I like pretending I’m down with the natural parents. We have modelling beeswax and blocks made from sustainable artisan wood sources, our play kitchen is made from eco-friendly materials and painted with non-toxic paint. A lot of our stuff is handmade, homemade, op-shopped and recycled. I really do feel an affinity for that type of environment, and I try to incorporate the ideas and experiences as much as I can.
And then they watch four episodes of Cloudbabies in a row and fight over the Littlest Pet Shop animals.
I just cant resist those damn little bug-eyed creatures.
It is important to me that they get outside and get thoroughly grotty, digging up worms and finding sticks. They are just starting to be interested in a wider range of things, and Abby’s capacity for understanding conceptual things is growing so fast I can barely keep up. So the idea of a nature table is something she can grasp and almost see the value of, rather than just think it is a bunch of rocks on a table, just another thing to fling to the floor on the quest for complete destruction.
So it’s time for me to pretend I know what I’m doing. While Pepper is eating sand, and Abby bobs around in the surf on her “skateboard” (she can understand a nature table, but not remember the word “kickboard”), I dig about and find some fun things for them to look at and touch.
I also still scream when I very nearly stand on a jellyfish.
I am so not cut out for the natural world.
But if anything, washing these items gives the brats something to do (when they’re not fighting over the bowl and the washer), and some cool stuff for show and tell at day care.
So we leave them in the sun to dry, and pop them on a little table to touch and talk about.
And then ignore in favour of a Littlest Pet Shop peacock.
Eva Iezzi says
November 22, 2013 at 10:17 amI kinda hope my baby has crazy-hair like Peps!
Veggie Mama says
November 22, 2013 at 1:13 pmI will cut it in the middle of the night like Drop Dead Fred x
Lisa Mckenzie says
November 22, 2013 at 12:33 pmGod your kids are cute Stacey so like you and I am pretty clueless about stuff like that! It is great you are letting the girls play in the dirt and wash rocks and shells such great fun for kids you are on the right track xx
Veggie Mama says
November 22, 2013 at 1:13 pmI am equal parts excited and frightened of the mud pie years.
Bek @ Just For Daisy says
November 22, 2013 at 2:24 pmYou made me laugh out loud!
We have a good mix of plastic crap and natural, handmade etc etc toys!
We also do not have commercial TV… haven’t hooked it up in nearly 2 years! But my 3yo can get ABC for Kids on the iPad (which is always charged!) in seconds and we play DVD’s on our TV all the time.
Thanks for your honest look at the reality of life!! xx hehe!
Veggie Mama says
November 26, 2013 at 9:16 pmYes, YouTube on the iPad gets quite the workout around here. We’re not big TV watchers, but gosh a run of Peppa Pig in the afternoon gives everyone some much-needed time out haha. Can’t quite shake the lure of the cutesy plastic every now and then 😉
Emmas Brain says
November 22, 2013 at 3:21 pmHa! I like to think I live as resourcefully as I can, but sometimes when you have kids, its important to be resourceful with your energy and patience too, and for me, that means I will resort to convenience if needed, and I’m OK with that.
Also, littlest pet shops?!? Andie is MENTAL for them!! I never thought I’d find something more painful to tread on in the middle of the night than Lego, but littlest pet shops, man.. they hurt like a mo fo. Xx
Veggie Mama says
November 26, 2013 at 9:15 pmSo far they’re still outnumbered by vintage My Little Ponies, so the ratio is just right. But I love your summation about resourcefulness – that is AMAZING. I will be remembering that one x
MotherDownUnder says
November 23, 2013 at 12:58 pmI went for a “hike” the other day…a walk on a paved path through the bush. And I got a tick and was bitten by an ant! I also saw a huge snakeskin!
Back to the cafe for me!
Veggie Mama says
November 26, 2013 at 9:14 pmOh the tick would have had me scurrying for cover! Someone once asked me “sand or grass?” and I answered “carpet”.
Sarah@SnippetsandSpirits says
November 25, 2013 at 12:25 amVery hilarious . I like you’re idea and you’re willingness to go through with it despite the littlest plastic pet shop conquering the “nature” table. Keep trying they will appreciate it some day ………….
Veggie Mama says
November 26, 2013 at 9:13 pmI will win them over with nature! Goddammit!
Bridie @ Miss And Misters says
November 26, 2013 at 3:02 pmAh motherhood, helping us to perfect those outward smiley carefree ‘isn’t-nature-the-freakin-best!’ sighs, while concealing that ‘ew-chicken-pooey-muddy-is-that-a-spider?!?’ angst.
Veggie Mama says
November 26, 2013 at 9:11 pmYou nailed it. Where I hold myself back from shrieking when a worm touches me. Look girls, a worm, isn’t it amazing?!