I don't know why it is but most people think Henry is cute when he's at his bossiest. I had to go to the city today and I took Henry with me so he could have a bus ride. His first ever. He was so excited about it that he allowed me to push him in the stroller to the bus stop. He even waited patiently on the seat at the stop until the bus arrived. He didn't try to walk out into traffic or throw his toy fire engine out on the road or at a passerby.
We boarded the bus and he chose his seat right next to the window. I sat beside him. The bus took off and he was completely mesmerised. His eyes roamed over the surroundings, checking out the air vents, the windows, the upholstery on the seats, the buzzer and the driver. A gentleman boarded the bus at the next stop and went to take a seat right across the aisle from us. Henry, for some reason, felt that he should not take that seat and yelled to him "you can't sit in that seat". The man looked over at Henry and very politely said "Well, how about you and me swap places and I take your window seat?" To which Henry replied "No, thanks. I'm fine here". The man then stretched out his hand to Henry and invited him to shake it. Henry did. For the rest of the trip into the city Henry kept peering past me at the man across the aisle and grinning at him. That gentleman was equally taken with Henry and made a point of telling him goodbye as we came to our stop.
The trip home was just as much fun and Henry managed to win over another gentleman who helped me aboard with the stroller. This man was middle aged and in awe of Henry's fascination with trucks and machinery (Henry squealed with delight at each truck we passed). The man told me stories of his own sons when they were little and how much they loved the same things as Henry. He said to me "It's so great to watch them when they're like that. It makes me wonder all the time about which point we start to lose our enthusiasm for the simple things in life. Why it is that we get so bogged down in trying to make it through life that we forget to be excited about a bus ride".
I have been thinking about his comments all day. He's so right. We tend to think of it as having to catch public transport rather than an adventure.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
It doesn't matter how old they are....
My children, despite their age gap, love to argue. Henry is only willing to allow Maya near him under his own terms and conditions. This morning as Maya got out of bed and came upstairs to where Henry was watching TV the following conversation ensured. I listened from the kitchen not game to interrupt.
H: No, no Sissy, don't take his blanket
M: But it's my blanket (it actually was)
H: No. It's not yours, it's mines.
M: No it's not, it's mine. Go and get your own Bob the Builder Blanket.
H: (pointing his finger) Sissy, you're being very naughty and if you don't stop it you'll have to go to the naughty corner
M: So what...it's still my blanket.
I came out with Henry's blanket and draped it over Sissy and told Henry he could have the one she had. That of course just started the whole thing up again. They all only want what the other one has.
One would think that a 14 year old and a 2 year old would love each other to bits. And they do. It's just that they can't stand each other.
H: No, no Sissy, don't take his blanket
M: But it's my blanket (it actually was)
H: No. It's not yours, it's mines.
M: No it's not, it's mine. Go and get your own Bob the Builder Blanket.
H: (pointing his finger) Sissy, you're being very naughty and if you don't stop it you'll have to go to the naughty corner
M: So what...it's still my blanket.
I came out with Henry's blanket and draped it over Sissy and told Henry he could have the one she had. That of course just started the whole thing up again. They all only want what the other one has.
One would think that a 14 year old and a 2 year old would love each other to bits. And they do. It's just that they can't stand each other.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Oh the suffering
For those of you whose children have not yet reached their teens...this is what you have to look forward to.
Practice trying to get your children to appreciate rice while you still can.
I hope you didn't think it was going to be easy.
Just to prove my point...Maya came home yesterday with a pair of Sass and Bide jeans given to her by her half sister who is young, beautiful and still lives at home giving her money to spend on such luxuries as a pair of jeans that look just like any other but cost possibly three times as much. All it did was make her say the following line to me with her pinky finger poised for linking with mine - "I'm going to buy a pair of Sass and Bide skinnies and then I promise, pinky promise that I won't buy anything else and will save my money".
Of course I refused to link pinkies because she's said that before.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Industry Socks
Ben starts a new job tomorrow. As he had no appropriate attire we had to go shopping and we found these socks. As he works in IT they seemed perfectly appropriate. Even if they don't do what they claim it was worth buying them just because they are Computer Socks.. There were also Health Care Worker Socks. It made us wonder if they'll start producing Union Socks, Administration Socks, Checkout Chick Socks, Traffic Controller Socks, Mechanic Socks, Cleaner Socks, Investigator Socks, Celebrity Socks, Actor Socks, Dole Bludger Socks or even Single Mother Socks.
