Hi guys, apologies for the delay with posting this week. Unfortunately I have been preoccupied with half term, a poorly puppy and I have hit a bit of a block with my writing.
There are plenty of things that I could write about but I have been struggling to find the words this week. There is also a certain element of self censorship involved as some things I could write about I do not think would be appropriate to publish.
So, as you know it is half term for my children this week. We have survived and it is now the weekend. Not just any weekend but Halloween weekend. One good thing about this pandemic is that in my household we are making a bigger deal of Halloween than normal. The reason for this is a big downside of the current situation is that a local tradition has been cancelled this year. If you know you know and the fact that it is not happening this year is frankly depressing…what am I going to do on 5 November now?
Anyway, I have been trying to make some happy memories with the children this week including making Halloween bunting to decorate the house with. The plan is to have a little party at home with a scavenger hunt, bobbing for apples, fancy dress and enjoy ourselves as much as we can before returning to the rigmarole of the school run on Monday.
Yes, you read that correctly, I am very excited to participate in fancy dress this year as I have no intentions of leaving the confines of my home. It will either be amazing or a disaster. The children will either love it or they will find me terrifying. Is it wrong that I am not worried either way. I see it as a potential win win situation for me. If they like it, great! If it scares them…also great because maybe they will leave me to my own devices for the day and I will be able to eat lots of sweets unopposed or use the toilet in peace.
The only potential for disaster is that I do not look as good in reality as I think I will in my mind. It is entirely possible that when I look in the mirror I will see a hag looking back at me rather than something reminiscent of the fabulous Sanderson Sisters I adored as a child. Which will serve me right for refusing to accept that I am now in my thirties and I now need to invest a little more time in self care than I had required when I was 18.
So an upside to the global pandemic, we have to think of creative ways to entertain our spawn, a downside is we have to think of creative ways to entertain our spawn. The trouble I have found with this is if I hit gold and the children enjoy something then they expect every other activity to be just as fun. The disappointment is real when it is not.
I have tried to convince my children to play Mary Poppins with me in the past in a bid to tidy their bedrooms. It was going great, we were singing and clicking our fingers all over the house. The novelty quickly wore off for them when they realised that Mummy wasn’t magic, the toys aren’t jumping to the right places by themselves and they had to physically put their toys away.
They quickly realised that Mummy was conning them and instead of continuing to cooperate with said con, they took great pleasure in staging a protest which involved making an even bigger mess. They knew that Mummy would have to tidy it up otherwise there was no way they were going to be able to get to their beds that night.
They know how much Mummy loves bedtime…touché kids… well played!
Its amazing how quickly you can forget aspects of spending every day with your children once they have returned to school. I had forgotten how exhausting it can be playing referee every day between your children. It is also really difficult to take their complaints about each other seriously because, as the adult with the knowledge that we have, it really does not matter if a foot is on the wrong side of the sofa.
There have been a few occasions where I have refused to engage in the petty feud. Sometimes you need to let them figure out how to resolve the conflict for themselves. I just hope that we are not going to have to visit A&E because they have injured each other in the process.
That makes me sound irresponsible, I do not sit back and watch my children physically hurt each other but I also do not have any control over what they do when I am not looking.
Puppy is recovering well from his illness although getting him to take his medication is proving challenging at times. He is suffering with arthritis so the vet has understandably recommended that he begin having some pain relief. 100% agree with this sentiment, no one wants to be in pain all day every day.
However, trying to convince the dog that the tablet will make him feel better is not happening. He is too smart for his own good. We have been trying to sneak the tablet in to his food. We have started to give him a “treat” twice a day with his tablet hidden inside. Initially it worked really well but he has now worked out a way that he can have his treat and not swallow the hidden pill.
In addition, he is being spoiled rotten with white fish, chicken, rice and scrambled eggs to eat. In case you haven’t guessed, he has been poorly with a stomach upset so he is currently on a diet of “light” food to get him eating. I think we are now at the stage that he can have his normal food again. Honestly you should hear the things he has said to me when I have tried.
If I give him biscuits now he just gives me a look which says “are you having a laugh woman? I am not eating that rubbish, I want the gourmet menu…chop chop!” Of course, because I am a mug I do it, he has got me wrapped round his paw and he knows it. He knows that I will not refuse because he is old and not fully recovered from his illness although I am beginning to wonder if he is beginning to milk it a little bit now.
Its not just me that is pandering to him, the children are doing it too. They seem to be acting as translators for him which is both funny and scary. I have passed on my “craziness” of talking to the dog to my offspring. Even stranger is that they are telling me what the dog wants (which I already know)and making sure that I do it for him. Maybe I am not crazy after all and I do know what the dog is saying. We can’t all be wrong can we?
I am not going to lie, I have been particularly hard on myself this week. The verbal assaults I have inflicted on myself have been hardcore. I wish I knew why. I think it has been an overwhelming week all round.
I have done my best to keep on top of all the things but inevitably a couple of bits have slipped through the net, my blog being one of them but I am here now and I hope I have made you smile a little.
So until next time, enjoy your weekend and I hope it is as fun filled as I hope mine will be.
Mumma Bear Roars 