DF...kids usually only like people who take an interest in them and who are safe, caring, and genuine. I'd suspect that if kids like you it's because there is something they see in you that is all of the above.

I like to fill up the little wading pool in the backyard and let them splash around in it... taking them to wading pools or splash pads is always fun... we do a lot of that. A day at the beach is awesome...

I got motivated and went and bought a bunch of annuals now that planting season is finally here... but now it's raining. My kids like to be outdoors, and I have a hard time with that. But we will plant the next sunny day. I hate worms and bugs, and it's neat because they aren't scared much of them, so they get me to hold worms and stuff.

I have often wondered what it is that makes children like me, but it happenes all the time, but I like them and I guess they can sense that.

Sometimes it also seems as they think i´m also a kid.

Once I was wearing my Superman socks at work (preschool)and one of the boys said to me "Girls don´t wear Superman socks"

Another boy had been visiting our school for a month, his grandmother is the headmaster, and his mother sent him with present for the teachers. Then he said to me "don´t you think your mother will be surprised, when you come home from school with a present?!" I told him, that I was a grown up, just like his mum and dad and I was not living with her anymore, but I could show her the present later,she would be surprised then.

That same day at group time we were talking about how to take care of our teeth, he told us that sometimes he cries when his mother is brushing his teeth, then he asked me "(Moomin) do you sometimes cry when your mother is brushing your teeth?"

Sometimes it´s really hard not to laugh, they can be so sincere!

Blanked girl I like your idea of building towers with the dixiecups.

I think it would also be a great thing to play Memory game with the cups. Then everyone finds two of the same things in the garden, like two maple leaves, two daisies, two rocks... then you hide them under the cups and play memory.

I think children of all ages will find this fun, and its easy to play at different levels, with the youngest you just have very few pairs and with the older ones you add pairs and they have to say the correct name like its not enough to say „a leaf“ , when it´s a maple leaf.

Children love to learn and this will help them grow their vocabulary.

Now when i´m writing this I´m thinking, what kind of things can be in the garden of you guys, I´m sure it´s completely different from the things in my Icelandic garden.

Once when I was in NY I thought the rocks in Central Park looked so different from the ones at home, and they were everywhere and noone thought they where special, so I brougt one home with me, and here it is and it looks so different. Children like it when I tell them that this rock belonged to another counry where there were millions of rocks like this.

It would be fun to see photos of the things that are in your garden... not the beautiful fountains or statues or newly polished garden furniture... but the things you take for granted... like the leaves of the trees, the wild flovers, the grass, the weeds, the soil, the bugs....
Maybe you can go outside with your kids and take photos and then you can share them with me and my 6 year old daughter Have fun !!!

Lovely ideas, moomin! I think we are on the same latitude, so I wouldn't be surprised if things are kind of the same in terms of vegetation...

It rained hard today...I had my kids put on swimsuits and they ran like giggling maniacs through the rain, jumping in puddles. Passers-by were delighted, too, and stopped to chat with the kids, they were just grinning from ear to ear. When the rain let up we brought a big bowl of popcorn onto the porch and ate it together.

a fun afternoon.

Hi All,

I come across this chat and thought I'd see if I could help out! I know the kids are bored! and it can be a pain when you dont have alot of money! but its really fun for kids

Please take a look!

I have a son who is almost 15. I find it really difficult to do things with him. Or find motivation to do things with him. Not just because of his age but also because I have to learn how to do these motherly things. I went to the cinema with him the other day and we watched Harry Potter which was nice. I try to make sure that he goes on a trip with his scouts group for a week. He enjoys camping.

we made and cooked german dumplings today

Hi unmothered,

What are German Dumplings? Sound lovely - have you a recipe? I hope your son enjoyed that activity too. Anything that could end up being eaten was always a hit with my son at that age

Nice to meet you,

starfishy

hello starfishy, nice to meet you too

Dumplings are round things. you can make many different ones. sweet ones too. flour eggs milk bread and other things mixed up and put in boiling water.
My son loves them and we had a nice time together

Aw thanks, I know what dumplings are - we have them in stews, oh and have chinese ones too - just wondered about the German bit. Maybe it's the breadcrumbs??

starfishy

Ohh I see lol... silly me! Yes the ones we made were with breadcrumbs

Draggers - thank you *blush*

ps. yes its difficult to keep him entertained but for some reason he has been really helpful and kind today. He might be in love