![[AD - Press visit]
We enjoyed the glorious sunshine this weekend with a trip to Brighton. We went on the @brightoni360official which is right by the sea front.
The i360 pod take a slow journey up, allowing you to take in views across Brighton and the South Downs 450ft above ground. There’s a bar inside with drinks and snacks available to purchase and the experience lasts 25 minutes.
Afterwards, we headed to the open air roller rink for a roller skating session!
The roller rink is:
⭐ Suitable for over 5s
⭐ £6.50 if you have your own skates or £9.50 if you need to hire them
⭐ 45 minutes per session
Full details to visit the i360 + skating
📍 Brighton i360, Lower Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2LN
🚗 Parking nearby (we parked in the Regency Square Car park)
🎟️ Prices start from £25.40 for an adult and £16.90 for a child
🕐 Opening hours are currently Sun-Fri 10.30am-18.30pm and until 19.30pm on Saturdays
☕️ Bar inside the i360, cafe and gift shop
Book tickets here:
https://tickets.brightoni360.co.uk/tickets/?_ga=2.195305772.1869001490.1689671753-1757164059.1689671753/#events?eventid=157](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/417980235_313576471048632_3682382982231216432_n.jpg)
![[AD] ***Summer of fun at Barracudas Activity Camps!****
There is plenty for kids to do at @barracudas_activity_day_camps
From Tennis, Archery, Swimming, Motor Sports and more you can be sure that there will be something for kids aged 4.5-14. ⚽🏈🥅🎾🏓🏎️🏹🏊♂️🏉
You can book on a day by day basis - so it can fit in with any other days out/activities you have planned and there are early drop off and late pickup options available. Barracudas are also Ofsted registered so you can use your Childcare Vouchers too.
⭐⭐⭐Get £20 off a week or £4 off a day using my discount code: MARIA20⭐⭐⭐
#BarracudasActivityDayCamp #BarracudasActivityCamp #BarracudaAmbassadors #SummerHolidays #SchoolHolidays #Summer2023 #SummerCamp #DayCare #Camp #KidsCamp #surreymummy #surreymums #SummerOfFun #ActivityCamps #HolidayCamps #Childcare #SchoolHolidays #schoolholidaycamps](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/353583570_625625966167953_545896259645102575_n.jpg)
![[AD] We have some super exciting news...we have been chosen to be Laser Quest Ambassadors, and the boys are over the moon!
We are really lucky that our local Laser Quest (@laserquestkingston) is just around the corner from us. It means we can pop in of a weekend or anytime during the school holidays, and with summer just around the corner, I know Laser Quest will be one of our go-to places for some family fun.
As well as games of Laser Quest, there are also VR experiences and arcade amusements too. To find out a bit more about how Laser Quest works, you can read my blog post: https://www.suburban-mum.com/laser-quest-kingston/ (clickable link in bio)
Don't forget to keep an eye out for our Laser Quest posts - I'm going to be giving away two family passes to use at Laserquest Kingston!
If you can't wait and want to head down to Laser Quest to try it out, use the code SUMMER30 for 30% off your booking. The code is valid from now until the end of August 2023 and can be used on Laser Quest games and birthday party bookings.
#LaserquestAmbassador #Laserquest #LaserquestKingston #ActivitiesForKids #FamilyFun #DaysOutWithKids #Lasertag #LaserquestVR #Kingston #ThingsToDoInKingston #SurreyFamilyDaysOut #ThingsToDoWithKids #RainyDayFun #SurreyMummy #SurreyLife #LifeWithKids #LifeWithBoys #familyfunday](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/353230107_797358078406942_2405522556733455165_n.jpg)
![[AD] The sun has finally made an appearance and the boys have been making the most of it by spending it
in the garden.
They’re go-to is always football and they’ve been trying to improve their aim and accuracy with the new Messi Foldable Footlball goal from the #MessiTrainingSystem range.
I love the fact the goal is foldable, making it easy to store away when not in use. It is also lightweight so you can effortlessly pack it up and take it to the park or to a friend’s house.
The Messi Foldable Football Goal retails at £36 and can be purchased from @argos
You can read my full review here: https://www.suburban-mum.com/messi-foldable-football-goal/
#TrainLikeMessi #FoldableFootballGoal #FootballSkills #OutdoorFun #LionelMessi #LeoMessi #FootballAtHome #OutdoorKids #JustGetOutside #OutdoorsAndFree #ScreenFreeKids #WhateverTheWeatherKids @flair_gp](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/341194882_615024710178056_41977149395989448_n.jpg)
![[AD] We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we are Barracuda Ambassadors again this year.
