holiday | The Survival Guide for Rookie Moms

Sun, The Sand Wizard and Slack Parenting

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Guests

We’re just back from a fabulous week in Jersey. Castles and lighthouses with causeways that disappear under the sea and beaches with the perfect sandcastle sand. In fact the sand is so good, if you have the skill, the patience and 20 hours to spare you can build something like this masterpiece by Simon ‘The Sand Wizard’ Smith.

Inspired by viewing The Sand Wizard’s sculptures Pickle and I set about making our own sandscape. Pickle was in charge of the volcano and channels; the shell castle was my project. Although it quickly became apparent that achieving anything a fraction as good as The Sand Wizard was way beyond my capabilities, I did get quite engrossed in my creation.

Having painstakingly carved the 3-storey staircase and managed a near-perfect sand-pie on the castle’s third storey I wandered off to the water’s edge where Bowser was attempting to rehouse the entire beach stone population in the sea. Bowser was ‘happy as a sand boy’ (I would say ‘pig in shit’, but it’s not so apt) and Nanny wasn’t too bored supervising him so I started back up the beach but was stopped dead in my tracks by the sight of a mini hooligan vandalizing my our castle. The staircase and top storey were already demolished and she was still smashing. I expected to see an embarrassed parent whose clutches she had escaped dashing to scoop her up and apologize profusely. But there was no one; just a defiant toddler staring me down. Her only response to my exclamations was to steal my shovel!

I hate that – when kids are behaving badly and their parents do nothing to intervene either because they aren’t paying attention or can’t be bothered. I can’t bear being left to chastise someone else’s child; I’m not good at it. Yeah, yeah I know: the beach is not my property; she was only a toddler, but hey, when you see your hard work being needlessly destroyed, whether you’re 3 or 43, it’s annoying.

Reading this back I sound like a real old crabby pants, but it could just as easily have been Pickle’s work of art that was destroyed and I can only imagine the tears. What really annoyed me was that later as I sat repairing the damage the same little vandal made another beeline for us. This time her mum was a few paces behind and made a snide comment: “Don’t Bella, you’ll get into trouble again”. So it appears she was perfectly aware of what her child had done yet didn’t feel the need to apologize, nor to take the opportunity to explain to her daughter that it’s not friendly to ruin other people’s work.

My feeling is that if this child is old enough to be wandering unaccompanied around the beach, then she’s old enough to be taught right from wrong. She was only 2ish, but I believe it’s never too early to be taught social niceties and to have respect for other people’s things. Trashing a castle that someone else has built just isn’t very friendly. Growing up I knew the rule: the only castle you were allowed to stamp on was your own.

Incidentally The Sand Wizard has to camp on the beach next to his sculptures otherwise big hooligans think it’s fun to trash them. I guess they were never taught respect at a young age either.

We finished our creation and enjoyed watching the incoming tide fill the moats and then destroy the buildings, which is exactly what happened to the Sand Wizard’s sculptures in Jersey’s high tide on Monday. Amazingly he also enjoys watching this happen. None of us mind the sea being a vandal.

Filed under: Parenting | Tagged: Activites with Kids, children, Family, holiday, Jersey, Jersey beaches, Motherhood, Parenting, sand castles, Sand Sculptures, Simon Smith The Sand Wizard, summer, toddler | 1 Comment »

Go Baby Go! (Without the Kitchen Sink)

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Guests

This week’s guest blogger is Heike Caldwell of Go Baby Go! San Diego

California is jam-packed with fun places to travel with your baby or toddler, and of course the consistently sunny weather is a bonus. But something magical happens when you visit the San Diego coast. The moment you arrive, the world starts to fade away. Maybe it’s the sound of waves gently lapping at the shore or the smell of coconut oil. Perhaps it’s the white sand and sparkling water of the California beaches, the gentle breeze tugging you closer to the shore where you stop to pick up sand dollars. Suddenly building sandcastles moves to the top of your “to-do” list. You remember just how much fun your spouse is. You find yourself laughing at your son’s “knock-knock” joke, even though you’ve heard it a zillion times. You linger over a succulent, fresh seafood dinner where nobody rushes to get away from the table.

Ahhh, sounds fabulous doesn’t it?! Holidays are so much fun, so relaxing, and the perfect chance to recharge your batteries…. not so much when you have a little one in tow. It’s OK once you’re there, but it’s the preparation that hits us new parents the hardest. Try as you might, a baby does not travel light! By the time you’ve packed all the essentials and hubby has had a meltdown trying to fit it all in the car and/or you’ve tried to talk/bribe your way around baggage limits at the airport check in (and ended up paying excess)….you probably wish you’d never bothered and just stayed at home. And will it get there in one piece? In my experience, not always. All set for our 3-day assault on Disneyland at arrival in LAX our beloved Phil & Teds reappeared on the outsize baggage carousel with one wheel bent at 90 degrees. Of course the airline would take no responsibility for it and you really don’t want to waste any valuable holiday time arguing the toss over damaged luggage.

So here’s a neat idea – when vacationing with family, make the whole trip more relaxing by renting all your baby equipment needs from Go Baby Go!. Why cart along a Pack-N-Play when your infant can sleep peacefully in a safe, clean full sized crib, delivered and set up for you with a full set of soft baby linens? Disneyland, SeaWorld and LEGOLAND are so much easier and fun with a light and manoeverable all-terrain stroller so neither you or your little ones need to get tired out. Rent some fun beach toys, infant cabanas or beach chairs and relax in style at the beautiful beaches of San Diego. A great weekend getaway is easier than you think. A visit to LaJolla Shores or Moonlight Beach offers the perfect balance of family activity and lay-around-doing-nothing time. Spend some quality time with a leisurely stroll along the beaches with one of our Beach Strollers or stroll through Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park.

Rent your baby equipment from Go Baby Go!

Go Baby Go! is an infant and toddler equipment rental company offering full sized cribs, strollers, car seats, high chairs, toys and so much more for your short or long term stay. We deliver what you need directly to your destination. We rent to Hotels, Resorts, Vacation Rental Properties and Private Residence like Grandma’s and Grandpa’s. We are a family owned and operated business that promises the top-quality products and personal touch that only a small, family-centered business can provide.