summer notes

So yesterday was Saturday. Not that we noticed. It's the holidays so the kids are home and have been for a few weeks. Some days pass by in an instant. We laugh and we play and we have dinner with friends. We went on our yearly island vacation here in Denmark a few weeks ago with around 25 of our friends and their children. Highlight of the year. Everyone taking care of everyone's children, eating ice creams and french fries, fishing for crabs, walking with Elinor in the stroller at nap time at noon. This will be the last summer she will need to nap. She's getting so big. It hurts. And it's a relief to be honest.

Other days pass by so slowly. Days with conflicts and tantrums. And boredum. But they need to learn not to be stimulated at all times. By adults, other children. Screens. God, I hate those screens. I love them at the same time. I don't mind saying that they give us a break on the slow days. I know I shouldn't say so. What I should say is that we play and draw and sing and go for walks all.the.time. And we do but not all the time. I also think it's very important that we are honest with each other. Parents, I mean. That we tell each other that it's okay to be wanting a break from our children. That we're tired at 10am and don't know how to kill time with our kids. You can be a super mommy even if you're tired, even if you don't want to play with your children and even if you pass them the iPad. I mean. We're only human.

Recently a friend told me that her mother in law had given her a thought of mind on parenting. "Just be honest with your children. Tell them if you're tired. It's okay".

I love that. Be honest with your children. Allow yourself to be tired or to not wanting to play or draw. "I need a break, mommy's a bit tired. But ask me again later and I will play with you if I feel like it"

I tell my children that mommy and daddy need a break from doing anything. That we want to sit down and read the news and drink a cup of coffee. I suggest to them that they can go play in the garden. Or in their room. Or maybe even with each other. I have a two year old and a four year old. We're talking one minute breaks here. But just the idea of learning them to try to understand or respect how we feel is very appealing to me. Not just because I need them to give me a break (haha) but also out there in the big world. Learning to listen to others and respect their feelings and their mood.

So... yesterday was Saturday. Not that we noticed. And we decided to take a trip away from the city to not drive each other crazy in our little summer house.

I've lived here for around ten years and I never saw the pretty and breathtaking nature at Mols Bjerge just a 30-45 minutes drive away.

I brought my camera. I rarely do. I should bring it more often though and leave my phone at home. Phone pictures gets lost or are so bad in quality. I know I will regret it in a few years if I only have Iphone pictures of my little ones

The girls loved the hills and the high grass and all of the pretty flowers. And the ice creams and the french fries we bought afterwards. It is the holidays after all