Monday last week was hot hot hot. I got a text: “Do you want to go on the train to that good park and take a picnic?” Erm, yes please! (I had half expected the text to be about going to Messy Hands and was thinking nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo it’s too hot to be in a church hall full of shouty toddlers! Picnic = much better.)
In the past I’ve never really enjoyed picnics but it turns out that picnicking with a weaning baby is great because the mess doesn’t matter. Excellent! Plus there were loads of kids running around and he always eats better if he has something to watch. Often I time using the washing machine for lunch time as he loves to watch that.
The park we went to is only a short train ride away and I imagine that as TTB gets older it will be one of those adventure type outings that he looks forward to. I’ve been through this village on the train so many times but it was the first time I’ve stopped there. It’s very quiet and quaint. Crossing the level crossing and walking to the park on a very hot day felt quite nostalgic and like what you should do on that kind of day. (I’ve been wondering why I feel nostalgic about everything at the moment. Everything reminds me of my childhood! and then I realised that it’s because I’m doing childhood things again but with my little boy. Oh yes. duh.)
I don’t like him being in the sun for too long but he is quite determined and strong so eventually had enough of sitting on my lap in the shade and wanted to be free range for a bit. My sister (Rachel) got me this picnic blanket for Christmas and it’s fabulous. It’s light, waterproof, has a carry handle and best of all has rabbits on it. I keep it under the pushchair all the time and I’ve used it loads. I used to be Queen of Presents in our family but Rachel has pretty much stolen my crown now. Rachel, Queen of Presents. *passes baton on*
When I have a successful day I like to give myself an imaginary pat on the back. So often I feel a bit like I’m not a proper capable grown up/mum/person that I like to acknowledge that I was able to pull a picnic together at short notice and turn up at the station with a picnic blanket and a hat and suncream for the baby. Small victories!
