Oh what a day.
In fact really, what a week. We had so many big plans and fun ideas of things we wanted to do before school starts again and it literally all turned to mush. My youngest became ill and had a blinder for 2 days. On the third day all seemed well and we were able to go swimming and play football as well as running around like daftys. It was great. On day 4, my eldest became ill in the same way my youngest had. So that`s us indoors and garden bound for another 2 days, leaving half a day on Monday before school returns.
(half a day, because I am working Monday morning, yay! not)
Anyway being stuck in our home is definitely not the worst thing to happen to us. Its not like we haven’t had a year and a half worth of practice. We found so many toys and bits that really needed chucked and we watched movies that we hadn’t seen in a while. Notably The Grinch, because of course its a shared favorite and if this pandemic has taught us anything, its not worth waiting to do the things you want, you must do them while you can.
Is it bad that one of the highest things on our list is watch a Christmas movie in the summer holidays? possibly yes, but really I don’t care. One thing I did notice was the amount of company we have gathered over the past few years. Being stuck in the house for a day or so (I know, so dramatically life changing) wasn’t that bad. If we needed anything at all we had numerous people we could call. Literally heaps. These friends have been gathered from every source or place we have been in the past few years. Baby group chums have made up a majority of my friendships and I really feel for those first time mums who have brought their babies into a lonely place for parenting. I took for granted how reassuringly knowing other parents with kids your own age is.
The questions you get to ask about boogers, poop, leaky boobs, flappy flaps and weird shaped body parts and not a soul bats an eyelid. You ask your kid less friends these questions and you may end up sectioned. These are really the vital places where you learn to be a mum and not a panic riddle
d parent constantly phoning the pharmacist to see if they have a clue. Dr Google will freak you out enough to go to A and E at least once, where you will be labeled as a hypochondriac and send home with some tissues and a phone call to your health visitor. For the sanity of the new mums, we need to open the baby groups, fast.
The only other reprieve you may get is if you have a decent staff team. Not going to lie, I have a magic team to work with and nothing is off limits. No conversation is too weird and no request is to ridiculous. ” Whats that, you need someone to drive you 40miles through a hail storm in a flood warning? We both finish at 2, Ill take you… ” If you don’t have folks like this, you need a new job. No matter how crappy the job is, whether is scraping poop off of walls and toilets or unclogging hairy drains, It will feel like the best job in the world if you like the folk you work with.
I don’t imagine its very common for folks to have all of these groups of people in their lives, and I know I`m extremely lucky to kn0w any of them, but if you do, hold onto them as though they were water in the desert and if you are still searching for your people, I wish you the best of luck finding them.
Top tip: they are often hiding in the darkest of storms shining bright like the sun, being blocked by and eclipse….
This week whilst doping my kids with calpol I managed to find some productive things to do amazingly. I had been trying for long enough to find a perfect engagement gift for one of my most favorite couples as well as a new baby gift. (although by the time I actually find something worthy the poor kid is going to be 5 at this rate.) I gave up browsing the internet and decided I would make something. I had some lovely wood cut coasters that I wanted to personalize for them as a practical gift that didn’t take up lots of space in their home. Great idea, poor execution. I ended up with something that looks like it dropped into my craft cupboard and got forgotten about for a year. Back to the drawing board I think, or I may possibly just send them with a note explaining of how I had tried so hard and failed even harder, however they could look at them and throw them in a fire without guilt of having something hideous lying around out of courtesy.
Is that acceptable? I don’t know, but knowing who its going to, I imagine it may be. Also an extra apology for if you read this soon as I still haven’t posted the gift and it may promptly arrive in about a months time, ready to be binned with love.
This is the result of a busy few weeks. My mind is mince, but my heart is full.