With Easter just around the corner, the boys were sent the @barracudas_activity_day_camps new camp kit in preparation for the school holidays.
There’s a wide range of activities for kids aged 4.5 - 14 including Tennis, Archery, Basketball, Arts & Crafts and more.
If you like the sound of Barracudas, find out more over on their website. You can also save £20 a week or £4 a day, using my discount code: MARIA20](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/336812306_765234558514317_685553691647241974_n.jpg)
![[AD - Gifted]
Last weekend we were invited to try out @tsarettaspice’s new Bottomless Brunch menu and I can tell you it was thumbs up all round!
There’s a good choice tapas on offer from Punjabi fish fingers, Indo Chinese Chicken to Spiced Lamb Scotch Eggs and Manchurian Cauliflower (which was amazing!)
If you’re local to Twickenham and fancy giving them a try here’s are the details.
Tsaretta Spice Bottomless Brunch
⭐️£37.50 per head for bottomless Prosecco or cocktail of the day
⭐️£55 per head for bottomless Champagne
⭐️ Food included: 4 tapas selections and dessert or 2 tapas selections, a pav or naanwich and dessert
⭐️ Non-alcohol brunch is also available
Tsaretta Spice
55 Church Street
Twickenham
TW1 3NR
You can also read our full review over on the blog (link in bio)](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/334565436_5960402314015030_663031098700829518_n.jpg)
![[AD] What does family look like for you?
I am fortunate to be surrounded by strong, powerful women in the form of my mum, sister and mother-in-law (along with many others). With Mother’s Day just around the corner, @BootsUK want to celebrate all the different mums and mother figures we are lucky enough to have in our lives. They have a huge range of Mother’s Day gifts to choose from so we can show them how much they mean to us. (swipe to take a look at some of my choices)
If you want to express love and appreciation for the mother figure(s) in your life, head to Boots.com to find the ideal gift. They have a whole host of gifts, so you can be sure to find something to suit all tastes. Celebrate the #LoveForAllMums this Mother’s Day with Boots.
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![📚 Are you ready for World Book Day? 📚
[AD - Gifted] I don't know about you, but I have never made the boys a costume for #WorldBookDay. I just don't have it in me to be creative that way. Their costumes have always been bought or cobbled together with what we already have, and luckily, the school allow you to wear pyjamas to school, which makes things a lot easier!
M has been living in his @TheRealTomGates pyjamas recently, and I think he might wear these when his World Book Day dress-up day comes around (the school celebrate with Book Week rather than just Book Day)
The boys have been fans of Tom Gates for a while now. M has always loved reading books that make him laugh and contain humour - they tend to keep him engaged in reading.
Did you know that there are now 20 Tom Gates storybooks to get stuck into? Ideal for kids aged 6-12, the series consists of feel-good, hilarious books full of photos and stories about Tom's life at home and school. Best of all, you can read them in any order.
The latest book is Tom Gates: Happy to Help (Eventually), and along with the pyjamas, you can pick them up from @GeorgeAtAsda just in time for World Book Day!
There's also a range of Tom Gates items, including games, puzzles and greeting cards at major retailers.
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Surviving the Summer Holidays as a working parent
The boys only have a couple of weeks left of school and nursery and I am looking forward to and dreading it in equal measure. I love the fact that we won’t have the morning madness of getting out the door on time for the school run but this means I have to find ways to entertain them for six whole weeks!
We are very lucky that our childcare plans won’t change. My mother-in-law will continue to look after them two days a week with both Mr H and I working from home one day a week (I have Fridays off). That one day from home with both boys being at home will be tough for us both. Trying to keep kids occupied when they are at home all day is not easy – let alone when you have work to do.
Here are the ways we plan to survive our work from home days over the Summer:
Lowering standards
Making sure toys are put back before a new one is taken out? No chocolate or sweets until the afternoon? These little “rules” that we usually have in place go out of the window. When you are working and need to keep them busy *almost* anything goes. So lowering our usual standards is a must.
Which bring me swiftly onto…
Turning a blind eye
We may not be able to see any part of the living room floor anymore because it has been covered with every single toy they own or worse LEGO but if it means they are happy to play and we can get on with work why not? It just means a mammoth tidy up at the end of the day, which in the grand scheme of things is not too bad.
