Letter to Daisy - My Girl

In my previous blog There's no place like Home, I wrote about our recent holiday together.  While writing that blog, it got me thinking about something I read a few years ago, so I asked one of my university lecturer friends if she could find the piece for me. I've put it at the bottom of the page, it's really interesting how our behaviour can impact on our children and it is food for thought. Our blogging circle is back on track this month.  Zoë was without internet for three weeks while moving house.  We welcome an old friend Diane, of Diane Whyte Photography this month.  She has been planning on joining us but has been busy with her boys during the school holidays.  This month I am linking to her blog: You never get two the Same.  Diane has years of experience and I'm looking forward to reading her letter.

My Darling Daisy,

I wanted to let you know that I was really proud of how well you behaved being away from home, considering we were in really busy unknown places.  To be absolutely sure I was not going to lose you, Nanny suggested I use my old reigns, the very ones that were purchased for me when I was a toddler and are over thirty years old.  I put them on you, unclipped the back loop and attached it to the belt loop on my jeans.  You weren’t all that keen on being tied up like a dog at first but you soon realised that it was for your own good.  That, or you accepted the fact I wasn’t going to cave in and remove them.  You’ve been on a train before but this was the first time on the Caledonian sleeper and it was very exciting.  As soon as you saw the berth you immediately wanted to be on the top bunk.  I was a little concerned that you might fall out but I didn’t want to disappoint you and I told myself that you would be fine.  There are two safety belts that act as a barrier at the head end of the top bunk so I felt a little better about it, however I woke up every hour of the journey with worry. I was constantly in and out of my bed checking that you were ok but you slept like a log the entire way.

You know that when we go anywhere different I usually take my camera; you never know when there will be a photo opportunity.  Being in the south of England, we were pretty assured that the weather was going to be nice so there’s more chances to get photos of you in your summer dresses.  You were extremely patient with me this trip and only moaned about the camera a few times.   Your new way to show your annoyance at the camera is to pull funny faces or do the complete opposite of what I'm directing you to do.  When we were at Blenheim Palace I wanted a photo on the stairs and knew I only had a small window of opportunity before you would get grouchy.  I was saying, left a bit, right a bit, up a step, down a step and was making you wait until the steps had cleared and I couldn’t believe you were actually doing as you were told.

You are getting older and much more grown up.  I can't believe you are starting pre-school nursery next month.  We've had a great summer holiday together and we've done some really exciting things.  I'm just a little sad that this will be the last summer before we are bound by school holidays and can't just disappear when we feel like it. Next week is officially our final week of the holidays.

I feel like we learned a lot on our mini break holiday.  You have been more tolerant of my photo taking and I have persevered until I got what I needed without an argument.  I have been more laid back like Nanny since coming home and realised that getting all worked up about small things is totally pointless.  You learn from your surroundings and I think I if I can be calm you will grow up to be calm too, although there’s that teeny weenie bit of genetic personality that I’m glad you’ve got.

Mummy
xx

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.

If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with fairness, they learn justice.

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

There's no place like Home

We're just back from a mini break in the Cotswolds, which is a lovely place to explore if you ever get the chance.  I thought the least stressful way to travel with Daisy was going on the Caledonian sleeper train, as you leave at night time and arrive at your destination in the morning; easy as pie.  I did consider a flight but the thought of arriving at a busy London airport with said three year old made me feel a little queasy.  I felt much safer on the train.  We arrived at 7:30am and waiting on the platform for us to go on our pre arranged breakfast date, was my lovely Aussie friend; although the Australian accent has disappeared, maybe it’s something to do with living in Kensington, I must ask.

