1
Hee! Shannon wasn't even on my internal list of possible names for you.
Pleasure to meet you!
Jay
Posted by: Z. Hendirez at April 12, 2009 10:39 AM (otB//)
2
Wow. Alastair and Shannon?
Why are you coming out?
And, nice to meet you...you are the same people though right? Right?
You're freaking me out.
Kisses to the easter bunnies, Nick and Nore*
Not their real names either right?
Posted by: Donna at April 12, 2009 11:00 AM (yNLIZ)
3
Donna - yup, we are the same people. Honest. The chick in all the photos I put up really is me. And the chappie in the photos with me really is him. I'm just coming out with our real names now. I'm not a balding, middle-age man in Wisconsin who writes this site (and there are people who have met me and can vouch for this.)
But correct - Nick and Nora remain pseudonyms.
Posted by: Helen at April 12, 2009 11:04 AM (xFTk5)
4
Oh but you will always always be Helen in my thoughts.
5
You keep me on my toes. First you were Vanessa, then Helen now Shannon. Of course I love your real name since it so very close to my own.
I hope this does not mean you will stop blogging. I love your blog and have to get my daily fix of you, Alastair and the babies.
Since BBC America is the only channel with anything other then paid programming at the butt crack of dawn, when I get up on the weekends, I feel like I am sitting on the couch having coffee with you every Saturday and Sunday.
And I am not a bald man in Wisconsin, just a bored mother who is unable to sleep due to husband's snoring. I am from Wisconsin though.
Posted by: Shanna at April 12, 2009 11:27 AM (g/y6g)
6
Nope, I would never have guessed Shannon to be your real name either!
I thought when I clicked on the link that you were going to tell us you two are going to get married in the near future. Or that you had already!!
Posted by: Justme at April 12, 2009 11:58 AM (h/AP8)
7
Damn, I had a whole comment typed out and the spamhound rejected it gaaah
Anyways, nice to meet you Shannon, thanks for sharing your real name with us
I had no idea what your real name was either, but I often wondered ... mind you it will take a bit of getting used to, Helen is so ingrained in my head!
Posted by: Amanda at April 12, 2009 12:22 PM (Lcghc)
8
Oh great, now I having nothing to laud above others in regard to personal things known about you. Bah!
Posted by: MsPrufrock at April 12, 2009 12:29 PM (CA+L6)
9
Hi Alastair and Shannon
What an amazing Easter surprise.... love the name tags. I can vouch for your secret identities - All the way to a wine-soaked night in Paris (and back).
The Irish say the most beautiful music of all is the music of what happens. I'm always reminded of that when I read your amazing posts about your life. Your posts are like melodies, that echo long after. And this reveal, is such a crescendo after your 'fermata'...
Thank you for sharing yourself with the world. For your courage. I admire you beyond words...
Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth at April 12, 2009 12:31 PM (Y/P20)
10
Yay! It's great to know your real names. Why this drastic decision? Pleasure to meet you anyway.
x
Posted by: Vanina at April 12, 2009 01:05 PM (/HHdG)
11
for some reason I had always thought Helen was your real name but come to think of it of isn't a very American name after all. Happy coming out day!
Posted by: Betty M at April 12, 2009 01:17 PM (AIVY3)
12
It's very nice to meet you, Alastair and Shannon.
Posted by: Marian at April 12, 2009 01:55 PM (ZD4nv)
13
AH! I had Alistair down for Angus but for some reason I was convinced you were Ashley! For what it's worth, I much prefer Shannon.
Congratulations on coming out!!!!
Posted by: Alice at April 12, 2009 02:18 PM (/0Fav)
14
Pleasure to meet you both. Nice to finally put a name to a face.
15
You really are a Shannon! :-) I had a lot of ideas, but that wasn't there and, of course, it suits you perfectly. I'm sorry for the circumstances that forced the outing, but I'm happy to know who you really are.
Posted by: Kimberly at April 12, 2009 02:31 PM (yWWBa)
16
*smiles* Good for you. This is much better than closing up shop.
Posted by: Lisa at April 12, 2009 02:58 PM (YEsan)
17
I should hope that you have decided to reveal yourselves for good healthy reasons and not because of something else. But for whatever reason, this revelation was a wonderful Easter morning surprise. Definately will be my pleasure to get to know you all over again under your given name, Shannon.
Posted by: Terry at April 12, 2009 03:15 PM (mxAK2)
18
Oh my gosh! After all these years knowing you as Helen and Angus, it will take me MONTHS before I have to stop thinking, "Now which one's Alastair again...?"
Posted by: Gina at April 12, 2009 03:16 PM (B3Q55)
Posted by: steff at April 12, 2009 03:21 PM (Ke87H)
20
Oh my gosh! I was not expecting this. I think you have said before you are not a huge fan of your first name but it has always been one of by favorites!
Posted by: Julia at April 12, 2009 03:30 PM (i6FJK)
21
Hey, great to see your names. I always wondered what it is. Shannon is great. Must be quite a relief not worrying about if someone will find out now.
P.S. I suppose we'll continue to know the Swunt, by the only name that becomes her.
Christopher (real name)
Posted by: Mr.Thomas at April 12, 2009 04:10 PM (Zo16W)
22
I'm with Pru. My Smug Privileged expression has just fallen a little...!
23
Wow... This is going to call for some mental rewiring because I've thought of you as Helen and Angus for so long! But then, it won't change the fact that you're the same wonderful people and that you're the same gifted writer.
It's a pleasure to finally meet the real you.
Posted by: Star at April 12, 2009 04:49 PM (5mbtb)
Posted by: Katy at April 12, 2009 05:10 PM (D1v+a)
25
Gosh...in my head I think of you as 'Helen' - might take awhile for me to get over that.
Nice to meet you both!
Posted by: Orodemniades at April 12, 2009 05:19 PM (Texme)
26
It is really cool that you have decided to share your true identities with us.
All the best to you and yours
RJT
Posted by: Raul at April 12, 2009 05:36 PM (lxc1h)
27
I'm with Pru and Ms. Hairy. But my husband will now be FAR less confused!
Posted by: caltechgirl at April 12, 2009 05:38 PM (IfXtw)
28
I commend your bravery. Like, a lot.
I was madly in love with a kid named Alastair in the sixth grade. He was from England. It didn't work out.
Mostly because I was a ginormous dork.
Posted by: Bee Cee at April 12, 2009 06:34 PM (6tPuM)
32
Wow, I kinda assumed I would never know. Very nice to meet you both!
Posted by: stephanie at April 12, 2009 06:39 PM (NImtR)
33
After all of these years I've known YOU, so while the name change might take a bit of getting used to, it will still be you.
What prompted the "coming out?"
Posted by: Stories Aside at April 12, 2009 07:25 PM (KBcpL)
34
A pleasure to meet you. Huge step. But you'll always be Helen to me
Posted by: Lori at April 12, 2009 07:38 PM (DWZmY)
35
Wow so nice to meet you. You said you had a name that could go either way and I thought you were Frances for some reason. I love Shannon!
Posted by: Judi at April 12, 2009 08:04 PM (1Y+4Z)
36
What lovely real names you have, you lucky beasts! (My name is the bane of my existence. Such a burden. Will never forgive my folks for it.)
Posted by: redsaid at April 12, 2009 08:05 PM (cuCol)
37
A definite velveteen rabbit moment- becoming and being 'real' in the very best sense x
Posted by: jane at April 12, 2009 08:26 PM (eIMs7)
38
Yeah! I am sure it hard to come out from the protection of the pseudonym. It was very brave of you, and I am glad you did.
It is very nice to "meet" you, Shannon. Very nice indeed.
P.S. I wasn't clever enough to come up with a pseudonym, so my name really is Stacie! :-)
Posted by: stacie at April 12, 2009 08:54 PM (NLFW6)
39
Well damn. You're the only person I know that can come out of the closet and turn it into a revolving door. Now it's going to take forever for me to be able to reassociate yours and Angus' (oops, I meant to say Alastair's) names with your faces. And to think I was all comfy with thinking of you as Helen. (weeps)
Okay, I'm over it. Dave (yep, that's still real) is pleased to meet the two of you, Alastair & Shannon. And I'm not a bald guy from Wisconsin either, just a slightly chubby guy from Georgia.
Posted by: diamond dave at April 12, 2009 09:03 PM (RIYji)
40
Shannon: not on my list. Alister was on my list.
Hope this means you have a book about to be published and not another reason for outing yourself. Although I seem to recall a recent post where you alluded to a co=worker happening upon your blog.
I am rally Charles and like Diamond Dave am chubby from Georgia and an Army brat.
Posted by: Charles at April 12, 2009 09:25 PM (maQJG)
41
Lovely! Now I can stop thinking of you as Helen/Shannon and just think of you as Shannon.
It'll take me a while though.
42
Alastair is on our shortlist of names for this baby if it EVER comes out! I had a best friend in primary school called Shannon who's father was an acrobatic pilot! Its lovely to meet you!
Posted by: Super Sarah at April 12, 2009 10:40 PM (0TP8F)
Posted by: Charles at April 12, 2009 11:26 PM (maQJG)
44
Wow, Shannon! I cannot believe you took this step. Good for you! BRAVO!
And while I have not been commenting, my friend, I promise that I have been reading. The kids are adorable -- so beautiful.
Please convey my very best regards to Alastair?
Posted by: rp at April 12, 2009 11:43 PM (fWrQ6)
45
By the way, am I the only one who took a look at the big labels attached to your wrist and looked for the words: "Please take care of this bear"? I had a total Paddington Bear flash when I saw the pictures.
Posted by: rp at April 12, 2009 11:48 PM (fWrQ6)
46
Oh my goodness, this post scared me for a minute! So love your writing, glad to meet you both!
Posted by: Mrs. Juicebox at April 13, 2009 12:44 AM (3FynS)
47
I'll never be able to switch over :-) Please forgive me if I keep referring to you as Helen, even though Shannon is a beautiful name.
Posted by: Lily at April 13, 2009 07:28 AM (2OX68)
51
hi H... I mean S... now no more chances of making a mistake (though a small part of you will always be H in my mind
)
bises!
Posted by: stinkerbell at April 13, 2009 08:44 AM (vvJNm)
52
This is quite a surprise. You'll always be Helen to me, though. (However, you do look much more like a Shannon than a Helen)
Any particular reason for the reveal?
Posted by: ~Easy at April 13, 2009 12:48 PM (IVGWz)
53
Whoa. Thought you two broke up for a minute!! So glad that is not the case
Posted by: Heather at April 13, 2009 12:53 PM (s0rhn)
54
Hi! Thank you for sharing with us. I may not always comment, but I read without fail. Your post on forgiveness has stuck with me like you wouldn't believe.
p.s. your names totally fit you!
Posted by: Kimberly at April 13, 2009 01:39 PM (Fndcg)
57
Congratulations on coming out of the blogging closet! I know it can be scary. I've been slowly switching over to using my real name after being burned in the past. (As you can see, I'm not quite ALL the way there.) There are still times when I cringe seeing my name all over the Internet. Good luck to you on this big step! I hope you're able to keep blogging as openly and honestly as you have in the past.
Posted by: geeky at April 13, 2009 02:06 PM (FBNua)
58
I have to admit I was never a big fan of the name Helen anyway - I had a crazy great aunt named Helen (she was married to my great uncle who, concidently, is still alive but very badly deteriorated). They used to bring their dog Digit EVERYWHERE (and I do mean everywhere) and had no kids and were just ... kooky. So I'm glad you aren't Helen anymore .. Shannon is much better. :-). And, of course like everyone else I'm curious to know the reveal.
I'm not from Wisconsin but I'm from Minnesota, is that close eonough? We think we are much more hip than Wisconsin anyway. :-)
Posted by: Jennifer at April 13, 2009 02:14 PM (6JvP5)
59
Well- there now . . . that was quite a shock. But lovely names both . . . And as Facebook has allowed you to learn my real name . . . ahem . . . Cindy . . . ahem . . . welcome to the world of the no-longer completely anonymous!
I'll stay incog on my blog though
Posted by: oddybobo at April 13, 2009 02:49 PM (mZfwW)
60
I'm curious as to what prompted this outing, but happy for you that you finally felt comfortable enough to take this step! And a little annoyed that I now have "I'm Coming Out" stuck in my head on endless repeat. Hopefully, just writing that will pass it from my brain to someone else.
Posted by: amy t. at April 13, 2009 02:55 PM (3dOTd)
61
I found your blog in 2005 when I had moved to LA instead of London as I had wanted to...I was searching for expat blogs for comfort in knowing that others had done what I hadn't (yet). After reading for so long - it's very cool, and somehow relieving (not sure why) to now know your real names. To feel like you've trusted me/us with this particular detail. Thanks for all you share and work through here. It's a great space. And I'm glad you are in the world.
Posted by: nikoline at April 13, 2009 03:06 PM (ZbAHH)
62
I found your blog in 2005 when I had moved to LA instead of London as I had wanted to...I was searching for expat blogs for comfort in knowing that others had done what I hadn't (yet). After reading for so long - it's very cool, and somehow relieving (not sure why) to now know your real names. To feel like you've trusted me/us with this particular detail. Thanks for all you share and work through here. It's a great space. And I'm glad you are in the world.
Posted by: nikoline at April 13, 2009 03:07 PM (ZbAHH)
63
Nice to meet you, I'm Elizabeth. I've been following your blog for about a year now.
Posted by: Elizabeth at April 13, 2009 03:09 PM (rY3Ox)
64
I can honestly say that I never really wondered what your name was. But I did wonder about Angus, uh Alastair. I don't know why, I just did. I just enjoy your blog.
Posted by: Tif at April 13, 2009 03:29 PM (fPmeR)
65
I seldom comment, but read daily. It's nice to put (real) names to faces--so, thank you! I'm curious, too, why you decided to tell. BTW, I've always liked my name (Patricia) but detest my nickname (Patsy)...and I'm much further south than Wisconsin.
Posted by: patndixie at April 13, 2009 03:53 PM (NlXhI)
66
Nice to finally meet you Shannon!
I actually saw both of your names, once, on flickr picture...that (I think) was quickly removed. It was right after your engagement...but you were always upfront with the pseudonym and I figured that if (ever) you really wanted us to know your name, you'd be forthcoming. I can't explain why I like this so much....I do though.
I believe you already know this, but my name is Natalie.
67
Nice to meet you! Oh, and how did the pork chop casserole turn out?
Posted by: Jessica at April 13, 2009 04:02 PM (qGdcm)
68
That is too strange! I would have never imagined you two with either of those names, how do you yell ALASTAIR and have it roll off your tongue? LOL
Posted by: Cheryl at April 13, 2009 05:55 PM (6pQxe)
69
Sorry, I know too many Shannons.
Can you stay Helen to make my mental cataloguing easier?
(Kidding!)
Posted by: Sigivald at April 13, 2009 06:52 PM (WIejT)
70
Funny, I knew your name, but I always assumed that Angus was his real name - not sure why, but it never occurred to me. So are Nick and Nora not really Nick and Nora?
Curious - why now? was somebody threatening to out you?
