Months ago, before Georgie turned four, I noticed him kicking a ball around outside. He was playing on his own, muttering to himself, kicking the ball to the wall, sometimes asking Tano, our dog, if he wants to play too. Moments later he came indoors, went to the toilet and emerged with slightly wet hair and pulled-up sleeves.
Last week was World Book Day, which meant that soon after Carnival, Georgie was given another opportunity to dress up. The problem with a four-year old and dressing up as a book character is that apart from Dr Seuss and Peter Rabbit there isn’t much else. I tried convincing him that The Cat in the Hat would look nice but his heart was stuck on The Big Bad Wolf, the mean protagonist of a few tales. There was absolutely no way I was going to rent or buy and besides I was being given the chance to actually MAKE him a costume, something I have always wanted to do. I turned to books, blogs and DIY posts but soon stopped in my tracks when I found this awesome and absolutely fantastic DIY wolf costume. Lia Griffith, you are awesome and absolutely fantastic!
Saturday night and I am desperate to come up with an awesome idea for a scheduled Sunday outing with friends and kids. I turn to the internet, naturally. I scroll through pages of useless and dated websites, feeling quite depressed about the lack of kiddie activity information on the island. To be specific, I was hoping to find a well-organised and up-to-date website bursting with information on places to visit and where to go with children in tow. Just when my hopes were about to be shattered and I was preparing to announce that we would head to our usual playground spot, I found Kids Have Fun in Cyprus.
Included among last week’s The Parent Hood links, was one of my most exciting kids discoveries ever. Cosmic Kids Yoga videos, absolutely free on You Tube, are a massive hit with Georgie who insists on ‘doing yoga with the nice lady’ every evening before bedtime. After his bath and before we climb into his bed for a bedtime story, I take my laptop into his bedroom and we both follow Jamie’s (aka ‘the nice lady’) moves. There are a number of things I like about Cosmic Kids; the simplicity of the moves, the fact that the videos are free and most importantly, how Jamie captures kids’ attention with an adventurous storyline, feeding their imagination. The fact that she speaks with an English accent is a plus for me.
I wouldn’t say I am a fan of the hype that comes with Valentine’s Day. At least not anymore. But it is a celebration of love and I am totally cool with that. Also I happen to have a cute little Valentine’s story to share. I remember one particular Valentine’s Day when I was no more than 16. I had had the sweetest boyfriend for a couple of months and the day of love was coming up so I did what is expected. Teddy bears, cards and various red and pink knick knacks with hearts smothered all over were purchased. We broke up two months later but remained friends. The type of friends who invite each other to their weddings! So, after more than ten years, one day I went to his house to invite him to my wedding. After a brisk chat with his mum, he took me to a cupboard where he revealed something so special I can’t help but smile every time I think of it. There, he kept a box of items from his childhood and one little gift I gave him on that Valentine’s Day.