Going Here, There & Everywhere (aka How To Tire Out A Three-Year-Old)

Three- year-olds have endless energy, don’t they? Ours runs, jumps, skips, plays and sings all day long and still has room for more. But last weekend I think we actually managed to tire her out.

Call it ‘Working Mum Syndrome’ if you like, but we tend to pack as much fun as we can into every weekend. Even more so, during the summer. Last year, we did every village fete in a 20 mile radius, hit up Camp Bestival, headed to Lollibop and climbed Mount Everest (that last one might be a fib).

And this summer is just as busy. But last weekend, we probably did a bit too much. How do I know? Our three-year-old (who always wakes up before her GroClock sun appears each morning at 6.22am) slept in until 7am. She was officially worn out from the fun we had.

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In the two days, we went on six bus journeys, four trains and two tubes. And did a lot of walking. This photo (above) was taken on the tube platform, when those little legs needed a rest.

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On Saturday, we took the train into London, early doors. First stop: Harrods. So we don’t visit Harrods very often. Aside from the fact it’s in SW London, and we live in SE London (Oh, OK, we technically live in Kent…) I’ve got much more of a Marks and Spencer and John Lewis kinda budget. But Harrods is simply lovely to wander around, isn’t it? We ‘oohed’ at sofas with a £9000 price tag and ‘ahhed’ at beautiful designer kidswear before making our way to the Rewards Lounge for a Mini Harrods event that we’d been invited to check out.

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I hadn’t heard of Mini Harrods before but it’s a really cool little club that your kids aged between two and ten can join if you have a Harrods Rewards Card. Saturday’s event was a painting workshop – and our three year old LOVED it. Little easels were set up, each with a small canvas on, and next to it were brushes and a palette. The lovely staff welcomed the small group of children and chatted away, learning names and explaining what they’d be doing. Then the kids got stuck in, painting summery scenes with acrylic paint while the Frozen soundtrack played in the background. It was basically our daughter’s idea of heaven.

Mini Harrods

painting

An hour later, we left with a goody bag of art materials and headed to the Disney Cafe for a light bite while watching Tangled. EVERY GROWN UP’S DREAM amiright?

Onward we went, via the Harrods food hall to buy a (posh) quiche, and we jumped on the tube to Highgate where our lovely friends Sarah and Chris were having a BBQ. The three-year-old spent the afternoon on their swing and we spent it drinking prosecco and catching up with people. Win win!

Cheers! Prosecco at BBQ

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We ended up doing that classic bad parents thing of staying at the BBQ way too late and getting home an hour and a half after the little one’s bedtime. OOPS. But she did an amazing job at getting home (two trains and a bus – exciting for a three-year-old, right?) considering we don’t use a buggy anymore.

The following day, we left Mr P at home and got back on the train into London. Just us girls! This time, we were heading for The Royal Albert Hall. Mr P was a bit jealous because he’s never been to anything at the amazing venue (“I can’t believe she’s three and she’s getting to go to the Royal Albert Hall before I do…”) We had tickets for the CBeebies Prom and it was fantastic. I loved hearing the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra play and the three-year-old loved seeing Gem from Swashbuckle, Katy from I Can Cook and Robert the Robot in the flesh.

CBeebies Prom 2014

Afterwards, we jumped on a train back to Bromley and went to a get together our NCT group was having – she played shops while I drank rosé wine in the sun (yes, very similar to the day before, there was a theme to the weekend…)

By bedtime, we were truly exhausted from zipping about all over the place. I might have gone to bed at 8pm with Mr P’s Kindle to watch Sliding Doors on Amazon Prime Instant Video.

So we might have all been knackered as this week began, but we had a lot of fun. Only four more days until the next weekend…

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19 Comments

  1. July 29, 2014 / 10:23 pm

    What a great weekend! G has an AMAZING social life for a 4 year old (as do you!). We do loads and my two STILL wake at 6am (or earlier). Wonder what else I have to do to get them to lie in? x

    • Alison Perry
      Author
      July 30, 2014 / 9:01 am

      Believe me, this was a very rare occurrence. She is usually up and thumping around her room by 6am, telling the sun to hurry up and appear!

