Today, my son started Grammar School (and I remembered to get up). He looked so handsome in his blazer and tie, but he was so nervous. He came down at 6:59, complaining of a stomachache and saying he was finding it hard to breathe. I made him do a couple of deep breaths with me. As I was still bunged up, my deep breathing sounded more like snoring. He said he didn't feel better, but I sure did. I made his breakfast (waffles) and went up for my shower as Daughter came down to make her breakfast (scrambled egg and toast). I often complain about my daughter. Not today. Or last night.
Last night I went to my salsa dancing class, which went on longer than I thought it would. As my friend dropped me off, I saw that the lights were off in Daughter's room. I went upstairs to check on her. She'd made sure her brother had had a shower, brushed his teeth and was in bed by 9 p.m. By 9:30 she put herself in bed, cat at her feet to keep her company. I came home about 20 minutes later and we chatted amiably for about half an hour. This morning she said how much she'd enjoyed our chat. That was after she'd sat next to her brother to make sure he ate his breakfast. She talked to him about what he would have for lunch and tried to take his mind off his stomachache and nervousness. It seemed to work.
There is only a 20-month age difference between my children but sometimes it seems much larger. Daughter has taken on a motherly role since we brought Son home from the hospital. I remember her dancing around him that first day as he slept in his car seat and showing him pictures from her favourite book. Yes, they have their spats and sibling jealousies, but for the most part they are good friends and companions. I am so happy for them because my brother and I didn't get along at all when we were younger. My sister, being 10 years older, has always been in a different phase of life to me. I don't feel we have that much in common other than that we're related.
Hubby, hearing about the progress made in the birthday celebrations, is not happy. He thinks I'm spoiling Daughter, but this party will cost less than many others we have had. And I think Daughter deserves it anyway for being so helpful with her brother and being so organised and grown-up when sometimes it's obvious she would prefer not to be. I think Hubby had had a bad day, what with the Tube drivers on strike and all. But he will have to get used to the party idea.
What flavour are you?
niceaward
About Me
- wakeupandsmellthecoffee
- Northwest, United Kingdom
- I'm a stunningly attractive and intelligent woman in her 20s who lives life to the fullest. That's on the inside. On the outside I'm a 40-ish bored and desperate housewife who just this year discovered I might be menopausal.
24 comments:
I think our kids deserve to be spoilt from time to time. I hope your son will okay, I'm sure he will.
Crystal xx
I'm impressed by the relationship your children have. It's what I am trying to cultivate (not always successfully). Sounds like your daugter deserves a little spoiling.
I understand what you say about you and your sister being in different life phases. It's the same in my family and it's part of what make my visits challenging.
Good luck to your son today.
Thanks, CJ: Hope all goes well for Amy too.
J.: They're not always that good to each other, but as I always tell them, they love each other really. Yep, family visits. A necessary evil.
Me again, just noticed (don't know why I haven't before) that you live in the North West??? I'm originally from the Borough of Wigan.
Crystal xx
it's not spoiling if they don't turn out spoiled.
and she definitely doesn't sound spoiled. a few indulgences are necessary in life. for us, for them.
that was a very sweet story.
CJ: I've been to Wigan to the Victorian Life museum, or whatever it's called, back when my children allowed me to go on school trips with them. We live on the Wirral.
Laurie, thanks. I'll pass that on to hubby.
If you are able to email me my address is on my profile.
I visit my mum once a month, she lives near Leigh.
Crystal,
I find myself wondering how old your children are. I can remember when my daughter and older son had such a relationship. I suppose down deep they still do, but at 16 and 14, they tend to spat more often.
What is most important, I suppose, is that when the going gets tough, they are each other's rock.
Your daughter reminds me of mine. She mothers my boys to the point where I have to remind her that I am the actual mother. ;)
Your children sound wonderful.
Kaycie: I think you meant this for me though you wrote Crystal. My children are 12, soon to be 13, and 11. Yes, my daughter tends to overmother sometimes too. But she means well.
CJ: I will email you. I would so like to meet you and all my cyber friends. Laurie and I, in fact, share an ex-work colleague. How small a world is that!
How sweet, it's lovely to hear they get along famously...
Oh how I envy you. Children who actually get along. Wow, what a concept! My daughter (6) is usually pitted against the two boys (13 and 4) when the older boy comes to the defense of the younger one whenever girlie has annoyed or offended him in some way. I try and try to impart the importance of compromise and getting along because they love each other and may one day NEED each other. Hopefully they'll learn before it's too late.
When I got up at 7.30 this morning, my boys had already fed themselves and were dressed in their uniforms (we weren't leaving for another 40 minutes)
9yo is so excited at having 7yo join his school, it's is so sweet to see them being that close.
What an uplifting story. I think your daughter completely deserves the party, if for no other reason than that she's trying so hard to be a sweet sister. What a nice kid.
Your daughter sounds a good deal like me, when i was her age (god, I feel old saying that.) I loved being able to help, no hidden agenda. Something like that makes her more than deserving of a prty.
PS- tube strike has created mayhem and chaos. took DH two hours to get home last night. Does hubby work in London?
Hope the day went ok for him. Your daughter sounds so caring - it's lovely. I'm sure he looks after her too, in different ways perhaps.
Emz: Welcome, and thank you. Yes, it is sweet.
Queeny: It's because you have three. But wait till Baby Girl is a teen-ager. Bet her brothers won't let anyone near her.
Vi: I'm sure the novelty will wear off for the 9yo, but how sweet of them to make your day that much easier too.
RC: Thanks. She is a nice kid, most of the time.
Kelly: yes, hubby works in London during the week, comes home at the weekends. We were supposed to move down there but changed our minds. Boy, am I glad. I bet you still love to help.
Iota: He does look after her and worry about her and look up to her.
love the contrast betwen the last two posts.
The frantic bad mother and the proud sorted out one. Bet your kids love both of them big time.
px
Pixie, thank you and I'll see you Friday.
Aww.. Always warms my heart to hear of sisters and brothers getting along so well.
Your relationship with your sister is very similar to my dads-- he is the baby in a family of 11 kids so he isnt very close to his older siblings. So as a result, I never really got to know my older Aunts and Uncles. And isn't it funny, all the older kids seem to live out west while the younger ones are all on the east coast.
How embarrassing! Of course I meant it to you. I guess I read Crystal's comment before I posted and wrote her name instead of yours. Whoops.
Jenny: I love reading about your relationship with your sister. You seem very close.
Kaycie: That's what I figured happened.
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