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all together now
Nov. 1st, 2012 11:20 pmIt's dark and grey, and I have a cold. But I do have power, which is more than some of my delightful friends/family on the East coast can say at the moment. So it is all relative.
I spent the day with the kids, their cousins, my sister in law, and my mother in law. Yes we spent the weekend with each other for the wedding, and I had my sister in law, and the kids over yesterday, but gosh darn, these kids sure like to play with one another. Today was a kind of a day out/shopping trip but we were righting the weather. We went to the library and fed ducks on the canal but then it began to hail so we had to take shelter and watch it pass through. Cold hands for all. We went to the local department store, glanced at things, and then went to the cafe for sweets and coffee. When there are all these kids, you are herding squirrels and going at a very slow pace. Yet we did things. We stopped at the bookshop, went to Boots to buy more hot water bottles and stare at the next passing of hail/rain.
We took the kids to the toy shop to look over things and hear Senor Onion's thoughts on possible birthday presents. He said, "I want lego, books, and a scooter." Okay then. Though he does desire the lego minecraft set and OMG the fucker is sold out. Lego's site says they may have it available just after his birthday. So who knows. Maybe it will be for Christmas. I don't know. I've become that parent. Shameful. It was in the toy shop that my sister in law and I began our discussions to change certain aspects of Christmas Day because the past few years have been unsatisfactory when it comes to the distribution of gifts and some of the scheduling. We want to keep things on an even keel for what the kids receive and it has proved time and time again that having present opening still going on until five in the afternoon (with a great many interruptions through-out the entire day) has left children a weeping mess and the nerves of we two Mothers in a state of great fray. It's a complicated business in that we must be careful of feelings but also be firm about the fact that what is going on is NOT working. It was a mutual confession between my sister in law and I about things and how we find our eyes twitching by Boxing Day. The gentle meshing of traditions and finding a good balance and sense of restraint. These are all very lucky and beloved children who have generous relations. Yet it feels like Mummies have to to fight for a little calm. I spoke with Mr. Jenner about the feelings of the two young Mrs. Jenners, explaining the need for loyalty in this thing. We aren't trying to take away the traditions but maybe make it a little more gentle and less exhausting.
After a few more errands, I think we were all rather worn. After a trip to the grocery store, it was so nice to come home and have a cup of tea and just be.
Yesterday was very relaxed. Cousins and kids playing. Having tea with my sister in law and of course gossiping about family. It is just what one does. After they went home and I made dinner I was not sure if I would take the kids out. It was slightly drizzling and I had no idea if trick-or-treating went on in the area. Well. People began to ring the doorbell. So the kids put on their costumes and we braved the weather. We saw a lot of kids, and many people handed out candy. I had prepared myself for not very much and I felt a tinge of sadness at the idea of possibly not doing this, so it was satisfying that the kids could do this. People would say, "oh come up the road, my husband is handing out sweets." I admit I don't really know many of my neighbors. (hey queen of anxiety) But it seems everyone knows who I am. People chat. Usually when they hear my surname, I am asked, "Oh. Are you one of them?" Yep. I am one of them. We only hit up about ten houses but that was enough to make the kids happy.
Next up in the attempts at distracting ourselves from the darkly dark, it will be Bonfire Night. Wooooohooooooooo let's blow up something. We are going to some thing on Saturday if the weather isn't presenting us with locusts and thundersnow. Oh the darkly dark.
Time to hide in the bath.
I spent the day with the kids, their cousins, my sister in law, and my mother in law. Yes we spent the weekend with each other for the wedding, and I had my sister in law, and the kids over yesterday, but gosh darn, these kids sure like to play with one another. Today was a kind of a day out/shopping trip but we were righting the weather. We went to the library and fed ducks on the canal but then it began to hail so we had to take shelter and watch it pass through. Cold hands for all. We went to the local department store, glanced at things, and then went to the cafe for sweets and coffee. When there are all these kids, you are herding squirrels and going at a very slow pace. Yet we did things. We stopped at the bookshop, went to Boots to buy more hot water bottles and stare at the next passing of hail/rain.
We took the kids to the toy shop to look over things and hear Senor Onion's thoughts on possible birthday presents. He said, "I want lego, books, and a scooter." Okay then. Though he does desire the lego minecraft set and OMG the fucker is sold out. Lego's site says they may have it available just after his birthday. So who knows. Maybe it will be for Christmas. I don't know. I've become that parent. Shameful. It was in the toy shop that my sister in law and I began our discussions to change certain aspects of Christmas Day because the past few years have been unsatisfactory when it comes to the distribution of gifts and some of the scheduling. We want to keep things on an even keel for what the kids receive and it has proved time and time again that having present opening still going on until five in the afternoon (with a great many interruptions through-out the entire day) has left children a weeping mess and the nerves of we two Mothers in a state of great fray. It's a complicated business in that we must be careful of feelings but also be firm about the fact that what is going on is NOT working. It was a mutual confession between my sister in law and I about things and how we find our eyes twitching by Boxing Day. The gentle meshing of traditions and finding a good balance and sense of restraint. These are all very lucky and beloved children who have generous relations. Yet it feels like Mummies have to to fight for a little calm. I spoke with Mr. Jenner about the feelings of the two young Mrs. Jenners, explaining the need for loyalty in this thing. We aren't trying to take away the traditions but maybe make it a little more gentle and less exhausting.
After a few more errands, I think we were all rather worn. After a trip to the grocery store, it was so nice to come home and have a cup of tea and just be.
Yesterday was very relaxed. Cousins and kids playing. Having tea with my sister in law and of course gossiping about family. It is just what one does. After they went home and I made dinner I was not sure if I would take the kids out. It was slightly drizzling and I had no idea if trick-or-treating went on in the area. Well. People began to ring the doorbell. So the kids put on their costumes and we braved the weather. We saw a lot of kids, and many people handed out candy. I had prepared myself for not very much and I felt a tinge of sadness at the idea of possibly not doing this, so it was satisfying that the kids could do this. People would say, "oh come up the road, my husband is handing out sweets." I admit I don't really know many of my neighbors. (hey queen of anxiety) But it seems everyone knows who I am. People chat. Usually when they hear my surname, I am asked, "Oh. Are you one of them?" Yep. I am one of them. We only hit up about ten houses but that was enough to make the kids happy.
Next up in the attempts at distracting ourselves from the darkly dark, it will be Bonfire Night. Wooooohooooooooo let's blow up something. We are going to some thing on Saturday if the weather isn't presenting us with locusts and thundersnow. Oh the darkly dark.
Time to hide in the bath.
