Ramblings

Currently the youngest hasn't eaten all day and the poo episodes have been particularly abominable. Plural episodes, that is. I've tried limitless teething salts and end up giving in and feeding yoghurt and cereal, just to get something down the hatchet. He has whinged from dawn to dusk and the witching hour was insane tonight – drained my soul right out. It usually begins 1-2 hours before bedtime; today it started when he woke up!

3 mins early for school drop off this morning, which is a first for a long time. Was in a skinny T-shirt and short denim skirt but everyone looked at me as if I was stark, raving mad. The heat muggy wave came as predicted although was not quite present at that stage. That's all fine and dandy for them in their long coats and trousers but I live the furthest out from the school and so have the longest, hardest walk, hence sweaty arrivals! Have made the mistake of layering up for a school run before, thinking it's cold out. Believe me, jogging like an overdressed beast pushing a buggy that looks uncannily similar to a paddling boat can be quite a sight. Rafy just isn't any faster on the scooter and too uncoordinated in the morning rush!

But on the other hand, time goes fast – so fast it shell-shocks me. I look at the boys, one at a time. I'm in awe that I'm a mother, that these are my children. It's surreal (and of course wonderful) how they grow and develop. Now the first born is off to school and I'm totally stunned. You hear it all the time but it truly felt like only yesterday that I was weaning him onto solids and doing the playgroup rounds that I'm doing for his wee bro now. He isn't in my day for over 6 hours straight now, five days a week, and I have no idea what goes on in that time – he's too forgetful to recall to me and gives the standard "I did nothing", or more precisely, "nothinK". He picks up horrendous slang that I also have no control over!

I've just put his wee bro down for bedtime. He wasn't that tired tonight having had a late nap in the day, so he took ages to settle. But I fully embraced that as he snuggled up and coo-ed away, wriggling around the bed to get comfy. Sometimes I get kisses – little pecks on my lips – out of nowhere. He'll look into my eyes and break into the most loving and adoring smile, and it's impossible not to forgive him for (most of) his antics; those are the moments of parenting that nothing else can compare to.

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Volume control

3 May 2017 11am Where is the volume button? I'd like to say that I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today but I'd spent half the night on the sofa, with Huxley. He has been waking me up at 3.30am systematically for weeks now and I end up taking him there to settle. I have no tolerance of the volume today, surprisingly. Some days, my blocking out skills work better. But there are days when every bit of noise rubs me up the wrong way. When Peppa's voice is more ear-splitting than normal or the Minions' babble is drilling a hole in the skull. Parenting is such a noisy time. I know, that is stating the outrageously obvious, but reflecting on all the flopped expectations of parenthood is quickly becoming a favourite activity! It certainly is an eye (ear) opener. When daddy comes home from work at the end of the day, he always exclaims, "I forget how chaotic being around the kids is". I'm just amazed that he has the chance and capacity to...

Party fever (sickness)

Children's Birthday Parties Would it be worse if we weren't invited? Maybe if we weren't close to the birthday kid – or the only ones uninvited! We have just experienced putting on a big party for Rafy's 4th birthday as I thought it had to be done at some point. Well, when I say "we", I mean me; single-handedly, I organised the whole shebang. I'd caught the fever and was swept up in the exciting idea of it all. When Rafy turned 3, we had a party at home and I provided the usual cake and food. I thought I would do it the way we used to have it: home-made fun, close friends only (pre-nursery), pin the tail and pass the parcel, with a sprinkling of home-made sugar treats as you would expect. However, I thought they'd be too young for professional entertainment and this poor judgement allowed the flat to be ripped to shreds by ruthless mini monsters. It was uncanny and horrifying how little time it took for a small bunch of 3-year-old...

Weaning, not the easy way

Weaning. Do I have anything to add to the mammoth wealth of information out there? Is my two bob really of worth when a press of a button can find you the best-sourced library in the world? I think I can only bring my own experience into the dialogue, as it seems true that no two child is the same. My two boys certainly are like chalk and cheese, except that they have both been very difficult eaters and don’t much enjoy food unless it looks processed and is dripping in sugar/salt or has bright neon lights. So I contradict myself here – they were alike in both being fussy eaters! I never thought that Rafy would eat a proper meal. He is now four and a half and I can safely say that left to his own devices at school, he will at least attempt a bite from the vegetable group (so the spies say). At home, he only needs reminding for every other mouthful: “Eat. Rafy! Eat!” But those early years were a different story altogether! Mouth firmly clamped shut for a good ten ...

Dining Fine?

18th June 12:30pm My friend Charlotte is always asking if we've tried this new restaurant or that new bistro in our area. She's well-versed in the catering potential of E&C where we live and somehow always has her ear to the ground. She knows I don't like to venture far with both boys by myself, as I dread toilet trips en masse. In the first instance, there is the issue of locating a clean loo. Then getting there with Boat Buggy and two kids means that usually, we have to 'mis'use the disabled toilets and hog them. We seem to be a target for the do-gooder, bossy toilet attendant, or risk being tutted by everyone else. A poo nappy affair is not pleasant at the best of times but on a stinky, filthy, tiny bench designated the changing area, with the squirmiest of kids, is really not my idea of fun. So before we even think about the restaurant or cafe, the loo trip has already been a complete mission! It's true that we onl...

Live Music for kids

The Mozart effect is enough to make any parent want to pave a brighter pathway for their little ones. Apparently, only six months of piano lessons can improve a child’s ability to work puzzles and solve other spatial tasks as much as 30%. Quick, find me the nearest live music session as I want to capitalise on this ASAP! Are you just as anxious to hunt down live music for your little ones? My credentials as a classically-trained musician and piano teacher should, in theory, give my kids a bit of a leg up in this department. The focus is to see what is available in London for pre-schoolers, preferably music that involves participation and using real instruments. Let’s start with Music House for Children , somewhere I can personally recommend as I taught there for a good few years, pre-kids. Although that was over a decade ago, it was under a very solid and earnest teaching team and management. I'll introduce what they offer for 0-5 year olds although they cater ...

Baby's First Christmas

Seeing things through our kids’ eyes can make things extra special and especially so at Christmas time. I personally never enjoyed Christmas until my sprogs came along; they are the main reason I now get excited at this time of year! If we put aside the stressful consumerism that always prevails – what to get who, which side of the family to visit this year, remembering to post xmas cards in time, and the Christmas dinner no less – having Christmas for the first time as your own special family unit may capture the innocence back into it all. You may think that your baby isn’t going to be bothered about celebrations and the tradition of Christmas, or what gifts you shower them with. Maybe it’s just the excuse you need to take a moment out, if it’s your first one as a family, or perhaps you have a new addition. I can’t think of a better time for photo cards and creating beautiful keepsakes. You could even have Santa in the picture; you or your partner might want to dress up f...

What happened to my body?

7 May 2017 11.23pm Parenting was my choice. I chose this direction. I’d wanted it so badly. I don’t mean to tug at your heartstrings and use this as an excuse to gripe and grumble, for a direction that I chose and was granted the privilege of choosing. But unless you’re immersed in it, like really up to your eyeballs and swimming in murky waters, it’s hard to explain. This is not a criticism by any means, if you are not a parent, merely a review and realisation since I became a mum. Let me put you straight, I’m not setting out to compete with the next birthing story. Everyone has their nightmare tales of the labour and my two stories are of no exception, complete with gory trimmings. What I’m taken aback with is the state of the body – my body – many moons after giving birth. To be exact, my youngest is about to turn 15 months old and I’m still stunned by the ramifications. This is when the “swear” box should come out. If I donate a quid for every time I whin...

Mug of Whine

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