I'm glad to have it out - now I don't have to worry about slipping up and calling you the wrong thing. I'm still to chicken to use my real first name on my blog - maybe someday.
Posted by: Carol at April 13, 2009 08:47 PM (CCDiK)
71
I love that you're Shannon! It suits you perfectly!
Posted by: Tinker at April 13, 2009 09:11 PM (rU3SM)
72
My daughter is named Shannon, after her grandmother and great-grandmother, who had that as a last name. It is my favorite girl's name!!
Still, I will have a hard time thinking of you an anything other than Helen....LOL
Posted by: kenju at April 13, 2009 10:07 PM (hMUhQ)
73
I figured out your name awhile ago from a couple things you mentioned on your blog - 1. that Angus thought you were Irish when he first met you, and 2. that your name is also a boy's name. It was confirmed later by something else you posted on your blog.
Posted by: Jennifer at April 14, 2009 12:31 AM (ZpPP3)
74
I'm glad you finally felt comfortable (?) enough to reveal your names to the world. I kinda get the feeling you did it because you felt like you had to instead of wanting it to be the right time.
I have always associated the name Alastair with that kid on You Can't Do That on Television. Although your Alastair really never looked like an Angus to me. Not Scottish enough.
Posted by: Michele at April 14, 2009 02:30 AM (rXEzC)
75
I've known for a little while what your true first names were because as a long time (3 1/2 year reader)that only comments sporadically but reads religiously "everyday", I've participated in some of your causes. I would have never given it away and as far as I am concerned the two of you will always be Helen and Angus!! Just cuz...
Posted by: kimmykins13 at April 14, 2009 02:38 AM (dU7tc)
76
I never pegged you as a Shannon, Vanessa seemed like a good fit though.
Posted by: Trace at April 14, 2009 04:19 AM (5dCs4)
77
Pleased to meet you both. However, there is no Mt. St.Shannon in WA, so I will still have to think of you as Helen as I drive by Mt.St.Helens on my way to work down I-5. For a short while anyway.
ps. my real name is still J.M. (John)
Posted by: J.M at April 14, 2009 04:47 AM (8fKwp)
78
pps.
omg...see what you have gone and done?
Henry Gross is whining in my head..
"Shannon is goooone I heard, she's drifftiing out to sea!!!" Arrrrgh!
Posted by: j.m at April 14, 2009 06:20 AM (8fKwp)
79
Beautiful Irish-Scottish mix of names you both have, and did you know that your name has its origin in the name of the Irish river goddess?
See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Shannon
and here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alastair
Posted by: Paula at April 14, 2009 10:39 AM (mUaKF)
80
You said, "I guess we're not strangers anymore."
Does that mean you're going to change the blog to "Everyday Friend" or "Everyday Acquaintance"?
You've shared so many of your thoughts over the years, would you share what brought this decision about? I'd love to hear it, and I'm sure many others would too. But if you'd rather not, I understand.
Posted by: Solomon at April 14, 2009 12:57 PM (4Dep+)
81
I also hope this means you might get published soon! Very nice to meet you both, Shannon and Alastair, and thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Meg at April 14, 2009 02:03 PM (1OdWO)
82
Wow! What a shocker! Couldn't read and run today, just couldn't.
Never thought you would reveal your real names and felt we had no business to know - I just thought it was privilege enough that you share so much already. Had you down as an Ashleigh but much prefer Shannon, it suits you perfectly. Just hope the decision to out yourself wasn't because someone forced you into a corner..
Nice to meet you both!
Posted by: Caroline at April 14, 2009 02:56 PM (Pgpwu)
83
Wow. So would not have thought that was your name. I guess I expected something way more austere/patrician/serious. I hope you don't take that the wrong way. His name is my 2nd favorite English name, next to Onslow. Love getting to peek behind the proverbial curtain. If you feel like being totally bored, friend me on Facebook - Beth Solloway (North Jersey - since there is apparently more than one of me.) My page is private since I don't want my students to find me.
Posted by: Beth at April 14, 2009 03:42 PM (KELSj)
84
oh my gosh! how crazy! its hard to think of you with any other names though! However both good, solid names.. how funny! Thanks for revealing!
Posted by: KimW at April 14, 2009 08:36 PM (0fdgP)
85
You wrote me a thank you once (I probably still have it here somewhere 'cuz I was so surprised and touched to receive it from all the way 'across the pond') and you signed it 'S'. And it completely perplexed me - thinking to myself 'what is her name? Sue? Sara? Sylvia? Samantha?...
And now I know...and I never would have thought of 'Shannon'. Which is a beautiful name. And so is Alastair.
Now, I ask this: will you ever reveal Nora and Nick's true names? I realized in a post a long time ago - with a punch in the stomach kind of feeling - that they weren't REALLY Nick and Nora. And since they feel like kids I really KNOW, it bothers me so much to not know their true name. I completely understand why you aren't sharing them and probably won't - but oh, how I wish you would. I just need to know' the real 'family'.
Hugs to you all...I love the blog, love all of you and read daily.
Mindy in Tracy, CA USA
Posted by: MindyMax at April 15, 2009 03:07 AM (ZTH+A)
86
Hello Alistar and Shannon! Ummmm...I have to say I really didn't think you'd ever reveal your real names! You definitely don't seem like a Shannon, maybe a Susan? Alistar, too doesn't seem like an Alistar! So, to me, you'll remain Helen & Angus! Though it is nice to know your real names!
Posted by: Juls at April 15, 2009 04:47 PM (QBQ4c)
87
OH my....What crazy news. Your are still Helen to me. I have been reading you for over 5 years so yeah it will take me a while to get used to Shannon.
Posted by: ysunflowergirl at April 16, 2009 02:03 AM (xx4Bk)
Posted by: Lunasea at April 17, 2009 03:54 AM (zmInK)
89
I missed the big outing. Glad that you feel comfortable with us to give up your secret.
You're gutstier than I am. While you- and a few others- know my name, I'm not willing to share it with the whole world.
Unrelated: your smile gets prettier every day. Great picture.
Posted by: physics geek at April 17, 2009 05:35 PM (MT22W)
90
Holy crap I missed it. I missed the day you "came out" so to speak. It was such a crappy week I haven't had time to check and I missed it.
Although I'm not shocked with his real name I would have never guessed Shannon as your first name. It's fitting and beautiful!
Unfortunately my real name is Heidi and wouldn't know how to hide it even if I tried.
Well goodbye Helen and Angus and hello Alister and Shannon -- it's nice to meet you...finally!
Posted by: heidi at April 19, 2009 11:07 PM (Iyvgs)
91
I've known your name was Shannon for ages - I think since the kitten came to live with you, but I've only known Alastairs for a little while, since the Children in Need thing, I think. You've been Shannon (to me) for ages, but I still think of Alastair as Angus
Posted by: melanie at April 21, 2009 10:02 PM (2jBfO)
92
Pleased to meet you, Shannon. I'm Bernadette.
There's actually a couple of reasons why I sign with the initial. The first one is that, online, I'm often mistaken for a guy (no joke), so I like to see how long it takes people to figure it out.
The second is that it's so very long and I just KNOW I'd misspell it at some point.
Posted by: B. Durbin at April 23, 2009 06:54 PM (gsLfk)
Therapy Is Hard, Barbie.
Last night I went back into therapy. Courtesy of raging London traffic, I got there half an hour late, which is just lovely having to pay for therapy time when what you're really doing is screaming and raging at the asshole drivers on the roads. I got there in the end (vowing that from now on I'll be taking public transport and not trying this driving into London bit again) and made my way into a familiar house, up familiar stairs, onto a familiar couch.
We talked.
I cried.
He cried. He's emotional like that. I think it's what helps me - having a therapist who is not passive and impartial, but who has his own emotions that enable me to work out what the hell it is that I am feeling.
He's agreed to take me back on as a patient. As he said, people with issues have layers. Some of these layers can be solved in one go. Some people need to take a pause, then go back. Still others find that where they thought things were resolved, it was just some elements of a person, and an event or memory can kick-start the need to go through more of you.
He believes the arrival of Nick and Nora triggered something in me, something unresolved. I think it's that, combined with the tough time Angus and I have been having as a couple for the past 6 months. Some changes were made here and some of the clouds have lifted, but I think we're both feeling pretty fragile. Add my general anxious behavior and my constant drive to take on the world (I'm looking at working on my master's degree now, because, you know, I don't have enough to do) and I'm someone who needs help.
He wants to see me more than I'm able, not because he's in it for the money (because he really isn't like that) but because he says I'm vulnerable. Time and finances are an issue, though, and so once a month is what our schedule will be.
When I left I had a migraine. I felt exhausted. I felt worn out.
And I felt relieved that I had gone.
-H.
PS - Long weekend here, so I'll be back on Tuesday next week. Have a nice break, all.
8
Glad to hear you are back where you feel safe. Your therapist sounds like a very caring person with your best interests at heart.
Posted by: Jungletwins at April 09, 2009 10:33 PM (wyPEC)
9
My God. A therapist that cries with you. I want one.
Hugs, my dear. Therapy, argh. I'm only doing couple-therapy lite, and it's doing my freaking head in, so respect, you da man. Wait, I have pom-poms somewhere, zero! One! One! Two! What's the hardest thing to do?!? Three! Five! Eight! Thirteen! Admit that life's not peachy-keen! Twenty-one! Thirty-four! Fifty-five! Damn! The whole world can see what a deranged geek I am!
*Ahem*
Sorry about that.
10
I'm glad you went. He seems like a wonderful therapist and a perfect fit for you at this point in time. I'm sorry you ended up with a headache, but I've been told that pain is toxins leaving your body. I know that generally applies to exercise, but therapy is mental exercise, isn't it? so it only makes sense that your head would hurt afterward. You are a strong woman in every sense of the word. Have a great weekend with your family.
Posted by: Lisa at April 10, 2009 01:49 PM (YEsan)
He's the Man
Last night we had a ferocious wind storm with driving rain. Round about 2 am, I heard the home alarm beep. Angus hard-wired a home intrusion alarm into all of the doors of the house and garage, so that every time a door is opened the alarm beeps.
The alarm beeped.
I awoke immediately. Not because I was scared, but because beeps and chimes and whistles wake me the fuck up. I lay there, breathing quietly.
*Beep* went the alarm.
*Beep* it went again, which could only mean the door was either A) closed or B) another door opened.
*Beep* again.
And again.
And again.
This could only mean one thing - the garage door had blown open in the wind again, as it does since it got warped and has decided not to close properly.
And because I'm one of those people who will absolutely cave under torture if you play repetitive sounds, who will tell you all the state secrets you want to hear and reveal all the passwords you need to get access to various systems if you put me anywhere near a car alarm or security alarm going off, this meant I would not be sleeping until the beeping was solved.
There was only one thing to do.
"Angus," I say, poking him in the back.
I get a grunt in reply.
"Angus," I say again, a little more urgently. "The alarm is beeping."
"It's the wind," he mumbles.
"Can't you turn off the alarm?" I ask.
"Can't remember the pin code," comes the reply. Most excellent.
*Beep*.
*Beep*.
*Beep*.
"Dude, the beeping isn't going to stop."
With a huge sigh that could only possibly convey a concession of the highest standard - he'd just agreed to amputate an arm, say, or to give up trains forever in favor of knitting toilet roll cozies - he rose out of bed. "Great. Now I won't be able to go back to sleep," he practically howled.
See now, this is not what we women want. Yes, I was perfectly capable of going outside and closing the garage door myself, only I would like to present the following in my defense, your honor.
1) I'm not the one who left the garage door open.
2) It was chucking it down with rain and I'm absolutely blind as a bat anyway - add rain and glasses and it just gets worse.
and 3) - and this is the most important one - He's the man.
That's right.
Feminist Helen has just declared that this was Man Work.
Because it is. Yes, there is nothing in my genetic make up that says that I, a woman, could not go outside and deal with the door. But say it wasn't a door banging in the wind. Say it was a pack of wild and ruthless gang members (so, so common out here in quiet rural Hampshire countryside) who were hanging on the doors in an attempt to lure a young(ish) woman outside to rape and pillage her.
I guess basically I felt it was his job to deal with the banging door because I have a vagina.
Here's how I see things: yes, I am firm on equal rights for women. I am clear that women can do anything that men can do. But that doesn't mean we have to do them. It just means we can. We can't all be Sigourney Weaver from Aliens, grabbing a flame thrower and searching hallways to kick some ass, just as we can't all be the useless cheerleader bitch who runs up the stairs when being chased by an axe-wielding madman, when everyone knows you need to run down stairs.
Some of us are in between. We'll hide in the hall closet. We'll grab a flame thrower and hunt down aliens if we have to, but it may mean we'll need a change of knickers handy.
And if I'm honest - which I try to be - as a woman I like to imagine that if a sound of an intruder is heard in the house that my man will be leaping out of the bed, soundlessly landing in a haunch as he listens, wolf-like, to any sound that may be heard.
"Don't move!" he'd order hoarsely. "There's a sound downstairs! It could be someone here to arrest your virtue!"
"But I don't have any virtue," I'd protest.
"Work with me on this romantic, unrealist fantasty, dammit! My first job is to protect you and my family! Stay there, bolt the door, and let me go down and face almost certain destruction and carnage in order that my family may live another day!"
I'd hold a pale white hand to the base of my throat, elegantly avoiding the froth of lace that spilled forth. "Be careful, my darling!" I'd urge as my beloved stealthily crept out the door to protect his hearth and home.
Of course, all of that is total horseshit, and not just because I don't sleep in a frilly nightgown. In my entire time of being a Woman Sleeping Next To Another Man (and there have been a few Other Men, I'll accept that "whore" mantilla), I've yet to meet a man who will do that. Well, apart from Kim that is, who worked paranoia in ways I have yet to understand. He kept an AR-15 (which he always called "My Ar-15 semi-automatic three round controlled burst." He was not into nicknames.) under the bed and would fly out the bed holding said weapon if you heard so much as a pin drop. That boy was a love, but man he had issues. I think he was working the He's the Man angle at little too closely to the wind.
No, in general most men are of the "I'm sleeping. If someone comes in and kills us, then so be it. If they're just here for the TV, they're welcome to it." My X Partner Unit in Sweden was one of those - I'd hear a noise in the house. I'd wake him. He'd shrug. I would be unable to sleep the rest of the night, certain masked gunmen were downstairs laying trip wires and looking to molest me.
I'll be frank (or Bob, whatever) - I like the idea that the man is willing to stare down the figure of danger for me. That he'd be the one to put himself in the way of danger just to ensure that I, as the mother of his beloved children, would be safe. This really flies in the face of my feminist leanings, I know, and I haven't yet worked out what's beneath all of this, so I'm going to chalk it up to the same compulsion I have for adoring firemen. Must be a pheromone thing.
Angus trudged outside with no small lack of grace. He closed the doors and the beeping stopped. He came back in and did have difficulties falling asleep again, but sleep came in the end. He protected his house and home against the horrible intrusion of the wind.
