Could have been better

C + H’s birthday could have been better for them – for various reasons they struggled to enjoy themselves, but there were some wonderful moments too.  Children are the experts at looking at the bright side of life so I am trying to follow their lead! 

Toddler group Birthday cake

In the morning, we went along to our regular toddler group session*.  Unable to miss the session this week, I asked the boys if they wanted to go elsewhere with Daddy while I went along , but understandably they preferred to stay together as a family even though they didn’t feel like going.  This week we made handprint Christmas cards, and I took along a birthday cake to share, yet C + H got upset over a few things and it didn’t feel like a positive start to the day.

Handprint Santa 

[* The boys don’t always enjoy the toddler group anymore, and often want to leave early.  I was very reluctant to commit to running the group last year, even though they still loved the sessions at that point.  Now that I have more jobs to do there, and they are growing older than the other children who attend, they don’t have much fun.  I try to involve them with the running of it, choosing the snacks, preparing the fruit and drinks, setting out toys and sweeping up... but honestly I wouldn’t take them every week if I didn’t feel as if I had to go.  I feel quite stuck in the role until we can get more people to join the committee.  I wouldn’t want to simply quit, as the village needs the toddler group.   The AGM is coming up so hopefully there can be some changes made...]

After lunch at home, they were thrilled to go to a soft play area with Daddy.  They had been asking to go for quite a few weeks, and it’s not usually somewhere we like to take them, but it cheered them up a great deal yesterday!  They arrived home happy, not long before some friends were due to arrive for a small party.

By request: 2 cakes with cream, strawberries and chocolate buttons

They were exhausted though, and by the end of the day they just couldn’t cope anymore.   Still, they had really wanted to spend some time with their friends so they were grateful for that, and also they received some very thoughtful gifts.   It was just all a bit much for them, and there were lots of tears before everyone left and they collapsed straight into bed.  I feel the need to evaluate the day at some point, and possibly change our approach to birthdays in future.   

Maybe they need a celebratory day each?

Decorating wooden tealight holders at the party

The whole week could have been better actually, but every cloud has a silver lining...

We had quite a few things breaking: the toaster, the kettle, the desk lamp and the dishwasher.  Tom’s Mum is kindly going to replace our kettle as a Christmas gift for the family, which will help us out a lot.

We had a power cut for about 10 hours, but luckily we had plenty of candles and we don’t use electricity for heating the house, so it had little impact this time.

R today, feeling a little better

Rupert has been suffering greatly with Roseola infantum.  3-4 days with a fever, with his temp between 39.5 and 40 degrees.  He couldn’t eat, and could barely sit up.  Lots and lots of nursing, drifting in and out of sleep.  Not much sleep for Mummy of course!  Then, the fever cooled off and he came out in a rash from his head down to his tummy, and was really upset (screaming a lot, and couldn’t sleep at all).  I even decided to give him some paracetomol, which was his first dose ever.  Thankfully the rash is fading, and he felt like eating some soup tonight.  I also discovered a second tooth just peeping through today!  It’s a huge relief to know that tomorrow I won’t have such a poorly baby.  Seeing my children unwell is one of the hardest aspects of parenting for me – I find it hard to function as I get really worried.  I feel utter joy knowing this virus has passed! 

So that’s the beauty of life.  Light and dark.  Positive and negative.  A wise university lecturer told me “Don’t negate the negative”.  

Speaking of light and dark, I am really looking forward to celebrating the winter solstice next week, before spending the Christmas weekend with our extended family.  

As always, I am wishing for peace in our homes, and peace in the world.