29 September 2010

After a couple of dreary and cool days, a bright, warm one. With the rising temperatures came a resurgence of mozzies, which beset me when I took Emily for a play at Mamiana playground on our way to lunch with Nick. While waiting for him at the office, I took her up to the 24th floor lobby so that we could have a look at the diggers on the building being dismantled opposite.


We were glad to be able to have a picnic lunch in the nearby little playground, then all too soon our hour of family time was over. Emily and I moved on to Midtown Park. On the way, I couldn't help notice an interesting product available at a party-goods store: Fanny Napkins! At the park we explored a few of the little paths in the landscaped garden behind the small lake, then spent ages playing Pooh sticks on a bridge over a fast-moving stream. We ate our snack in the little resthouse by the water. I know it is only a manmade urban green space but it is very restful there. The willows and rushes with their darting dragonflies are lovely.

I suspected that the small fountains would still be in operation, and of course, Emily wanted to play in them. She ended up stripped to her pants and spent a happy hour around there, including making mud pies.


Having had such a nice time, Emily naturally did not want to leave and make a huge fuss, screaming and kicking on the busy streets of Roppongi as I began to push her home. It is such a shame to spoil a nice day out with a tantrum at the end. I did not give in to her requests to go to another park, though I felt really mean as we may have had time to drop in somewhere else for a short while. However, she has to learn that I will not give in to that sort of behaviour. Hopefully the penny will drop quickly as I hate to have people turn around and stare at us as if she is a spoilt little monster, instead of the angel she usually is.

I am also pondering on whether to introduce a star chart reward system to make mealtimes less stressful. She just won't concentrate on eating when at the table, and also, I usually end up spoon feeding her as she loses interest after she has eaten her fruit or veggies.


Emily hasn't used the potty for more than a day; since I gave her a step she has been using it to get up onto the big toilet. On the way to bed, we stopped off to use the toilet and she said she wanted to do a poo. I thought it was just a delaying tactic to avoid bed, but she soon began to produce some, getting up after each one to have a look at in the bowl. I remarked that they looked like logs, and she said 'they haven't got any leaves on them. If I plant them they will grow into poo trees'! She seemed very pleased with herself and I was certainly glad not to have to clear up a messy potty. Sitting in that position will help her to go more easily, I think. That's the third time in a row she has done a number two 2 days apart, so the medication is doing the trick.