Part 2 is here for you Fri Dadders gagging for more.

In the previous post I spoke about sharing tips and tricks for the benefit of others.

Since it’s been a blistering summer, I thought I’d share a current routine that’s doing very well right now.

As you are all aware it’s TOO HOT! Too hot to think, eat, drive or do cosplay. Children want to do EVERYTHING! The heat is keeping them awake, making them irritant and the lack of blackout curtains makes bedtime tough.

I came up with a solution that I’ve adhered to recently that made bedtime a set time and sleep time almost instant.

Okay, this routine starts from 5:30, roughly the time in which I feed Max his dinner. I make sure the dinner is light, there is plenty of liquid available and the dinner is quite juicy (soups, tomatoes, stew’s etc. all good).

I keep any potential desserts small. The last thing I need on my hands is a recharge.

Once tidying away and checking emails to see if anyone wants me as a scriptwriter (guess what the answer is so far) I pack a bag. The bag contains a bottle of water, a toy or two and an optional banana (bananas can help with dehydration).

At 7 o’clock (roughly the time CBeebies buggers off. I’m sorry, it’s a godsend for 5 minutes peace, but it’s treacherous) Max and I set off for the local park.

When we get there, all hell breaks loose. The temperatures have dropped, the park is empty and it’s time to play football Fireman Sam with a cuddly toy in tow. There I let Max drain all energy available, giving him water breaks and a snack if dinner didn’t quite cut it.

Around 8 o’clock it’s time to save Max lobbing the football from any other child’s head and go home. When we’re home I give him a quick wash off to avoid that sticky feeling he’s left with. A warm shower or bath raises the body temperature, opens the pores then drops the body’s temperature cooling him off.

Then it’s back to the original routine. Pyjama’s, book, blinds, bed. By then Max is in bed exhausted and by 8:30roughly it’s lights out! Now I can write FriDad in peace and attempt to write that script.

If you haven’t tried it, give it a go. Adapt it for yourselves and make it enjoyable for everyone involved.

There you have it folks. That’s my FriDad debt paid off for you all. I now need some water and a lie down. Until then…please let me go back to one for next weekend. Bye!