I asked Ben if he'd run into our local Sainsburys the other evening to buy a bag of freezer bags. Lauren, Nat and I stayed in the car and watched Ben from outside going up and down each aisle, obviously unable to find said item.
He came out empty handed claiming that they didn't have any. When quizzed he said he didn't like to ask the assistant, and couldn't see them himself.
So, Lauren said she'd go back with him to find them.
This time, Nat and I watched the two of them giggling up and down the aisles for ages, and they still came back empty handed.
It turned out that the assistant was an ex school pupil and they were so in awe of him they daren't ask for what they wanted. Bless!
But,have no fear, little brother came to the rescue. "I'll find them mummy" he said, jumping out of the car with Ben and Lauren close on his heels.
He marched in, straight up to the young assistant and asked where the freezer bags were. The three of them were then escorted to the correct aisle and came out beaming, with a bar of chocolate as well as the bags.
Result! Nat was most proud of himself for the rest of the day.
RX
Monday, 8 June 2009
Friday, 5 June 2009
TIME
I'm in a bit of a reflective mood today, just thinking how quickly my three children are growing and how time runs away with us and there is nothing we can do about it.
I sometimes get so bogged down with what I'm doing that I don't get down to the kids level - literally or metaphorically, and feel a little bit guilty, like most parents Im sure, that I don't give them enough quality time.
This morning Nat (aged five) seemed to say "mummy" every two minutes and as I was busy trying to fit allsorts in before school I got a little bit short with him. He just wanted to be close to me and for me to give him some attention and what I did give him just wasn't enough. So he played up, because any attention is better than none, negative or positive.
I left him at school upset and not wanting to stay. He's usually so happy go lucky and I left in a sombre mood. Hope he soon cheers up. I can't wait to see him at the end of his day, and have, of course, vowed to make it up to him later today in my mind!
I find one of the best ways to get close to my three is to have a tickling match. They love it and we all roll around in a tangle of limbs and they giggle away. It lifts my heart and I keep telling Nat that his laugh is my happy thought if I'm feeling down and he's not there.
So 3.30pm this afternoon, thats what I'll be instigating in my house. After the sweet shop of course, it is Friday after all.
I sometimes get so bogged down with what I'm doing that I don't get down to the kids level - literally or metaphorically, and feel a little bit guilty, like most parents Im sure, that I don't give them enough quality time.
This morning Nat (aged five) seemed to say "mummy" every two minutes and as I was busy trying to fit allsorts in before school I got a little bit short with him. He just wanted to be close to me and for me to give him some attention and what I did give him just wasn't enough. So he played up, because any attention is better than none, negative or positive.
I left him at school upset and not wanting to stay. He's usually so happy go lucky and I left in a sombre mood. Hope he soon cheers up. I can't wait to see him at the end of his day, and have, of course, vowed to make it up to him later today in my mind!
I find one of the best ways to get close to my three is to have a tickling match. They love it and we all roll around in a tangle of limbs and they giggle away. It lifts my heart and I keep telling Nat that his laugh is my happy thought if I'm feeling down and he's not there.
So 3.30pm this afternoon, thats what I'll be instigating in my house. After the sweet shop of course, it is Friday after all.
Sunday, 24 May 2009
RESILIENCE
Laurens first tooth started to come through black and crooked. I pointed it out to the health visitor the minute I saw it and she said it'll be fine wait and see. It wasn't and we had numerous trips to the dentist for it to be monitored every millimetre it protruded through her gum.
Chris and I were traumatised at the time, children's teeth are so precious, and it was her very first one; our poor gorgeous little girl.
Eventually we were told it was a malformed tooth; why this happens is still a mystery but it was suggested that said tooth be removed.
OK, but how to remove a tooth from a tiny child was the next hurdle. No one wants their child to be in pain for any reason, and as I have a dreadful fear of dentists it worried me more than most.
In the end it was decided, well I decided, that Chris should take her. We were booked into the Leeds General Infirmary dental department early one morning. We dropped Benjy off at the child minder and drove down to the hospital.
I sat outside in the waiting room while Chris took Lauren in to sit in the dentists chair,on his knee. She had no idea what was about to happen to her, which we figured was a good thing.
I paced around for what seemed like hours, listening for the screaming to start. But it never did. All was quiet, and eventually daddy and daughter emerged. Chris looked shattered and rather pale and was covered it blood splatters; Lauren looked her gorgeous normal self, minus her little black tooth.
She'd been amazing all the way through apparently, very brave and perhaps because she wasn't anticipating anything nasty happening took it all in her stride.
We took her back to the car where we'd got a Marks and Spencer picnic waiting - more for us than her, but she wolfed it down no problem.
The moral of the story is :it's easy to forget just how resilient our children really are!
Chris and I were traumatised at the time, children's teeth are so precious, and it was her very first one; our poor gorgeous little girl.