1
I can't quite articulate why this post is linked to the fact that my husband had the audacity to get out of bed this morning complaining his back was sore and he hadn't slept well and then wondered why I went ballistic on him. You see, I AM THE ONE WHO IS 40 WEEKS PREGNANT RIGHT NOW - not him. So in this case he is the man, I have a vagina, I WIN. Make sense. Probably not. Sigh.
Posted by: Super Sarah at April 08, 2009 09:25 AM (0TP8F)
2
I think those kind of men are right up there with the Cinderella story!
Sarah, no, no, you soooooooo win! And once you have to breath and push, you win for life. If he is a smart man and doesn't have a death wish lol.
Posted by: Justme at April 08, 2009 10:16 AM (8elqF)
3
Right with you on this one babes ... of course I can do 'guy' stuff but I bloody dont want to, ok?
Sarah def wins but I am running a close '18 weeks pregnant with a cold from hell' second here and am feeling VERY BLOODY SORRY FOR MY PREGNANT ASS
Will take my moaning else where now ..
M x
Posted by: moira at April 08, 2009 10:25 AM (UGBIN)
4
I so hear you... I once woke up in the middle of the night to a very disturbing moaning and groaning sound from below, and also poked my husband to life- who did not even turn around. He just muttered: It's just an earth quake. So will you please go to sleep again.
He did not say "moron"- well, not verbally.
By the way, he was right. It was an earth quake. But I will be damned if I know how he knew, for he was definitely fast asleep until my elbow met his ribs.
Posted by: Lily at April 08, 2009 10:34 AM (Y8m4l)
5
And of course you had to bite your tongue the next morning when Angus declared "I lay awake for hours afterwards. Grmph."
(I can't admit this on my own blog, but I own about every Harlequin novel ever translated in Dutch 3,95 euro romance history. I do keep up with must-reads and 'real' literature as well, but to be able to fall asleep with an empty head I read a romance novel with lots of hairy males, never to return from war and fainting girls 20 years their junior every now and then.)
(That sounds so sad. :-))
Posted by: Vita at April 08, 2009 10:54 AM (fZwgf)
6
I detest alarm systems, so should partner be so silly as to require one, it's HIS PROBLEM to manage it. Period. 2 am or 2 pm.
Now, rant aside... I'm 100lbs. My partner is nearly 2x that. Who's more useful against would-be intruders? Uh huh. I could go check, but then I'm going to do what? Cause bodily harm? Join me in laughing. I can exercise my right to equality in ways that are more realistic. Lifing large items and defending the shack isn't realistic
Posted by: Opal at April 08, 2009 11:37 AM (b/aL6)
7
Rare is the man that can't wake up, take care of whatever needs to be taken care of, and get back to sleep within seconds. I've been known to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and fall back to sleep halfway back to the bed.
And my wife too is the perfectly capable one that declares certain things "man's work". Usually involving extreme cleanups involving bodily fluids or motor oil, or going where critters or vermin may potentially be found. She does know how to use Our Little Friend in case of intruders (pump once and rock away) and probably would be quicker to use it than I would. I did have to dissuade her from using it on the mouse that appeared in our bedroom one evening, as the landlord would likely have frowned upon buckshot holes in the walls.
Posted by: diamond dave at April 08, 2009 11:38 AM (RIYji)
8
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes.... I can't believe it's been a year.
Posted by: Vicki at April 08, 2009 12:24 PM (HsOD+)
9
Yep. As soon as there's a possible intruder, heavy lifting, or garbage to be taken out that feminist shit goes right out the window.
This is part of why we have a large dog. If he's still sleeping, then there's no emergency.
Posted by: ~Easy at April 08, 2009 12:46 PM (IVGWz)
10
Getting up in the middle of the night to close doors, throw the cat out, lock up or repel invaders definitely Man Work. Makes up for the no of times they sleep through screaming infants. Just a division of labour thing - nothing anti-feminist about it.
Posted by: Betty M at April 08, 2009 12:56 PM (q0m9f)
11
When I lived in an all-girls dorm in high school, it was the understood rule that, because one of the girls' boyfriend slept there against the rules, we got to wake him up whenever we pleased to kill bugs, unclog toilets, and lift heavy things. Echoes of "Chaaaaaase. There's an aaaaant in the baaaathroooom" could be heard at all hours.
I'm a femenist insofar as I think women ought to be treated as equals. I don't, however, think that women and men ARE equal. Women have uteruses. This makes us inherently different. It means we have responsibilities, burdens, and blessings that our penis-wielding counterparts do not. It also means that, goddamnit, they better remember how chivalry works, because it's up to us to make sure humanity continues to exist. And chivalry means, yes, asshole, I'm a lady, so give up your seat on the train for me, kill that big, scary spider, and lift that box that I cannot lift. Or else you will find yourself blue-balling it and going the way of the dinosaurs.
12
I'm with D completely...minus the expletives.
It only happens once or twice a year, but the Super Model Mrs. Solomon will wake me up having heard an "intruder" downstairs. I go down with a hammer in hand (I don't have a bat or gun) and actually plan mentally what I'll do if one is there.
So when I get back to bed, the adrenaline has me wide awake for at least an hour. But it's what men do (or at least what we should do). I bear that burden gladly, especially if it gets me out of dealing with "screaming infants" as Betty M said.
Posted by: Solomon at April 08, 2009 03:18 PM (x+GoF)
13
I think I'm crying, I'm laughing so hard! What a hoot. So glad this happens to other people. I've put a foot in his back and literally punted him out of bed before. To go check out a noise, or to let the dog out since he's the one who didn't let the poor old thing out before coming to bed. It's not often, but it definitely happens. He gets critter patrol, he gets trash detail, he delivers things to the attic. Because he's the bloody man. And that sounds like a perfectly rational reason to me!
Posted by: Jodie at April 08, 2009 03:51 PM (4twyr)
14
Ah, hilarious. Especially the whore mantilla. Can I have one too? My ex is a silly man, but I think the time I loved him most was when he physically fought off a crazy man who attacked me in a marketplace. Woulda married him right there. Good thing I didn't.
Posted by: Laura at April 08, 2009 04:25 PM (XIDye)
15
Tonight I sent H out in his underpants to check whether I'd left my ipod in the car. I had, so I win.
Black and White
We've had both kids visit us recently, both of them seperately. Melissa and a friend of hers (whom we really liked, actually, and whose father is friends with Al Gore.) were here a few weeks ago. It was an interesting time, and I'm left wondering how to survive these teen years (and it is teen-related, I know. I remember being a stroppy teen myself. All those hormones with no place to go, you know?)
Last time Melissa was here she asked to have all of her clothes washed because she wanted her clothes to smell like our house. She asked this the day she left which, because we don't have a dryer, makes life difficult. I went ahead and washed all of her clothes only to find, after she'd left, that she had a massive pile of dirty clothes left behind that she thoughtfully piled up on the windowsill in her bedroom.
New rules this time - any clothes left behind on any flat surface of her room would be washed and given away to charity. I wasn't kidding, either, and I had Angus' backing on this one. He even left notices around the house that her clothes would be donated to charity if she left them lying around. When she left she didn't leave any clothes lying around.
She did, however, leave a whole bunch of clothes in the dirty clothes basket.
Melissa went through - I exaggerate not - no less than three pairs of knickers a day. Now, I'm a woman. I wear panties. Unless I have pariod overspill or something, though, I only wear one pair a day. I'm struggling to see how to get through three.
Some laws are going to be laid down on the laundry front. I'm so over doing her laundry at the rate in which she goes through clothes. I was doing the family's laundry when I was 12. She's almost 17, she can wash some damn clothes. Melissa is a pretty lazy kid, actually, and has been for a long time.
Melissa is showing signs of being a stroppy teen, too. She wasn't feeling well and I made breakfast, including sausages and eggs. When I plated her up, she looked at the dish.
"In future, Helen, I want my eggs sunny side up," she said snottily.
"In future, Melissa, you can make your own fucking eggs," I shot back.
Angus quickly swirled her out of the house.
Since turning 16 she seems to forget the basic rules of the house. She bought some rugby cleats for use at home, and at one point I heard her walking upstairs in said cleats. On our brand new oak floors. In our house, which is and has always been shoe-free.
"I know you're not walking around upstairs in your rugby cleats!" I shouted up the stairs.
"I'm just going from one room to another!" came the shouted reply.
This wasn't the last infraction. On the day she was leaving, she got ready in a massive haze of cologne (she doesn't wear perfume, she wears men's cologne. A lot of it.) And I could hear her walking around - once again - on our brand new oak floors in boots.
Angus asked her to remove her boots, please.
She ignored him.
I asked her to remove her boots, please.
She ignored me.
I asked Angus to intervene. He did, and she shot back that she didn't think he was serious. He intoned that he was, so she took the boots off in a strop.
She's a good kid and I love her a lot, but I can't wait for her to not be a teen anymore.
And of course, as soon as she's done being a teen he heads straight into it.
Jeff arrived on Saturday night, and he's been in great spirits. During the day he and Angus are slaving away at building the deck. The deck has become an urgent issue as it's just been a big pit out the back of the house, and the babies falling into the pit has been a concern. Angus has designed and built the foundations for the deck himself, and Jeff was clear he wanted to help.
Angus has talked to him about home a bit. Things aren't exactly wonderful - Jeff is constantly treated like a kid, like he knows nothing. He's 12 years old so he's not perfect, but he tries very hard. He says he wants the opportunity to read a map while the Swunt drives, but the Swunt won't let him as she says he's too young and doesn't know anything. The Swunt has Melissa read the map and, according to Jeff, Melissa and the Swunt spend their time screaming at each other.
This isn't the first time this has happened - Jeff did a lot of research on TVs when the Swunt used her massive tax refund to buy all new furniture for their new house. When the time came to look at TVs, Jeff was summarily dismissed and told "What did he know, he's just a kid?". Yes, he is a kid, but in order to grow he needs to be heard.
We've asked to have him stay with us for the summer. The Swunt is apparently all for the idea - this way she can spend her time with her horses. Jeff is all for this, but worried that maybe we don't really want him. He asked me about it last night as I drove he and I to the movies (we saw Monsters versus Aliens - 3D. And no one collected our 3D glasses after the film so Jeff and I made out with some fab glasses).
"Are you really sure you want me all summer?" he asks, looking at his hands.
"Of course I am," I reply casually. It's important to get the tone right with him. "It's not all fun and games, you know. We have to work, so during the day you will need to entertain yourself."
"That's fine!" he says hurriedly. "I'd have to do that in Sweden anyway! But here maybe I can make some friends, or take some classes or something."
"That's a good idea,"I reply calmly.
And now it looks like Jeff will be with us this summer.
Today he's working on the deck with Angus, using power tools under supervision. He's had a say on various aspects of the deck and he's highly motivated to get it done. During bits that only Angus could do over the weekend Jeff would come inside and play on the teeter totter with the babies.
Yesterday he told Angus that he thinks I'm a good mother.
1
Yes, teenage girls are hard. You can say things until you are blue, and they just don't get it lol. I have one that was pretty easy. My second, not so much. She makes me want to rip my hair out most days. I should send you pic's of her room. It would probably make you feel better. I am hoping that boys are easier (people keep telling me they are)as my son is just hitting the beginning of his. Please Oh Please let him be easier.
I like the idea of sending the cloths off to charity! I have gotten my daughter to stop leaving them all around the house.(I would scoop them up and keep them for a while until she was looking for some of them then ask her if she remembered were she last left them, took her a bit but she did catch on) For the most part they are just all over her room. occasionally the bathroom.
Having Jeff for the summer sounds like it could be fun. And he can really get to know his little brother and sister, and them him.
Posted by: Justme at April 07, 2009 10:27 AM (8elqF)
Posted by: Vicki at April 07, 2009 11:48 AM (HsOD+)
3
His life will be immeasurably better for having you in it - and I am happy to hear that he will be with you for the summer.
Posted by: kenju at April 07, 2009 12:53 PM (hMUhQ)
4
An alternative for the leftover clothes...use the appropriate items (t-shirts, etc) as household cleaning rags. But only when she visits. Then she can get all kinds of irritated when she sees a favorite item being used to scrub the sink. It may make her a little more cognizant.
Sounds like you're doing well with them, though. Jeff appears to be a typical youngest child. I'm almost 40 and still everyone in my family dismisses my opinion, because I'm the youngest. Kids grow up to be capable in spite of that sort of treatment. It's frustrating. I didn't really pay any attention to it until I was in my 20's, because I spent my teen years trying valiantly to avoid my entire family. Guess that's why they weren't able to damage my psyche! A summer with you may help do that for Jeff.
5
That warms my heart.
Not the stroppy teen bit, but Jeff bit.
Posted by: donna at April 07, 2009 01:27 PM (uJ7AG)
6
I'm with you on the stroppy teen bit. My daughter, who is otherwise a very good kid, tends to be a total slob when it comes to clothes and throwing away trash. I swear, if you want to find her, just follow the trail she leaves in her wake. She's eighteen and never has seemed to learn the purpose of a trash can, or a clothes hamper.
And I'm always happy to hear the progress you've made with Jeff. You & Angus seem to be the only sources of stability the poor kid's got. And at his age it's important to give him responsibilities and treat him as a growing, learning kid, not a helpless toddler. He's going to need that stability when he hits full-blown adolescence. Good to hear you get the summer with him.
Posted by: diamond dave at April 07, 2009 01:40 PM (RIYji)
7
Sounds to me that Jeff is a good kid! And you are a good mum - stroppy teens and all.
Posted by: oddybobo at April 07, 2009 01:55 PM (mZfwW)
Posted by: Hannah at April 07, 2009 02:44 PM (V2CrS)
9
Aaah, I remember how obnoxious I was at that age, and my sisters... something to look forward to will all kiddos. Sounds ike youare handling it very nicely though.
On a different note, I don't have a flicker account so I couldn't comment there, but the pic of Jeff on the rocking horse with Nick is just soooo sweet! He looks like a wonderful big brother.
Posted by: stephanie at April 07, 2009 03:00 PM (paCk2)
10
I'm not one to cry while reading blogs, but Jeff telling Angus that you are a good mother. That made me tear up.
You've made definite progress with Jeff.
Posted by: Tif at April 07, 2009 03:11 PM (fPmeR)
11
Lovely compliment from Jeff and sounds like you needed to hear it. You ARE a good mom.
Posted by: Marian at April 07, 2009 03:17 PM (ZD4nv)
12
I really do love that kid, just thanks to your words. I'm SO GLAD he's going to be with you guys for the summer; I think it will be very good for him and hopefully for you guys, too.
Posted by: Sarah at April 07, 2009 06:20 PM (D37sb)
13
Dont you love that teenage entitled to their own way in everything phase. I dont envy you that.
Posted by: Betty M at April 07, 2009 07:16 PM (15c14)
14
Very impressed at your handling of the household. You're managing beautifully, much better than I would in that situation. Kudos for keeping your cool on the laundry front. I've been doing laundry since I was 6. I'm the youngest of 5, and we had a LOT of laundry. Little Miss should wash her own frikin knickers. Bet she'd be down to a pair a day then
Posted by: Jungletwins at April 07, 2009 09:14 PM (wyPEC)
15
I think if someone ever invents a drug to cure teens of being assholes, they'll win the nobel prize.
