Searching for the Gruffalo

This past weekend Darryl and I had the night off on Saturday. Luckily my husband works in an industry where the brand managers have way too much money to spend on marketing, and the result is often being invited to events. We seldom actually go, but this Saturday we did. We enjoyed watching the SA vs Samoa rugby at Loftus, followed by dinner and the night at Montecasino - really spoiled, that's for sure!

But as is normally the case, we can't wait to get home the following morning and jumped in our car after the incredible buffet breakfast, bound for home and our boys. As much as we appreciate some time out from night routines and sleeping with two kids wedged between us, we also really enjoy walking through the front door as our two boys run to say hello, happy to see their mom and dad.

 

This weekend our boys wanted to go searching for the Gruffalo... something we have done with them since reading the book by the same name. It isn't as complicated as it sounds, and all we basically do is go to the botanical gardens for the morning and walk up and down the koppie, looking for the Gruffalo (because he lives there m'kay?), but mostly listening out for sounds in the forest that tell us he's close.

 

We started the tradition one holiday season when money was a little tight and we simply couldn't afford to drop another R500 on entertainment. My husband was the genius behind the idea of going to the Botanical Gardens (can you say... R50 for the whole family?), and telling the children we were searching for their favourite book character seemed innocent enough. I even enjoyed making our sarmies (I did say money was tight) and packing some crisps and coolies from the pantry.

 

What started out as a cheaper option to get our children out of the house ended up being the most fun we'd had the whole holiday. Our children could run free; no more checking where they were and having to rescue them as they dangled off some or other climbing apparatus, not to mention no more coming face-to-face with the 15-year-old playing in the toddler's area of the swanky restaurant play area. We enjoyed the walk as well, and being outdoors was refreshing! Stopping mid-way to unpack our coolerbag of home made goodies was actually the cherry on top of the whole experience. It felt good and it was good. It was good for our kids, good for us and good for our pocket - no mean feat in our world today.

\Have we ever actually found the Gruffalo? Well, no. But that doesn't seem to faze the kids one bit. They just love to be set free, to run, to climb, to explore. And we love to watch them free, running, climbing and exploring - not to mention how well they sleep after... aaahhh, weekend day naps...

Searching for the Gruffalo has become our special family tradition - one that I am proud of because it fills so many of my desires as a mother. It doesn't cost a fortune, it's healthy, the boys enjoy it, and we love doing it together, as a family.

What is your family's Gruffalo?

BY Loren Stow

Traveling with baggage

Becoming a parent is such a profound change in mindset that many things will never be the same again - eating, sleeping, socialising, working and even traveling.

I am now sitting in my sister's lounge in Australia, thousands of miles from my home. This is the first time I'm visiting my only sibling since she and her family immigrated to Australia two years ago. This is really a rare trip and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to see where my sister lives, works and raises her young family.

While I sit in the lounge at a little past 2pm in the afternoon my boys are opening their eyes and greeting a new day in South Africa. I look at my watch and I wonder if they're curled up on the couch with their cup of chocolate milk yet? Did they sleep well? Do they miss me?

You see, whether you embark on a holiday with kids (and all their paraphernalia) or leave them at home and go solo, you will never travel lightly again as a parent. I may not have a ton of kids stuff in my suitcases, but I am carrying an uncomfortably heavy heart.

I miss them terribly and even more so when they tell me to 'come home mommy'.

Our last skype conversation when a little like:

Harlan: "Come here to me mommy"
Me: "In a few more sleepies baby"
Harlan: "But I already sleepied mommy!"
Malakai: "Come now mommmy!"

Aaaahhhh... crack goes my heart.

The last time I travelled internationally (for work at the time) I didn't have little children in my life, I wasn't a mommy, and I certainly had no idea that it would be quite as hard to leave them at home. A part of me wants to jump on a flight because hugs and kisses via a computer screen is just not cutting it for me or my babies, but another part of me knows that this is a wonderful opportunity and that I must enjoy my sister and my time with her because it may take years before I see her again.

Who knew that travel would be weighed down by so much emotional baggage?

BY Loren Stow