Navigating modern life is tricky. Pressure, being constantly “on”, consistently being bombarded, no gaps in knowledge or expectations. The gorgeous Pip wrote about the contrast between past and present here. But, if it’s hard as an adult and parent, it must be so much harder for those growing up.
Parenting Balance: The freedom and the regret
Immediately after I drop my boys into another’s care, there is a frisson of freedom. A shivery feeling of delight when my window of responsibility shrinks to exactly one person. I love the boys, adore them, would do anything for them but I still crave time away. Read more
City Adventures (with kids)
When I was very little my parents would take my sister and I into town on a Friday night. We’d dress up, take the train and window shop. The city seemed an exotic and grown-up place, a magic window into another world. Read more
Yearning for Rest
My youngest was nearly one. The mythical “sleeping-through” remained mythical. And from the accounts of my new mum girlfriends, we had all been fed the same fantasy. None of us were getting a full eight hours. My very bones were weary with tiredness. It was impossible to fathom how we could continue and yet we all did. I yearned, yearned for rest.
I remember talking to mum about it. How weary I was. My dear mother has a way of seeing herself in every story. So she told me about how tired she was. As an aside, if you’d like to frustrate a person to tears, be a person without a baby telling a person with a baby how tired you are. Of course, new parents don’t have the monopoly on exhaustion, but for the love of all that’s holy – just give it to them. They are honestly only just hanging on.
And while my mothers “empathy” rankled she then said something that gave me pause “sometimes I wish for just a short stay in hospital, nothing serious of course, just a little rest.” Read more
Manners. Please.
Each generation bemoans a lack of manners and respect in the next. I think it’s been that way since Adam was a boy. Parents of young kids are a constant, easy target for those that have forgotten just hard it is. Or never had anything to do with bringing up kids in the first place.
But you know what would make it a little easier? If the people levelling the charges showed some good manners themselves. Read more
Middle of the road child
I don’t have genius, prodigal children. Maybe I’m being a bad mum for saying that. But it’s true.
My kids are in the middle of the road. I am very thankful that we don’t need extra support. I know some families who would give anything to have their child tred a well-worn path.
But at the same time, we aren’t offered extension learning. Neither of my boys show extreme promise in sport, art, languages or music. There is no lack of passion for soccer or drawing, but I’m realistic about abilities.
So, you can rest assured, I’ll never be that mum who chews your ear off about my gifted children. And I actually think that’s a very good thing. Read more