16
This makes me so sad and so happy at the same time. I'm sad that his mother can't be bothered to know what a great kid she has. I'm happy that you recognize it and are nurturing him. He will appreciate it a lot later in life.
Posted by: the mother hen at April 08, 2009 04:25 AM (r8Zhu)
17
As I believe I've said before, if children came out of the womb as teenagers, parents would drown them at birth.
We had a worse laundry problem. Our teenager wasn't putting away her clean laundry. As a result, sometimes it ended up mixed on the floor with the dirty laundry. So sometimes I'd be loading the washer, and find a nicely folded shirt in the basket.
Just awesome.
Oh, and our solution for clothes/coats left laying around is to toss them out the back door. This is most fun when it's raining or snowing.
Posted by: ~Easy at April 08, 2009 12:40 PM (IVGWz)
18
I was a bit of a jerk as a teen, I admit it. Thankfully we out grow these things, well most of those tendencies anyway :-P
So, this is my over active optimism as usual, and I don't mean to jump the gun.... but, do you think if Jeff stays with you for the summer, the discussion might/could turn to staying permenantly??
Even if it doesn't become permanent, staying for the summer might be the best thing in the world for him right now, with two people who don't dismiss his opinions and thoughts simply because he's "just a kid". Sometimes just having someone who listens can be the greatest gift.
I'm excited for you, I hope things work out.
Posted by: Angela at April 08, 2009 12:41 PM (DGWM7)
19
I was a bit of a jerk as a teen, I admit it. Thankfully we out grow these things, well most of those tendencies anyway :-P
So, this is my over active optimism as usual, and I don't mean to jump the gun.... but, do you think if Jeff stays with you for the summer, the discussion might/could turn to staying permenantly??
Even if it doesn't become permanent, staying for the summer might be the best thing in the world for him right now, with two people who don't dismiss his opinions and thoughts simply because he's "just a kid". Sometimes just having someone who listens can be the greatest gift.
I'm excited for you, I hope things work out.
The spam filters are going crazy- I hope this doesn't re-post.
Posted by: Angela at April 08, 2009 12:43 PM (DGWM7)
20
I feel for your struggles with Melissa. Thank goodness they usually grow out of it... eventually.
What a nice surprise that Jeff will be there for the summer. I'm surprised his mom let it happen. After all, he'll be under YOUR influence. It sounds like it will be a wonderful thing for him.
You really ARE a good mom, y'know?
The Bitch Mike
OK, I have some bitching to do. I'm going to get it out of my system now. I'm actually - believe it or not - in a relatively good mood, despite the fact that I have a million fucking things to do today, none of which are getting done as I sit here and type of this blog post.
Oh well.
So my bitch list. And as misery loves company I'll be asking you to contribute any bitchiness that you have.
1) Sinus infections. I can't stop getting them and, while I love a good nugget clear out from my brain, I'm rather over that feeling of having my brain squeezed and my nasal packages packed to the brim, making bending over something not so pleasant to do.
2) The post office and the Home Office. The post office (known here as Royal Mail) sent my Indefinite Leave to Remain application to the wrong office, despite my clear instructions written on the front to, you know, deliver my fucking application where I asked it to be delivered. The Home Office only just got my application, whereupon they cheerfully deducted £750 out of my account within seconds of it making a plopping sound on some poor soul's desk. Of course, them taking the money is indicative of nothing - they're actually quoting me 14 weeks before they'll have a decision.
Cue the ulcer going off in my stomach.
3) I had an idea for something to arrange at work. There is a forum missing that needs to be done. I discussed this with my manager, and she and her line above her are backing me. I went to a resource owner to arrange this forum.
I was told my idea was commendable, but not possible. Too many logistics.
I'd handle the logistics, I argued.
You don't know how, came the reply. Commendable, but impossible.
And that, my friends, is the fucking gauntlet thrown down. No one tells me something can't be done without me giving it a try. Maybe (probably) I'll fuck up, but I get to at least try.
4) Extended family should get it that they're either in or out. Angus' sister-in-law (whom he used, combined with the Swunt, in an analogy to explain an observation he made about me last night. That was a popular moment, I tell you. I think I'd rather be compared to Stalin than either of them) has really fucked me off in a right royal way. This is The Minister's Wife, the one who knows absolutely everything about children and is quite happy to unleash her unsolicited opinion on you at a moment's notice (cue her calling to tell us to not put our children in nursery as we wouldn't bond with them. What a bitch.)
Anyway, The Minister and his Missus have been arguing for years that Christmas should have no presents for adults. This, not because they're broke - in fact they are the highest earners of any of us as although she doesn't work he works too much and was happy to tell us he makes almost £200,000 a year - but because every Christmas they wait until days before the big day then hit the shopping centres with every single mug out there to try to buy all at once. They're tired of that.
Be more prepared, we argued. Like the rest of us. Listen they did not. Ignore us they did.
This year Angus' mum suggested we just do a Secret Santa type arrangement for the adults. Angus' other brother and I agreed right away - the credit crunch is making life hard. But The Minister's Wife crowed immediately.
You're finally coming round to our way of thinking! said her snotty email. This followed by the fact that they're skipping the usual family Christmas.
This really fucked me off. Not the skipping Christmas part, because The Minister and I got into it last Christmas and he's not top of my happy list just now. Her whole "our way of thinking" ripped the skin right off my ass.
I think we're "coming around to your way of thinking" due to the credit crunch, not because we can't be doing with walking around shopping centres two days before Christmas. Not like I know anyone who would do such a thing. was my reply.
Cue Angus' mum trying to manage me and The Minister's Wife storming off in an email huff.
I know I should try to keep the peace, but I've really had it. I am not known as Auntie Helen because Angus and I are not married. And now The Minister's Wife's brother has had his first child, and all she can keep saying is that she's finally an Auntie. Funny that - Angus' brothers have 4 children and I consider myself an Auntie to all of them. The Minister's Wife doesn't see herself as an Auntie to Melissa, Jeff, Nick or Nora then. Which is fine - if she's not an Auntie then she doesn't need to see them, does she?
5) I had to call the local county council. There's a farm nearby that was run by a transgender (we never could figure out which gender he was going to and from). The man/woman left, leaving the place a tip. He/she ripped out all the fences, trashed the place, and thoughtfully left behind a whole herd of cows, which without the fences are stomping all over the beautiful woods nearby, the ones where the bluebells come up in.
And they're not exactly cows.
They're giant fuck off bulls, ones that would make Ferdinand look like a badger.
So I call the council today.
I get put through to the Footpath line.
I feel like a total loser for actually calling a council's footpath line.
"Hi, I'm calling about a footpath nearby?" I say to the woman.
"Yes?"
"Yeah, the fence from a local farm has been removed and there are cows all over the footpath, and into the woods nearby."
Silence.
"Cows?"
"Yes. Cows."
"On the footpath?"
"Yes. Cows. On the footpath."
Silence.
I try again. "They're actually not cows, they're bulls. Loose bulls, not cows. I mean, I'm not afraid of a cow." Christ I sound like such an anorak.
Silence.
"Did I mention I saw rats, too?"
"We'll have someone to the property today, Madam."
When all cows fail, resort to rodent infestation.
If you want to keep me company and have a stab at the Bitch mike, go on ahead.
1
Sorry, I can't think of anything to bitch about just now because I'm laughing too much.
"When all cows fail, resort to rodent infestation" I shall probably be snickering all day.
What's the betting that you end up buying for Mrs Minister in the Secret Santa?
Posted by: Caroline M at April 03, 2009 09:52 AM (x3QDi)
2
People who feel the need to comment on the fact that I've lost weight ... "You're not going to lose any more are you, you're starting to look fragile" Fragile, huh! I'm the fittest/strongest I've ever been, call me fragile again, and get within arms reach, and I'll show how "fragile" I am
Posted by: Amanda at April 03, 2009 10:11 AM (Lcghc)
3
You bitsh list inculded many Bitches. And each and every one I have encountered on way too many occassions. And not all have been of the XX persuasion. Of these species and sub-species the ones I really cannot abide are the hyprocritical, more pious than you, better than you species you refert oas minister-minister's wife.
Good luck dealing withe them. Maybe you could report them to be rodent infested ( which thye are) to the local county council.
Posted by: Charles at April 03, 2009 11:17 AM (maQJG)
4
Last night my daughter participated in a high school chorus concert, in addition with the elementary and middle schools in our local cluster (a somewhat formal event). There were over 600 people in attendance, so it was held at the local mega-church. I managed to keep my irritation in check at the tendency of the faculty to give a speech before every song (I came to listen to the kids singing, not adults taking every opportunity to flap their holes in front of a mike). But what almost sent me over the edge was the inbred redneck trailer trash of a parent sitting directly behind us that felt the need to stand up after every piece and yell WOO-HOO!! WAY TO GO (fill in his poor kids' names)!! My wife & I wanted to take turns wrapping his balls around his neck so he'd shut the living fuck up. I cannot stand parents that show a total lack of class at formal or semi-formal events for their kids.
Good enough bitch for ya?
(ps- sorry for the caps, I know you hate that. But I can't think of any better way to comment just how obnoxious that individual was last night.)
Posted by: diamond dave at April 03, 2009 11:21 AM (RIYji)
5
Your timing is perfect. I came home last night, and, walking in the house, pulled what I thought was a bit of windblown paper from the shrubs by the front steps. It was, in fact, a curled-up, rain soaked ticket for putting my trash on the curb an hour and 10 minutes early af few nights before. In the shrubbery.
Now, was this mere laziness? did the ticket writer fling it from the car window and hope for the best? My front door complete with mail slot was mere steps away, but that would involve exiting the car... My cynicism doesn't discount the possibility that they wouldn't enjoy a bit of additional revenue if I never see the ticket and get fined for not paying... The trash tickets are presented to us as "quality of life" enforcement... yet the same city department is responsible for maintaining street signs, and not 10 feet away is a graffiti covered stop sign... no revenue to be had there, so it remains...
Posted by: Suze at April 03, 2009 12:23 PM (eVSGm)
6
Room mothers at school. I hate them. I hate every last parent-teacher organization mother I've had to deal with over the last several weeks. Seriously thinking of home schooling . . .
Posted by: oddybobo at April 03, 2009 01:36 PM (mZfwW)
7
I've got one...9 out of 10 times I try to comment, it won't let me!
Posted by: kristen at April 03, 2009 01:53 PM (pB1g/)
8
oh god, where to even start. I'll be back when I have a spare moment. I need a good bitch session.
I'll leave you with one: people who can't fucking be on time if their life (or job) depended on it - fired just such a one yesterday.
Posted by: Carol at April 03, 2009 02:58 PM (CCDiK)
9
At the beginning of the year my husband, who was a recovering addict, "fell off the wagon" so to speak. I asked him to move out and filed for divorce on a Tuesday. He lost his job on a Friday, got fired to be exact for being a total fuck wad and all that fun addict behavior.
Then on Saturday while I was supervising visitation with his son he got angry, withdrawl form drugs, and threw things at my head and got glass on my son from a picture he broke.
I had him arrested and he has been in jail for almost three weeks. In that time I have had to deal with a DHS woman who told me that if this happened again she would take my son away. Even though in the next breathe she told me he was required to have visits and they were required to be supervised. Possibly by me...
Then his mother called me two days ago and gave me the right act about how unfair it was that my son didn't get to go down to the JAIL to visit his daddy and how I couldn't keep him away from him for that long, etc, etc. Her main concern was that it was unfair to HIM to not get to see his son...
Him?? When did this become about him?? Shouldn't this be about my two year old who will not understand why he has to see daddy through a video monitor? Shouldn't this be about my two year old who had to watch his daddy throwing things and carrying on and who JUST NOW has stopped reliving the story to me daily??
But oh no... he would never MEAN to hurt us. People have these episodes all the time... you can't think about the what if's. No one was hurt and you are blowing this whole thing out of proportion an making it way worse than it was.
Yeah... that's it!! F-U-C-K you lady!!
Oh... and thank you for letting me hijack your blog to rant about what I can not right now on mine!! I feel SOOO much better :-)
Posted by: Heather at April 03, 2009 06:01 PM (66jI5)
10
The sister inlaw sounds absolutely horrible. What a bitch. Good for you outing her on the internet.
And as for the bulls, I will now stop complaining about the feral cat population in my neighborhood.
Posted by: Stacey at April 03, 2009 06:38 PM (L0ucp)
11
This could be a long list!
People who try to school me on my job when they not absolutely nothing about the client group i work with.
People who complain they hardly ever see you and expect you to carry the friendship making all the plans and always wait for you to call.
The woman at work who asks for advice, doesnt listen, talks over asked for advice and says 'innit' at the end of every sentence. I just hope she is not there forever!
Pigeons - they are vermin who carry vermin, they can ruin my day.
Using the tube.
In Laws who have an opnion on everything and want to share it with you.
Library fines.
I think i should get off my soap box now, although i reckon i could carry on forever!
Abs x
Posted by: abs at April 03, 2009 07:02 PM (KT+zA)
12
Well, mine seems a petty annoyance at this point, but here it is: One of my brothers is forever prioritizing his in-laws and their family over his own. He did it at Christmas, arriving two hours late for dinner because his ILs were sending over "Santa" at an unspecified time.
After sending out (email) birthday invitations on behalf of our almost 4yo for coffee and cake this coming weekend, three weeks in advance of the event, I got a call a week ago from same brother telling me they would be stopping in only briefly because they had been invited to an early dinner at his SIL's house because she's leaving for Maui and won't be at Easter dinner with the rest of her family.
It just burns my butt that dinner with his SIL is that much more important that his nephew's family birthday party. I mean really, I should be accommodating him and hosting the party in my hospital room the following weekend (but not Easter Sunday!) just after having had another c-section, right?
Posted by: Tinker at April 03, 2009 07:11 PM (rU3SM)
13
Oh, and can I make a suggestion for the sinus infections? Sinus rinses. My husband discovered them because of his apnea and when I read more, learned that they're supposed to help clear up and prevent sinus infections. It's just a plastic bottle used to squirt saline up your nose and through your sinuses.
Posted by: Tinker at April 03, 2009 07:15 PM (rU3SM)
14
I'm with Kristen, your server's a complete bitch who hates your commenters! I'm sure your comments would triple if it weren't for Fluffy the Spamdog, or whatever MuNu call it.
I am the ONLY ONE who knows A) where the bin bags live, B) where the laundry basket is and C) how to wipe a kitchen surface. Snarl.
15
I have an addition to #1. The side effects that go with treating sinus infections (amoxicillin --> diarrhea). Especially annoying when one is traveling.
Posted by: BeachGirl at April 03, 2009 07:19 PM (0o7EQ)
16
One more thing:
Happy year-and-a-half to the Lemonheads!
Posted by: Tinker at April 03, 2009 07:23 PM (rU3SM)
17
The nanny left the prize winning Easter bonnet I made 3 years ago for my daughter at the son's music class today. Rare is the time I do crafts for my kids. I'm the mother whose efforts for school dress up days etc are paltry in comparison to teh uber-mums at school. This was my pride and joy. And by the time I see her again I will have forgotten about it and the husband failed to impress upon her when he got home to this news that I would be cross cross, cross.
