We went on a trip to Leiden in The Netherlands last week. We have friends from Prague who has lived there for a year and so we took the opportunity to meet up with them before they move back to Prague end of this month. Düsseldorf is close to the dutch boarder and to Leiden only 2,5 hours. Of course we stop on the road at a real dutch pancake place, Pannenkoekhuis Den Strooper in Arnhem. And also first day in I think 3 months we needed to put on a hoody and finally a real heavy rain fell.
We had booked a room at the Holiday inn - family friendly it said on the webpage... Ohhh my God, yes family friendly indeed like a charter or Finland boat ( if you have been you know what I mean) Buffet, play-rooms with ball pool, bouncy castle and also swimming pool. Euphoria for kids! And nightmare for me ( I am sure many adults loves this kind of set up also me not included though..)
I made an illustration on the theme...
Clearly different emotions for a ball pool... I can't help myself thinking about all those small dirty hands which has been playing before passing nasty germs on, but at least thank God the kids old enough now not to put things in there mouth (or at least better but still happens they lick something disgusting to try...) I tried to be cool and let the kids play not to panic over all the germs but then that back-fires and the three year old refused to get out. I asked nicely, asked nicely again, tried to bribe him to get him out, told him we will leave without him ( I know not great, but come on all parents do it right?!) then I walked away hoping he would follow, but he didn't.. Then I asked nicely one more time, threatening him with different scenarios that he will never be able to go in a ball pool if he is not listening or will not get the ice-cream I tried to bribe him with.. ( I guess he didn't believe me...) By now I am getting pretty annoyed and also I could see all the other mothers in that play-room finding my attempts pretty entertaining and I guess happy it was somebody else's kid.. I topped the entertainment with jumping in the ball pool trying to catch him!!! The three year old thought it was great - I was nearly falling over and super irritated by now... I got some support by a fellow mum and after spoken to her Filip thought it was boring so he came out and we could go. Get out and enjoy nature and not play-rooms...
We had booked a room at the Holiday inn - family friendly it said on the webpage... Ohhh my God, yes family friendly indeed like a charter or Finland boat ( if you have been you know what I mean) Buffet, play-rooms with ball pool, bouncy castle and also swimming pool. Euphoria for kids! And nightmare for me ( I am sure many adults loves this kind of set up also me not included though..)
I made an illustration on the theme...
Clearly different emotions for a ball pool... I can't help myself thinking about all those small dirty hands which has been playing before passing nasty germs on, but at least thank God the kids old enough now not to put things in there mouth (or at least better but still happens they lick something disgusting to try...) I tried to be cool and let the kids play not to panic over all the germs but then that back-fires and the three year old refused to get out. I asked nicely, asked nicely again, tried to bribe him to get him out, told him we will leave without him ( I know not great, but come on all parents do it right?!) then I walked away hoping he would follow, but he didn't.. Then I asked nicely one more time, threatening him with different scenarios that he will never be able to go in a ball pool if he is not listening or will not get the ice-cream I tried to bribe him with.. ( I guess he didn't believe me...) By now I am getting pretty annoyed and also I could see all the other mothers in that play-room finding my attempts pretty entertaining and I guess happy it was somebody else's kid.. I topped the entertainment with jumping in the ball pool trying to catch him!!! The three year old thought it was great - I was nearly falling over and super irritated by now... I got some support by a fellow mum and after spoken to her Filip thought it was boring so he came out and we could go. Get out and enjoy nature and not play-rooms...
And did we enjoy Leiden
I love the Amsterdam style houses, peeking in to see their bohemian interior style, the canal, cute streets, friendly people, even the wind mills I love. I lived in Holland a couple years when I was younger, first place living away from home, and so this country and the language has a special place in my heart. We went out to the sea at Katwijk and so beautiful and funky bar. And to hang out with friends the icing on the cake, so nice to catch up and hear how life in The Netherlands has been.
( Photo credit to Riina Tiira-Sramko)
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