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Friday 21 October 2011

Ready for the Hills

It's been a bit of a week in our house. A wave of sickness has hit the boys, one after the other, so for me, it's been a blur of changing beds, constant laundry and frayed nerves. We've gone through industrial quantities of calpol and our trusty old grey puke basin has done the rounds and done us proud. In truth, The best thing about this week is that it's almost over.
Looking back, I haven't risen to every challenge as I should - on one particularly stressful afternoon, with a vomiting child upstairs and a clingy baby and a mountain of ironing downstairs, seven year old Cormac revealed that he had forgotten his homework folder, which meant a return trip to the school- the absolute last thing I felt I needed to be doing right then. But I loaded up the car (again), and off we went, amidst lots of scolding from me. Upon our return, I opened the homework folder only to find that his spelling book wasn't there AND that his homework was to make sentences from his spellings. It's a woeful understatement to say that I didn't receive this news with sensitivity or patience. Ten minutes later as I read a tearful Cormac's third sentence 'I will continue to try and be a good boy.' I hung my head in shame.......
Then yesterday, five year old Rory came in from school, and laughingly informed me that he had accidentally worn one of Jude's shoes to school. His teacher had quickly spotted it, hardly surprising given that it was four sizes too big and on the wrong foot, but his mother didn't . Yes, even as he walked backwards into school , blowing kisses and shouting 'I love you mummy', did I notice that my sweet boy had a boat for a shoe? Not a bit of it. If I'm honest, my own foot was probably nudging the accelerator, itching to get a jump start on MY plans for the day. Again, not my finest hour, I'm afraid.
Thankfully, children, and most especially boys, are very forgiving and although I may berate myself for my shortcomings, they don't. I'm certainly not going to win any Mother of the Year awards and but I've got sticking power and I ain't going anywhere. Honestly, I think that's half the battle- being a parent is a marathon, (make that an Ironman)- some days the pace is tougher than others, but whatever you do, you don't give up. So I'm drawing a line under this week and my less stellar moments- the puke basin is scrubbed and back in it's cupboard, it's Friday and things are looking up. Have a good one, Emmax

8 comments:

  1. Don't be so hard on yourself cos all they will remember is that you were there. Except for the shoe story which will become the stuff of legend when they are reminiscing when they are older

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  2. Aw Brenda - you always make me feel better...my surrogate big sister. And you know better than anyone what it's all about! Looking forward to seeing you next weekxxxx

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  3. Scrubbed the puke basin clean at the end of a harrowing day…

    Mother of the year award definitely.

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  4. Try dealing with the hormones of an almost 18 year old heading to his first formal ,an 8 year old who's locusts have just escaped all over his bedroom floor,a grumpy 21 year old who just can't understand why there are always soooo many people living in the one house, a beautiful young mother spending the whole day getting ready for her first night out since the birth of her adorable baby, only to discover that her 13 year old brother is also going to the same venue as her ....THE UNION ....OMG ,blast from the past ! and then of course there's me,"Granny"...what other way would I want to spend the end of a hard week teaching 26 little darlings ? feeding my 10 week old grandson or heading to the Union[bottom bar] , I'll have to think about that one !A mother's work is never done !

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  5. Now Granny P- that conjures up visions of an old dear in a rocking chair- I happen to know that you're one hot mama (and hip young granny!) reading your post made me laugh- the fun never ends then?? Btw the Union - ah the memories - sure I remember when it was the Bunnatee!

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  6. Oh Emma, thank God you have youth on your side!!! And you have a wonderful ability to see things at 10,000 feet which keeps you honest and always smiling!!! Susan Infeld

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  7. Susan- I'm LOVING the youth bit and as for the other... Thank you. V kind, Emmaxx

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  8. That shoe story is epic.
    I can't believe you deliberately sent him to school like that just to provide a good story. Dear oh dear oh dear.

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