Rereading this I sound like an idiot which makes me feel better.
Yup I hate mu mu too
Posted by: Betty M at April 03, 2009 07:57 PM (Fcfou)
18
Hell yeah, I'm stepping up to the mike!
WHere to start.
The tube. Smelly people on the tube. The fact that the picadilly line ALWAYS fucking terminates at Raynors Lane when the wind is howling and it's raining
Work. Politics. People who think just cos they stamp their feet and shout a bit things will happen. Its not feasible means .. erm. IT"S NOT FUCKING FEASIBLE. You know what? my life would be so much easier if I could deliver everything that you wanted. I dont CHOOSE to just arbitrarily say no to certain projects. When I say no it's for a reason. OK fuckwit? And by the way. I dont presume to tell you how ot do your job so have a bit of respect
Jelly beans. I love jelly beans. WHY ARE THEY SO EXPENSIVE
Starbucks running out of skinny ginger muffins. Please dont, I need a muffin every now and then!
DId I mention work?
Socks, why do my socks always twist round on my feet so the heel part is on top?
And finally, the EVIL BLACK CAT that terrorises my darling precious and so gentle fur baby. You black bastard. leave my cat alone!
Phew ...
OK, deep breath ... and .... R E L A X!
Thanks for that
)
Posted by: Moira at April 03, 2009 08:27 PM (UGBIN)
19
Here's a bitch or two for you:
1. Seconding or thirding, whatever, sinus infections. I enjoy sleeping sitting up, breathing through my mouth until my tongue and raw and swollen, and having snot drip from my nose when I finally fall asleep.
2. Clients who think they are lawyers. Here's a word to them: When you want to go to law school and take the bar, and then think about the cases in the middle of the night, you can. Until then, leave me alone to do my work.
3. Ditto to the office staff who begrudge the lawyers for leaving early - to them I say, when you want to work nights, early mornings, and weekends because the stuff's gotta get done and the buck stops with you, be my guest. Until then, back off.
4. People who volunteer to help w/ book clubs and then drop off the face of the earth -- oops, that one was me, sorry.
Posted by: PHX Mama at April 03, 2009 08:51 PM (Xl39M)
20
I went to the doctor today and got told I have a raging sinus infection, so I'm not a fan either.
The sister-in-law has some problems, I take it, and one of them is being judgmental. Remind her that the Bible says "Judge not, lest YE be judged". I think another of her problems is the "holier-than-thou" syndrome. I'd kick her to the road....(well, not really...but I'd sure like to.)
Posted by: kenju at April 03, 2009 09:45 PM (hMUhQ)
21
1. My MIL having a cake for my husband on his birthday on Wednesday, while I was at work.
2. Every day that I have to go to said work, and keep from plucking the eyeballs out of my co-worker who completely went behind my back to the Administration in my school to comlpain about the same shit she says to my students on a daily basis. If you knew me, you'd realize what a task this actually is - and I'm not pharmacetuically assisted, but sometimes wish I had a Xanax drip.
Posted by: Beth at April 04, 2009 01:08 AM (KELSj)
22
I am so over fucking sinus infections. I've had about 900 so far this year and it's only April.
Posted by: Dotty at April 04, 2009 04:29 AM (0hLIO)
23
How about brain surgery last year and sinus surgery this year...enough said
Posted by: Erica at April 04, 2009 06:51 AM (MnSSx)
24
Exhaustion. Plain and simple.
A new baby and a toddler. Neither of whom sleep. A partner who did his back and has been unable to get out of bed.
More later. Like tomorrow. Maybe.
Oh and ((hugs))
Posted by: Veronica at April 04, 2009 11:44 AM (l5geK)
25
I'd add my own, but the explaination really is too long and kind of icky. So let's just leave it at bacterial infections.
26
Day six of hospital for complications related to minor surgery 2 weeks ago, a blood clot and now 3 separate infection. If one more doctor tells me that I am more likely to have get infections due to my Ehler Danlos syndrome I will shoot him. This is not the case and just shows that doctor's lack of knowledge about my disease process. I also have a recurrence of my MRSA sinus infection which will mean another central line IV for 6 weeks of IV antibiotics, so I am hosting my own pity part today! So I feel the sinus pain of your infection and can second the recommendation of the rinses, they do work in most cases.
My only high point has been a infectious disease doc who drove from Herman Memorial (45 minutes away)to see me and didn't give me any easy answers but said he would do some study and we would work together. That is hopeful.
No discharge date in sight, but I just want to be miserable in my own bed.
Posted by: Melissia at April 05, 2009 11:26 PM (oWoBV)
27
Well, I worked for two weeks on a project until the leader noticed that I was and someone else were doing double work, meaning that two of us had been working on the same exact thing. I was told, "Uh, nevermind." But hey, it's work and they pay me, so if they want to pay me for essentially doing nothing, well, cool.
Other than that though, my life is pretty good (sorry Helen, I'm not gloating, just enjoying baby #3) so I don't feel much like bitching.
Take care. I'm reminded of a little story:
A guy was feeling depressed and went and sat down in the middle of the road. He heard a little voice say, "Cheer up. Things could get worse."
So he cheered up and a little while later, things got worse.
Actually, that's probably not helpful, is it? Stay cool. Things will get better.
Posted by: physics geek at April 06, 2009 06:26 PM (MT22W)
28
Well, I worked for two weeks on a project until the leader noticed that I was and someone else were doing double work, meaning that two of us had been working on the same exact thing. I was told, "Uh, nevermind." But hey, it's work and they pay me, so if they want to pay me for essentially doing nothing, well, cool.
Other than that though, my life is pretty good (sorry Helen, I'm not gloating, just enjoying baby #3) so I don't feel much like bitching.
Take care. I'm reminded of a little story:
==================
A guy was feeling depressed and went and sat down in the middle of the road. He heard a little voice say, "Cheer up. Things could get worse."
So he cheered up and, sure enough, a little while later things got worse.
==================
Actually, that's probably not helpful, is it? Stay cool. Things will get better.
Posted by: physics geek at April 06, 2009 06:27 PM (MT22W)
G20
I've been spending a bit of time in the car recently, as I took some time off of work the other morning to drive to somewhere that I had thought was close but, in typical Helen fuck-up style wound up being hell and gone from our house. I won an ebay toy I'd been trying to get my hands on for a while (they cost £250. I paid £60, all because the person who listed the item spelled something wrong and it didn't make it into main searches. I love life.) I had specified I wanted the slide within 50 miles of my postcode. I think that ebay estimated it was about 50 miles away if, you know, I was dropping acid after failing a rudimentary map reading quiz, where I put Moldova in Australia or some such shit.
So off I went, on smaller roads as the Motorway was clogged, and although I drove through luscious countryside I got stuck behind every over-60 man driving a 20 year old car in a speed so slow it didn't even require putting the car into a gear. I had a lot of thinking time. I had a lot of listening time, too.
I had BBC 2 on the radio, listening to Jeremy Vine. Now, I generally think Jeremy Vine is a shit stirrer and someone who overreacts just to get higher ratings. That, and his voice makes me want to set gerbils loose in my ears to chew out my eardrums just so I can stop hearing his Sloane-y accent.
The topic of the day was the G20 summit which, unless you've been in a news void, you've heard about.
Jeremy Vine takes calls from listeners, and pretty much without exception they were anti-American. Americans, the scourge of society, whose banks caused this problem. America, which is estimated to be able to bounce back better from the global mess than the UK is expected to. America, whose banks with their sub-prime mortgages meant that the U.S. of A is the axis of evil, never mind the fact that banks over here were doing sub-prime mortgages too.
And of course the inevitable came in - Americans are fat. Lazy. Stupid. One caller even said that all that will be left of Americans are their perfect orthodontics as the rest of them melt away in their puddles of fat.
So that's how the global economy tanked then, is it? Because Americans are fat? Well thank fuck someone got to the bottom of the issue and came up with an answer. Give that man a Nobel Prize!
I ignore the ones who having nothing to say about anything apart from how pointless Americans are. Having lived outside the US for 10 years now, it's not the first anti-American rant I've heard and it won't be the last. As a military kid in US Air Force schools we were made to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning and heard how everyone in the whole world, ever, wanted to be an American. Once you leave US shores, though, it's a very different matter. People don't think that way. As I've said, I've only ever once come across someone who wanted to be an American, a Turkish man I used to work with.
I have my own doubts about the G20 Summit. I don't see how 20 leaders can leave a meeting with anything other than a flimsy document saying how one needs to do this, countries commit to do that, this doctrine hopes that such and such can be accomplished. I am hopeful, but pessimistic.
Even the way things are being covered is doing my fucking head in. Log in to American websites and all you see are photos of bleeding protestors and violent clashes. It's a riot! the pages nearly scream. Blood is running through the streets! It's the end of the world! Images of Outrage From the UK!
And then some of the Americans comment on the news repots. The leaders only want to incorporate socialism! Socialism benefits only the lazy! Socialism is evil and pink and wrong and I'll be supporting scammers and you'll take our money away! Really? Because the UK is largely socialist. Yes, I pay a lot of tax, but I don't feel like I'm floating someone else's boat on my dime.
Yet the BBC reports that most of the protestors are good-natured. And of course they should be. Why is it ok to protest by breaking into offices and throwing monitors into bank windows just because you're fucked off? I'm angry at the Swunt, you don't see me behaving like an animal. They've made football hooliganism illegal over here, but hey protetst hooliganism seems to be ok. Maybe I've gotten old, but if you're going to act like an idiot I'm going to think you and your cause are idiotic, too. Go about things calmly and peacefully and I'll listen.
I hope something comes out of this. Industries all around us are tanking. A drive to the hardware store shows 5 shops whose doors have closed. All of the companies seem to be laying off. Food prices have gone up, housing prices have fallen through the floor. A new tax on petrol and diesel got introduced yesterday, and the children's meager bonds that I pay into monthly for them to have when they're 18 are worth less than what I've paid into them. Our pensions have "Tender Vittles" written all over them and we don't even want to know what our house is not worth now. We can't really travel anywhere because the pound has tanked against most other currencies.
So yeah. I'm hopeful. I'd like these leaders to come out of the conference with concrete ideas, something immediately translatable to reality. Do I have any ideas? Would I be working in my day job if I did?
And I'd like the media to stop it's sensationalism, although I guess that'll happen when the monkeys fly.
-H.
PS - is anyone doing the book club? I'm giving up on The Brothers Karamazov. I can't be doing with the statement "I'll tell you more about that later" at least twice per page. I am, however, picking up The Secret Scripture tonight (even though I have Christopher Moore's new one Fool calling my name). So if you're still in, I'm heading for The Secret Scripture tonight.
1
I'm so pleased re: The Brothers Karamazov and have just sighed very loudly. I should probably get The Secret Scripture soon then, eh? Are we the only two doing this? I like you and all, but if I wanted a two-person book club with just the two of us I would invite myself to your house one day.
Posted by: MsPrufrock at April 02, 2009 01:43 PM (37O6C)
2
Hi Helen - happy belated birthday! How does the bookclub work exactly? Maybe you've outlined it before and I just missed something...
Thanks!
Posted by: nikoline at April 02, 2009 02:32 PM (ZbAHH)
3
I am totally in for the book club. Due to budgetary reasons, I can only read books that are in my library. Fortunately, The Secret Scripture is checked-in and I plan on picking it up tomorrow.Did you make a group on GoodReads (don't know for sure if that's easily possible)?
I've talked to a friend of mine about the whole anti-American thing. I can't believe how often I find myself defending myself for being an American to him (he's a brit - still there) and then I just start making fun of my white trash greedy American self because it's all pointless.
Just finished reading Angela's Ashes, so it was kinda nice to read about how much the Irish hate the English... for a little while.
I hope something good comes out of this as well. Last night the tv news was filled with the Obama's meeting the Royal family and little else. Getting sick of all of the "Oh NOES Socialism!" crap. I think Sicko should be required viewing for everyone.
Posted by: Michele at April 02, 2009 02:36 PM (rXEzC)
4
As a Brit living in the states, yesterday a co-worker asked "Have you heard about the riots in London?"
Me:"Riots?"
Co-Worker: "Yes the riots about the G20 Summit!"
Me: "you mean the protestors, The "anti-capitalist" protestors?, they turn up at every Gx summit."
Co-Worker:"There's blood EVERYWHERE! (pause) why would you protest capitalism???"
and that in a nutshell is why I still have news.bbc.co.uk (UK Edition) as my home page and my go-to news reference, for the sanity.
Posted by: jayne at April 02, 2009 03:34 PM (q5uvl)
5
I'll be picking up the book this afternoon!
As for the anti-american issue, hubby and I had our eyes opened when we hosted year long exchange students for 5 years, and then travelled to visit them. It's amazing what our public education system and media tries to feed us! We are the only ones that think we are "The greatest Nation"
Posted by: the mother hen at April 02, 2009 04:13 PM (NlBuf)
6
there's no such thing as unbiased media. too bad.
I love the idea of the book club - but honestly I don't know how you find time to read. I'm too exhausted. need to get my life together first...
Posted by: Carol at April 02, 2009 06:33 PM (WLhT+)
7
Have to say the mere mention of The brothers K put me off the book club but now its off the list if I can finish my real world Book Club book I'm in.
Talk show callers are all idiots. There is a blog that makes fun of the ludicrous comments from the BBC's Have your say too which stops you ever scrolling through the real thing.
Speaking as a British person though I would say that we are not on the whole anti-American particularly not now Obama is in charge more anti some attitudes. The excitement in my office when we realised Michelle was practically next door today was crazy. The stuff that annoys the kind of people in that office (public sector lawyers mostly) would include Bush, neo-con fundamentalists, the persistent belief that everyone wants to be US citizens (Brits at least don't - Canadian or Australian instead please), the religiosity - church just isn't a factor here in the same way, the US is best at everything and every nation should want to be like it attitude. Oh and rewriting British WW2 exploits for the movies and the belief that our teeth are all crap.
Why does mu mu hate me?
Posted by: Betty M at April 02, 2009 08:09 PM (V1/fV)
8
Um. Am I the only one with a copy of Brothers K right here and, err, never mind.
As soon as any person says 'All Americans [Iranians/Italians/Brits/Atheists/Lesbians/etc.] are...[insert whatever here]' I know in my bones that that person is a fucktard.
But I wish y'all would stop calling jam 'jelly'.
9
Sigh...we experienced the whole anti-American thing when we lived in Malaysia. Interestingly though, it wasn't the Malaysians we had to be wary of, it was all the European expats. It never ceased to amaze me, because I would never just bash someone's country during a conversation with them. How big of an asshole would that make me? They had nooo issues with it, though, which I found incredibly rude and tedious. And once they found out we were from Texas, forget about it.
A couple of times, people mistook my accent for Australian (wow, I must have one heck of a Texas twang), and I just went with it. It was just so much easier that way, because sometimes, I just wanted to sit at the bar and drink my beer, you know?
