Lockdown 2.0bugger off

So as the news hit that we were most likely going to be heading into Lockdown again, I felt, this time, at least I had some time to prepare.

Last time, we had no idea, no idea how long it was going to last, or how it was going to feel. How it was going to effect us, emotionally , physically? (2 stone weight gain, ahem, cough, what booze and takeaways?????!!!!!!)

This time I did feel nervous, slightly anxious because I knew what was ahead, or roughly what to expect, and this time was winter...yuck x 10000000.

But at least I could stock up on art supplies and crafts, and the boys were 6 months older, so it would be a little easier staying at home with no childcare if I had plenty to do at home.

The main change I had to make this time, was stop being so hard on myself. Just stop it. I am incredibly OCD around my house, and can end up hoovering 8 times a day, around the kids I may add, and these are uncertain times, so it doesn’t make me any better, cleaning is a de stress for me. But as you can imagine its a viscous cycle as I live with 2 under 2 . We have to stay home, to stay safe....There's mess everywhere and I'm wiping up behind their crumb trails like a maniac. So rein that in crazy lady.

Also, its not like being a mum in normal times, its not like being anything in normal circumstances, its stressful.

Stressful times. Its a global pandemic. We've never known anything like it, and you’re still trying to be Superwoman, relax. Breathe. Chill out.

Easier said than done, but still keep it in mind!

No one told you the telly has to be off by 9am. No one said Ragnar has to be able to know how to read before Christmas, no one said the kitchen had to be spotless for the 0 visitors you are having! Just breathe.

So I'm a neat freak, but I tried to cut that down this time. Being at home makes you stir crazy, you look at things and find a problem where there wasn’t one. So get busy!

Ragnar wasn’t really old enough to be into colouring or crafts at last lockdown, I tried, I really tried. I would spend ages setting up an activity table, only for him to come along knock it over, eat the paint and walk away in seconds flat. That can make you feel deflated in itself, but this time I had the mindset to try, if he wasn't in to it, then fair enough.

But try none the less ... p.s he's 2 and 1/2 now, with pretty much no language skills, but he does get stuck in, so here's some bits we got up to....lasting about 1/2 hour maximum each activity...

Happy Hands Peacocks:

This one was pretty easy, we made some paint hand prints and then sprayed them out into a tail, on a semi circle of card, we cut out a peacocks body in felt, and covered it in all the glitter known to man kind with a few feathers stuck on for good measure!

Apple Print Pumpkin Bunting

So obviously we had Halloween just before Lockdown part 2.0 hit, so this one was Halloween themed, but you could always create flowers, or animals faces with the apple prints instead! Simply cut an apple in half, and let them get get messy! I drew the pumpkin faces on when they were dry and we strung ours all together to create mini bunting along our mantle piece..and yes...Rags did attempt to eat the paint covered apple...

Building a Den...

SImple easy, they love it...just sometimes these ideas slip your mind!

Leafy Lions!

A lot of us are escaping for our daily exercise to the woods, and this time of year they are filled with beautiful coloured leaves. Collect some when you’re next out and about with your little one, and make them into an Autumnal creature..we chose Lions lol, but hedgehogs work a treat too! Rags painted the face, and stuck the leaves himself, and I drew on the faces when it was all dry! We have put ours in the window, which looks great when the Autumnal sun comes shining our way!

Pumpkin Painting!

This time of year the supermarkets and local farms alike are all into Pumpkins, and as Ragnar and Wolf are Bing obsessed..I decided to let them have a Bing pumpkin, we got one for just £1 from Asda, Rags painted it 3 layers of black, and a piece of card black for the ears...and I did the rest! And yes there was something weirdly, darkly satisfying about having a decapitated Bing on my Mantle! He's soooooo annoying right????!!!?

Boo-tiful Feet!

I don't know about you but I am obsessed with capturing their hands and feet every 6 months or so, as a keepsake, I’ve done them in salt dough and paint, but this time of year called for something a little more spooky. I borrowed this idea from an insta Mummy friend, and it worked a treat! And so their feet became little ghosts that adorned our window sills this October, I have kept, and dated 2 to bring back out every year which will be sweet memories for me and embarrassing for them when they turn 18 and I’m still bringing out their 'Boo-tiful' prints to coo over!

Tube Fireworks!

I borrowed this idea from an Insta Mummy friend too, and as Rags actually got to see his first ever fireworks this year, (even in Lock-down, as our neighbours very kindly put on a show we could watch from our back garden)..I couldn't resist trying this with him. Simply cut up old loo roll inners or kitchen roll inners and splatter the paint around to their delight to create the exploding firework look...we threw on some glitter too before the paint dried for extra November 5th sparkle!

If any of this got your creative juices flowing I hope you have fun doing it with your little ones!