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I am posting a link to a very interesting article that was in The Telegraph, a couple of years ago but very relevant to some of the things we have been talking about over the summer. It discusses the value of home play rather than the all-singing all-dancing leisure activities families with more money are often involved in and gives lots of reassurance about the good we are doing with NOT bombarding them with activities. Hooray!
Click here to see the article
I became very ill for 24hours when my two were 4 and a half and 5 and a half. I was unable to leave the bathroom, never mind go downstairs. This was before the days of mobiles, and I did not have a land-line. The children played on my bedroom floor. The next day I went downstairs and it became obvious they had done a very good job of feeding themselves. Cornflakes, peanut butter sandwiches, and milk!
Ok a bit light on fruit and veg (and washing up), but a very good attempt at catering for themselves. They are now very capable adults.
It is surprising, isn't it? As soon as they can get into the fridge (or move the chair to climb on it to get in the fridge...).
We used to have to have a lock on our fridge-freezer, otherwise every time I went to the loo, youngest would see if he could get a choc ice or ice pop. 
I found the article refreshing. Sparkling is right: it is only the other parents who try to make us feel inadequate if our children have not got the latest of everything.
Hi, I totally agree with this
*I found the article refreshing. Sparkling is right: it is only the other parents who try to make us feel inadequate if our children have not got the latest of everything.*
I have felt very inadequate this holiday, felt like the worse Mum for not being able to take C on lots of day trips, only taking him to McDonalds once, (this is a real treat). Then being told I've spoilt him for his birthday, and then being told what 'she' has spent on her child!!!! My son has had a lovely holiday, mostly entertaining himself, or us sitting together playing the playstation, or watching a DVD. At the moment, he is making a plastic flying moneybox out of an empty juice bottle!!!!
Exactly, alisoncam, and I wanted to post something that would validate this, glad I found this article 
C has imagination. I like to think that three of mine do (my 14 year old is more a factual type of personality).
Perhaps the "other" child doesn't...
C has just made some contraption to keep the cats away. Don't ask me what it is, hehe, but he's well impressed. A plastic bottle with water, pegs, and plant pot with stones. Perhaps he could charge passers-by to guess what it is. 20p a guess, lol. Won't tell him this, as he'll fall down the stairs trying to open the front door, 
I look forward to seeing C on the next series of "Dragon's Den" !
Hehehe. Don't know if coincidence, but no more sign of the cat's you know what!! Could be C's contraption has worked after all, lol
Told you he was going to be a famous inventor! 
Its true.
I have always tried to fill the house with music and merriment.
Have gone through reams of value A4 paper (now 14 year old would refuse anything else, including lining paper) and crayons.
Other than Scouts, my lot have never done an after school club anything, as I could never afford it. I also chose never to feel guilty about it - after all, its only the other parents who feel it necessary to fill their children's lives with activities who make you feel this way.
I hope my children have an appreciation of nature. They have been shown the beauty that is, after all, in more or less everything. Even the youngest has always stoppped to watch a sunset (well, I suppose we do get a lot of rain). I cringe when I see holiday makers with children watching DVDs in the car - my lot have alwasy been told that cars have windows for a reason.
For a while I lived in Rhosneigr, which, at this time of year is filled with the wealthy holiday homes and their children. The children who would stay next door were obnoxious, always bored and would never listen to their parent (divorced parents). Their grandmother, who was lovely, often told me how disappointed she was in the way the children were - and would tell me how lovely mine were. These parents who fill their lives with work (which is admirable, to be fair) and the lives of their children with private education and activities don't actually know how to entertain their children when they are on holiday - and the children are, naturally bored...
I think my children are lovely. They are accepting of things how they are. They don't often moan (I exclude the 18 year old here!).
I am blessed.