We also wondered if a pair of socks called Get Rich Quick Socks would actually do the job they were designed to do.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Sick and Polite
Henry has had a very high fever since late yesterday afternoon. Since this usually follows a cold and is always accompanied by an ear infection I took him to the docs to have him checked out. Of course I was right. I don't like it when he's sick but what I do like is that it makes him so compliant and so polite and so loving. He wants to cuddle and he always says please and thank you and asks me if I'm alright even though I'm not the one who is sick.
Today at the doctor he was abnormally complaint and even opened his mouth to allow her to peer down his throat and she didn't even have to use that horrid dry timber stick thing they use to keep the tongue out of the way. He breathed in and out when asked to do so as she listened to his chest with the stethoscope and when she was done he got down from my lap, turned to the doc and said "Doctor, can I please have a lolly now?". She asked him to repeat what he had said simply because she wanted to hear him say it again so he obliged. She then asked him if he knew where they were. "Of course" he said. "They're behind your concuter (computer)".
Even I hadn't seen them there and maybe he just remembered from last time but that's exactly where they were. She took out the jar and offered him one. When he had finally made his selection he said "Thank you doctor. Have a nice day and thanks for checking me out. See you next time".
We departed to the sounds of the doctor's chuckles.
On another note - Maya had her end of term drama performances on Tuesday evening. I was completely impressed and in awe of those teenagers who wrote all the material themselves. Each drama group had a theme and they had to write that theme into a fifteen minute drama performance using miminal props. Maya's group did "Perceptions of Love". It was sad, funny and insprirational all at once. I had an insight into how 14 year olds view the idea of love. They started off with a short scene at a restaurant. Maya and her partner were bored with each other's company when he got a call on his mobile phone. He left suddenly and she was all alone in the restuarant looking decidely dejected. The next scene showed the two of them at work. She his secretary and he her boss. He calls her into his office and fires her - tells her he's bored with her and that he needs more excitement. She leaves in tears and runs into a friend who tells her he had seen him out with a blonde bimbo just nights before. She later confronts him and they have it out...the scene ends with the two of them standing alone on separate ends of the stage. They added a touch of humour but it was hard not to sense the drama and sadness of it all. It was hard not to want to wrap all those teenagers in my arms and tell them that love isn't always like that.
Another group decided to tackle the issues of single parenthood. That one was truly suicidally sad. I'm not sure which one of them or how many of them had come from broken homes but they certainly had some first hand knowledge of it and presented it as something real and tangible. They're mature understanding of it blew me away.
I tried drama at school but in my day it was limited to performing a play that was already years old and always written by someone else. There was never any license given to the students to create their own themes or use their own life experiences to write something thought provoking and worth watching. I gave up because I thought that learning how to type would be much more satisfying and someday would allow me to write my own crappy stories. Little did I know then though that someone would invent the personal computer for use at home and those fake love stories I typed up in class to give to my bestest friend could be stored somewhere other than a piece of paper that she would then show to the whole world at lunch time.
Today at the doctor he was abnormally complaint and even opened his mouth to allow her to peer down his throat and she didn't even have to use that horrid dry timber stick thing they use to keep the tongue out of the way. He breathed in and out when asked to do so as she listened to his chest with the stethoscope and when she was done he got down from my lap, turned to the doc and said "Doctor, can I please have a lolly now?". She asked him to repeat what he had said simply because she wanted to hear him say it again so he obliged. She then asked him if he knew where they were. "Of course" he said. "They're behind your concuter (computer)".
Even I hadn't seen them there and maybe he just remembered from last time but that's exactly where they were. She took out the jar and offered him one. When he had finally made his selection he said "Thank you doctor. Have a nice day and thanks for checking me out. See you next time".
We departed to the sounds of the doctor's chuckles.
