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A UK Pregnancy, Parenting and Lifestyle Blog
August 3, 2015

We Booked A Holiday!

 
We have finally booked a holiday! A boy what a mine field that was!
 
Originally we were going to be going with my family – mum, dad and brothers – but unfortunately our schedules couldn’t match up. Sad face.
It was sad enough that we wouldn’t be spending time with my family but it also created a bit of another issue in the childcare department! With no other family members around it would be just the husband and I, and we were looking forward to a bit of us time as well as family time.

Once I started looking into it, I realised how little (affordable) options there are out there to cater for the under 3s on holiday. Most of the kids clubs at hotel resorts start at 3 years old and if you want a nanny or babysitting service it costs you another chunk of money on top of your holiday price, which often isn’t very feasible.

I do understand that it is a little bit more work for the under 3s but Isla is super independent at 15 months old and is a full time nursery baba so would be in her element at kids clubs. If you’re looking for home cleaning, Hometress is the #1 Maid & Housekeeping service by providing you with exceptional cleaning every time!

In the end we narrowed it down to 3 options – First Choice, Thomson and Mark Warner Holidays – who all offered (limited) options with childcare for the under 3s. And all of which you have to pay extra for.
If you are wondering why we are so passionate about finding some form of childcare for our holiday, rather than just having Isla all week ourselves, I’ll try to explain! We are both full time working parents who have limited time off. We obviously want to spend a lot of time with Isla on holiday but we also like the option of having some time to ourselves as we don’t get that very often either. 
On the funny side, it would be a complete shock to the system going from being part time parents during the week to a 24/7 week of parenting. I’m only half joking here!!
I thought I’d share our shortlist with you in case you are also looking for a holiday with a 1 year old!
  • First Choice Holiday Village Rhodes Greece
  • First Choice Holiday Village Aliathon Paphos Cyprus
  • Thomson Atlantica Aegean Blue Rhodes Greece
  • Sirenis Hotel Club Aura Port Des Torrent Ibiza
  • Mark Warner Levante Beach Resort Rhodes Greece
  •  EUROPEMEDITERRANEANGREECERHODESDES_000923KOLYMBIAHOLIDAYVILLAGERHODESFC-7

    RHO_KOL_0472_4792964b54f18504dc0b826ccf2c132e72422ee6-2

    EUROPEMEDITERRANEANGREECERHODESDES_000923KOLYMBIAHOLIDAYVILLAGERHODESFC-6

    (Pictures from First Choice Website)

    We have chosen the First Choice Holiday Village in Rhodes, which has also come highly recommended by our bestie Jess over at Lilypod and Sweepea. 
    RHO_KOL_0481_3c10df1a6a3bd586ffefb8044698b2256b156742
    Rather excited about the swim up room…
    EUROPEMEDITERRANEANGREECERHODESDES_000923KOLYMBIAHOLIDAYVILLAGERHODESFC

    (Pictures from First Choice Website)
    I am a bit apprehensive as I usually like to get out and explore when on holiday and this resort seems rather quiet, but we will make the most of it and I’m sure we will find all sorts to do. And if we don’t, it’s fine, I’ll just spend all Isla’s crèche hours in the spa instead! 
    There are also the following websites which we had a look at but decided not to go with in the end:
    Totstotravel
    Quo Vadis
    Holiday Tots
    Are you off anywhere this year?
    SHARE:

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10 comments so far.

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thismamalife

Working mum to 2 👦🏼👧🏼
Wanderer/Military Wife 🌍
💌 sarah@thismamalife.com
💻 thismamalife.com
📽 YT: thismamalife
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Find me here!👇🏻

Kisses and cuddles with my faves 💖💫 Kisses and cuddles with my faves 💖💫
‘Each of us as citizens, has a role to play in c ‘Each of us as citizens, has a role to play in creating a better world for our children.’ - Nelson Mandela ❤️
It’s not enough though, is it? We’ve always h It’s not enough though, is it?

We’ve always had diverse toys in our house (not enough, but I’m working on it ❤️), but when questioned ‘why do you buy your kids Black dolls?’, I’ve faltered and answered incorrectly. I would respond saying ‘because that’s the doll Isla liked the best. What does it matter? We’re all human’, rather than questioning why that person is questioning it in the first place.

In a massive learning curve this week, where I am actively trying to become an anti-racist ally, not just anti-racist/non racist in general, I have found so many shortcomings in my effort to educate my kids and in my own attitudes towards race. But this isn’t about me. So here are some resources I’d like to share on top of the ones shared in my stories.

