Tuesday, 21 February 2017

Behind the scenes

Today I shared this photo of my smallies.
They're gorgeous, right?

And very clearly angelic.

This is them playing (really well actually) a new listening game for Little One. He can only take a jump forward on hopscotch when he hears the jingly bells. He caught on to the idea immediately, and even responded to some fairly quiet jingles before deciding it would be much more fun to park Mammy at the beginning and boss HER around with the bells, ringing them so rapidly I ended up quite out of breath!

Fun and learning all sorted here.  Perfect.
Because we are quite the perfect little family. The pictures speak for themselves!

Of course, while I was distracted taping up the floor, Little One was doing his own learning. He demonstrated an incredible ability to transfer water using a sponge, the bathroom sink and, well, the water from the toilet.

Because real life isn't perfect, and neither are real people.

Today Little One got another glowing preschool report. Practically perfect in every way.
He celebrated this by having quite the series of wobblers about the injustice of having to wear clothes in public and running amok in the muck.

This afternoon I asked the children 'Would you like to make some chocolate chip cookies with me?', resulting in much excitement. This afternoon I also asked the children 'Would you EVER get your shoes and schoolbags OFF the hall floor before someone breaks their BLOODY NECK?!', resulting in downturned mouths and faces but also a safer hall floor.

I am dishevelled, muck-spattered, mostly smiling but also practicing calming breathing techniques more than I might like.

And that's why we parents share the 'perfect' pictures. Standing in the messiest corner of the room so as to hide the debris. Because no one remembers to click their camera while counting to ten. And because of course we want to remember the best bits, we've earned them!

Friday, 10 February 2017

Just the right juxtaposition

I'm not going to get into the Stay-at-Work vs Stay-at-Home parenting debate.

There are no winners, only losers, when people on either side of the argument start focusing only on the negatives in order to prove they are actually the ones who work harder, longer, more.

But every once in a while, through some fortuitous alignment of events, life presents you with the perfect contrast of our different lives.

Earlier today, Hubby texted me to let me know that his very important presentation had gone extremely well.
In reply, I texted him a picture of one of our darling offspring peeing against a neighbour's garden wall.

I don't think there's any real way to tell whose day has been more successful, but I'm fairly certain we've both earned a glass of wine this evening!

Tuesday, 7 February 2017

A little boy

There is a little boy living in my house.

He seems to have sneaked in, unnoticed.
Perhaps he arrived while I was hanging out another load of washing?
Or reading one more page with my daughter.

He may have seen an opportunity while I chopped vegetables for dinner,
And shown up then.

So many little distractions to fill the day, each of them a chance for a small boy to appear from nowhere and demand a biscuit from the press.

Or maybe, just maybe, it was while I nursed the baby.
While his soft cheek nestled close to me.
Those are the moments I was most distracted,
Lost in the amazement of his perfect little form,
His eyes meeting mine contentedly.

He reminds me of the baby, this little boy who is always in a hurry.
That particular knack for teasing smiles from my lips,
The dramatic shouts to be noticed by everyone present,
Those giant eyes sharing the wonder of a world still fresh.

The baby's gummy smiles are gone now. No more the sweet smell of a velvet-soft head.
The hollow of my shoulder lies empty, and floors are unpaced and still.

The little boy shares cuddles with me, 'Hug! Hug!' when he has a moment to stand still.
He seeks my applause to join his own when he has completed his latest daring feat.
He is funny, and cheeky and endlessly entertaining.
But sometimes I still dream of the baby's snuggles.

Ok, little boy, let's go have fun.
But please try not to be in SUCH a hurry, Mammy's trying to catch up.