I'm a nature child born and bred. My garden is a paradise on a hot day, an oasis of cool shady apple and plum trees, herbs and a small veg garden for my organic attempt at life. I grow my own veg, watch River Cottage and Gardeners World almost religiously and own a wood burning Austrian tile stove.
So the invite last week to spend two hours whilst my daughter went to a friend's birthday party was quite a culture shock. From planting up geraniums in their boxes for the summer in the morning to the concrete and metal of McDonalds just off a major European Autobahn was quite a culture shock. My daughter sat in this stuffy red London bus for the party whilst I clackety-clacked with some German mothers who were very nice and friendly but a world away from mine. I found it hell. The children climbed up awful plastic climbing thingies to the soundtrack of roaring cars and lorries with the blare of MTV out of nearby speakers.
The idea of a treat was chips and cola and a bag of goodies filled with sweet rubbish from a major corporation filled one who has been trying so hard to feed his kids on organic natural home grown food where possible, with revulsion.
Upon telling others how much I hated the experience no one really understood my point of view. Is there anyone who also hates these so called "great places for the kids"?