My Blog Has Gone All Weird

It's all in the wrong place. It's too late for my brain to sort it out - tomorrow!

QUESTION

Is it right to feel excited by THIS?.

ANSWER: Probably not!

But my real thought is will Howard wear THOSE chaps again? I do hope so!

What Is Happening To Me??????

I'm becoming a sensible Mother and Housewife - NEVER *I hear you cry* but it's true.

I am finding myself making soup, planning meals and organising cupboards - and loving it!

I have a freezer inventory pinned up (why had I never thought of that before?) and am setting up so many routines that I scare myself.

Obviously, having the princess does mean that life is very ad-lib most of the time but these routines are helping me from drowning in a sea of chores (is that possible?)

The past couple of days our newspaper has been printing extracts from a, soon to be republished, 1949 housework book - I have found this disturbingly exciting and have even been looking at tips from the National Trust Manual of Housekeeping (at £49 a bit steep for use in our modern 3 bed house!!!)

Anyway, must dash off and prepare a cosy sitting room and delicious (and nutritious)meal for my hard working husband.

Stuff

2 Nicknames you go by...Mummy and Kazza

2 Parts of your heritage...Irish and Yorkshire (how exotic)

2 Things that scare you...Dogs and clowns

2 everyday essentials...kisses and coffee

2 Favorite bands or musical artist...Jack Johnson and Boy George

2 Favorite songs... I'll have to come back to this one

2 Things you want from a relationship...love and trust

2 Physical things that appeal to you in the opposite sex...nice eyes and soft hands

2 of your favorite hobbies...playing with my girl and listening to music

2 Things you want really badly...a holiday in the sun and a new kitchen

2 Places you want to go on vacation...Italy and America

2 things you want to do before you die...take tea at the Ritz and see my princess grow up to be a happy adult

2 Ways you are a stereotypical chick...love chick flicks and go soppy over babies

2 Things you are thinking up right now...what to do today and when to finish my Christmas shopping

2 Stores you shop at...Next and Gap

I Like

Take a look HERE.

Calendario Romano

This is Father October from the 2006 Calendario Romano. Looks like a good month!!!!!

Makes my new Miffy calender look a little dull!

You're All Dark Sided

This woman is Maragaret Perrin.  She recently appeared on the American TV version of Wife Swap. 

It appears that during the show she spent her time with a family who were not Christians, and judging by her reaction on arrival home, she wan't too happy about that!

If you want to see the woman that all America is talking about in action, follow this link.

WARNING: This link is to a site which may contain dubious material!!!

WARNING: This woman is frightening!!!

 

 

UPDATE: Ebay purchase here

Wow!!!

This morning the Princess told me that she needed a 'poo poo' so I whipped off her nappy sat her on the toilet and bingo - we had a splashdown!!!!

Now, this might not happen again for another 6 months but hey it happened. She was a bit confused by the whole situation and immediately afterwards said 'off' and 'no' so I'm sure it was not so great for her!

Amyway, this has made my mind up about Father Christmas bringing her a potty. I feel the time is getting closer!

Tricky Situation

I enjoy going out for coffee and in my life have passed many an hour sitting quietly reading the newspaper and sipping on a latte. Now that the Princess is here that has changed slightly. I still enjoy coffee and the atmosphere of 'coffee establishments' but the reading part has gone and I now spend most of the time trying to get the Princess to stay close to me rather than wandering around saying 'hi' to other customers.

I can't use her pushchair or a highchair to keep her close or this would result in screams, therefore the only solution is to allow her some freedom but to be prepared to be up and down every 30 seconds pulling her back to our table. She is very well behaved and doesn't scream or make noise but I am very conscious of how others may feel about her presence. When I was without a child I didn't particularly want them around me whilst I nursed a hangover and tried to catch up on current affairs so I am very very aware of this and try so hard not to infringe on others enjoyment.

