Mining for dragons

I regularly face a typical mommy conundrum.  Do I allow messy play and hope the washing machine can cope, or do I save my nerves and prevent it?
Generally, I allow the messy play and there are days when the results are beyond words.....
Today is one of those days.  Dragon has chosen to mimic the tunnelling nature of the screaming death dragon. So he has spent the day digging a hole. I am impressed at how deep it is. Especially as dragon used a small trowel to do so.
Dad isn't.  He's told dragon to fill it in by the time the sun hits the yard arm. Poor dragon. I guess screaming deaths will not be visiting our garden.......

Techno babes

"Mom, did you know that you can get "How to Train Your Dragon" for Xbox? But I don't really want an Xbox"
This came from the dragon today. I'm not sure if he is hinting, using reverse psychology, or just making conversation. But it does get me back to the dilemma of managing kids and technology.
The world is becoming more and more gadget geared and kids have to know how to use them to keep up with developments and succeed. But they also need to climb trees and ride bicycles and graze their knees. Where is the line telling us that our kids need less time with the latest gadgets?
I have seen alarming evidence of damage caused by excessive gaming. I had to make allowances for sixteen year old kids whose hands were so damaged from gaming that they couldn't write even a page without being in pain. I've read tje reports on the effects on posture, eyes, fine and gross motor development. I see the evidence of poor social skills rearing its head far too often.
Yet an outright ban may expose my kids to being bullied for not having these things.
So how do we manage this issue? So far the dragon his happy playing games at friends' house. He has taken on board my worries about long term injuries and he loves playing outside or doing arts and crafts. And so I hold my breath when he tells me about the latest Xbox game, and breathe a sigh of relief when he says he doesn't want it, for I know the day where he does ask for the latest device is coming......

Playing dolls

It amuses me how, no matter how hard I try or how much I promised my own mother, when it comes down to having a daughter, I can't help but spend ages planning her outfits. I find myself 'popping in'to fairy shops 'just looking ' while secretly longing for her to be old enough to appreciate a dressing up box.
My son is old enough and does have a dressing up box, but it just isn't quite the same.
Yet I enjoy watching him role play Star Wars meets Harry Potter whilst taming the Dragons of Berk and wielding a sword along with his light sabre.
Every year we plan his birthday party and I wallow in the fun of making suitable party favours that are not just sweets or cheap and nasty toys, but which fit with the theme. We've made magic wands and popcorn filled dementor hands, bug boxes, shields, swords, coats of arms and other crazy things.
But the fairy shop still draws me in, enticing me to play dolls with my daughter. ......

Dragon's escapades

So tonight the dragon is out at a sleep over.  It's not the first time, but it is the first time at this friend.
As a mom, I get a little nervous when dragon is away. Will he be ok? Will he remember his manners? Will the other children mock him for still having a teddy? Will that bother him?
So far he seems always to be ok and to make a good impression.  Tonight is no exception.  I have received a message from the friend's mother telling me how sweet snd polite my son is and how much she loves having him over.
Tonight is one of those moments where I get a warm feeling inside that tells me that maybe I am a good enough mother.

Funky place mats

Another homemade gift idea.... personalised place mats made with a large tile, mosaics and plywood. ...

Pamper time. ....

A lovely idea that the dragon and bumblbee were able to help make..... homemade soaps, bath bombs and bath salts as well as home made lip gloss and sugar scrub......

These make super presents that kids can make.....

Butterfly kids

Some ideas for a bug themed birthday..... a butterfly cake, bug chocolates snd flower biscuits.....

Viking armoury

The dragon is loving our viking shields made from cake boards, coloured paper, celtic designs and modge podge. Handles are made from duct tape. 

Rainy day biscuits

Baking biscuits on a stormy day......The bumblebee chose to eat her dough, but the dragon made lots of yummy biscuits to share

Dream dragons

On stormy days like this it is great to see the dragon caught up with making dragon mobiles to keep nightmares away