Posted by: Sarah at April 03, 2009 12:16 AM (NyRHU)
10
'Round these parts (Croatia), football hooliganism is code for "let's lynch us some gays." So I'd be all for them banning it.
While abroad, I've not minded American bashing too much, as long as it's made clear that I am the exception to the rule. Given that most of my friends send me messages asking how it is over there in the war-torn middle-eastern state of Yugoslavonia, I'm a little down on my people. But then, if I were in the UK, I'd probably remind them that our first lady could kick Gordon Brown's arse. And most of the parliament, to boot. So there.
God, I miss driving my car, singing to my iPod, and giving the finger to Orange County drivers who find my bumper stickers to be morally damning. I even mind having tacos thrown at my car (it's happened).
11
'Round these parts (Croatia), football hooliganism is code for "let's lynch us some gays." So I'd be all for them banning it.
While abroad, I've not minded American bashing too much, as long as it's made clear that I am the exception to the rule. Given that most of my friends send me messages asking how it is over there in the war-torn middle-eastern state of Yugoslavonia, I'm a little down on my people. But then, if I were in the UK, I'd probably remind them that our first lady could kick Gordon Brown's arse. And most of the parliament, to boot. So there.
God, I miss driving my car, singing to my iPod, and giving the finger to Orange County drivers who find my bumper stickers to be morally damning. I even mind having tacos thrown at my car (it's happened).
I take it back. Whichever country this mu.nu lives in is the most evil.
12
Aggghhh, its annoying, isn't it? I tend to just tune people out when they started going off about the US. I used to argue, but its not really worth it. Whinging has become a national pastime in the UK. I say this out of love- I'm married to a Brit and am a friend to many. The Brits aren't as bad as the Europeans though. In my experience, they are often a total and complete drag. The thing I like best about America is that people don't sit around complaining about their situation, they try to change it. A lot of other countries... well, they sit around complaining. About us.
Posted by: Jungletwins at April 03, 2009 04:49 AM (wyPEC)
13
I am an American. Yes, we are fat, but that's not why we (our bankers) caused this. We did it because we're crooks, pure and simple.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04032009/watch.html
Now everyone's screwed. Me? Zero debt, I pay cash for everything, even my house. I luckily smelled the stink about a year and a half ago and pulled my 401k out of the market. I'm still a bit scared the whole things going down the tubes, but I feel better now than in October. Still praying and hoping we'll whistle past the graveyard.
What to do with the bozos that caused this? Take a chapter out of our English friendsÂ’ history book. I think the term is called drawn and quartered .
1
Happy Birthday Helen! Hope the rest of the day, and the year ahead, continues to get even better!
Posted by: Suzie at April 01, 2009 08:10 AM (rxC5T)
2
Happy Birthday Helen! Hope the day continues to get better!
Posted by: Suzie at April 01, 2009 08:11 AM (rxC5T)
3
Happy birthday. Looks to be a great beginning to a most happy year,
Posted by: Charles at April 01, 2009 09:41 AM (maQJG)
4
Happy, Happy birthday to you!!! I never forget either.
Posted by: Mitzi at April 01, 2009 11:03 AM (s1alm)
5
Happy Birthday!
Just for you...enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eALrmZCHwlU
xx
Posted by: Gill at April 01, 2009 11:09 AM (R2vBh)
6
Happy birthday, bon anniversaire, sretan roƌendan...and all that jazz. *spirit fingers*
Hope things are looking up. The babies are obscenely adorable, by the way. In case you didn't know. But I'm betting you did.
Posted by: Lisa at April 01, 2009 01:38 PM (YEsan)
14
Happy birthday. I hope this birthday is happier than your other birthdays.
Posted by: Cori at April 01, 2009 01:40 PM (LumIA)
15
Happy birthday. I hope this year is a wonderful year for you. It seems to have started out great!!
Posted by: Cori at April 01, 2009 01:40 PM (LumIA)
16
Happy birthday to you... [cha cha cha]...happy birthday to you.... [cha cha cha] ...happy birthday dear you...[cha cha cha].... happy birthday to you.... (and many more)!!!
Hope today is the beginning of the best days. Love and admiration (tied up in a bow) from Chicago
Posted by: Elizabeth at April 01, 2009 01:44 PM (Y/P20)
19
Happy birthday!
Just wait until they follow you around all day singing Happy Birthday over and over. Or saying it whenver they catch sight of you, just in case you forgot or something.
Posted by: Michele at April 01, 2009 02:46 PM (rXEzC)
20
Happiest of birthdays, Sugar Plum. And always a treat to come to the blog and see the beeyootiful bebes!
Posted by: Deb at April 01, 2009 03:00 PM (GOFVL)
21
Happy! Happy! Birthday!
Wishing you a fabulous birthday and an even better year ahead!
xo
Posted by: patsy at April 01, 2009 03:16 PM (vXEc8)
22
Happy birthday! Enjoy the cake. (There will be cake, right?)
26
Happy Birthday! I knew that someone had a birthday today but I couldn't remember who. And the pictures of you & the babies look great. I can see all the pictures now because I finally got back my home internet access. Yay!
Posted by: diamond dave at April 01, 2009 06:16 PM (RIYji)
30
Happy Birthday! Please make sure you are 35 because I was 35 for two years because I can't do math in my head. I hate that.
Happy Birthday! 35 is a great age.
Posted by: Donna at April 01, 2009 08:00 PM (Ev2nm)
Posted by: Meghan at April 01, 2009 08:12 PM (FGbqX)
33
Happy birthday!
Did they chew the wrapping paper and stick it to everything, eyelashes included? That's always cute. Twinkly spit-ball extravaganza.
Posted by: Carol at April 01, 2009 09:03 PM (J/cu2)
35
Helen, I'm sorry that I missed it yesterday. As you well know, my life is pretty hectic right now. In any event, I hope that it was one of the best birthdays ever. You deserve much happiness and, from the smile on your face, I think that you're experiencing a bunch.
Posted by: physics geek at April 01, 2009 09:33 PM (MT22W)
36
I am glad to know it was a good one! Nick looks so much like angus!
Posted by: kenju at April 01, 2009 11:22 PM (hMUhQ)
I Want To Break Every Goddamn Coffee Cup Around Me
Seriously not fit for human consumption today.
Will be back in a few days. I know I use this space to sort my head out but there's only so much bitching and whinging I can take, let alone that I can subject people to.
I'm all banshee like and need to step away from the keyboard.
-H.
PS - I probably won't be blogging tomorrow, but I never forget - Happy Birthday tomorrow, Mitzi.
Posted by: Everydaystranger at
07:44 AM
| No Comments
| Add Comment
Post contains 94 words, total size 1 kb.
Reading Way Too Much Into This
I've blogged about In The Night Garden before. The characters on that show are mental, man. Seriously.
Yet the babies love them.
And we have a set of 5 board books and 2 paperback books that the babies - particularly Nora - adore. And they're at the stage where they don't want you to read it once, thanks. They want you to read the damn books 100,000 fucking times until your eyes bleed and you are one with the Night Garden. Get to the end of the book, hope to God they're sick of the book, find out with that "Uh uh uh uh uh" noise that they're not, stab yourself in the ears.
This is how it works.
Angus has been banned from reading the books because he won't play ball. The main characters are Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka, and the Tombliboos. Angus calls them Shit Snacker, Masochist, Ass Kisser, and Padiddlyboink.
Clearly not names I'd like the babies to get familiar with.
So I read the books.
Only, I hate the books.
Also, I've decided that the characters don't just have deep-seated psychological problems, but that they live in their own little land which isn't so much Night Garden as it is Gigolo Land. They're little pervs, the lot of them.
The most normal one is Igglepiggle. He's like the Mac Daddy of the Garden. I'd say he was the pimp, only evidence here is that he's not just the pusher, he partakes, too:
Then take the Tombliboos.
Their trousers are always falling down. See? It's a sign. It's not actually aided by the fact that in real life one of the actors in one of the costumes was in some kind of sex scandal (I believe the terms "circle jerk" and "glory hole" were bandied about).
Then you have Makka Pakka.
Oh, Makka Pakka. So fucked up. You're like the Rain Man of the geology world.
But it's worse than that.
He gets his rocks off on...rocks. He's the puppet equivalent of that nutter who has sex with buildings. He arranges his sexual objects in circles, sleeps with them, and then:
he tells the world that he's succeeded in reaching orgasm by using a brass instrument.
It's always the quiet ones.
But the worst offender is Upsy Daisy.
In our house, I have to catch myself constantly, because whenever I come across an Uppsy Daisy passage in a book I always want to add: "...you little whore!" at the end of it.
For example, Upsy Daisy decides to kiss everyone in the Night Garden.
Oh wait. My bad - she wants to kiss everything in the Night Garden, be it animal, vegetable or mineral.
The dozy tart even seeks out public transport to try to spread her free love around easier:
She tries to write off her depravity.
Oh sure, babe. Blame the skirt. That's why you're so loose.
This just makes me uncomfortable.
When your bed is chasing you around the garden it's time to admit you have a problem, Upsy Daisy...you little whore.
-H.
PS-yes, I know, it's all innocent in these books. They are sweet characters who value sharing, cooperation, and all that other shit you need to teach kids. But when you've read them 50 times in one 20 minute period you need something to divert your mind, lest you lose it.
1
Yeah, I think I would have burned the book. It just seems to fuzzy happy for me. I like Dr. Seuss. There are much more interesting side stories to make up in my mind while reading them.
2
All I can do is chuckle to myself. Oh, and I can be thankful my children are older and that there is no Night Garden here.
Posted by: Lisa at March 25, 2009 03:22 PM (YEsan)
3
Thanks for the humor.
We don't have these characters in the US (that I know of anyway) and I'm grateful. The books Bo wants to read over and over and over mostly involve Elmo and Disney's Cars. Seems slightly better than these guys...
Posted by: Jamie at March 25, 2009 03:23 PM (3nvbv)
4
You do know that some day in the future some grad student will spend countless hours researching said topic for their graduate thesis and will be thrilled to discover your blog post? I can see the footnotes now! And the title will be something horribly pretentious like The Psychosocial Importance of Early Memory Imprinting on Early Childhood Watchers of Into The Night Garden: A Study of Sexual Offenders.
Posted by: Melissia at March 25, 2009 03:29 PM (IBnue)
5
Having been through Teletubbies books and TV shows 10 years ago with both of my daughters, I can only sympathise with you both. I've still got the video tapes copied from TV with the repeats of the shows I watched - listen with mother, trumpton, magic roundabout - now there's classic TV. I suppose you've always got Postman Pat to look forward too
Posted by: robin h at March 25, 2009 04:45 PM (V5LUI)
6
I think it's a talent to be able to find the sexual connotations in children's book and still be able to read them to your kid.
Posted by: donna at March 25, 2009 04:55 PM (uJ7AG)
7
My two are glued to the Night Garden just before bedtime on weeknights. I'm glad I don't have to pay the TV the attention I would a book. Upsy Daisy has always bothered me the most with her flirting and kissing everyone.
Posted by: Tinker at March 25, 2009 05:13 PM (rU3SM)
8
Oh. Mah. God.
Well, at least two to six Republican heads in the Congress will explode when it shows up on PBS. There's that small comfort.
Posted by: palamedes at March 25, 2009 05:17 PM (FsbnY)
9
I hate to tell you this, but it doesn't get any better. In fact, eventually they will be able to tell you (VERY DEMANDING) that they want you to read it again again again and again. I'm sick of Doreen Cronin and Mo Willems and quite a few others because I can't stand to read them anymore. But I do, of course, because really do you want to make a kid cry? And most of the books he wants ME to read, not Dada.
It's a wonder I haven't stabbed myself yet.
Posted by: statia at March 25, 2009 05:35 PM (s5ipx)
10
Freaking hilarious post. I'm laughing--slightly hysterically--because I just had the first "again, again" moment with the boy in the car yesterday afternoon. I sang Pop Goes the Weasel I don't remember how many times because stopping meant screams from the backseat. No other song would do. Can't wait for the ride home this afternoon!
Posted by: rhysroo at March 25, 2009 05:41 PM (7YmKY)
11
Hilarious, Helen! You poor poor woman.
I must say, just be thankful you didn't have to live through Barney and the Teletubbies. Even though I had banned Barney from our house, my eldest saw it at daycare one day. She was addicted. Fuckers.
The triplets seem to really be into Wheel of Fortune ... and Coronation Street. I am ruining them forever. Woo!
Posted by: Michele at March 25, 2009 06:41 PM (rXEzC)
12
Ok.
That jingling noise that Upsy Daisy emits when she jumps? Has No Visible Source! Ergo, she must have jingly love balls... inserted.
And the rhyme should actuall go... Makka Pakka, Knacker-Cracker, Knicker-Cacker, EW!
I could never remember what the Wattingers were caled to begin with; the closest I could get was Wurzelheimers. This soon became Hymen-Twangers. When my Mum innocently asked what they were called yesterday, we had to explain ourselves at length!
I am in such deep shit if Harry's storing this lot up for the future.
13
This so takes me back to reading Dr. Seuss to the children. I still can't even think of Green Eggs and Ham without snickering. "Would you do it on a train?" Oh my! Hang in there. Pretty soon they'll be suggesting you read such gems as my 13 year old's current favorite books, The Twilight series. Teen vampire romance, anyone?
Posted by: malenkka at March 25, 2009 08:24 PM (B4EQR)
14
Thankfully Amy has grown out of the Night Garden now, she wants shows with sensible talking like Tikkabilla AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH. I do crack up everytime I read Green Eggs to Amy, but its the line "would you, could with a goat?" that gets me!
Posted by: Super Sarah at March 25, 2009 09:47 PM (0TP8F)
15
You beat me to it! I've been meaning to do this post for 20 years now, as it may not surprise you that I've made the same observations.
Upsy Daisy is definitely a whore. Naturally she's my kid's favourite.
Posted by: MsPrufrock at March 25, 2009 09:48 PM (CA+L6)
16
The Night Garden - Where TeleTubbies go to die.
Posted by: Stephen Macklin at March 26, 2009 01:27 AM (R7LgM)
17
Y'know, I think I'd prefer Sir Michael Carmichael Zutt, Oliver Boliver Butt, and Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate to those clowns. Besides, my dad used to get me laughing everytime he got to those three in the story.
Posted by: diamond dave at March 26, 2009 01:56 AM (RIYji)
18
My daughter loves these too. Me? They make my head want to explode. POP!
Posted by: Veronica at March 26, 2009 09:50 AM (l5geK)
19
Wait unti they're more verbal and have the damned books memorized. Then when you skip a page, they'll say "Mommy, go back."
I will say this looks a lot like Teletubbies, which I loathed. Just goes to show what college drug use does to children's TV show producers.
Oh, and be glad you didn't have to live through Barney. I'd have happily made that dinosaur into a nice purple coat, with a belt and matching shoes.
Posted by: ~Easy at March 26, 2009 12:29 PM (IVGWz)
20
Right. If I ever get knocked up, I'm kicking the TV down the stairwell.