I read an article from America with interest this week, where this issue is becoming a national talking point. It appears that many coffee shop owners are taking a stand against wild children who's parents basically let them do whatever they please. This has caused outrage amongst mothers and is now an issue that is being discussed in newspapers and on tv countrywide.

Here's one example
Moms out to lunch on "indoor voices" request
Chicago-based correspondent Jodi Wilgoren's story in yesterday's New York Times "At Center of a Clash, Rowdy Children in Coffee Shops," was all over TV last night and is irresistible fodder for commentary.

As the Tribune's Janet Franz reported on Sept. 15, the owner of an Andersonville cafe recently posted a sign on his front window, "Children of all ages have to behave and use their indoor voices when coming to A Taste of Heaven."

From the Times:

But many neighborhood mothers took umbrage at the implied criticism of how they handle their children. Soon, whispers of a boycott passed among the playgroups in this North Side neighborhood, once an outpost of avant-garde artists and hip gay couples but now a hot real estate market for young professional families shunning the suburbs.....

(Elsewhere) in Chicago, parents have denounced Toast, a popular Lincoln Park breakfast spot, as unwelcoming since a note about using inside voices appeared on the menu six months ago. The owner of John's Place, which resembles a kindergarten class at recess in early evening, established a separate "family friendly" room a year ago, only to face parental threats of lawsuits.

Wilgoren quotes Laura Brauer, 40, an angry mother of two who now refuses to go to A Taste of Heaven with her two children:

"I think that the mothers who allow their kids to run around and scream, that's wrong, but kids scream and there is nothing you can do about it. What are we supposed to do, not enjoy ourselves at a cafe?"

My answer:

Yes, you are not supposed to enjoy yourself at a cafe, movie theater or any other public accommodation where your little curtain-climbers and crumb-snatchers are acting up.

You are supposed to place proper supervision above enjoyment when you take the toddlers out. Yeah, it's a pain and it's much more fun to relax and chat in jolly oblivion or "kids will be kids!" resignation as your little hooligans climb interior poles, lie on the floor blocking a line of customers or run "across the room to throw themselves against the display cases," three examples from the Times article.

You are supposed to be mortified when your best efforts at supervision fail, as they will at times.

You are supposed to translate this mortification to your children so that they learn and exhibit proper behavior in such settings.

You are supposed to pack up and leave immediately if your children don't obey such a simple, obvious, necessary demand as "use your inside voices."

I'm not a perfect parent nor are my children perfect children. But I've always considered it a high civic duty not to inflict our imperfections on others any more than is absolutely necessary.

So these Andersonville moms are taking umbrage at the implied criticism of their parenting skills? Maybe they should take a clue instead.

Where do I stand? On the side of the coffee shop owners and childless people but I do really truely appreciate just how difficult controlling a toddler AND having a normal life can be!!!!

WTH

I just found out that Jimmy Corkhill and Fred the Weatherman (from the old Richard and Judy days) are/were lovers.

I am in shock. Not sure why that shocks me but it has something to do with Fred's jumpers I think!

I Have A Genius Child

Ok so we already knew that, but this week she has proved it beyond all doubt.

She can count to ten (well she only did that once but she can definitely get to six everytime!), she can say ten thousand words (well maybe nearer 50), she talks to everyone she meets and actually has a conversation with them (only she can understand her half though) and her art work is amazing (or is that a Mother talking).

But what if she was a genius? How awful would that be? I would hate it - those kids are always weirdos, who go to Uni at age five and get their degree by age seven but can't hold a conversation with anyone or do anything remotely normal their entire lives.

Maybe, genius is going a bit far but she's darn clever my girl!

I AM TOO GRUMPY TO BLOG

.....but the Princess is ill again and although I know she will be bright as a button in a day or two I am very angry and disillusioned by our most recent visit to the GP.

I feel fobbed off and as though we are neurotic parents.

Will explain why when I am feeling calmer and the Princess is recovering.