This week our elder is performing in her first ever dance show. I am, of course, hugely emotional about this, being a dancer myself. Alright, alright, so I'm also deluded. Not having danced professionally for 15 years probably means that should be ex-dancer!
It was the dress rehearsal last night. 1 parent with up to 3 children each, to dress, put ribbons in their hair, keep them quiet whilst waiting their turn, take them to the toilet when required and not lose any of them! It was fun, but I wasn't prepared at all! Although I've been involved in this kind of thing many times in the past, I have obviously never done it as a parent! So here's some tips that I've very quickly had to pick up, for when you find yourself responsible for a batch of children in a similar situation!
Firstly; ensure to pack snacks.
Not just any snacks. Chocolate covered fingers near a pristine white tutu isn't a good idea! Dried fruit seems to work well (raisins being my choice). You do have to watch out for the resulting greasy fingers though - which again, don't go well with Lycra! Bread sticks are a good plan. Bananas (but hold them yourself and allow only one bite at a time!). Bite-size sausage rolls. Drinks are needed too, but not blackcurrant! That's one stain you don't want to have to deal with. Flavoured waters are the best bet, colourless that is!
Secondly; entertainment.
I totally forgot this at the dress rehearsal. And because the dress rehearsal also included official photographs, the waits were longer between dances. So I found myself telling the story of Aladdin to four 3 year olds, which quickly turned to a group of about 8 children, some of which were 6 or 7 years old. You need to be very clear about the details of the story you are telling if you've got a group that age. Every single tiny mistake is picked up! I kept them entertained alright, but it was hard work. For the actual show I'll be taking a story book and a portable DVD player! I'm pretty clear which one will be used, but the story book is mainly a back up in case we run out of battery power for the DVD player!
Thirdly: Costume organisation!
If ribbons are required in the hair, connect them to hair slides/grips before you even get there! Ensure ribbons for shoes are laced in before you get there. Take an old t-shirt. One of your own. To slip on top of their costume whilst they are sitting waiting and possibly eating. It pays to stop them wiping their fingers on their costumes even if you've been extra careful with snack choices.
If you've got more than 1 child to dress and undress, you need to keep their bags at least a metre away from each other, and ensure that the costumes get put directly in the correct bag as soon as they come off, even if it means telling the children not to get undressed themselves, and to wait their turn for you to help each one, one at a time. Similarly shoes can easily get mixed up, and ballet/tap shoes often wear down, so that you can't even tell what size each one is. If you take them off you know exactly where they've been put! And of course, it goes without saying that you need to put each child's costume in their hand directly, and not allow them to grab whichever one they see first. Otherwise you'll have some looking like they've squeezed into their costumes, and others looking swamped!
Fourthly, get your parent:child ratios right.
If they are 3 or 4 years old, don't have more than 2 children per adult, if there's only 2 adults. 3 adults can perhaps manage 8 children as a group. But after that, you end up needed to separate the groups again, so you're back to 1 to 2.
Finally; stock up on essentials.
I've no idea why, but you'll end up needing most of the following; safety pins, needle and thread, hair grips, hair spray (even if your child has really short hair!), baby wipes (of course), tissues, hair slides, hair brush, drinks for the adults, snacks for the adults, mobile phone, spare elastic for ballet shoes (same colour as tights/socks), spare ribbons, spare laces for tap shoes, spare socks (and underwear) for the children, socks for the mummy (I got cold toes as I took my shoes off to sit down with the girls!)
And I think that's it!
There you go. Tips on how to survive backstage at the dance show.
Now how to be yummy whilst you're doing it? Go straight from work like I did! My work outfit's probably my smartest, and I was at least still made-up!
Friday, 26 March 2010
Saturday, 20 March 2010
5 minutes to go.....Life moves pretty fast
I always seem to be running late at the moment!
Working, looking after two toddlers and trying to get to Pilates at least one a week, is proving challenging. I have never known time fly by so fast. (That seems to be a running theme with me doesn't it!) Anyone my age will remember the classic film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Still a favourite of mine. I sadly know most of the script, I've seen it that often. One line always stikes a chord with me. "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
So I'm trying to take moments to 'look around'. Though it's not helping me keep up to date with this blog I'm afraid! Sorry.
Report card for the first quarter of 2009-10: "Must try harder...."
Anyhow, enough of the rambling. I'm off to do some Saturday shopping (tap shoes!), so I'll be back with some more tips and thoughts on keeping up the yummy-mumminess soon.
Working, looking after two toddlers and trying to get to Pilates at least one a week, is proving challenging. I have never known time fly by so fast. (That seems to be a running theme with me doesn't it!) Anyone my age will remember the classic film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Still a favourite of mine. I sadly know most of the script, I've seen it that often. One line always stikes a chord with me. "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
So I'm trying to take moments to 'look around'. Though it's not helping me keep up to date with this blog I'm afraid! Sorry.
