Another great day. We went to one of our regular haunts, Think Tank. This time we took Nanny and Grandad though, which is always a hit with the kids 
Both kids got completely soaked in the water play bit as usual, particularly Holly, who looked like she’d had a bath in her clothes. Fortunately I know from experience to take a full change!
They also love the Kids City bit – particularly bombarding me with “meals” they’ve made in the role play cafe 
Holly was still a bit out of sorts, and, as every day this week, wanted more breastmilk feeds. She’s had a series of overlapping colds so am not sure if it’s that or teeth. We are all feeling the pain of exhaustion though! Most days I feel drunk – weaving gait, slurred speech, room spinning, feeling really queasy and faint. Sadly it’s just exhaustion, not alcohol! I can stand anything if it’s for my kids, but it bothers me when it affects them by making me ratty or just not as able to be an unconditional parent.
Speaking of unconditional parenting, I wonder how much it would cost to buy every parent a copy of Alfie Kohn??? Every day I wince repeatedly at the amount of bribery, coercion, love withdrawal I hear around me – “Put that down or no sweets for a month” was a particular example that springs to mind. But the worst thing for me at the moment seems to be the amount of “ignoring”. Children talking to their parents but being ignored and talked over by mothers and their friends. Mothers bringing their kids to soft play, play groups or the park and then sitting on their fat bums and chatting, ignoring what their kids are getting up to and any requests for help or to interact with them! I love being with my kids and consider them my equals. I hope that I always treat them with respect and spend quality time with them. I didn’t have kids to ignore them! Sorry, rant over. I’m just sick of hearing about “naughty steps”, “reward charts” and other forms of love withdrawal and coercion! I’m used to being the babywearing, co-sleeping, gentle discipline, toddler feeding weirdo round these parts, but it doesn’t get any easier having to witness so much disrespect to children.