Working days and mami days

I don't know what every day is called, but I do know that one day a week mami doesn't work and stays home with me.

Then for two days after that papi is home with us.

And then after that I go to nursery and play with my friends. Then it happens all over again.

It has been like this since I turned one. I am two and a half now, but I still feel sad and confused when mami drops me off after 3 days together.

I don't cry or anything because crying is for babies, but I just feel we were having such a good time together so why ruin it and leave me at nursery? But I think mami (or papi, depends on who is taking me) feel the same way.

Cuddle time!

As soon as I realise we are nearing the nursery doors, I get really quiet and keep calling mami's name. Before going into my classroom I ask mami to carry me in and I hold on to her neck really really tight. So tight that sometimes it hurts her. 

And even if we have had a difficult morning and I didn't get my way, or I didn't want to get dressed, I forget all of that and I just want her to change her mind and go back home together.

But that doesn't happen.

She walks me to my breakfast table, sits me down and softly whispers "La mami te quiere mucho, mucho. Ya vuelvo a buscarte/Mami loves you very much, I'll be back soon" and kisses me all over.

At that point I usually laugh a little because her kisses tickle my neck and I look at her and say "Chao mami, te quiero mucho mucho/Bye mami, I love you very much". And she leaves to take the choo-choo train to her work.

tickle tickle!

By the time she is on the train, I am sitting at circle time dancing and singing with my friends and I am happy again. Besides, we are always doing something new and fun!

And so begins another week.

But I know that in a few days I will be snuggled up with mami and relaxing in our PJ's while she pretends to be sleeping then suddenly opening her eyes and tickling me. "Tickle, tickle, tickle" she says. And I yell out and try to escape. It's a game we play, and she gets me every time!

I know that a lot of mummies work and that we are not the only ones who go through this. But we really do try to enjoy every moment we have together. And with papi too! Besides, I need a break from them.

But SHHHH, don't say that too loud, mami might not like to hear that, it would break her heart.

How do you divide your time between work and your kids? Do you plan special activities or just take it easy?

Bilingual and bicultural?

Does speaking another language make you bicultural too?

As you know I speak Spanish because I am half Chilean, but when it comes down to it, I have only been there one time, so not much experience in that deparment.

But obviously mami tells me about it so that much count for something?

Last week mami took me to the Chilean embassy and I got my very own passport and ID card.

That's me signging my new passport

I already have my USA passport that I use to travel with but my Chilean passport had not been processed yet.

Some people have asked "Why bother?" to mami "It's not like it's an EU passport" and mami responds with  "Because he's Chilean too!"

Now what I want to know is, does being bilingual mean that I am bicultural too? I mean, I know about Chile, just like I know about the USA but I was born here in the UK and live here now.

Outside the Embassy

And what about papi? He's not fully bilingual (he knows a little bit) but knows a lot about Chile and has been there plenty of times. Does that make him bicultural?

I'm just not clear on all of this. Besides, sometimes I think I am trilingual! Half of the time papi and I have different words for things in English.

For instance, last week mami asked me to throw away some paper for her in the basura. Okay, got it. No problem. Then papi says, "Go on, throw it in the trash". And I just looked at both of them, shook my head, and said  "no papi, rubbish".

See? Confusion I tell you.

Oh and the two things I know for sure about Chile is that it is very, very, VERY far away and that everyone there loves me very very VERY much.

That is good enough for me!

How about you?

Do you speak another language? Or maybe only speak one language but have different customs? What makes you bicultural?

So innocent (drinks)

I know that mami mixes my juices with agua.

She tells papi "it's too sugary, always add water".

It doesn't make a difference to me because it still tastes good, but I think the people who make innocent drinks heard what mami was saying. 

They have come up with some new pure fruit juices with a splash of spring water and they are simply called juicy drinks. And no added flavours, only natural fruits! 

Their juicy promise means

No sweeteners

No colours or preservatives

1 of your 5 a day

Never from concentrate

Perfect for school lunchboxes or when in the buggy

As far as we can tell, it is the most natural drink on the market (after water of course!)

