Summer has struck with a bit of a thwack! It’s hot. Very hot in fact. We didn’t reach 40 here in Ballarat today but it came close! I’m not complaining (well not much anyway) because I love the sun and the feeling of summer in the air. But I must confess, after a hot night with little sleep, my girls probably wouldn’t vote me mummy of the year today. Might have been just a smidgen higher on the grumpy scale than normal.
Personally though I thought I was rather responsible. I put their drink bottles in the fridge early in the day and made them a snack box of healthy eats – which also went into the fridge. We opened all the doors and windows early in the morning to catch those first few fresh breaths of cool wind. And then closed the house up, curtains and all, before the heat started baking the ground. With the air-conditioner chugging away all in all it wasn’t that bad …… unless you stepped outside. Which I did to hang a basket of washing on the line …. and let’s just say it dried pretty dang fast!
I think what frustrates me most about extreme heat is that the girls can’t get outside. We tend to watch more TV and by the end of the day they’re restless and exploding with energy that seems to bounce off the walls and ceiling. If I’m on top of my mummy game (which clearly I wasn’t today) I plan things out. Things to keep their minds and bodies amused. Crafts, games and other odds and ends to keep them occupied without venturing out into the suffocating air. Instead of doing that today I created an awesome Pinterest Board full of beautiful Art Deco furniture. (Did I tell you I’m having a bit of a love affair with Art Deco at the moment?) Oh well I’m sure there will be more hot weather ahead for me to prove my mummy prowess and try to gain back my mum of the year status – at lease with my own kids. (By the middle of the afternoon we’d progressed from the healthy snack box to microwaved popcorn and icey-poles!)
Do you have any trick to help the kids deal with extreme heat? Do share – I’m sure we could all use them.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
we had the same sort of weather as you …. 40+ here in Lethbridge … and yep frustrating not being able to get outside. Luckily I only have one child to entertain…. but I was still grumpy LOL.
We tend to do some painting (watercolour paints) and playdoh ….. that sort of thing. We also made some icy poles. (but then sadly had to wait for them to freeze … which to a 3.5 year old must feel like eternity!)
I think sometimes you can plan and it all goes haywire anyway … nothing wrong with a bit of extra tv I say
We stay indoors too, although lately I’ve been trying to get out first thing in the morning (pre-shower!) for a walk with my girls before it gets too hot! Loads of watermelon and lemonade icy-poles are working for us. Hope there are some cooler days coming your way x
Elisa {With Grace & Eve} recently posted..These days {summer}
Yep yep – tire them out while you can
We’re due for another hot one today so sent them all out for a good play before 10am. Now though there in playing Barbies….. keep cool Elisa 
Caz recently posted..Top 10 tips for family health insurance
Im one of the lucky ones Caz, I get to wear them out at the beach. I make sure they come home completely zonked! Definately pays to live by the beach in this hideous heat!!!! xx
Leigh recently posted..One of those days…..
Yes Leigh – you are so lucky living right by the beach. That would be so fabulous!!! Think I’d do the same if was a coastal dweller. Maybe one day …… *insert dreamy smile* Hope all is well with you
Caz recently posted..Top 10 tips for family health insurance
How hot was it???? We are holidaying down in Lorne it clocked 42C degrees which is unheard of.
Loving your blog and following you on Instagram. I hope you can join our planks #planksjan2013 challenge. Invite your readers as well so we can make fitness fun and get people moving on a regular basis. Consistency is key! On top of our normal fitness routine and healthy eating!
Can’t wait to catch up!!!! Much love xx Dani
Dani recently posted..Planks challenge starts 1st-31st January 2013
It think it stopped at just under 39C here Dani. Hot enough. Loving waking up to the fresh cool air today. I saw your planking challenge – you are looking awesome doing them. I should I should
Have been trying to get my jog on this month. Consistency is definitely what I need to work on. My goal is to do a 20-30 minute jog /wall 5 days a week for the month of January. So far so good!!! Enjoy Lorne. I love it down there. Beautiful beaches and awesome good playgrounds for the kids.
Caz recently posted..Extreme Hot Weather and Kids …..
In the late arvo when shade has come around we go outside even in the stifling heat with the hose. Everyone gets wet, even mum! Bubs go in the paddling pool
Oh yeah – if I wasn’t such a grumpy head today I could have got the kids to water the garden with me – that would have been heaps of splashy fun! I hate to leave until so late they were all in their PJs. It’s nearly midnight and it’s still hot. Seriously could live without the hot nights
Caz recently posted..The January Review and Giveaway Party (closes 31st January)
Thank God for patios and shade cause the heat doesn’t stop my boys from being outside…lots of drinks, we gave ice cubes to the puppies to play with cause they were so hot, and soaked the dogs with the hose, and made a small paddling pool for the pups…caring for something else took the focus off themselves and their heat. Then we water the plants with our water pistols…and zooper doopers all the way. I tell my boys to make the most of it and get away from the tv and xbox cause summer in ballarat might only last a month before we are back to horrible cold weather! We do have inside time too, lots of lego…which somehow seems to amuse my boys for hours! Their imaginations astounds me when it comes to lego and what they can come up with.
Wow – those boys of yours were good today – it was a cooker outside. I think maybe this year we’ll get a good run on summer before the cold settles in again. (I could seriously live without hot nights thou – my body seems to need cooler temps to settle I think – must be the Ballart blood
Caz recently posted..Extreme Hot Weather and Kids …..
Yep the hots nights are yucky…I sleep with a wet facewasher on my feet haha
We tend to stay inside as well on those 40 degree days until late afternoon when we head on over to the grandparents place for the kids to have a swim. During the day I look for stuff the kids haven’t played with in a while (under the bed and in the top of the cupboards I can usually find something) to keep them amused for a while. Or failing that we crank up the music.
Hehehe – love finding those toys under the bed they haven’t seen for a while. When my kids were smaller I used to put things away in the cupboard for just that reason. And yes I pool – that would have been awesome today. We used to have a little blue wading pool – but even that seems to have disappeared!!
Caz recently posted..Extreme Hot Weather and Kids …..