Report card for the first quarter of 2009-10: "Must try harder...."
Anyhow, enough of the rambling. I'm off to do some Saturday shopping (tap shoes!), so I'll be back with some more tips and thoughts on keeping up the yummy-mumminess soon.
Friday, 19 February 2010
New Year, New Tips: How to get out of the house on time.
Wondering how to get out of the house on time in the morning with two children to get ready as well as yourself?
I've finally worked this one out. Unfortunately the biggest contributing factor to success is waking up at a sufficiently early hour. When the children having been waking up in the night, it's all to tempting to stay in bed until they wake up. Especially when their usual hour of waking is about 6am! I find that sleeping in with them when they choose to, results in a more rested mummy, but requires huge speed to catch up and get out of the door! So I guess it's your call.
In our house I have worked out that I need to have both children downstairs eating breakfast by 7am at the latest. Then it's upstairs to change and dress the youngest whilst the eldest plays; into the shower by 7.30am, out by 7.45am, dress eldest and myself by 7.50am, makeup by 7.55am and downstairs by 8am. If I hit the 8am target I can then dry my hair properly whilst they play for a while, check we have the bags ready, get shoes, coats, hats, scarfs and gloves on, and get them out of the door by 8.30am. By the time I've dropped them off at respective nurseries and driven to work it's 9.15/9.30am if I'm lucky.
For those of you without children this will sound like a ridiculously long time to be awake before arriving at work! Up at 6.30am. At work by 9.30am? That's 3 hours for goodness sake!
Yes; and you'll often spend 20 minutes repeatedly putting on stubborn child's coat because the second you turn your back they've taken it off. Which fool designed a coat with 'poppers' down the front? Probably a pal of the mummy who keeps dressing the child in said coat because it's pretty and goes in the washing machine easily!
Other tricks to reduce 'crazy' moments in the morning include:
I hope some of that helps!? And if you have any other helpful tips on the morning rush, let me know!
I've finally worked this one out. Unfortunately the biggest contributing factor to success is waking up at a sufficiently early hour. When the children having been waking up in the night, it's all to tempting to stay in bed until they wake up. Especially when their usual hour of waking is about 6am! I find that sleeping in with them when they choose to, results in a more rested mummy, but requires huge speed to catch up and get out of the door! So I guess it's your call.
In our house I have worked out that I need to have both children downstairs eating breakfast by 7am at the latest. Then it's upstairs to change and dress the youngest whilst the eldest plays; into the shower by 7.30am, out by 7.45am, dress eldest and myself by 7.50am, makeup by 7.55am and downstairs by 8am. If I hit the 8am target I can then dry my hair properly whilst they play for a while, check we have the bags ready, get shoes, coats, hats, scarfs and gloves on, and get them out of the door by 8.30am. By the time I've dropped them off at respective nurseries and driven to work it's 9.15/9.30am if I'm lucky.
For those of you without children this will sound like a ridiculously long time to be awake before arriving at work! Up at 6.30am. At work by 9.30am? That's 3 hours for goodness sake!
Yes; and you'll often spend 20 minutes repeatedly putting on stubborn child's coat because the second you turn your back they've taken it off. Which fool designed a coat with 'poppers' down the front? Probably a pal of the mummy who keeps dressing the child in said coat because it's pretty and goes in the washing machine easily!
Other tricks to reduce 'crazy' moments in the morning include:
- Laying out your makeup, contact lenses, perfume, and work outfit, the night before; ensuring to select shoes, lingerie and jewelry that work with the outfit as well. I've been caught out all too often, having selected a white shirt for work the night before, only to find in the morning that the required white bra is in the wash!
- Packing the children's bags with spare outfits, nappies, hats/scarfs/gloves, etc the night before and placing by the front door,
- Selecting the children's outfits the night before. (I fail on this one more often than not!)
I hope some of that helps!? And if you have any other helpful tips on the morning rush, let me know!
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Happy New Year!
Unsurprisingly, I didn't get two minutes in December to update the blog. December was chaos, but fun. For the first time in years we put our tree up at the start of December. It was lovely. Just by being there the tree gently eased us into the Christmas spirit.
And wow - we got a white Christmas! I can't remember the last time that happened. I might be old fashioned, but a layer of snow on the ground makes Christmas day just about perfect.... along with that glass of sherry of course. (Yes I am really an 80 year old trapped in the body of a 30+ year old)
The only down side of December was the constant illness that we seem to have had in the house. Both children just haven't been sleeping. Runny noses, coughs, teething pains, and night-time potty training, have all contributed to sleepless nights. So if anyone has any advice on night-time training, I could do with the help. The elder wants to do it, and doesn't like pull-up nappies anymore. But she also doesn't want to get out of bed when it's really cold at night. Help!