Eventually we were told it was a malformed tooth; why this happens is still a mystery but it was suggested that said tooth be removed.
OK, but how to remove a tooth from a tiny child was the next hurdle. No one wants their child to be in pain for any reason, and as I have a dreadful fear of dentists it worried me more than most.
In the end it was decided, well I decided, that Chris should take her. We were booked into the Leeds General Infirmary dental department early one morning. We dropped Benjy off at the child minder and drove down to the hospital.
I sat outside in the waiting room while Chris took Lauren in to sit in the dentists chair,on his knee. She had no idea what was about to happen to her, which we figured was a good thing.
I paced around for what seemed like hours, listening for the screaming to start. But it never did. All was quiet, and eventually daddy and daughter emerged. Chris looked shattered and rather pale and was covered it blood splatters; Lauren looked her gorgeous normal self, minus her little black tooth.
She'd been amazing all the way through apparently, very brave and perhaps because she wasn't anticipating anything nasty happening took it all in her stride.
We took her back to the car where we'd got a Marks and Spencer picnic waiting - more for us than her, but she wolfed it down no problem.
The moral of the story is :it's easy to forget just how resilient our children really are!
Sunday, 17 May 2009
INNOCENCE
Nat talking to Ben and Lauren the other day " I got a six pound note from Auntie Nise for Easter".
" You can't get a six pound note" replied Lauren.
"You can in his world" quipped Ben!
And...........
Our neighbour, Maurice, very sadly died a few weeks ago. He was over eighty and had a fantastic life, however his widow Rosa is now alone. Nat and I were talking about it, and I said Maurice had gone to be a star in the sky with our cat Biscuit, who also very sadly died two years ago.
Nat said " I know why Maurice died mummy, he ate too many sweeteners. Sweeteners are bad for you, aren't they mummy". Oh dear, think I may have banged on about them abit too much (won't let the kids have Fruitshoots because they're full of them). His little view, in all its innocence would have really amused Maurice.
RX
" You can't get a six pound note" replied Lauren.
"You can in his world" quipped Ben!
And...........
Our neighbour, Maurice, very sadly died a few weeks ago. He was over eighty and had a fantastic life, however his widow Rosa is now alone. Nat and I were talking about it, and I said Maurice had gone to be a star in the sky with our cat Biscuit, who also very sadly died two years ago.
Nat said " I know why Maurice died mummy, he ate too many sweeteners. Sweeteners are bad for you, aren't they mummy". Oh dear, think I may have banged on about them abit too much (won't let the kids have Fruitshoots because they're full of them). His little view, in all its innocence would have really amused Maurice.
RX
Saturday, 16 May 2009
DETERMINATION
I decided Nathaniel, who is 5, should learn to ride his bike without stabilisers yesterday. He agreed, amazing, so we set to work.
He went into the garage, found his dads tool kit and located the correct spanner to remove them, and even had a go at doing it himself.So far I was well impressed.
We took one off - disaster! He rode round in circles.
We took the other one off, and he climbed aboard. I held tight to the back of the seat with one hand and off we went, up and down the paving at the side of the house.
Whilst concentrating so hard on riding he was unable to use the brakes at the same time (he is in training to be a man after all!) and so the fence and the gate were crashed into each time we turned around. But it didn't deter him.
He insisted I let go of the seat and promptly put his feet down saying he couldn't do it. He had a temper tantrum, picked up the bike and threw it down saying he'd never be able to do it. Luckily, the bike is made of sturdy stuff, and so is he because two mintues later he'd climbed back on and we went backwards and forwards another dozen times.
Each time I held on to the seat with less of a grip until eventually just one finger stopped him doing it on his own. His dad came back from doing the shopping (very domesticated) just in time to see Nat ride without me or stabilisers.
I ran for the camera. He was off, back and forth with the biggest grin on his face. What a fantastic sight and what a fantastic achievement in his little life.
I asked him how he felt and he said " I feel very happy mummy". Bless him, he's gorgeous.
I've added that to be one of my happy thoughts, along with him laughing, which is one of the best things ever, and the way we say we goodnight : " Love you little", I say, "Hate you big" ,he replies.
Children are so prescious, really ,and they grow up so quickly. This blog will serve as great memories for me. Rx
He went into the garage, found his dads tool kit and located the correct spanner to remove them, and even had a go at doing it himself.So far I was well impressed.
We took one off - disaster! He rode round in circles.
We took the other one off, and he climbed aboard. I held tight to the back of the seat with one hand and off we went, up and down the paving at the side of the house.
Whilst concentrating so hard on riding he was unable to use the brakes at the same time (he is in training to be a man after all!) and so the fence and the gate were crashed into each time we turned around. But it didn't deter him.