On another note - Maya had her end of term drama performances on Tuesday evening. I was completely impressed and in awe of those teenagers who wrote all the material themselves. Each drama group had a theme and they had to write that theme into a fifteen minute drama performance using miminal props. Maya's group did "Perceptions of Love". It was sad, funny and insprirational all at once. I had an insight into how 14 year olds view the idea of love. They started off with a short scene at a restaurant. Maya and her partner were bored with each other's company when he got a call on his mobile phone. He left suddenly and she was all alone in the restuarant looking decidely dejected. The next scene showed the two of them at work. She his secretary and he her boss. He calls her into his office and fires her - tells her he's bored with her and that he needs more excitement. She leaves in tears and runs into a friend who tells her he had seen him out with a blonde bimbo just nights before. She later confronts him and they have it out...the scene ends with the two of them standing alone on separate ends of the stage. They added a touch of humour but it was hard not to sense the drama and sadness of it all. It was hard not to want to wrap all those teenagers in my arms and tell them that love isn't always like that.
Another group decided to tackle the issues of single parenthood. That one was truly suicidally sad. I'm not sure which one of them or how many of them had come from broken homes but they certainly had some first hand knowledge of it and presented it as something real and tangible. They're mature understanding of it blew me away.
I tried drama at school but in my day it was limited to performing a play that was already years old and always written by someone else. There was never any license given to the students to create their own themes or use their own life experiences to write something thought provoking and worth watching. I gave up because I thought that learning how to type would be much more satisfying and someday would allow me to write my own crappy stories. Little did I know then though that someone would invent the personal computer for use at home and those fake love stories I typed up in class to give to my bestest friend could be stored somewhere other than a piece of paper that she would then show to the whole world at lunch time.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Taverna Trouble
Today a friend from out of town took Henry, Maya and I to lunch at the Gap Tavern. I'd never been there before but if you're looking for a kid friendly but adult place to dine then it's perfect. They have a playground right off the dining deck and a kids playroom which is set up with a video car racing game, books, blocks and playstations.
My friend wanted to specifically go there because he's a consultant in the hotel industry and wanted to check it out for another person who's planning on taking over the management of it.
Anyway while waiting for lunch Henry played in the playroom which was located right beside our table. There were two other four year old boys playing in there too. They'd lay claim to each and every thing that was in that room and were not about to let Henry touch anything. I sat and observed for a while before intervening just to make sure I wasn't speaking out of place. Henry was his usual polite self and asked politely if he could play with the car racing game which had a seat and a steering wheel and required money (but he didn't know that). The other boy children just pushed him aside and said "no, you're not big enough and you wouldn't know how to play". Henry looked all forlorn and stood there staring and each time he attempted to go near it they shooed him away. I could stand it no longer and so tried the soft approach first. "Do you mind if Henry has a turn when you're finished?" Of course their answer was "No, he's not big enough and he doesn't know what to do, he has to go away. He just can't play in here". Very calmly I asked "Are you the manager?" They were then all like "After we've had ten turns each he can have a turn. We might take a long time you know?" I told them I understood but they weren't being very fair about it. I even pointed out that he had asked nicely and was willing to wait his turn but he didn't have to wait until they'd had ten turns. After I gave them each a stern glare they agreed to only have two turns each before turning it over. I walked away as though I had left the room but stayed outside the door within ear shot but so they could not see me. As soon as I left the room they started again. Henry had pretty much lost interest by that stage and turned his attention to something else. I left and could still see what was going on through the glass from our table. Everything seemed to be going ok but I went in later to check and by that stage the staff had turned on the playstations so I sat down to have a go. As soon as I did the four year olds decided they needed to tell me which ones I could and couldn't use. I made sure they were clear about the fact that I was an adult and could play whichever one I wanted. There were after all five playstations and only two of them so I had a choice of three. When I had made my choice they then proceeded to come and snatch the controls from my hand and tell me that I didn't know how to play and they would show me. I told them I was fine and could work it out. They then stood beside me telling me which way to move and who to kill. I had to tell them that I knew who the baddies were and I was doing just fine thanks without the running commentary.
Now normally these kids wouldn't have bothered me so much but I was tired and they were just too damned bossy. Plus I'd already spent the morning in Intensive Behaviour Therapy at home with Henry before leaving. They were getting on my nerves and rubbing me the wrong way. Their mother's were sitting at another table sipping wine oblivious to all the goings on and had not once removed themselves from their chairs to check on their sons.