Some books to read:
Me and White Supremacy - Layla F. Saad.
Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge.
How to argue with a racist - Adam Rutherford.
Brit(ish) - Afua Hirsch.
White Fragility - Robin Diangelo.
I Am Not Your Baby Mother - Candice Brathwaite.
So You Want to Talk About Race - Ijeoma Oluo.

Diverse kids books:
Anti Racist Baby - X. Kendi.
Riley Can Be Anything -Davina Hamilton.
Look Up - Nathan Bryon.
Mae Among The Stars - Roda Ahmed.
The Mega Magic Hair Swap - Rochelle Humes.
Let’s Talk About Race - Julius Lester.
Welcome To Our World - Moira Butterfield and Harriet Lynas.
This Book Is Antiracist - Tiffany Jewell.
The Extraordinary Gardener - Sam Boughton.
Let The Children March - Monica Clark-Robinson.
Ruby’s Worry - Tom Percival.
A Kids Book About Racism - Jelani Memory.

Some things to watch:
When They See Us.
13th.
Who Killed Malcom X.
Time: The Kalief Browder Story.
Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap.
Dear White People.
I am Not Your Negro.

My to do list:
- Sign more petitions.
- Donate to more causes.
- Listen to podcasts and share.
- Encourage changes in the school curriculum so that my children, and their classmates, get a better, much more rounded and diverse education.
- Call things out.
- Have honest/open conversations.
- Share content.
- To keep educating myself, whilst never expecting others to do it for me.

It’s just a starting point.

Thanks for listening x
Black Lives Matter. I can never pretend to unders Black Lives Matter.

I can never pretend to understand, but I will always stand.

I’ve been on a huge learning curve this week and have, shamefully, come to the realisation, which I should have a long time ago, that it’s not enough to just not be racist. We must also be actively anti-racist and do everything in our power to ensure our children are too.

Today is a day to stop, listen, support, educate ourselves, donate, sign petitions, take action in any way we can, big and small, to make sure that everyone knows we stand with our fellow humans, family and friends. But we can’t just do this today. We must do it each and every day going forward ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻
And breathe! First day without both my babies for And breathe! First day without both my babies for the first time in 10 weeks today and it couldn’t have gone better. Both had wonderful days and were full of stories when they got home. I said over on stories last night, which got an incredible response so thank you to everyone who reached out, that I am completely comfortable with my choice to send the kids back to school and nursery but would never, ever judge anyone who felt different. We are all in different boats in this storm we’ve found ourselves in and what works for my family, might not work for yours. I have deliberately stayed out of the ‘are you sending your kids back or not?’ debate as it started to feel like another toxic discussion, in the media and on social media, that was resulting in yet another parenting divide.
I could have had the kids in this whole time, under key worker provision, but tried my best to hang on till the phased reopenings that I hoped would happen when they did. They were what I was aiming towards. Don’t get me wrong, I have LOVED having the kids at home together for such a sustained period, we have made lots of memories and learnt so much more about each other, but mixed in with the nature of my job and the fact that @thisdadalife is deployed and so I’m on my own with minimal support, I couldn’t have gone on much longer.
When I got in from dropping them off today, and as I went upstairs to work at my desk, I literally collapsed on the stairs and almost cried in relief. Relief that we made it through, as dramatic as that sounds. I don’t think I realised the toll it was taking mentally as I was constantly running on adrenaline.
I am so happy to get a bit more balance back and to, most importantly, feel like a better mum again. Not a snappy trying to juggle it all 24/7 with no break mum.
If you sent your kids back today, whether you wanted to or not, I’m with you and support you.
If you have kept them home in your bubble for longer, I’m with you and support you.
If you’re still unsure what to do and are undecided, I am with you and support you.
Nobody knows the full extent of someone else’s circumstances and we have to stop and realise that before we judge anyone else ❤️
Ibiza vibes in Puerto Gardeno today 😂☀️😅 Ibiza vibes in Puerto Gardeno today 😂☀️😅
This is the first year in YEARS that I have felt ok wearing a bikini. And I feel like it’s more down to how strong I feel, rather than how I look. Whatever it is, I hope it continues ❤️
On another note, how tanned does the @filterbymollymae fake tan make you look! 🙌🏻
(Both bikini and cover up are from last year).
#losingmyboobstho #youwinsomeyoulosesomehaha
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