This will end up being an series of posts as there are a gazillion (is that a word?!) things plus one to do in this windy city. I know hardly any of them so I’m hoping with a few comments we can all discover a lot more over time.

So, onwards. Where can you find some child friendly fun in the windy city. The hard part is finding something new especially for younger kids and especially in winter when you can just take them down to a park or the beach. And it multiplys  when your wife, partner, other half or whatever is not there. I have Lola every Sunday while my partner works so I can really relate to this one. I know a couple of really easy ones that always leave me feeling slightly guilty even though Lola loves it and there are plenty of others as yet unknown to me.

The usual suspects for a rainy winter day

• Mitre 10 mega Petone. Good playground though a bit small and it’s right next to the cafe perfect for flat whites and fluffies
• Pools any pool anywhere. Cheap and the kids love it and it wears them out for a nice long afternoon nap
• Library. Works when they’re around 18 months old and don’t just run around pulling books out everywhere
• Junglerama. Costs a wee bit but a great treat and fun fun fun. Gets busy on the weekends
• McDonalds playgrounds. Painfree for all involved (hence the guilt). Get some food if you must, I won’t tel

If anyone has any other great ways to keep the kids busy on a wet day in Welli please let me know.

The best thing about being a dad is going through all those moments you loved as a kid. It’s rediscovering all the cool little things you now take for granted, bees, butterflies, playing in the bath and music. All these cool new things make the big events like birthdays and christmas just plain awesome!

1st birthdays are always a  big one. It’s the first celebration of your childs birth and I think they’re more for the parents and family than the child really. Your little one has a great time for sure but hey, they have fun anywhere right. A few treats and some wrapping paper any time of day and life is good but for the parents it’s like finishing a marathon. You’ve made it this far and you’re still alive, almost in one piece but still here. Time to gather the friends and family, gather round and just go boo ya! Year number one is done.

So on to birthday number two. We just celebrated Lolas and it was great, the parents can just sit back and relax, have some adult conversation whilst eating all the cherios, savories and sweetie goodness they can handle. And whats more it’s the prefect excuse to indulge. We had a bouncy castle, toys, food galore and maybe 15 children plus parents. The 2 year olds did their thing together and the little ones (8 – 10 weeks) cornered all the oohhs and ahhs from adoring parents. It all seems too perfect nothing went wrong, no tears or tantrums and a room full of happy people.

Two years down and man how they grow. Their personalities develop so fast, every little influence playing it’s part. Watching them constantly explore makes you realise, just for a while that the small things, the bits we forget about and overlook are some of the best. Take your time, re-examine everything and don’t forget to smell the roses.

So this is it, the first post on what will hopefully be a long and successful blog. So why start now? And whats it about? It’s simple. I wanted to learn about blogging, how to write, publicize yourself and everything that comes with this whole blogging thing. All I needed was a topic, a niche something your love is always good they say.

So what do I love? My daughter Lola. Being a dad, learning how to put someone else before yourself and discovering the world again through fresh eyes. Here it is ‘father factory’ written by myself and hopefully luring in lots of other dads along the way.