Following the paediatrician’s stern warning on bringing our kids out on the weekend for fear of catching any virus again (especially for Zavier), we decided to have a 100% homebound weekend.
Which of course was a decision me and the kids cheered for, while Mama Toh to perennial weekend shopper begrudgingly accepted. You can pretty much tell the home dynamics here.
We cheated a little, when I allowed Summer to follow me out for an hour or so to buy groceries for the week.
Ok... groceries and to have breakfast
Summer's breakfast after changing her mind 3 times on where to sit
A whole weekend at home poses 2 challenges to myself:
1. How to keep the kids entertained.
2. How to avoid Mama Toh from grousing about being stuck at home.
Whilst I had some idea on how to keep the kids occupied, Mama Toh was actually my bigger worry, given that she had already shown some signs of PMS before the weekend.
‘Tsk cannot go out. Sian.’
‘You better entertain the kids ah.’
‘Tsk going to be so hot. Better on aircon in the living room ah.’
My plan with her was to take it a step at a time.
So for the kids…
So adventurous! Not.
I brought the kids camping! Right smack in our study room! With aircon blasting in case they get too hot!
Ok I see all your judgemental eyes mocking me for over-sheltering my kids too much by choosing an indoor campsite. But hey, in my defence my kids are only under 4 years old… and it was really a very very hot day outside. Surely that deserves some slack?
Ok damn it, I am an over protective Dad.
Next up on the list was Summer’s favourite activity – cooking.
The main dish was a one-pot easy tomato rice where we just dumped various ingredients into the rice cooker and waited for the output. Not sure if we added too much water but the end state was rather risotto-y, which surprisingly went down well with both kids.
Looking to clear out the leftover potatoes from last week, I cut them up and utilizing our ever reliable airfryer, we made everyone’s favourite snack…
Nobody can resist french fries. Even if they come without oil and salt.
Summer was amazed that for the first time in her life, we didn’t have to visit MacDonald’s to get fries. Which she probably postulated that that means we can make them at home every single day.
‘Can we make fries tomorrow too?’
‘Nope’
Sulk.
Anyhow following the very eventful morning/early afternoon, we binged on a few episodes of cartoon and the kids fell into deep slumber. Yes, eating fries and watching cartoon in an air-conditioned tent is more physically taxing than I thought.
And what about Mama Toh?
With the kids busy and eventually sleeping, Mama Toh was (fortunately for me) able to enjoy quite a relaxing day at home, sneaking in a long nap herself.
Busy/tired kids = Relaxed wife = Relieved Dad
That must be the Holy Grail of how our family operates.