As they kept it up I lost interest in playing and put the controller down and went to walk away. As I did so I couldn't help telling them that their bossy attitude had ruined my enjoyment of the game. I took Henry to the outdoor playground and they followed and kept it up out there telling Henry what he could and couldn't climb on. I stayed quiet and just glared at them. They soon got the hint and went back to the playroom to boss around some other little girl who'd gone in there thinking she'd just like to play with the blocks.
Aside from that little experience lunch was thoroughly enjoyable.
My friend wanted to specifically go there because he's a consultant in the hotel industry and wanted to check it out for another person who's planning on taking over the management of it.
Anyway while waiting for lunch Henry played in the playroom which was located right beside our table. There were two other four year old boys playing in there too. They'd lay claim to each and every thing that was in that room and were not about to let Henry touch anything. I sat and observed for a while before intervening just to make sure I wasn't speaking out of place. Henry was his usual polite self and asked politely if he could play with the car racing game which had a seat and a steering wheel and required money (but he didn't know that). The other boy children just pushed him aside and said "no, you're not big enough and you wouldn't know how to play". Henry looked all forlorn and stood there staring and each time he attempted to go near it they shooed him away. I could stand it no longer and so tried the soft approach first. "Do you mind if Henry has a turn when you're finished?" Of course their answer was "No, he's not big enough and he doesn't know what to do, he has to go away. He just can't play in here". Very calmly I asked "Are you the manager?" They were then all like "After we've had ten turns each he can have a turn. We might take a long time you know?" I told them I understood but they weren't being very fair about it. I even pointed out that he had asked nicely and was willing to wait his turn but he didn't have to wait until they'd had ten turns. After I gave them each a stern glare they agreed to only have two turns each before turning it over. I walked away as though I had left the room but stayed outside the door within ear shot but so they could not see me. As soon as I left the room they started again. Henry had pretty much lost interest by that stage and turned his attention to something else. I left and could still see what was going on through the glass from our table. Everything seemed to be going ok but I went in later to check and by that stage the staff had turned on the playstations so I sat down to have a go. As soon as I did the four year olds decided they needed to tell me which ones I could and couldn't use. I made sure they were clear about the fact that I was an adult and could play whichever one I wanted. There were after all five playstations and only two of them so I had a choice of three. When I had made my choice they then proceeded to come and snatch the controls from my hand and tell me that I didn't know how to play and they would show me. I told them I was fine and could work it out. They then stood beside me telling me which way to move and who to kill. I had to tell them that I knew who the baddies were and I was doing just fine thanks without the running commentary.
Now normally these kids wouldn't have bothered me so much but I was tired and they were just too damned bossy. Plus I'd already spent the morning in Intensive Behaviour Therapy at home with Henry before leaving. They were getting on my nerves and rubbing me the wrong way. Their mother's were sitting at another table sipping wine oblivious to all the goings on and had not once removed themselves from their chairs to check on their sons.
As they kept it up I lost interest in playing and put the controller down and went to walk away. As I did so I couldn't help telling them that their bossy attitude had ruined my enjoyment of the game. I took Henry to the outdoor playground and they followed and kept it up out there telling Henry what he could and couldn't climb on. I stayed quiet and just glared at them. They soon got the hint and went back to the playroom to boss around some other little girl who'd gone in there thinking she'd just like to play with the blocks.
Aside from that little experience lunch was thoroughly enjoyable.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Thank you for being so darn cute
Henry's day care teachers love him to bits. They tell me he's the most polite toddler they've ever cared for. When he's there he thanks them for warming his lunch, for tucking him in when it's snooze time, and for helping him to the toilet. He even politely asks the other children if he can share the toy they happen to be playing with. He apologises to everyone if he physically hurts them or if he feels he's hurt their feelings in any way. Each day when I pick him up they tell me how delighted they are to be able to take care of him. All the carers wave him off and all the kids help him out the gate. It's like he has some kind of spell over them and has sucked them all into believing he's a perfect angel. For me it conjures up images of him dressed in a suit at 30 years of age flashing some greasy smile to an investor he's just managed to con into handing over millions of dollars for his latest venture.