21
Oh man... We don't get that show in the Netherlands. Or maybe we do (we have BBC one and two), but I just haven't found them yet. Probably because I don't even have time to turn the damn thing on during the day. Kids aren't interested in it. They love the remote control, though...
I can imagine you wanting to pull your hair out after reading that book for the umpteenth time. I remember the Teletubbies from when I was a teenager (with two baby sisters), and they made me want to go kill myself. Twice. Painfully.
Padiddlyboink though? That sounds so unbelievably cute! If Angus' other three replacement names weren't so, well, wrong, he should be the only one allowed to EVER read that book... ;-)
Posted by: Mijke at March 27, 2009 02:53 PM (TazTE)
22
You ever heard of Alfie Atkins? In German "Willi Wiberg", in original Swedish "Alfons Aberg". Maybe a little oldfashioned, but very charming and real, my son loved him: http://www.alfons.se/html/sprak/alfie.htm
Maybe at least your little boy would like it.
Posted by: Paula at March 29, 2009 09:56 AM (gK8bb)
23
You ever heard of Alfie Atkins? In German "Willi Wiberg", in original Swedish "Alfons Aberg". Maybe a little oldfashioned, but very charming and real, my son loved him: http://www.alfons.se/html/sprak/alfie.htm
Posted by: Paula at March 29, 2009 09:57 AM (gK8bb)
24
I fondly recall someone writing a passage in some trash mag - maybe TV Guide or People - about one of the teletubbies getting plastered, spiking the Tubby juice, and sneaking off to the theatre to get itself off to Elmo in Grouchland.
I have to admit I like Angus' version better. I laughed until people around me began to stare.
By the way, are they into Eric Carle? He was always my favorite. Still is. My dad had to read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" to me so many times that it's actually how I learned to read when I was four...as I could recite all the words.
Broken
Yesterday I went to the doctor, ostensibly for just an ultrasound. No, not one of those ultrasounds. This one was on my wrist.
Surprise, surprise - doctor pulls out needles. Decides to activate the procedure they've been planning to do in situ. Anesthetics applied, big needles plied with steroids, and a ganglion cyst - conveniently growing within one of my tendons - gets hit. This is just one of many cysts rolling around in my buggered wrist space. The treatment has a 60% chance of working. If it doesn't work we can repeat it. If that doesn't work, they're going in with scalpels. I'd rather not get to that point.
The doctor has EDS too. He tells me that feet and ankles often go on EDS people. I decide not to think about that. I tell him about my jaw popping out. He tells me about his neck popping out. We are unwitting war buddies.
So this may be my first treatment of many.
The procedure hurt but not as much as the recovery has.
I'm in a brace now, not allowed to use my right hand for some days. I cannot dry my hair. Typing this has taken fucking ages as I cannot type with my right hand, nor write with it either (we're installing speech recognition software on the home PC tonight). I cannot drive. I cannot dry my hair and pulling on tights is something akin to a circus act. I have a deep down massive bone ache and throbbing in my wrist, one that kept me up last night.
I turn 35 next week and parts of my body are already letting the team down.
I am crazy busy - I need to see the dentist but haven't had time, I finally got a haircut after last having one in May 2008. Melissa and her best friend arrive tonight for a week. One week of two teenagers and two toddlers. Angus is building a deck and having to do it alone as the EDS now prevents it. A friend in real life found my blog and I'd really rather that didn't happen, especially as real life friend has now blown me out. I'm now nervous, and feeling exposed, and feeling bad because I've mentioned said friend on here and I don't want them to feel betrayed because that's not a very nice feeling. I tell people at work my wrist is in a brace as I've been backhanding people too much. They smile. It beats the truth.
Miles to go before I sleep and I can't even sleep.
I'm in a good mood, though. That has to be worth something. Angus and I are getting along well lately - I hope the peace lasts. The sun is out. And I am so proud of my toddlers that I feel it deep down in my bones, down by where the needles went through.
My body is aging now, and I can't help feeling it's too early for that. It's not pity I'm playing with here, it's just something I wish wasn't. I wonder if I should buy my adult undergarments or ordering up a cane ahead of time. I wonder if there are coupons to prevent aging, and what part of me I need to sell to get them.
1
Hmm... is this the first time you've called them toddlers and not babies in a full post?
Good luck with the wrist and the teenagers!
Posted by: Hannah at March 24, 2009 11:57 AM (lUH62)
2
Two teens and two toddlers, lucky you. I wish I could offer to help out but there's an ocean in the way.
p.s. I noticed you have A Fine Balance (great story) on your wish list. I have it along with a couple of his other books. They're yours if you want them.
Posted by: Anita at March 24, 2009 12:24 PM (bmKoE)
3
Ouch. Hope you are in the 60%. Sorry about the friend.
Posted by: Betty M at March 24, 2009 02:38 PM (m+q/k)
4
Dear Helen, I too had to smile at the word "toddlers." Yay!
I'm sorry the recovery is not going very well. Hoping that the pain and bother is worth it, at least. I've had problems with a ganglion cyst -- only one, mind you, but one that kept coming back for encores until a hand surgeon did the works on it almost six years ago. And it came back last year, though in a much reduced form.
We've got EDS in our family now too, I have recently learned. What a coincidence, no?
Posted by: Kath at March 24, 2009 04:11 PM (zP/Ej)
5
Wow, they didn't even give me the option of the needles when I had my ganglion cyst removed surgically in 1988 (it was that or bash it with a big heavy book, which had a much higher likelihood of the thing coming back). (Jesus god that was 20 years ago.) I can say, though, that with no other factors at play, the recovery wasn't too bad... Of course, I didn't have toddlers to chase when I was in sixth grade, either, so who the hell knows.
Posted by: Sarah at March 24, 2009 05:56 PM (D37sb)
6
I had a ganglion cyst about 10 years ago. The doctor used the "Holy Bible Method" to get rid of it. I thought it should have been called the holy shit method...that's what I said when he smashed the hell out of it with a heavy book! I think I would have prefered needles, although it hasn't come back.
Posted by: Kristen at March 24, 2009 06:24 PM (XRq3E)
7
I hope you feel better soon. I can't imagine what I'd do if some of my real life "people" found my blog.
And I want to say DAMN THE SPAM! - for not letting me post my comments the 1st time around.
Posted by: Siera at March 24, 2009 07:44 PM (Ckc6D)
8
I fear real life friends, co-workers, family, finding my blog every day. Partly because I may have been writing about them, partly because it's my personal diary. I don't mind other - anonymous - people reading my blog (or I wouldn't have it all out on the internet), but I just hate the idea of not-really-friends judging me. *I am not my blog* I still regret telling some people about my blog when I first started - they sometimes bug me about things they've been reading there. I do *very much* understand you feeling exposed, sometimes words say more than pictures :-)
(And I know all about not being able to use your 'good' hand. A couple of years ago I broke both my wrists, weeks after finishing therapy for my broken upper arm. Hope you'll feel better soon)
Posted by: Vita at March 24, 2009 09:06 PM (fZwgf)
9
Let's hope that Melissa's friend is a fan of babies...and that the both of them are feeling compassionate. And way to go to N&N on the walking front! It's adorable that they did it so close together...
I'm sorry about your wrist. I have no valid suggestions, medically, but I'm looking into some alternative medicine for my own health issues, so maybe that might alleviate some of the pain for you...though I'm pretty sure bathing in the Dead Sea is not feasible unless you happen to throw out your back in Israel, as I did over the winter...
Posted by: kenju at March 25, 2009 04:01 AM (hMUhQ)
11
There just aren't words that soothe the anxiety sometimes, are there? So...I'm sending hugs. And positive energy.
And...if your real life friend doesn't understand YOU and your need to have your blog...give them time. I hope they don't feel betrayal, but sometimes, people are funny that way. I hope your friend has the presence of mind to support you, regardless.
((hugs))
Posted by: Lauren at March 25, 2009 05:11 AM (KBcpL)
12
Part of the reason I no longer feel comfortable blogging is that my blog-life and real-life crossed paths. I hope your friend is understanding and not freaked out by a mention in a mostly-anonymous blog.
WTG Babies!! Wow - mobility changes everything. Don't be surprised if they can't sleep for being excited about their new skill!
So sorry about the medical issues. I wish I could do more than send sympathetic vibes your way. Voice recognition softwares sounds like a great idea. The needles sound preferable to the "bible" method I saw my ex-husband perform on his own cyst over a decade ago (makes me sound old but also very far removed from him so I went with it).
Posted by: Lisa at March 25, 2009 03:29 PM (YEsan)
Progress
I had a procedure on my wrist today and have been told to take it easy. As a result this week posting will consist of short posts, photos, and other drivel.
Nora took two steps on Friday. Four steps on Saturday and Sunday.
This evening she took nine.
And, not to be outdone, Nick got off a chair and stood up unassisted.
He then took off, which we have on camera.
Apologies for my shrieking and screaming in the background.
Posted by: justme at March 23, 2009 07:59 PM (8elqF)
3
Awesome. I love how Nora's little legs are at such a wide 'holding' stance.
Posted by: Marie at March 23, 2009 08:38 PM (FTrlK)
4
At the risk of being one of those people you bitch about later...
YOU ARE SO IN FOR IT! And lordy, they are adorable. Nick's look of absolute glee is brilliant.
Posted by: Sarah at March 23, 2009 08:56 PM (D37sb)
5
Fabulous! Nothing like a bit of sibling competition there. Particularly like the stock marker reporr in the background too.
Posted by: Betty M at March 23, 2009 08:59 PM (BizNK)
Posted by: Julie at March 23, 2009 09:32 PM (AAy4n)
7
YAY! Oh that was so cute -- thanks for making my day!
And wishing you a good recovery with your wrist...
Posted by: Kath at March 23, 2009 09:51 PM (uFks7)
8
That just made me cry! I recognize Nora's wide open grin in my little girl's drooly smile when I help her sit up. She's only 5 months old, but I can see where she's heading... N&N are absolutely adorable!
Posted by: Vita at March 23, 2009 10:22 PM (fZwgf)
9
Uh Oh. No more rest for the big people. Still... one of those parenting milestones you'll never forget.
Posted by: Matt at March 23, 2009 11:27 PM (3qBaO)
10
I think I SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEd so hard I nearly wet myself, and then got H to come and see too. (He says 'Awwww', by the way, and 'well done,' and, I'm afraid, 'was that Nick and Nora screaming? No? Helen? Really?').
11
Way to go Nick and Nora! You must be so proud.
BTW, love Nora's dress
Posted by: donna at March 23, 2009 11:40 PM (uJ7AG)
12
That's hilarious with Nick's head popping up and down in the foreground! Yay babies!
Posted by: Tinker at March 24, 2009 01:34 AM (rU3SM)
13
Wow. My Boobah took some unassisted steps today, too. What an amazing time, right?
Posted by: becky at March 24, 2009 03:42 AM (v29CZ)
14
They look so pleased with themselves!! Life as you know it will never be the same now.
Posted by: kenju at March 24, 2009 04:41 AM (hMUhQ)
15
What an exciting day!
Graeme watched this over and over again shouting encouragement to Nick and Nora. Go babies, go!
Posted by: Anita at March 24, 2009 12:11 PM (bmKoE)
16
Yay!
Is she wearing socks with traction on the bottom? I can't tell. If those are just tights on wood floors, it's going to be a lot longer before she takes off lol.
Love Angus's shorts and black socks. Sexy.
Posted by: paula at March 24, 2009 12:36 PM (FlZPw)
17
That made me smile, and tears come to my eyes. The babies are growing up and doing it proud. And what screaming? I did not hear a thing.
Posted by: Melissia at March 24, 2009 01:40 PM (IBnue)
18
Oh my god, I don't think it's possible for that video to be any cuter.
I just love the looks on their faces, and I did have to laugh at Nick's head popping in and out of frame as he stood up and subsequently fell. Sorry.
Yay babies!
Posted by: MsPrufrock at March 24, 2009 02:47 PM (37O6C)
19
Your excitement is absolutely contageous. I love it! I really felt proud of them myself!
Also, they absolute joy in both of their faces is just priceless. They really are so sweet and adorable!
Posted by: kellyangelo at March 24, 2009 09:53 PM (FR31m)
20
My God they are adorable. What a week you've had! So exciting - and brag all you want, mama.
J didn't really get the hang of walking until I stripped off his footed pjs or his socks. Once he was barefoot he was able to figure it out a lot easier. Not trying to give assvice, but well, apparently doing it nonetheless.
Posted by: April at March 25, 2009 02:56 AM (428Y9)
It's a Special Sunday
OK, stop reading now if you've recently suffered a loss. Or have been trying to have a family without success so far. Or you hate children. Or you hate mothers. Maybe you hate children with mothers. If any of those sound like you, then I would advise you stop reading now.
In all seriousness, I really hate the idea that anyone goes away from my site feeling bad, feeling alone, feeling hurt, and thus the rest is below the jump.
more...
1
These - stunning! - photos make me so very happy for you. Nick & Nora are extremely lucky to have such a fabulous Mum - and to have each other as well! I don't think I've ever seen children look quite so unbelievably sweet together!
I count my blessings every day, but today I count them twice.
Posted by: Jamie at March 22, 2009 12:35 PM (JREdX)
5
That's the happiest, most beautiful laundry basket I've ever seen! Happy, happy Mother's Day!
Posted by: Evelyn at March 22, 2009 01:10 PM (mxAK2)
6
Looking at those two beautiful faces, there is no way anyone could go away feeling badly.
Happy Mothering Day!
PS, if I found stuff like that in my laundry basket, I wouldn't mind it so much at all!
Posted by: Donna at March 22, 2009 01:26 PM (Ev2nm)
7
Happy Mother's Day! Can't think of anyone more deserving of a wonderful day than you. Enjoy!
Posted by: donna at March 22, 2009 02:11 PM (uJ7AG)
8
I read it against your wishes, but I've survived. And I'm very happy for you and yours. Legitimately so.
Besides, I save my massive moodiness for the American version.
9
You know how I feel. I'm over the moon for you, girl. Those two make it all worth it.
Happy Mothering Day.
Happy rest of your journey as A MOM! (Mum. I forget.)
Posted by: Margi at March 22, 2009 04:32 PM (moD6q)
10
This makes me so very happy. Happy Mothering Sunday (aka Mother's Day) to you and your wonderful family.
Posted by: Lisa at March 22, 2009 04:53 PM (YEsan)
11
I have never seen two happier children. Good job Mom!!!
Posted by: Jill at March 22, 2009 04:53 PM (r+lsp)
12
Wow, how impossibly gorgeous are those photographs? Surely these kids were drugged to get some of the poses they are in?
Happy Mother's Day!
Posted by: MsPrufrock at March 22, 2009 06:12 PM (CA+L6)
13
Beautiful pictures! I especially love the one of them on the trunk--so sweet!
Happy Mother's Day!
Posted by: stacie at March 22, 2009 06:15 PM (NLFW6)
14
The photos are just magnificent! And I share your joy at being a mom. Just wait until one of them has a kid, and lays it in your arms. That feeling is not to be believed.