He insisted I let go of the seat and promptly put his feet down saying he couldn't do it. He had a temper tantrum, picked up the bike and threw it down saying he'd never be able to do it. Luckily, the bike is made of sturdy stuff, and so is he because two mintues later he'd climbed back on and we went backwards and forwards another dozen times.
Each time I held on to the seat with less of a grip until eventually just one finger stopped him doing it on his own. His dad came back from doing the shopping (very domesticated) just in time to see Nat ride without me or stabilisers.
I ran for the camera. He was off, back and forth with the biggest grin on his face. What a fantastic sight and what a fantastic achievement in his little life.
I asked him how he felt and he said " I feel very happy mummy". Bless him, he's gorgeous.
I've added that to be one of my happy thoughts, along with him laughing, which is one of the best things ever, and the way we say we goodnight : " Love you little", I say, "Hate you big" ,he replies.
Children are so prescious, really ,and they grow up so quickly. This blog will serve as great memories for me. Rx
Friday, 15 May 2009
CHEESE
Ben was just two years old and Lauren was just two months old. It was a Friday and Grandad was with us.
He still visits every Friday, and the kids get very excited partly because Grandad's coming and partly because it's treat day and he buys them sweets!
Anyway, on this particular Friday to give me a rest while Lauren had her lunchtime nap, Grandad said he'd take Ben out for a little drive and go up to Leeds/Bradford airport to watch the planes for a while.
I got him ready and he was dead excited. It was only his second time out on his own with Grandad.
When they'd gone I put Lauren to bed and had a lovely time pottering about the house, I read a magazine, tidied up abit and Lauren slept for hours; bliss.
Ben unfortunately didn't have quite such a nice time as we found out when they got back.
Grandad and he watched some planes at the airport, and he really enjoyed it, and concentrated for as long as can be expected from a two year old (not that long!).
They then set off back. Ben said he was thirsty and not wanting to stop Grandad looked around his car and found a drinks bottle. Assuming it contained water he passed it back to Ben who was strapped into his child seat. Ben apparently took a great big glug from the bottle and..........spat the contents back all over the car, and the back of Grandad, and screamed and cried for the rest of the way home.
The drinks bottle as it turned out contained milk, from their previous trip out A WHOLE WEEK before - so you can imagine how revolting and sour the milk was; it was almost cheese! Poor kid got the shock of his life when he tasted it.
Unfortunately Grandad has never been allowed to forget his dreadful error, I think it's scarred Ben for life!
He still visits every Friday, and the kids get very excited partly because Grandad's coming and partly because it's treat day and he buys them sweets!
Anyway, on this particular Friday to give me a rest while Lauren had her lunchtime nap, Grandad said he'd take Ben out for a little drive and go up to Leeds/Bradford airport to watch the planes for a while.
I got him ready and he was dead excited. It was only his second time out on his own with Grandad.
When they'd gone I put Lauren to bed and had a lovely time pottering about the house, I read a magazine, tidied up abit and Lauren slept for hours; bliss.
Ben unfortunately didn't have quite such a nice time as we found out when they got back.
Grandad and he watched some planes at the airport, and he really enjoyed it, and concentrated for as long as can be expected from a two year old (not that long!).
They then set off back. Ben said he was thirsty and not wanting to stop Grandad looked around his car and found a drinks bottle. Assuming it contained water he passed it back to Ben who was strapped into his child seat. Ben apparently took a great big glug from the bottle and..........spat the contents back all over the car, and the back of Grandad, and screamed and cried for the rest of the way home.
The drinks bottle as it turned out contained milk, from their previous trip out A WHOLE WEEK before - so you can imagine how revolting and sour the milk was; it was almost cheese! Poor kid got the shock of his life when he tasted it.
Unfortunately Grandad has never been allowed to forget his dreadful error, I think it's scarred Ben for life!
THANKYOU
I'd like to say a big thankyou to FAMILIES magazine, both Leeds and York for mentioning me and my blog in their latest issues.
FAMILIES magazine is a great free local magazine featuring lots of really interesting stuff for mums and dads with kids. I love the pages that detail what's happening in and around the area. Very useful for filling those long holiday days! Wild West Week at Royal Armouries is top of my list for half term!
So thankyou to Sarah Butters (Leeds) and to Belinda (York) for their kind words.
Pick up your local copy - I get mine from Wetherby library, have also seen them in Starbucks on Street Lane, Leeds.
RX
FAMILIES magazine is a great free local magazine featuring lots of really interesting stuff for mums and dads with kids. I love the pages that detail what's happening in and around the area. Very useful for filling those long holiday days! Wild West Week at Royal Armouries is top of my list for half term!
So thankyou to Sarah Butters (Leeds) and to Belinda (York) for their kind words.
Pick up your local copy - I get mine from Wetherby library, have also seen them in Starbucks on Street Lane, Leeds.
RX
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