  2. July 29, 2014 / 10:37 pm

    Ah we had one of those days in the garden with friends this weekend too – it’s just too easy to keep going with the lovely sunny evenings and the kis so happy playing.
    Cbeebies prom looks fab, and what a great opportunity to visit the Royal Albert Hall at such a young age! I’ve still never been, and I’m 47!

    • Alison Perry
      Author
      July 30, 2014 / 9:06 am

      You should go – it’s a fantastic venue. I’ve been twice before – my first time was seeing Robbie Williams’ Swing When You’re Winning show (which was AMAZING) in 2001 and I went to see The King And I there too. Going to try to go to a Christmas carol concert there this year.

  3. July 30, 2014 / 6:27 am

    My girl would LOVE the mini Harrods club – especially the Frozen part (relentless). I keep thinking about the lovely princess experience there then I realise that it is ridiculous! (but I still may do it one day, when I win the lottery). Lots of lovely fun xxx

    • Alison Perry
      Author
      July 30, 2014 / 9:07 am

      While we were there, we saw a few girls come out of the Bibbidibobbidee Boutique (or whatever it’s called!) and they did look fantastic …. but it’s £100 for the cheapest package and I just can’t bring myself to spend that kind of money on something that will wash off in the shower!

  4. July 30, 2014 / 8:42 am

    Sounds like you had a great weekend – love the idea of the Mini Harrods (Miss M is nearly 2…) so maybe we can go along soon. Well done with all the travelling – sometimes that is the hardest part with a little one (we have a buggy but she never wants to sit in it on the train – so we end up carrying her and the pushchair!).

    Hope to see you soon x

    Lovely picts of G too x

    • Alison Perry
      Author
      July 30, 2014 / 9:08 am

      Travelling around London without a buggy is so much easier. I used to dread it, trying to navigate steps and rely on strangers to help (ha! not likely in London!)

  5. July 30, 2014 / 12:32 pm

    That sounds like such an amazing weekend for a three year old. I am a guilty card-holding member of the stayed-out-too-late parenting club, I always seem to push things a little too far. But it’s sort of worth it when you get the “lie in” the next day, isn’t it? x

    • Alison Perry
      Author
      July 30, 2014 / 6:02 pm

      If it actually happens, which it doesn’t usually with us!

  6. I used to live around the corner from Harrods but still find the place magical. As for the Royal Albert Hall – such a treat for the eyes and ears – especially little ones. All sounds perfectly topped off too 🙂

    • Alison Perry
      Author
      July 30, 2014 / 6:03 pm

      Harrods just feels like it’s not a real shop. I can’t imagine ever going in and buying something (other than make up or a branded item that costs the same elsewhere). But it’s gorgeous to walk around.

  7. July 30, 2014 / 2:15 pm

    Oh my I’m a bit jealous of your 3 year old’s social life! I think you’ve got to make the most of these nice long light nights while you can. Besides mine can’t sleep at the moment anyway!

    • Alison Perry
      Author
      July 30, 2014 / 6:04 pm

      True, because come October, we’ll be rushing home to get warm indoors!

  8. July 30, 2014 / 8:29 pm

    wow what a fun packed weekend! Mini Harrods sounds lovely! I’ve never even been to Harrods but I really feel I must do one day and the afternoon at friends sounds like bliss too. I love summer this year, it really feels like everyone is actually getting the most out of it! x

  9. July 30, 2014 / 10:59 pm

    How have I never heard of the mini Harrods club? We do all our shopping there *cough.* Sounds like a great weekend, and anything that gets you an extra 30 minutes in bed is a winner in my book x

  10. July 31, 2014 / 10:11 am

    worn out from all the fun must be the best way to be worn out though! also, loving her dress!

  11. August 1, 2014 / 11:27 am

    This sounds like an amazing weekend adventure! I totally didn’t know Harrods had a kids club but it looks totally ace! i think it would hurt my eyes too much to look at the price tags 😉 xx

  12. August 15, 2014 / 6:50 am

    Sounds like a lot of fun though.

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