Gadgets
iPads will no doubt be used in full force to get through the “work from home day” as well as working through the entire back catalogue of Paw Patrol on Netflix.
Snacks
This one is a biggie. I don’t know about you but when my boys are hungry they tend to be a nightmare and will have meltdowns over minor things. They have been known to fight over who gets to sit on the rug first. I mean seriously? There is enough room on the rug for everyone! Anyway, my point is – keep the snacks stocked up. It can also be a welcome distraction technique when you start to hear them squabbling over a toy or what to watch next.
What hacks do you have to survive the Summer with your children?
You might also like:
- How to save money on Sumer activities
- Sailing through the rest of the Summer with Berocca
- Ideal locations for your first family summer holiday
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About The Author
18 thoughts on “Surviving the Summer Holidays as a working parent”
Thanks for sharing. Commenting for myself and on behalf of BritMums and thanking you for taking part
I entered this challenge too with my confessions of a stay-and-work-at-home-mum – love your tips! #picknmix
I agree, the snacks are essential! I have a big box of ice pops in the freezer as these keep them quiet for a while lol. Hopefully you will get lots done 🙂
#fortheloveofBLOG
Great tips, and I have used them all, even when I’m just getting the chores done! I also try and get my eldest to write a story (she’s 8) and my youngest to draw a picture. It works for about 20 minutes!! #PicknMix
Good luck with it all, it’s a big change but it looks like you have some stuff ready. #KCACOLS
Yes, Yes and Yes.. Love this post! I pack toys away and hide them 🙂 On those days that I cant take it anymore, I bring out the secret box and all of a sudden they are busy for hours! Good Luck #KCACOLS
paw patrol on netflix is a must! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you can come back again next Sunday!
Great tips! So true, having plenty of snacks is a must. When the weather is great, I usually let them out in their bikes after I collect them from childminder, that will tire them off and then let them settle down inside the house after dinner, either watching TV or playing their toys. #KCACOLS
I’m so glad we’re not at this stage yet! I’ll definitely be clinging to these baby days haha #KCACOLS
It’s always a balancing act, but school holidays are most definitely more of one for most parents. Luckily I only do blogging and freelance writing, so I can fit around the boys mostly – it also helps that they’re older and likely to be outside with their friends a lot.
Stevie x
My standards are super low already so not sure I could get much lower! I think its OK that sometimes youre not going to be at your A1 parenting game, you do what you gotta do to get through it. My son is is in a summer camp from 10-3 and will come into my office and play with his PS Vita for an hour or so till hometime,not perfect but we dont have the choice of perfect at the moment! #kcacols
Yeah I’m the same, looking forward and dreading it in equal measure! I’m bad anyway, from about 4pm the kids play/watch the iPad as I want to cook in peace and that’s there witching hour. I’m hoping to have the back doors open so they play outside, maybe get the paint out. I agree though that you’ve gotta lower standards or its just not going to work. #KCACOLS
Awesome post. I totally agree and pinned it to my working mom’s board. Thank you for sharing your great ideas.
Luckily mine are a bit older and pretty much entertain themselves. If they’re indoors too much I give them a couple of quid and chuck them in the direction of the park. I’m kind of lax, really. #KCACOLS
I’ll be honest I’m not sure how working mums do it and I’m dreading it when it’s my turn. My little one is only two so still at the minders. I can only imagine the stress summer holidays brings working parents #KCACOLS
I am both dreading and excited by the quality time I have with little man, I have taken 2 weeks off work, 2 of them he is with dad and the other weeks I sweet talked every family member I know. Think the postman is having him one day…I definitely let the standards slip a bit in the holidays and this is our first one after reception class so I look forwards to that us time again..fab points #KCACOLS
ThIs is what I do every Monday on my work from home day. Through food and toys at the situation, to keep my daughter occupied whilst I work. It sounds like you have all the correct measures in place Maria. I hope you have a fab 6 weeks with the boys, it must be nice nto to do the school nursery run for that time. Thanks so much for linking up at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x
These are some great tips!! I stay home with my 15-month-old, but I cannot imagine how chaotic things must be when the kids are off for the summer, and you’re not! Snacks are the number one way I keep my kiddo occupied when I need to get something done because, well, he’s always hungry! Haha-thanks for sharing <3 #KCACOLS