Emily is in a drama class. For the end of term they invite the parents in to watch a show, which they have been preparing all term. ‘I’m not sure I want you to come,’ she said to me in the car. ‘Really?’ I responded without really thinking about it. ‘You’ve probably got some stageContinue reading “Mum, you’re so embarrassing”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Health and Safety
Every time one of the girls has to visit the ‘medical’ at school (I think the ‘medical’ is just a room set aside for a bit of first aid and a lovely member of staff called Gloria, who may or may not be a nurse though I presume and hope has some kind of firstContinue reading “Health and Safety”
Street talk
Emily was on the swings at the playground this afternoon. Too close for a mum’s comfort, but in reality doing no harm, was a group of young teenagers. One of the boys was, I am guessing, head of mischief innovation. Tangling the three swings up, climbing the frame, high jumping out of a swing, runningContinue reading “Street talk”
Bribery and Bitter Lemons
I gave all three children a cookie today. Nothing very unusual about that. Except that it was 7.55am. It was a bribe. I was bribing them out of the house to go to school. When that only partially worked, I gave them another cookie each. Before I knew it, I had three girls, in uniform,Continue reading “Bribery and Bitter Lemons”
Good days Bad days
When the girls were babies, I took them for their first check up with the GP. She asked me how I was doing and I said, “We’ve had a good few days. Tomorrow might be different.” “Yes,” she said, “its’s all a phase. You get good phases, and bad phases.” In the bad phases, IContinue reading “Good days Bad days”
Better be quick …
Anna lost her first tooth this morning. She ran into the kitchen to tell me. I make a surprised face – eyes wide, mouth open – and was about to say, “no, no you haven’t, you’ve not grown big enough yet!” A lament on how fast they are travelling through childhood – which would haveContinue reading “Better be quick …”
Terms and Conditions
Emily has found her way to some nonsense video on YouTube. Another American family living life on camera. I tune out but hear her ask, “Mummy, this family has more people in it than we do, and they are getting a new baby.” I refuse to respond, remaining buried in emails. “Mum! Did you hearContinue reading “Terms and Conditions”
My legs are tired
“My legs are tired,” Sam says. “Mine too,” I say. It’s cold and wet and I decided to take the bus and walk to our local playground, instead of the car. We still had 100m to go. “Can you carry me?” Sam asked. “No, no, you’ve got legs.” “Can you carry me?” asks Emily. “Nope.”Continue reading “My legs are tired”
Help
Today someone asked me what it was like when the girls were in their first year. My answer was that it was a series of opposites; I was exhausted and thrilled, tired and focused, bored and stimulated. “That’s amazing,” the person said. “Well,” I replied, “I had help. Lots of help.” “Sure but I betContinue reading “Help”
Christmas curse…
Today I am cursing Christmas. If I step on one more small piece of plastic… most of which came into this house wrapped in shinny, sparkly, glittery red, green, gold or silver paper, with cute little robins or Santas or Angels, or reindeers or Christmas trees on it… if I step on one more smallContinue reading “Christmas curse…”