And really, who better than to test it out than me! Ahhhh, so good! 

Two hands up from me, mami and papi.

These drinks are available in naranja (orange) and manzana (apple). 

Go give them a try, and tell them Little M sent you!

*innocent sent me a lunch box with their new juices and a frog yo-yo

Guess who? It's Big Sis!

Mami and I are SOOOOOOO excited!

This is the first time we have a guest post on our blog.

It didn't take us but a half a second to invite Big Sis to write for us. I mean she sometimes writes for her busy mummy too and she knows how to have fun just like me!

So here we go, she shares her day at the LolliBop Picnic and don't forget to leave a comment for her.

Hi, I'm Big Sis. You might recognise me from Mummy's Little Monkey.

When my buddy Little M asked if I'd write a guest post on his blog, I replied, 'Of course!'

Little M and I go waaaaaay back - almost one year now, which, when you're only 2 and 3/4, is a really REALLY long time.

Big Sis and Little M

I was looking forward to seeing him at the LolliBop picnic last Wednesday, so was really sad to hear that he couldn't make it, because his Mami had to do something called 'work'.

So I thought I'd tell him all about it, so he wouldn't feel left out.

When I first arrived at Regent's Park I was a little bit shy, and stuck close to my Mummy, and Lil Sis. But then I spotted all the games and decorations, and forgot all about my nerves.

I could hear Mummy calling for me to 'Slow down!' as I ran towards a huge cloud of balloons. I grabbed a bunch and began running around the park, trailing them behind me. It was so much fun!

I tried to play Swingball, but no matter how hard I swung my bat, I kept missing the ball. Then I tried to hula hoop, but it just kept falling straight to the ground, so I just jumped in and out of it instead. Oh well - Mummy says it's the trying that counts.

I was colouring in some pictures of Charlie and Lola when Mummy called me over to tell me Peppa Pig had arrived at the picnic!! I was so excited I ran straight over to say hello.

I gave her an extra long cuddle, but then Mummy told me I had to give the other kids a chance to give her a hug too. I didn't want to leave, but I know it's important to share.

Luckily I spotted a man blowing hugemungous bubbles that floated through the air, and got distracted chasing them around. But when I finally caught up with one, and grabbed it in my hands, it disappeared!

There was so much to see and do at the LolliBop picnic, that I barely even had time to eat my cheese sandwiches, and my mini-cupcakes with sparkly sprinkles on top.

But I did find time to squeeze in a little face painting. What do you think??

Now I can't wait for the proper LolliBop Festival on August 5-7.

Little M and I are going to have sooooooooo much fun!

Big Sis

Tidy up time with Fairy Non Bio

Remember when I told you about my very special and personalised toy box from Fairy Non Bio and when I got to go see Winne the Pooh the movie?!

Well, I have some really good news - Fairy Non Bio has given us one toy box to giveaway to one lucky reader!

Haven't seen my box? Have a look below - the winner will get their name or blog name on it.

I actually enjoy tidying up or ordenar. Really! Mami has a special song that we sing together while we pick up our toys.

"Ordenar, ordenar cada cosa en su lugar/tidy up, tidy up, everything in it's place" and we march around picking everything up and putting it all away in my box.

And because Fairy Non Bio know how important it is for families to spend time together (even if it is tidying up) they teamed up with Disney’s Winnie the Pooh to encourage families to share those magical moments. 

And that is where I come in to give you the chance to win a special limited edition gift box, including Fairy and Winnie the Pooh goodies. 

Trust me, you will LOVE them!

And besides that, mami absolutely loves how soft and fragrant our clothes are with Fairy. Oh, and its gentle on sensitive skin like mine.

Now, back to the toy box, all you have to do to enter is: 


1. Comment and tell us how you make tidy up time fun or your special technique 
2. Follow on RSS OR Google Connect OR subscribe to receive emails (your choice)
3. Recommend our blog to one other person (tweet or email)
4. Leave your twitter or email so we can contact you if you win
5. For an extra entry you can tweet I want to tidy up & win a personalised toy box with Fairy Non Bio and @verybusymama http://bit.ly/mOmHEf 

One entry per person
UK only
Winner selected a random
Competition closes on Monday 20th of June at midnight
Must do numbers 1- 4 

Good luck and remember to ordenar!