He has always been polite and I'm very fussy about manners so try to encourage him to use them as often as possible. Even at home when he's throwing a tantrum he's usually yelling "sorry" while he's thrashing about on the floor refusing to undress to get in the shower. He even takes himself to the naughty corner when he knows he's stretched the boundaries as far as he can. He always comes to tell me when he's ready to say sorry and flashes a big smile and gives me an enormous hug. The thing is that lately he refuses to co-operate on anything without putting up a fight first. It's like he's just decided that it's about time to let loose with the screaming each and every time he hears the words "Henry, come and...". He immediately starts saying "No, not yet. I'm too busy". He continues that until I get to boiling point and then he starts to throw himself on the ground screaming "no, no, no not yet Mummy. I just got to play cars first".
When I get him to daycare he's all smiles and hugs and full of nice things to say like "I like your hair today Debbie". Of course the only thing to do is love him and kiss him and shower him with attention.
Kids self protective mechanism is to be cute as can be so they avoid a lifetime of never getting their own way.
He has always been polite and I'm very fussy about manners so try to encourage him to use them as often as possible. Even at home when he's throwing a tantrum he's usually yelling "sorry" while he's thrashing about on the floor refusing to undress to get in the shower. He even takes himself to the naughty corner when he knows he's stretched the boundaries as far as he can. He always comes to tell me when he's ready to say sorry and flashes a big smile and gives me an enormous hug. The thing is that lately he refuses to co-operate on anything without putting up a fight first. It's like he's just decided that it's about time to let loose with the screaming each and every time he hears the words "Henry, come and...". He immediately starts saying "No, not yet. I'm too busy". He continues that until I get to boiling point and then he starts to throw himself on the ground screaming "no, no, no not yet Mummy. I just got to play cars first".
When I get him to daycare he's all smiles and hugs and full of nice things to say like "I like your hair today Debbie". Of course the only thing to do is love him and kiss him and shower him with attention.
Kids self protective mechanism is to be cute as can be so they avoid a lifetime of never getting their own way.
Monday, June 11, 2007
more photos of the weekend.
This cow, Posy Cow, she's really not so bad, especially right after she's had her morning weet bix.
We won!
The Australian saying couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery certainly applied to the World's Biggest Pub Crawl we just attended in Maryborough this weekend.
It was certainly a lot of fun and some of the costumes worn by the patrons were very clever and original but the organisation of it left one needing a drink. If you've ever been to my home town you'll know it has a pub on just about every corner. At one time there were 22 fully operational hotels. some of them have closed down and fallen into disrepair but plenty are still open for business. There were 16 pubs participating last year but due to a heavy crack down by the licensing commission the numbers had dwindled to only ten this year. It started at midday and all ten pubs had to be visted by 6PM to make your participation count. Each person bought a card for $3 and had to have that card stamped at each hotel. The card had to be handed in at the lat hotel visited. They had buses to ferry everyone to and from the pubs on the outskirts of town but all those in town were within walking distance of each other. Getting all ten in by 6PM was no small feat. There was barely enough time to order a drink and get the card stamped before moving to the next one. Some pubs had queues ten deep at the bar so getting a drink at some proved impossible. There was simply no time to get drunk or even tipsy.
A huge event attended by a lot of people, many from out of town, out of state and even from overseas. Some bars had only two staff members on duty and very few were forward thinking enough to even set up outside can bars or softdrink stands. Everyone had to simply stand in line for a long time for both the bars and the toilets.
One hotel who did not want to participate for fear of attracting a huge fine was helped out by Rotary who had applied for a special license and set up an outside bar in the carpark. That one was withough a doubt the most efficient and best run of all. They had even thought to have a few portaloos handy.
At one hotel my sister and I went to line up for the toilet only to realise the queue went out the door. We were able to walk three blocks down the road and use the public facilities and be back with time to spare before Ben had even been served at the bar.
The good news is though that I have helped my home town win back the title from London. A small town with only a population of 26000 beat London if you can believe it. And I didn't even get drunk in the process.
Everyone was on their best behaviour and not once did I see anybody so drunk or so disorderly that it made the event a sorry one. We had left by 6.30Pm though and gone home so I'm sure there was some rowdy behaviour later in the evening at the two hotels who had provided live entertainment.
