The summer holidays are finally within reach and mums up and down the land are wondering how on earth they are going to keep the children entertained for the weeks ahead.
From picnics in the park to funfairs and bike rides you’ve probably got it all covered. However, for all those mums who happen to have younger children it’s often much easier to stay at home and get out in the garden if the weather is nice. Why go to all the trouble of packing bag after bag of paraphernalia when you would do exactly the same in your own back garden as you would in the park?
At that stage of motherhood there’s no such thing as ‘packing light’ for a day out either. You end up with so many bags of clothes (in case they have an accident), coats (in case it rains) jumpers (in case it goes cold) and swimming gear (in case there’s a fountain and every other child is frolicking in it, which happened that time on the South Bank…) not to mention the tricycle or the carrier, or the buggy!!!! Get me a lorry!
No, days out were never my favourite thing in those early days as a mum. “There’s no place like home”, was my Dorothy-inspired mantra. A bowl of water and tea set were the only things required to keep the girls happy. Oh that and some bean bags that is.
I had a really old corduroy bean bag that was still knocking around when they were young, until next doors cat ripped it open, spilling its contents all over my kitchen floor. I mourned it for a while then decided that our feline friend had actually done me a favour. An upgrade was in order.
Now we have a gorgeous collection of Little Lucy Willow bean bags to boast of. The girls may have grown up somewhat but they still LOVE their bean bags. And very versatile they are too. I’ve seen them used for teddy bear’s picnics in the early days, as teacher’s chair when playing school, as the circus ringmaster’s podium and finally, squashed in a corner for the perfect cosy chat with friends.
And when they’ve gone to bed and it’s time to put my feet up I get to use them too!