Crafty detour from playground proves to Be a strategic blunder
In the good old days, a weekend was dedicated to rest and recouperation after the stress of the working week.
Ten years ago, it’d involve drinking alcohol in bars or restaurants, gentle pottering during the day and a lie-in, whereas now it brings the weekly challenge of finding something active, reasonably priced and fun to do.
In a role reversal, Monday currently offers a chance for a nice sit down and a bit of a break from it all, when I’m safely back in work.
Crucially, whatever we decide to do has to appeal to everyone with my idea of a good time involving ice cream, a cappuccino and maybe a scone coupled with the opportunity to walk the excess calories off.
The twins are happy with a playground and a hill to roll down, with Victoria happy if they’re occupied and not bothering her.
When a friend with a 10-year-old suggested meeting in a park, I knew it had ice cream, a playground, and the bonus of another child to occupy the twins while we talked.
We met up, enjoyed a single cone, and made our way to the playground.
Until it became apparent, we weren’t going in because our friend’s 10-year-old felt it was beneath her.
What was more appropriate for her was a craft fair, which was taking place on the other side of the park. Without thinking it through, we acquiesced to preserve bonhomie.
Unfortunately, we were struggling to convince the twins handmade cushions, jewellery and some plates were better than a slide. Confusion was etched across their faces as we walked past the entire point of the day out.
They put up some gentle resistance en route, walking slowly, looking furious and dragging feet. Fortunately, Emma gave up protesting, but by the time we reached the stalls. Thomas, on the other hand, had elevated his behaviour to ‘very bad’.
This gradual escalation climaxed when he lay down in the middle of the path, blocking a handmade pillow stand and started screaming.
The day was officially over, so I loudly announced, ‘we’re done, let’s go home’.
Part of me was annoyed at him for misbehaving, but I can only imagine how badly I’d behave if we saw an ice cream shop, somebody said ‘no’ and took me to a sofa showroom.
The only way out was to promise a playground the next day and make a pledge to never deprive them of fun in the name of social niceties, while expecting them to handle it any better than I would.