Living Arrows | Getting Outdoors

 'You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth' Khalil Gibran. 

This is one of my absolute favourite pictures for so many reasons. Firstly it was taken at Rufford Abbey which is my favourite place and wedding venue of choice (when Covid allows!). Secondly it's a picture with both my babies, something that never happens because neither one of them is ever still long enough! We only managed this one by chance as Iris was bombing down a hill shortly after this was taken.

Undiagnosed Autism and Mainstream School | My Experience

 The days are long but the years are short- the most significant parenting quote i've ever read. I vividly remember thinking "I can't wait for Iris to start nursery, only a few more years to go". Being at home with young babies and toddlers is immensely hard work. To me it felt like my entire existence was being swallowed by a teeny tiny, snack monster. Constantly on demand, constantly needing to be aware and constantly being 'switched on'. It all felt so constant. So unending. Now nursery isn't a few years away, it's now and I'm not ready. It isn't because Iris isn't ready, she's been ready for months, she's been craving the structure and mental stimulation that only a learning environment can give and it certainly isn't because I'm not ready for the break- I am chomping at the bit to get some time back to re-discover myself and give myself the opportunity to work, exercise and be creative again. The reason I'm not ready for Iris to start nursery is because I'm not ready to deal with what 'school' means to me. I'm not emotionally ready to send her into the system that destroyed me.

Living Arrows | The End Of An Era

 'You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth' Khalil Gibran.  

Just like that three whole years have passed and she's on her way to pre-school and whilst Iris feels like she's at the beginning of something special I can't help feeling like it's the end. The end of my baby being at home, the end of endless days spent playing together and the end of me being her teacher. I'm a little sad that she'll be asking someone else incessant questions about the whys, whats and hows of the world around her.

Most Used | 2-3 Years

The terrible twos. The age of "I don't want to walk" but "I don't want to go in the buggy". The urgent cries of "I need a wee-wee" followed by a mad panic and no actual weeing taking place. A challenging year yet an amazing one. The year of long winded conversations and awkward observations in the most inappropriate of places. The emergence of people skills, kindness, turn taking, please and thank yous. A bright and brilliant time. Here's the things we've used the most throughout this wonderfully daunting year.

Living Arrows | Happy Birthday To You!

 You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth' Khalil Gibran.   

You'll have to excuse us for missing last week's Living Arrows post but we were immensely busy celebrating this not-so-little ones third birthday! I can't quite comprehend that she's three already. They warn you that time flies when you become a parent but nothing could have prepared me for how unsettling that passage of time can be.

Days Out | Equine Dreams of Bawtry

This review is slightly different to the ones I've previously written (Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Rufford Abbey Park, Thoresby Hall Park) as this is a place that I hadn't visited pre-Covid-19 and so I can't really compare their new procedure to their old one, I can only comment on how I feel they've catered to the needs of the Covid-19 world.