Even with all the sadness that is happening at the moment, we still have to be busy. Perhaps more so than ever before to keep our minds busy with other things.

In the past my daughters have turned to the tv before anything else when they are bored. And I have, I’m sorry to say, let them. It is so much easier to let them sit on the couch and turn into mindless zombies while I get on with the housework (bleugh!) or better yet some sewing or other crafting. BUT NO MORE! I have removed all of the dvd’s and hidden them. (Whisper…. They are in my wardrobe, but please don’t tell!) I have substitued music cd’s in the dvd folder, so now instead of watching telly, they can put on Hi-5, or the Wiggles or something else entirely. Princess Two is NOT amused. Princess One is oblivious to the new regime as she is still at school. Keep an ear out around 3.30 pm. If you hear yelling, it’s probably coming from our house.

Anyway, it is noon. And so far today my 3 year old, instead of sitting down to Sesame Street, Pablo and In The Night Garden for 3 hours has -

Had a tea party on the back deck.
Played with her toy animals outside.
Is at this very moment playing hide and seek with her dolly and practising her counting skills.
Done a bit of montessori play with some dried black eye peas, cup measures, ice cube tray etc.
Danced to 2 CD’s of music.
Taken about 50 pretend photos with my old camera.
Played 20 minutes of an educational game on the computer.
And painted a masterpiece or two.

This masterpiece is destined to be framed and hung alongside the one painted by Princess One for my mother’s day gift this year.

And then she just went a bit paint crazy. This is a mixed media piece, with lead pencil, permanent pen, oil pastel and water colour paints.

I decided to try out my painting skills too. Not too impressive unfortunately.