Down with the kids

Yesterday I didn’t post. It was one of those days where it just wasn’t happening at our place, for me at least, I think the kids were pretty oblivious! The thing with having 2 kids is that life becomes incredibly circular - it seems that almost nothing has a beginning and an end anymore.

For example, I remember when doing the washing meant that all the clothes were washed and dried and folded, there was then a period of time before you had to do it all over again. With 2 kids it’s not a linear thing, it’s a constant circular thing! As soon as a load of washing is complete the washing baskets are full again, so it’s just a constant background activity rather than an event. There’s a rule in our house that you don’t walk past the laundry without putting a load of washing on or hanging one out.

Add to this the difficulty of having a 3 year old who loves to help. Big Sis likes to push the buttons on the machine, attach the pegs and identify items for washing. Her latest trick is to spontaneously strip naked and hand me all her clothes, “for washing mummy” she says as she goes to find some more. Little Bro doesn’t help as such, but he watches the process carefully in case an opportunity presents itself to break into a kiddy no go zone and scarf some poison.

Anyway, the circularity just described also applies to cleaning the kitchen, sweeping the floor, picking up toys….I’m sure you get the picture. So, yesterday was one of those days where neither kids would nap - and I was caught in some sort of glitch in the matrix where I was running really fast just to stand still!

Dog sat on my new flowers, Big Sis and Little Bro cooperated to strip all the leaves of my poor sick camellia bush, there was a tissue in the wash and then the downstairs toilet sprung a leak and flooded the bathroom! I was at wits end - when I realized, it’s all about perspective!

I left the kids screaming inside for a moment and went and had a look at my beautiful cherry blossom tree which is in full flower at the moment. I refused to let my mind be crowded by all the things wrong in the garden - and spent a full five seconds contemplating and wondering at the beauty of Spring. I then took a deep breath, walked inside ad surrendered. The kids ran around naked for the rest of the afternoon, I sat in the sandpit with them and played silly games and then we got all the musical instruments out and made as much noise as possible!

When DSO arrived home I immediately left the house and went to the gym. When I returned I sat on the couch with a beer and told DSO all about my day (ignoring his 10 hour day down the salt mines…) while he cooked us dinner. I refused to do a load of washing and I didn’t log onto the computer. Today I feel much better. So, my advice to all parents - never forget the power to surrender, when all else fails just give up!