen up to my expectations in the last two years on mother’s day, no breakfast reservations, running out to get a card on the afternoon of, getting a pressie the day after...you get the idea and though in other ways he is fabulous (always pitching in even though he works very hard and never expecting me to fulfil the traditional stay at home mum role - even though I do own an apron and a duster and am constantly searching for the perfect mop) this is the one area where he has been the ‘less than perfect hubby’ so probably on a par with many a husbands out there.

This year he seems determined to improve on his past performance and already last week he went off in search of story books about mothers...it just happened to be while I was with him, and he sat at the borders kids table playing with the kids while I searched for books and managed to find a couple which I then paid for while he took the kids to the car and as I type they are still sitting on the kitchen bench waiting to be wrapped.

Another improvement this year is hubby organising a reservation for breakfast – and being very considerate he even checked where I would want to go and went in made a reservation.

So this mother’s’ day looks set to be the best so far– the only thing that would ruin it would be being given a ‘domestic’ present, if my hubby brought me a coffee machine or new blender (both which we could do with) or anything for the house which I feel chained to sometimes I will have to take revenge with his credit card!

If like me, you have high hopes for mother’s day but are also realistic about what the outcome may be I hope that you enjoy it the way you want it to be...a lovely sleep in, breakfast in bed or a decadent breakfast out, a family outing or some alone time, a homemade card from your little darlings or even just some gorgeous cuddles I hope it’s not just another day.

Dinosaur Days at the Hunter Valley Gardens

On Sunday we braved the dodgy looking weather and headed up to the Hunter Valley Gardens to see the dinosaur petting zoo, not quite knowing what to expect we tried to keep our 3 year old sons expectations low and reminded him that dinosaurs were not real (we were fully expecting a brave and bolshy boy...right up until he actually saw the dinosaurs and then we would have a clingy and simpering son) and that there was nothing to be scared of to which we got the reply “I’m not scared of dinosaurs mummy” in a scornful tone.

Being prepared we booked our tickets online which really was a waste of time as there was no separate line but luckily we had got there before the rush and made our way quickly to the formal garden to get seats for the show. We started on the bench seats at the back and when Oli was feeling brave enough we made our way closer to the hay bales and stage area. We still weren’t quite sure what to expect and when the baby dinosaurs came out in their little pouches Oli was happy to go up and have a pat, a bigger dinosaur was next and it still wasn’t that scary and the puppetry was so well done we had to keep reminding Oli that the dinosaurs weren’t real.

With the Erth spokesperson giving lots of great information and providing plenty of toilet jokes for the children in the audience (I don’t think I’ve heard the words weewee and poopoo so much in such a short space of time) we finally got to the biggest dinosaur of the show (I forget their names...sorry!) When it emerged from the tent I suddenly heard a screaming child calling for his mummy, looking up I saw Oli running as fast as his little legs could carry him (prompting lots of laughter from the people he was running past) and calling out for his mummy....it’s so nice to be wanted.

This dinosaur was amazing, the sounds and movements were so life-like (from what I can imagine) that it was no wonder there were children running screaming for their parents as it moved around the stage (not just my child!) Lots of fun was had with brave children offering up food, their own arms and at one stage their own heads to feed the dinosaurs and with copious amounts of laughter and screams the show finished.

Although Oli was happy to cling onto daddy for the last part of the show he has talked about nothing else since and after a quick stroll around the gardens we went across to the village for a lovely lunch, followed by a play on the playground (a quick trip to the chocolate shop by your truly) and then off home. It was a fantastic day out and if you get a chance this holiday’s to pop up and check it out it is well worth a trip. Check out the Hunter Valley Gardens for more details.

How much is too much information for young children?

The team at Bubs About Town are heartbroken to learn of the tragic deaths of two babies in the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. Of course any loss of life in this situation is awful but hearing about little defenceless babies makes our hearts wrench and eyes water and so this week we have gazed upon our own gorgeous toddlers/babies and wondered what if?

What a terrible thing to have to think about, and indeed it doesn’t bear thinking about, from the floods in Queensland, the fires in Victoria to the earthquake in New Zealand there has certainly been enough heartbreak to go around lately and the scariest thing is how do you prepare for the things that can’t be prepared for.

In our homes we have started talking about our ‘What If’ plans and though my husband was initially doubtful it was soon apparent that this was the only thing that would help me sleep at night so we now have meeting spots in case of emergencies and these vary for each disaster from flood, bushfire, tsunami and earthquake as well as a list of essentials to take from the house.

Although this has lessened my anxiety I was shocked to hear my son parroting information he had obviously got off the news, “people trapped under rubble mummy, mummy what’s rubble?” I had had the telly on in the background watching the latest disaster this week and didn’t think much about it until he said this. Having to think on my feet I explained as simply as I could that there was an earthquake which made the ground move and because it shook quite hard then some buildings fell down where people were working. The inevitable question was “why?”

Now I should have known better after his reaction to the floods in Queensland, especially as his father was preparing to go there for work this week when he got quite anxious and told me “daddy can’t go, it’s flooded”.

We’d love to know how other parents have explained these natural disasters to their children and how much detail you have gone into with them without giving them a fear of the world that young children should never have.

Either comment here or email us at info@bubsabouttown.com.au  and let us know, all comments will be published (can be done so anonymously if requested).

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