Will someone please wake up!

I was watching Humf early yesterday when I realised his morning routine if very similar to mine.

He had woken up very early and had gone to his mami and papi's room just like I do every morning and his mami and papi were sound asleep. I couldn't believe it, it was just like me!

See I am usually up very early, "way too early" mami says.

I can't help it if the sun is shining through the curtains in my room. And once I'm up, I'm ready to get the day started. So I go and see if mami and papi are up yet, and 10 times out of 10 they are not.

I do try to let them know I am up by climbing into bed with them but  mami says the same thing every morning

"Little M, es muy temprano. Cierre los ojos y haga tuto/It's very early. Close your eyes and go to sleep". 


Drastic times call for drastic measures

But I can't. I try to close my eyes but I'm just not tired. I have been sleeping all night and now I just want to play. So then I turn to papi  and his eyes are closed too, so the next best thing is to open them for him.

I slowly lift the top of his eye open, then I say, "Papi, levantate/wake up"

Then he opens his eyes, rubs them to look at me and says "No Little M, papi is sleeping. Go to sleep too". 

And so I am stuck in between two sleeping parents who don't want to get up and play with me. 

Humf usually goes back to his room to get some toys and so do I. I tend to come back with my favourite puzzle, or book or I just dump my mega blocks on papi's chest.

But mami just grumbles "No Little M, ahora no. Estoy muy cansada/ Not now, I am tired".

Then I try again with papi and this time using a different tactic.

 "Leche, leche/ Milk, milk" and that always works. He can't deny me my leche! He slowly rolls over and gets out of bed and I follow him into the kitchen.

Now that I have him up, I ask him to turn on the TV. But just as I turn to see if he's sitting on the sofa, he is back in bed.

Sneaky papi. I run back to the room and stand at the door and call both of them "Mami..papi! Mami...papi"

I see mami still with her eyes closed say "Can you get up with him?" but papi just pretends to be asleep, rolls over and pulls up the covers.

Mami then mumbles something something back like "I know you can hear me" but grabs her pillow, and walking very, very slowly comes into the living room and lays on the sofa while I play and watch my cartoons.

And if they still don't get up, I do restort to drastic measures and and take off my pijamas and nappy and throw it on their bed. Talk about jumping out of bed, works every time!

You should see mami in the mornings, she looks so funny! Her fringe is sticking straight up and her eyes look really small.

If they are so tired in the mornings maybe they should consider going to bed at the same time I do. After all, I am always well rested in the mornings!

How about you? Do you get up with our kids? What is your morning routine?

Mami please slow down

Mami is ALWAYS in a hurry.

Even when she isn't running late she is telling me to ¡apúrate, vamos! /Hurry, let's go!

I don't get, I just want to take my time and wander, explore, touch, smell and just look at things. Just because she has seen it all doesn't mean that I have. I think she forgets that I am only 2!

For instance we zoom by the really pretty flowers outside our door. Mami has never really stopped to smell them and I usually stop to examine the yellow and black insects flying around them called bees.

Oh and how was I supposed to know that the circular, coil-like shell stuck to the side of the porch is a snail? I saw it on the wall last week and she wouldn't let me touch it.

But papi did! And now every morning I stop to say "hola snail".

And why is it that she pretends not to see ants on the ground when she knows how much I like following them?

And what about the ladybirds? Or "ladybugs" as she calls them.

They are my favourite insects ever and I just want to collect them in my bucket and bring them home with me so that I can play with them later. I don't see why that would bother anyone, they don't take up any room at all!

I could go and on, but I will leave it here for now. I mean, I do have fun with mami but I wish she would listen to what I want to do.

So this is for all mummies and daddies who are always in a rush: please just let us enjoy our time outside, there is only so much we can take of legos, drawing and cartoons.

And mami please, just slow down a bit and let me take my time.