My sister works for the local bus company so we were fortunate enough to even have our own private bus to ferry us back and forth meaning we didn't have to wait in the long queues for transport.
Henry and Maya both had a lovely time with their cousins and my mother while we were gone. Only problem was Henry had to be bribed into the car to come home this morning. Three acres and lots of room to run meant he was as happy as a pig in mud the entire weekend.
It was certainly a lot of fun and some of the costumes worn by the patrons were very clever and original but the organisation of it left one needing a drink. If you've ever been to my home town you'll know it has a pub on just about every corner. At one time there were 22 fully operational hotels. some of them have closed down and fallen into disrepair but plenty are still open for business. There were 16 pubs participating last year but due to a heavy crack down by the licensing commission the numbers had dwindled to only ten this year. It started at midday and all ten pubs had to be visted by 6PM to make your participation count. Each person bought a card for $3 and had to have that card stamped at each hotel. The card had to be handed in at the lat hotel visited. They had buses to ferry everyone to and from the pubs on the outskirts of town but all those in town were within walking distance of each other. Getting all ten in by 6PM was no small feat. There was barely enough time to order a drink and get the card stamped before moving to the next one. Some pubs had queues ten deep at the bar so getting a drink at some proved impossible. There was simply no time to get drunk or even tipsy.
A huge event attended by a lot of people, many from out of town, out of state and even from overseas. Some bars had only two staff members on duty and very few were forward thinking enough to even set up outside can bars or softdrink stands. Everyone had to simply stand in line for a long time for both the bars and the toilets.
One hotel who did not want to participate for fear of attracting a huge fine was helped out by Rotary who had applied for a special license and set up an outside bar in the carpark. That one was withough a doubt the most efficient and best run of all. They had even thought to have a few portaloos handy.
At one hotel my sister and I went to line up for the toilet only to realise the queue went out the door. We were able to walk three blocks down the road and use the public facilities and be back with time to spare before Ben had even been served at the bar.
The good news is though that I have helped my home town win back the title from London. A small town with only a population of 26000 beat London if you can believe it. And I didn't even get drunk in the process.
Everyone was on their best behaviour and not once did I see anybody so drunk or so disorderly that it made the event a sorry one. We had left by 6.30Pm though and gone home so I'm sure there was some rowdy behaviour later in the evening at the two hotels who had provided live entertainment.
My sister works for the local bus company so we were fortunate enough to even have our own private bus to ferry us back and forth meaning we didn't have to wait in the long queues for transport.
Henry and Maya both had a lovely time with their cousins and my mother while we were gone. Only problem was Henry had to be bribed into the car to come home this morning. Three acres and lots of room to run meant he was as happy as a pig in mud the entire weekend.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Firetruck
My mother has a fire station just near her home. Last night while waiting for my sister to arrive from out of town Henry and I took a walk there. It was dark and the doors were closed so we had to peek through the windows to see the trucks. While doing so we spotted the firemen cooking their dinner. Henry said "I'd like to meet a fireman" so we knocked on the door hoping they'd come and introduce themselves. They did. Henry looked aghast as though he couldn't believe a real one was standing right in front of him. They invited us in and gave us a personalised tour of the station.
Henry thought it was all pretty cool until he was offered a seat in the firetruck. He suddenly became frightened and refused the offer. I got in with him but he still was frightened. He asked to get down so we did and as soon as we'd done so he turned to the fireman and waved to him and then said "Thanks for showing me the truck but I have to go back to Nana's house now, bye".
All the firemen were worried that they had somehow upset him and so they rushed off to get him a sample bag filled with fire truck goodies including some cardboard fire truck money boxes. He slept beside those all night because they were the highlight of his visit.
Henry thought it was all pretty cool until he was offered a seat in the firetruck. He suddenly became frightened and refused the offer. I got in with him but he still was frightened. He asked to get down so we did and as soon as we'd done so he turned to the fireman and waved to him and then said "Thanks for showing me the truck but I have to go back to Nana's house now, bye".
All the firemen were worried that they had somehow upset him and so they rushed off to get him a sample bag filled with fire truck goodies including some cardboard fire truck money boxes. He slept beside those all night because they were the highlight of his visit.
