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AMILY HOLIDAYS come in all different shapes and sizes and this Summer we are branching out. I love Center Parcs but my husband is less of a fan. He’s never got over the tattooed gentleman who spoiled his one and only visit. As we sat recovering from a morning bike ride with a well earned coffee, said man shouted at his son,“Martin, stop eating flies.� Daniel’s Center Parcs adventure ended there and then. So we have enlisted new holiday pals – my sister in law, nephew and niece – and are once again off to the domed village in Cumbria for a holiday the weather can’t spoil. It’s Britain, so the weather will no doubt try to spoil it, but it won’t dampen our holiday spirits! We plan to climb trees, ride bikes, get wet and come home to our ‘authentic’ log cabin for DVDs and lots of treats. Holidays are a time to step off the treadmill of after school activities and mid-term assessments and just enjoy being a family. We spent Easter in Disneyland (read my review and tips on page 20) and I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed it. Forget yelling about hidden homework and late school runs, we laughed about roller coasters and raced each other on ride after ride. We lay in the sand under the Florida moon and watched our favourite Disney films, went to bed far too late and ate far too much junk food. It was brilliant. So much of my life is spent handing out threats, administering punishments and shouting ‘we’re late’ at one or both of my children. I’m not wild about it but it’s our reality and expect the reality of a great many of you. So I’m looking forward to beating my girls at Lazer Quest (and believe me, I will win), racing them down the water slides and having them persuade me that I too can take part in the tree top climb. I know there are a great many Mums and Dads who dread the arrival of the long Summer holidays and the expense and organisation that come along with them. However, I’d ask you to stop for a minute and remember that you have a limited number of years to make memories with your children. Seize them because in the not too distant future you’ll be communicating by occasional grunts and possibly brief text messages. Only then will you yearn for an afternoon spent skimming a stone at Bolton Abbey. Enjoy a summer making memories.
Sarah Butters familiesleeds.co.uk
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Mums mean BUSINESS visits THE TETLEY Families Review KIDS 2 DANCE OSTEOPATHY for Babies The end of the BEDTIME story? Keep LEARNING alive this SUMMER We’re going to DISNEYLAND! Tips for planning your trip 11 Things to do before you’re 11ž SUMMER What’s On
NEXT DEADLINE: Thursday 1st August. If you want to advertise contact adverts@familiesleeds.co.uk CONTACT US: PO BOX 403 • BARDSEY LEEDS LS17 1EP • 07764 943 789 editor@familiesleeds.co.uk CIRCULATION: 17,500 copies printed DESIGNED BY: JUSTIN LEEMING www.jgl-design.co.uk • 07745 038 005 PRINTED BY: CHARLESWORTH PRESS Wakefield • www.charlesworth.com Thanks to Stockeld Park for our cover image taken in the Enchanted Forest. You can visit The Summer Adventure from 19th July. www.stockeldpark.co.uk Families LeedsŽ is distributed free of charge to schools, nurseries, playgroups, clubs and classes, selected retail outlets and sports centres. Distribution is across ALL LS postcodes. Families LeedsŽ is part of a larger group of magazines headed by Families SW LondonŽ. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. We take every care when preparing this magazine, but publishers and distributors – which include schools – cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor any consequences.
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