We had a few fun filled days out, the first being a trip to Tetbury Rocking Horse works.  I’ve been trying to get Daisy into Rocking Horses because I have very fond memories of one from my childhood.  There’s lots of Rocking Horses out there and it's hard to tell the machine made imports from the actual hand carved ones, which I love.  I’ve taken Daisy to the Rocking Horses that are in the local hospital but she’s not too sure of them.   Some can be a bit creepy if not painted quite right and I’ve done a fair bit of research to know that each workshops horses are unique.  I specifically chose to visit Steve & Bea's workshop because of the style of horses they lovingly create.  I called ahead and Steve said he would make sure the kettle was on and Daisy got a cup of Blackcurrant juice, which luckily she managed to drink without spilling down her clothes.  We chatted for a bit, got some snaps and then Bea showed us the different colours of hair and options should you want to buy a horse.  I’d love a horse for Daisy, but they are expensive if you want to get a decent sized one.  You have to weigh up what’s most important don't you, a toy verses a holiday of a life time maybe. However, I think a Rocking Horse is a heirloom purchase, it’s an investment right?  Maybe one day we will have the money to buy one.  Mum keeps saying, "how do you know if she would like one, you sure it's not for you".  I said how do we know she wouldn't like one if she never gets the chance?

Our next day trip was to Snowshill Lavender Farm near Chipping Camden.  I saw a BBC documentary about the farm recently and thought, I’m going to take Daisy there!  I wasn’t sure how long we would stay at the farm as I didn’t think Daisy would be entertained for long with a field of Lavender, how wrong was I.  Bees obviously love Lavender because there were hundreds of them!   Daisy was not phased.  I just said to her, “you must not stand of any of them while they are having a rest from drinking up all the nectar.”  I didn’t realise that as well as bees loving the Lavender, Butterflies love it too!  Daisy now loves butterflies and she managed to catch not one, not two, but FIVE Butterflies at the farm.  She really loves her creepy crawlies, but only held onto them for a few seconds before releasing them back into the air.  We were there for several hours, there’s a café and gift shop on the farm.  After our picnic was finished and Daisy was all Butter flied out, we went down to have a look at the shop and buy some smelly souvenirs.  In the cafe we tucked into some tea and scones, with clotted cream and jam, it was delicious.  We went back up to the Lavender again before we went home.  I couldn’t believe the amount of Japanese tourists that visited, the women were all dolled up with heels and designer handbags and I saw two men wearing Chanel handbags!  Then a few of the older ladies started picking the Lavender.  Now where I come from you don't pick certain types of flowers, nor do you pick flowers on private property that belong to someone else.  At first I thought, maybe they were just picking a small bunch for a souvenir, next I see one with scissors and they were stuffing huge bunches into carrier bags.  I was thinking, some people just spoil it for everyone else.  

The following day we visited Blenheim Palace on the recommendation from the friend we were staying with, as it was only five miles away.  With it being our last day and the hire car having to go back, I didn’t want to go too far afield.  The palace was great, I didn’t know what to expect but again it was a good day out.  Lots of information on Winston Churchill, I had no idea he was from that area and is actually buried in the village.  As much as people go on the pilgrimage to Graceland to see Elvis’s grave, I was not thinking Daisy would be remotely interested in a visit to the cemetery.   We were also surprised to see a horse and carriage entering the grounds with a Japanese bride who was about to get married.  Daisy was really impressed by the princess like carriage, it was like something out of a fairytail.  We explored the palace and grounds working up an appetite for our tea and cake time.  I can't believe I nearly left, missing out on the children’s area.  It was tucked away behind the trees but as soon as I saw it I recalled my friend saying there was a play park and a children’s train ride. Needless to say, we stayed for a further two hours playing, eating ice-cream, souvenir shopping, painting pottery and trying to catch more Butterflies of course.  Later that evening we treated our hosts with a Chinese meal as a thank you for letting us stay. 

On our return to London we met up with Lexi again and went to a much-loved Sushi Bar for a spot of lunch.  Lexi was mortified when she managed to spill a pot of garlic sauce down Daisy’s dress, but I just said “no worries”, it will keep the witches away.  Afterwards we went to Hamley’s toy shop on Oxford Street, you could easily spend a whole day in there; just as well Daisy is easily distracted.  Soon we escaped the hustle and bustle of oxford Street and headed to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Gardens and spent the afternoon playing, riding on the ferries wheel, eating ice-cream and Daisy managed to get Lexi back by spilling a cup of coke on the table, which was a very near miss for her super duper camera.

We ended our trip back at Euston Station with some fish and chips at Harry Ramsdens, although Daisy had “mermaid and chips,” another mystical topic Daisy has cottoned onto from her mama.