The overriding memory I have of my mum when I was growing up is that she always seemed grumpy, usually with me. Our house was a whole world of 'no'.
Now, of course, the boot is on the other foot, and I can see that what I took for her unfair crabbiness was probably just plain exhaustion at bringing up two kids on her own. This combined with the ongoing repetition of house rules and regulations designed to prevent your offspring killing or maiming themselves or each other.
This is particularly brought home to me now we have two children. To a certain extent it was easy to be fun-loving, easy going dad when we just had Number One Son. Now with his four-month old brother in tow, I frequently find myself in the role of bad cop, relaying all the many ways he is letting us down with his inconsiderate behaviour.
He is two years old. I am 43.
I think he can see it coming now. His face creases up into a mask of misery and he implores me: "Don't be annoyed with me."
It is a mask of course. He's well sneaky and knows that I find it hard to be hard on him. Unless like last night I'd been up all night, due to brother's sniffles, including a 2am trip to Tesco for Calpol which he only succeeded in dribbling down his front anyway. When his elder brother started complaining that he couldn't sleep in his bed due to wasps, it really was the final straw!
"Get in that bed NOW, and go to sleep. If I hear one more word from you I'll... " (tries unsuccessfully to think of a suitable sanction for a two year old. I had started to remove his favourite toys when he misbehaved, but when he said, "What shall we take away next?" it was apparent that my punishment regime had been turned into a game by him. You can't win.)
Eventually he did go to sleep, although not before complaining of more wasps and telling me where I should sleep (on the landing, outside his door). It's suffice to say that none of us are fresh as a daisy today - well, he is, but his parents are looking more haggard than usual.
Meanwhile, my dear old mum has turned into a doting and fun grandma. Enjoy your rest mum. You've earned it.
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2 comments:
When you work out the sanctions thing with your two year old please can you get your mind working on sanctions for retired husbands? This particular husband is out cycling Yorkshire on a daily basis, and when he is home spends time planning next cycling trip in exotic places. Poor me is left working all hours God sends and feeling generally cheesed off with my lot - sanctions to make him miserable too please!!
Cycling is the new thing for guys hitting a midlife crisis, so your man is well ahead of the curve. The only sanction I can think of is to remove his bike seat. Ouch!
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