2867 A week with the Nephew!

Well, what a week we’ve had! I don’t think I have been this achy and tired in years. We crammed so much during the week it was so lovely, kinda expensive, very exhausting and I now need a holiday to recover from my holiday. He arrived with us on the 30th of May. I was still working 30th and 31st so those two days annoyingly rolled into one. The first day or two is always chaotic because he is excited to see us, and we have the most energy to jump around with him.

I’m not sure how, but, for me, it always seems to be going full steam ahead. I don’t get a breath in between work and looking after my nephew which I will say I am not complaining. It’s just a tricky adjustment. Now, don’t get me wrong, I know parents don’t get a break either (it’s sort of their fault for making a human in the first place). But, I think if it is your ‘normal’ routine, you and your body will be used to it and you will have grown with your child/children. As having a toddler is not normal it’s a bit of a rude awakening, each time we have him, you think you remember what it is like and you think it will be easier this time but it’s a bit like you are thrown in the deep end.

I love it, and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but I definitely pay the price. These little toddlers just have this amazing amount of energy. They are literally little balls of energy that throw a strop because they can only have two hands, or because their ice cream is too ‘hot’ etc.

Overall, we had 5 days with him (while I wasn’t working). On day 1 we went swimming. I cannot describe how much fun it is to show a little human a new thing to try. Seeing the expressions on his face when he realises, he can throw a ball in the pool, then jump in (with my help) go and get the ball, and just do that over and over. Tryna teach him that if I say hold ya breath, that means take a deep breath and shut ya mouth because we are going under the water.

I will say my local pool is unfortunately hour slots only which is mostly enough time… but I do really miss the days when my sister and I would go swimming for the day. We would stay in the pool for hours, splashing around etc. You can no longer do this. Granted I’ve only actually been asked to leave once, but there is always that chance you will be asked to get out and if a toddler doesn’t want to yet it can be a total nightmare.

Day 2 was supposed to be a relaxing day, but we ended up going out to a café for lunch, having a wander round the shops, buying toys (too many!), we bought a paddling pool, I made a job lot of spag bowl so not crazy but many moving parts to the day.

On day 3, we went to the zoo! Such a lovely day, but we did fall over (my nephew, not me this time), and we did graze our knees, so we were a little sad towards the end. So I had to carry him for about an hour straight, he wouldn’t even let me put him down while I tied my hair up out of the way. I know, I know I spoiled him but not making him go in the pushchair but he was so devastated over his knees, and he did bleed bless him.

Day 4 was a bit of a quieter day. We did have to take the cats to the vet, which is a little harder to do when you have a cat and a toddler but doable. We did pop out to the shops as well and had a little look around our local town. There is a café, I don’t know what the right word would be, but you can donate baby and children's bits there, and also buy stuff really cheap. So, we got two or three puzzles, and a fire truck toy and it works on roughly £1 per item (unless it's bigger) so we got a few little bits and gave £5. It is a really great idea, I want to go back and donate to them.

On day 5, we went to the ice cream farm. A really lovely day out actually, a little chilly but the sun did pop its head out a couple of times. The ice cream was very nice. I am a bit boring, and my staple is a good vanilla ice cream. Strawberries and cream was chosen for my nephew, and of course, he liked mine better. So, I ended up with the strawberries and cream which was very lovely, a little tangy for my liking. 100% I would have chosen the vanilla over the strawberry but I didn’t mind switching.

And by day 6 I was ready to sleep for an entire month. But today was the day to drive him home. Unfortunately, he lives roughly 100 miles away. Just had a check and he is exactly 102 miles away. And to add a bit of salt to the wound you have to go on the M25! Which is just a horrible road. And to make the trip even longer, there are lots of roadworks going on! All in all, it takes 5-6 hours, without traffic (but with a pit stop). If you hit a bad accident, it can be 5 hours or more one way.

Now it is time to get ready to go back to work! See what I mean about full speed ahead!