The patience of a saint?

The end of another rained-out bank holiday weekend. Despite living in one of the rainiest cities in the UK, there is so little to do with young children on rainy days. It is particularly difficult when you are trying to entertain 2 girls aged 8 and 9 and two boys aged 2 and three quarters and 8.5 months.

Sunday morning was spent at Head Over Heels, our staple rainy day haunt and the afternoon was spent in and around the house, which was OK as a birthday tea was on the menu. Then Monday morning we ventured to the park, only to be rained out after 10 minutes. A lot of TV-watching later and we set off again...this time for the Museum of Science and Industry. Us and just about every other family in Manchester with children under 12.

The girls seemed to enjoy it and were particularly impressed with the view it offered of Granada Studios and the filming of Coronation Street. Equally, my toddler was very happy to be there, but can only concentrate on something for about 3 seconds before he's distracted. Hence, I spent an hour following him around from exhibit to exhibit, alternating between trying to persuade him to wait his turn and consoling the baby (in the pushchair with the buggy board attached), who currently starts balling whenever I am out of view.

The real fun began however, when I announced it was time to go. This was not welcome news to a tired toddler and I was forced to carry him kicking, punching and screaming all the way back to the car. Luckily my friend took control of the pushchair or I would have been in all sorts of trouble. It was she who declared that I had 'the patience of a saint' as I managed not to lose it despite being beaten black and blue (yes a few more bruises have appeared this morning). I put this down to the fact that having two young girls to stay has made my weekend so much easier as they have entertained/looked after/played with my toddler and allowed my often low tolerance levels to remain relatively high!

I am also learning that no matter how bad a tantrum appears, it will be over as soon as we have moved on to the next location or activity...once I got the toddler into the car, gave him a cuddle ("I NEED A TUDDLE AND TISS!") and set off, he started making faces and noises at the baby who giggled manically all the way home. All 3 of us arrived home with smiles on our faces.