Friday, June 08, 2007
It'll be just like the days before kids
I'm off to boost the numbers of this over the weekend. Don't anyone go getting all mother's don't do such things on me because they do. Sometimes.
Since I'm unable to cope with anymore than two glasses of wine these days I doubt very much that I'll indulging heavily but it's not about the drinking, it's about winning back the title from Britain.
My mother is coming along to stay at my sister's house and babysit all the children and she only too well understands that we parents need to have time out to indulgently hang out in pubs. Just like we were still 20. And childless. And with nothing else to spend out money on other than boozing it up at the local boozer.
Just in case I choose to have more than two glasses of wine and can actually make it to three without puking I will be taking along some Berocca's and a bag full of snacks to help with the hangover I may possibly have the following day.
My sister who can't cope with more than 1 glass of wine says it's the best fun ever. Mostly just because there's people who get dressed up in ridiculous costumes and do nothing but make fools of themselves after they've drunk so much they can no longer stand up straight. That'll be the highlight for me.
While we're there Henry will get to sit on the stationary ride on mower for several hours and his weekend will be complete. Maya will spend time with her girl cousins down behind the shed talking about boys. Sounds like a perfect weekend for everyone.
Since I'm unable to cope with anymore than two glasses of wine these days I doubt very much that I'll indulging heavily but it's not about the drinking, it's about winning back the title from Britain.
My mother is coming along to stay at my sister's house and babysit all the children and she only too well understands that we parents need to have time out to indulgently hang out in pubs. Just like we were still 20. And childless. And with nothing else to spend out money on other than boozing it up at the local boozer.
Just in case I choose to have more than two glasses of wine and can actually make it to three without puking I will be taking along some Berocca's and a bag full of snacks to help with the hangover I may possibly have the following day.
My sister who can't cope with more than 1 glass of wine says it's the best fun ever. Mostly just because there's people who get dressed up in ridiculous costumes and do nothing but make fools of themselves after they've drunk so much they can no longer stand up straight. That'll be the highlight for me.
While we're there Henry will get to sit on the stationary ride on mower for several hours and his weekend will be complete. Maya will spend time with her girl cousins down behind the shed talking about boys. Sounds like a perfect weekend for everyone.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Perhaps I should start learning how to pray
He broke the umbrella right after he finished lying beneath it.
I haven't posted for a while because of lack of time and also because Henry hasn't done anything cute worth writing about for some time. Lately he's been nothing but painful. The day time naps seem to be coming a thing of the past and as a result he's usually screeching and climbing the furniture like a feral cat by 4PM. He is going to bed earlier but not by much and a couple of evenings has even just gone and taken himself off there after his bath. I'll be getting his dinner ready and turn around and he will have disappeared into his bed and be fast asleep. That's a bonus I guess but the lead up to that is enough to test the strength of anyone's parenting skills.
The thing is that he knows when he's been naughty and sometimes will even just send himself to the naughty corner where he stays until he thinks he's been there long enough and comes to me looking all forlorn and says "sorry Mama".
I've just made a trip to the supermarket and took Henry with me. He and I are both tired today and both very cranky as a result. He seemed to sense that there was a limit to how much bad behaviour I was willing to accept today and was ever so patient with me. He even stayed close to me instead of running up and down the aisles as he usually does. I'd promised him a matchbox car if he behaved and so as we edged ever closer to that aisle, which he knows intimately, he started to show signs of becoming resltess. I stopped moving and gave him the glare. He immediately calmed down. Once we got to the cars he was only willing to look at the $13 box of five but the deal I'd made with him was for 1 car only. He wasn't happy with that and refused to even look at the offerings I placed before him. He started to scream and I started to walk away. He turned to follow me and said "no worries mum, I don't need a car". It was at that moment that I knew that most of the following through on most of the consequences I set had paid off. He even remained relatively calm until we got out of there and into the parking lot where he somehow thinks he will never get hit by a passing car.
Now I am going to clean up the yoghurt he's spilled all over the floor and hang the load of washing in the machine, wash the dishes, prepare the marinade for the meat that is to go in tonight's currt...and then...there's never much point wishing that after all that there'll be time to rest because....because life isn't like that.
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