Silent Sunday #63

Inspired by...

Be A Princess Every Day!

I have a confession to make.

My name's Heather and I think I'm a tent-o-holic.

There, I said it.

Mini Cheddar has a total of 3 play tents. So why have I just had another one sent to me?

Who could not resist this?

Photo: Big Game Hunters

Gorgeous isn't it? I have to be honest, was a bit skeptical about the price. It retails on playhouses.co.uk at £74.99.  The tents Mini Cheddar has all cost about £20. However, the ones we have are small, flimsy and cheap looking - in this case you definitely get what you pay for!

This tent is simply stunning - I never thought I'd use those words to describe a tent.

It's a unique hexagonal turret shape with a flag on top, complete with two windows and a door with velcro fastenings. I'm now wishing I was smaller so I could play at being a princess!

It's made from quality materials and is so sturdy. Just what you need in a children's play tent. The interior frame is made from wooden poles which slot together and the external material is a strong, thick canvas made to withstand summer showers.

I think that the other tents I purchased before probably won't see the light of day again.

We can't wait for the weather to turn warmer again so we can get full use of it (although we are in the middle of decorating her bedroom at the moment so I'm tempted to let her have it a little earlier).

MC is going to love playing princess in her new kingdom - aka the back garden - next year.  I'll be sure to post some photos of her practicing her royal wave through the window.

If a Princess Tent doesn't take your fancy then check out the other range of Play Houses here. Some of them are just amazing - the crooked playhouses have to be my favourites. playhouses.co.uk provide a wide range of quality outdoor products perfect for Princes as well as Princesses.

This is not a sponsored post.  

I was sent a Princess Tent to review but all words,

views and opinions are entirely my own.

When Playtime Becomes A Past Time Not A Pastime

A few weeks ago now I visited a local indoor play centre.  We are lucky enough to have two large ones within a 15 minute drive of our house and I probably don't use them enough as Mini Cheddar loves them.

They are never overly busy either, in fact once we had one of them to ourselves once.

I'll often go with a friend but sometimes Mini Cheddar and I like to go just the two of us.  I love seeing her face light up as she realises where we are going and her excited shrieks and eagerness to get inside. She desperate to get her shoes off and start exploring and I love to join her on the bigger equipment and slide down the huge blue wavy slide together.

This particular day there were probably about 5 or 6 other Mums and Dads there with their children. A couple together but most on their own. Mini Cheddar and I went off to explore the 'big kids' area.   

As we were playing a little girl approached us, not much older than MC (I'd say she was about 3 years old).  She came right up to me and almost pushed MC out of the way.  "Can I play with you?" she said holding up her hand to try and grab mine.

"Where's your Mummy sweetie?" I asked

"She's too busy to play"

"Are you here with your Daddy?" I replied, thinking Mummy was maybe at work.

"No, I'm here with Mummy. She's just too busy".

This little girl then proceeded to follow Mini Cheddar and I around the play centre all morning.  

I didn't hold her hand, even though every part of me wanted to but I was conscious she didn't know me and that, essentially, she'd be holding hands with a stranger.  

I felt awful about it.  

All this little girl wanted was to play with an adult through the large and sometimes daunting maze of steps and slides.

As we all went down the big slide together, the little girl waved and shouted "Hello Mummy!"

I noticed a woman reading some trashy novel look up from her cappuccino. She forced a fake smile and returned to her book.

Later on, Mini Cheddar and I headed back to our table to get some lunch and the little girl ran over to her Mummy "Mummy, come play with us, it's fun" it she excitedly.

"I'm busy, go play by yourself and don't be annoying other people" came the reply, hardly looking up from her book.

I saw the disappointed look on the little girls face and I just wanted to give her a cuddle.  

I haven't been back to the centre since.  The memory of that little girls face still stays with me. 

I'm not saying I'm perfect.  I'm not saying I devote 100% of my attention to MC 24/7.  I'm not saying there aren't times when I'm busy.  I'm not saying that sometimes I will let the TV babysit MC for 20 minutes whilst I grab a break.

However, I'm not in the habit of letting strangers babysit my daughter.

This woman knew that her daughter had tagged along with us playing. For me, that would have been the point when I would have put my book down and given my daughter the adult attention she needed.

MC and I will return the play centre and I'll continue to play with her as much as she needs.  

I just hope I'm there in the capacity of a Mummy and not as a Nanny too.