It can be a challenge to keep your kids entertained during the summer holidays, especially when you are separating from your partner of over 5 years at the same time, but despite all the sad moments of this summers, Amy had a great couple of weeks. I was challenged to share my tips on how to keep your kids happy during the summer holidays and I could go on and write right an essay about all the things you should consider when planning a summer with kids, but usually it’s the simple things that count – at least it is for Amy and so I thought I’d share with you some of her happiest moments of this summer.
The photo above was taken at my Nan’s 80th birthday meal and Amy had an absolute blast wrapping everyone around her little finger and taken coin after coin after coin off them to finance her donkey ride addiction. It was so funny to look at and she spent a good hour on said donkey. She loved every minute of it and had the best of fun!
She also loved spending time with her great-grandparents when we visited my family in Germany. She helped them water plants in their garden, snacked on fresh strawberries and enjoyed cuddling with them on the swing before getting my grandad and mum to push her home on my grandad’s bike. Family-time like our trip to Germany doesn’t happen anywhere near as much as we’d love to, but that’s why we enjoy those rare moments so much.
As a German and half German, we had a good reason to celebrate this summer. Amy and I loved watching the World Cup and she sported her little Germany top with pride trying to sing football chants whenever Germany were playing. She was fast asleep during the big finale, but she was ridiculously excited when I told her that Germany had won the next morning – her dad wasn’t too impressed. Might have had something to do with England’s out in the group stages – maybe!
Trips to the zoo were another highlight of Amy’s summer holidays. She adores seeing all the animals and copying their noises. I think I might have a little future zoo keeper on my hands. Polar bears are her absolute favourite and she kept shouting Eisbär (the German word for polar bear) whenever her icy friends dared to look into the opposite direction. We might have even broken our own personal record with 3 zoo visits (to different zoos) in just 5 days. Quite impressive, don’t you think?
We also enjoyed park dates with friends, fun in the garden and day trips to local attractions. A day that Amy is speaking about even now is our trip to Wookey Hole with our friends Andrea and Sophie. It was the perfect day out and just what we needed to pick us back up after a couple of miserable weeks.
Friends like Andrea and Sophie were what got us through these summer holidays. They might live over two hours away from us, but one day of fun, laughter and giggles can boost your energy levels more than you will ever imagine and we really needed that to keep us going. Thanks guys!
Of course, no summer is complete without lots of water fun. At the beginning of the summer holidays, Amy enjoyed her first dip in the Baltic Sea, which according to her was frrrrreeeeezing. It didn’t stop her from completely falling in love with the wet element though. Days and days of water play in the garden were followed by fun in the splash park in our local park and getting completely soaked in Bristol’s harbourside, the perfect location for parents with water-loving children.
Amy didn’t leave her passion for water play at the front door though. No, she took it to a whole new level and attacked me with her little spray bottle whenever possible. I didn’t really mind, it’s just water after all, and seeing me jump made her laugh the deepest and darkest belly laughs, so it was totally worth it.
Overall, the last couple of weeks have changed my outlook on life a lot. I have always been afraid or too embarrassed to get involved with childish things like water fights or stupid sing-alongs in the street, but life is too short to not be silly and make your little ones laugh. Amy loves it when I do stupid things with her and seeing her happy while I was going through a really tough time, did not only lift my spirits and make me incredibly proud of my little girl, it also showed me who I am living for. I want Amy to have the happiest childhood full of beautiful memories and to ensure she does, I have to be happy myself and sometimes even a little silly!
What has kept your little ones entertained this summer? What has made you happy?
Amy is really cute!! Nice tips..I really enjoyed by stopping this.
You’ve inspired me to do a summary of our Summer now. I want to say your photos are beautiful as they truly truly are. They do the girl that it glowing out of them so much justice. But you write so very well, I think the words are as moving/touching as the images.
Yes, you have fun and be silly for that great little lady. I hope she continues to bring out the child in you and I promise to be a better friend and realise when you need a shoulder.
Hugs, Liska xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thanks so much, Liska.
She really is a little sunshine, isn’t she? And don’t you worry, you had no way of knowing. When we met up, I wasn’t ready to talk about it yet x
Awww, Sophie and I loved our day out and Sophie still talks about it now too! We need to do it again soon – so pleased we managed to make you smile. Looks like the rest of your summer was pretty great too (obviously seeing us was the highlight! hehe) x
Obviously 😉