As far as the looking 'yummy' task is concerned. Christmas did help. I now have a fabulous new dress and new boots. My next task is too make more of an effort to get fit. Although I don't feel particularly fat; I know I am a good two stone heavier than I was when I was dancing full-time. And I definately don't have the energy I used to. So it's about getting healthy. Yes.... I know it's a huge cliche - a new year dawns and everyone hits the diets. But for me, I think it's more about hitting the dance floor. So I need to find a good dance class that is aerobically difficult, technically difficult, and not miles away. Hmmm. I guess I'd better start the research then!
Happy new year everyone!
And wow - we got a white Christmas! I can't remember the last time that happened. I might be old fashioned, but a layer of snow on the ground makes Christmas day just about perfect.... along with that glass of sherry of course. (Yes I am really an 80 year old trapped in the body of a 30+ year old)
The only down side of December was the constant illness that we seem to have had in the house. Both children just haven't been sleeping. Runny noses, coughs, teething pains, and night-time potty training, have all contributed to sleepless nights. So if anyone has any advice on night-time training, I could do with the help. The elder wants to do it, and doesn't like pull-up nappies anymore. But she also doesn't want to get out of bed when it's really cold at night. Help!
As far as the looking 'yummy' task is concerned. Christmas did help. I now have a fabulous new dress and new boots. My next task is too make more of an effort to get fit. Although I don't feel particularly fat; I know I am a good two stone heavier than I was when I was dancing full-time. And I definately don't have the energy I used to. So it's about getting healthy. Yes.... I know it's a huge cliche - a new year dawns and everyone hits the diets. But for me, I think it's more about hitting the dance floor. So I need to find a good dance class that is aerobically difficult, technically difficult, and not miles away. Hmmm. I guess I'd better start the research then!
Happy new year everyone!
Monday, 23 November 2009
We'll add it to your Christmas list dear!
Our elder said to her dad, "can I have a car please?"
"I think we'll need to ask Santa Claus" was his swift reply. It was August.
She regularly flicks through the Early Learning catalogue pointing at toys and saying "we've got that", "I want that one, Mummy", "And that one, Mummy". "Got that". "Got that". " I want that one, Mummy". So we started trying to manage her expectations. "If you've been a good girl you might get one or two presents off your list. We'll write a list for Santa when it's nearly Christmas." The delaying tactics seemed to be working, and she'd definately got the idea that she won't get everything she asks for.
It's surprising how much a three year old thinks though. Last week her dad told her that if she's a very very very good girl she'd perhaps get three presents off her list. There was a short pause.
"Daddy", she said in that drawn out way that children have perfected, "if I'm a very very very very good girl, can I have four presents?" Caught by surprise, he laughed.
"Yes dear, if you're a very very very very good girl you may get four presents at Christmas." There was another pause.
"Daddy". She said again.
"Yes".
"If I'm a very very very very very......." He interrupted;
"No!" he said laughing "No more than four presents, because Santa has not got enough room in his sledge."
"Oh!....OK" she said (with amazing acceptance).
Another pause.
"Daddy, if you're a very good boy, will you get presents for Christmas?"
"Yes dear, I hope so".
"You'd like a Barbie wouldn't you Daddy, and then you can share with me."
"I think we'll need to ask Santa Claus" was his swift reply. It was August.
She regularly flicks through the Early Learning catalogue pointing at toys and saying "we've got that", "I want that one, Mummy", "And that one, Mummy". "Got that". "Got that". " I want that one, Mummy". So we started trying to manage her expectations. "If you've been a good girl you might get one or two presents off your list. We'll write a list for Santa when it's nearly Christmas." The delaying tactics seemed to be working, and she'd definately got the idea that she won't get everything she asks for.
It's surprising how much a three year old thinks though. Last week her dad told her that if she's a very very very good girl she'd perhaps get three presents off her list. There was a short pause.
"Daddy", she said in that drawn out way that children have perfected, "if I'm a very very very very good girl, can I have four presents?" Caught by surprise, he laughed.
"Yes dear, if you're a very very very very good girl you may get four presents at Christmas." There was another pause.
"Daddy". She said again.
"Yes".
"If I'm a very very very very very......." He interrupted;
"No!" he said laughing "No more than four presents, because Santa has not got enough room in his sledge."
"Oh!....OK" she said (with amazing acceptance).
Another pause.
"Daddy, if you're a very good boy, will you get presents for Christmas?"
"Yes dear, I hope so".
"You'd like a Barbie wouldn't you Daddy, and then you can share with me."
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