Posted by: kenju at March 22, 2009 06:50 PM (hMUhQ)
15
Dear Helen, what a fabulous mother's day! And such gorgeous photos!
You've come a long way, baby. So, so happy for you!
Posted by: Kath at March 22, 2009 07:25 PM (CW9tB)
16
De-lurking to tell you Happy Mothers Day! They are gorgeous and amazing and you are a great mom! Don't doubt that ever!
Posted by: Cheryl at March 22, 2009 07:30 PM (6pQxe)
17
Wow! Congratulations on this Mother's Day! Great Mom, great kids, and great photos!
Posted by: Alison at March 22, 2009 07:49 PM (r8R2Z)
18
Super post. Happy Mother's Day to you and your family.
Posted by: Charles at March 22, 2009 08:28 PM (maQJG)
27
OMG!!! The picture on the chest? The most fabulous one I've ever seen! Congratulations Mama. happy Mothering Day!
Posted by: ODDYBOBO at March 23, 2009 02:45 PM (mZfwW)
28
Yep - it's all "worth it," isn't it. They are adorable cheese, for sure.
Posted by: hopefulmother at March 23, 2009 03:19 PM (sMSRy)
29
I'd say you were due all the cheese, and all the joy, you can find in this and every day. Look at those girls! They're gorgeous and you are blessed.
Posted by: Kim at March 23, 2009 07:18 PM (zAB3P)
30
I'd say you were due all the cheese, and all the joy, you can find in this and every day. Look at those kids! They're gorgeous and you are blessed.
Help. I Have Done It Again.*
It's been almost two years.
Two years since I got on the trains and tubes and walked my way through leafy London neighborhoods, passing that large imposing church, passing a few homes which I knew were covert women's shelters. I knew this because I would see the women come and go from them, looking over their shoulders and drawing their hair over bruised faces, hoping that they wouldn't run into the person they were running from. I would pass that house with the massive rose bush growing over the wall, and pass the house that had an Edwardian desk rotting in the driveway, slowly fading over time.
I would make my way to the house with the wisteria arbor. I would ring the doorbell. I would wait until someone opened the door, where I'd then get a whiff of spicy oils and Indian scents. The house was inhabited by doctors and specialists who worked from home. I was far from the only patient who went there.
Up one flight of stairs, then another, then another. We were in the eaves of the house, a converted loft. It was his home for the most part, a Spartan place with a large leather couch and a small balcony overlooking the homes in the area. There were candles, often, and books on subjects nearly too touchy-feely for me. My therapist was a specialist in psycosynthesis. I used to make fun, but I think his approach was the only one I could've responded to.
It's been 12 years since I stopped my OCD behaviour.
It's been 8 years since I stopped my eating disorders.
Both of them are control triggers, things I do when there are parts of my life that I am not in control of. Like the self-harm, they are things my subconscious triggers when it is flailing (although the self-harm - like suicide - are well and truly off the menu. Forever.). It is me telling myself, however mistakenly, that I am in charge. I make choices, these choices put me in the driver's seat.
The eating disorders always worked the same. I would start to feel fat. I would start to feel revolting. I would want to watch every little thing I ate. I used every anorexia trick in the book - ensuring I burnt off as many (preferably more) calories than I took in. Throwing food away so that I wouldn't eat it, because if there's anything bigger than my fear of being out of control it's my fear of germs. Brushing my teeth repeatedly. Eating cereal dry and without milk so it would expand in my stomach with fewer calories. And most of all, I would hear a voice in the back of my head. A snack, a low voice, one that was almost always hypnotic to me.
"You'll feel so much better if you don't."
That's all the voice ever said. Ever.
And I obeyed it every single time. If I heard the voice, I immediately stopped eating, I immediately walked away, I immediately resisted.
The OCD was done in obsession mostly, rather than compulsion. I had to do things 5 times. Just 5. If I did something 6 times I had to start all over again. Lock the door 5 times - lock, unlock, lock, unlock, lock. Check my contacts 5 times. Touch all the burners of the stove 5 times each to make sure they were off. I would even drive to work, turn around halfway, and come home just to check everything all over again. If I touched something with one finger I had to touch it with all of them in the exact same way. If I messed that up then it would be another pattern to introduce.
It consumed me.
I went to therapy and got all better.
Then a few days ago I had to literally sit on my hands to keep myself from driving home and checking the stove 5 times. I had to do it. I even broke into a sweat. 5 times, I had to check the stove 5 times, I had to do it now. I didn't let myself, I told myself that if the house burned down at least the babies were at nursery, Angus was away, and the pets could escape.
And last week the snake came back. "You'll feel so much better if you don't." I've been eating but I haven't wanted to. I want to stop eating. I want to diet uncontrollably. I feel fat. I want to stop eating. I have to take laxatives occasionally, as the digestive system doesn't work so well post-pregnancy. I have to take three tablets at once, courtesy of all of those years of binging and purging. I haven't yet heard the voice urging me to take the whole box, it does no good if you take the whole box, go on and swallow them all, but I know it can come. It may come.
I am so sick and fucking tired of being crazy.
I haven't told anyone but Angus that I am beginning to fail because I am so embarrassed. I write on this blog about the things I have been trying to overcome, the things I have overcome, and perhaps all of it is just big talk. I'm sliding back downhill and I feel so ashamed about it that it's hard to write it all down.
Almost two years ago I stopped seeing my therapist.
Yesterday, despite money being tight, despite him not being covered by insurance, despite him being a 4 hour journey to and fro, I reached out to him again. On the phone his voice was guarded at first as I awkwardly tried to do basic salutations, my insecurities covering the mouthpiece of the phone like a layer of melted caramel. When I finally revealed myself his voice opened like the door of an old friend who always has the kettle on for you. He remembered me. My insecurity had me worried that he wouldn't. Stupid thing to worry about, really, when your therapist tells you that in his entire career he's never met anyone with a more unstable background.
He asks me about my babies right away. I tell him they're fine. I tell him that I really like them. I more than just love them - I like them. I want to convey down the line of the phone that I am the luckiest person in the world because I get to be their mother.
But it's because I am their mother that I need more help. I have to make myself right so that I can always make sure I am right for them. The cycles stop here, lifetimes of mental matriarches can and must come to an end. I will do absolutely anything - therapy, medication, wear polyester, walk through fire - to make sure that my children never know mental illness.
Not like their mother did.
I go back to my therapist on the 8th of April, in the evening, for a double session.
I think I wasn't finished baking yet and I need to go back into the oven again.
-H.
* lyrics from Sia's "Breathe Me", which is the song I almost always listened to as I went to that house in the suburbs.
1
Great news. Took courage, determination and love to pick up the phone,
Posted by: Charles at March 20, 2009 08:53 AM (maQJG)
2
Hey babes
Good for you for calling and getting that appointment. Dont be ashamed, no-one is ever fixed or 'done' Its continual and frankly you rock.
I'm so sorry that things are tough. Here for you babe x
Posted by: moira at March 20, 2009 09:02 AM (Wf2Jk)
3
I think it is a good thing that you know and feel the need to go. Big first step. Good for you.
Posted by: justme at March 20, 2009 11:22 AM (5BcrN)
4
"The cycles stop here, lifetimes of mental matriarches can and must come to an end." YEAH, you are right, I have also been struggling for decades to break the cycles of guilt, fear and destruction my mother carried on to me. And with the love for and of my husband and my son I am going to succeed in the end! Three steps forward and two bachwards, but going on steadily...
Posted by: Paula at March 20, 2009 12:22 PM (MgA8W)
5
You're an incredibly strong person, Helen. To echo Paula, I think these things usually are three steps forward, two back, and kudos to you for making that appointment. Your therapist sounds like one of the rare, good ones out there. I'm glad for you to have found him.
Posted by: Meg at March 20, 2009 12:38 PM (1OdWO)
6
The truly crazy don't know that they are. You knew you needed help, and reached out for it.
If for no other reason, you will be ok. Your babies will grow up to be better than you.
And isn't that all any mother wants?
You are a good mother, a good person, and we, all of us that read your innermost thoughts, are priveledged to have done so.
Just keep your head in the game, we know that you'll be fine.
Posted by: Donna at March 20, 2009 01:59 PM (KuDSV)
7
That is definitely the right decision. I need to do the same, but can't bring myself to. And my rationale for not calling my therapist is SO crazy. I'm waiting for my husband to tell me I should start therapy again. It's ridiculous. Anyway, I'm sending you mental support vibes!
Posted by: Sylvia at March 20, 2009 02:14 PM (gN4Fj)
8
Everyone can do with a "mental tune up". It is good you are recognising issues and reaching out.
Posted by: Lee at March 20, 2009 02:52 PM (yUcAa)
9
I am sorry you hurt; wishing you all the peace and solace in the world. Today is the vernal equinox, equal parts day and night....perhaps it's a good omen for you to pick up again with the therapist today? Or, I could just be hippy-ing out. I am from California, and the whole grains and abundant sunshine do tend to rot the mind.
Posted by: scotchandsoda at March 20, 2009 03:10 PM (bDaoy)
10
Dear Helen, I'm so sorry to hear of the return of those compulsions. It sounds really, really tough. I'm so proud of you for picking up that phone. May your therapist help you every bit as much as he did before, and quickly. XO
Posted by: Kath at March 20, 2009 03:12 PM (2fBRX)
11
Good going! I'm proud of you. YOU should be proud of you.
PS: Did you get the email I sent yesterday? I may have chosen the wrong email address. Let me know and I'll resend if I need to.
Posted by: Lisa at March 20, 2009 03:15 PM (YEsan)
12
I went back to therapy after years of thinking I was all better, believing I "had the tools" to save myself, until I discovered that I was in the same damn hole once again. And I felt foolish and stupid for climbing into that damn pit.
Perhaps this time around will be akin to treating a different person -- the Helen You Were is gone. The Helen You Are has the opportunity to learn new skills, new tools to silence the terrible voices.
And good for you for taking the steps to take care of yourself.
Posted by: lynD at March 20, 2009 04:05 PM (2F9Ak)
13
i'm so glad you reached out. that can be the hardest part. you're so brave and strong...
Posted by: megan at March 20, 2009 04:08 PM (jy7KI)
14
Just because you know your demons doesn't mean they've left you alone. Everyone needs a hand now and then to smack 'em back down, the pesky bastards. Good for you for keeping perspective!
Hang tough, Helen. You've made it through the hardest part already - reaching out.
Hugs to you.....
Posted by: Jodie at March 20, 2009 04:38 PM (4twyr)
15
I am so proud of you. I know it took a LOT to do it and I am so proud of you for doing it, both for you and for your shining star babies. xx
Posted by: marian at March 20, 2009 05:51 PM (OxdDo)
Posted by: Jendeis at March 20, 2009 06:09 PM (oTrqs)
17
You have such a talent for explaining how you feel. And to me that's a signal of how in touch with yourself you truly are. You know when you start to backslide and you know what to do before you reach the pool of ick at the bottom of that slide. I'm proud of you in a way that I don't have the words to be able to share with you. But I sense that you do know. I hope it's the same sort of pride you have in yourself for reaching out and breaking those cycles.
Posted by: sarah at March 20, 2009 06:21 PM (FRfGo)
18
Good for you..as a fellow receipent of many years spent on the leather couch, I feel for you. I went back last year for a check-up myself. It was the best thing I did. I know I'll always carry my demons with me. And while I may sometimes feel like Buffy, I now recognize that through out my life I may sometimes need to find a Willow to help kick the ass of the one that popped out of the cubboard while I wasn't looking!
Posted by: Kim W at March 20, 2009 07:42 PM (0fdgP)
19
Stay strong until then. Remember the person who most deserves you to be well, is you. XOXO
Posted by: Beth at March 20, 2009 07:46 PM (KELSj)
20
You are very strong, Helen, and you will get through this, just as you have before. I believe in you.
Posted by: kenju at March 20, 2009 07:52 PM (hMUhQ)
21
Good on you for making that call. Wishing ou good things.
Posted by: Betty M at March 20, 2009 08:06 PM (HrlIW)
22
Good on you for making that call. Wishing you good things.
Posted by: Betty M at March 20, 2009 08:14 PM (HrlIW)
23
Just remember— that pit? It's a sand pit. Sometimes you slide into it because the ground's unstable. And the person helping you out knows it's not your fault you slid, it's the ground. He'll work on packing that ground tighter, but it's NOT YOUR FAULT.
And it's awesome that you're making a vow to end it here. I'm sure your kids will grow up with nothing more than the usual dramas*, because their Mum is taking steps to make it so.
*"Nobody understands me!" "Of course not, I popped into existence as a full-grown adult." Whoever said that the teen years are "the best years of your life," was lying or amnesiac. The teen years suck.
Posted by: B. Durbin at March 20, 2009 08:22 PM (eauGZ)
Posted by: suze at March 20, 2009 10:37 PM (wAPLm)
26
I think that you are the bravest person that I have ever known. I marvel at your willingness to stand at the edge of the cliff in order to heal yourself. I have also been in therapy and know to a small extent, how disruptive it can be, in the short term, in the day to day, of your emotions, and am very proud that you are willing to do the therapy work. I know that you don't think that you have a choice, but many people would not be able start right now, considering how busy your life is.
(And the decreased bowel motility thing can be a side effect of EDS as the gut is all connective tissue-the joys never end!).
Posted by: Melissia at March 20, 2009 11:46 PM (IBnue)
27
Like I said - door's open, all the time. The proverbial one. My physical door is actually not open (nothing to do with you), but it'd be a flipping long commute anyhow.
I think I always freak when I hear someone's sliding back, and I go very quickly through the stages of grief and then into therapist mode. I'll try for human mode, but no promises. *clears throat*
I can offer very little in the way of advice on fixing the voices, because it actually amazes me that they go away at all. What I can offer is that "fake it 'til you make it" is a damn good credo, especially since you have things you want to hang onto, including life. I'm always a little angry at mothers who indulge the voices, because if ever there was a reason to press on, it's kids. I think you're incredible for pressing on. Really, not placating you, here, I do.
So, yeah, anytime you want, or need some advice, though you've probably heard it all - I'm there. And fun stories to boot. We can compare Awkward Dinner Party Moments.
28
Very proud of you. Why is it so hard to return to the place that did so much good for us ? And helped us do good for ourselves ? I'll never know. I just know every time I go back I sit in that chair and exhale I immeditately think "I needed to be here about six months ago and what the fuck was I waiting for ?"
Long time lurker with a two yr. four mo. old (just one), full time job (without project deadline such as yours), older home (not as old as yours and putting the remodel off) and no swunt to deal with. Your plate is so full, Helen.
These first two years have been so incredible and wonderful and really, really hard at levels I never expected. On the surface its all good, but inside I'm starting to feel the edges start to fray and some old stuff starting to come up. I've been trying hard to ignore it, but its getting impossible. You've inspired me to make that phone call too.
Posted by: tracey at March 21, 2009 03:17 AM (o0Er4)
Posted by: Veronica at March 21, 2009 03:30 AM (l5geK)
30
I can only congratulate you for seeing the signs and admitting the need for help. As others before me have said, that took courage, and getting in early is the best possible move.
Well done.
Posted by: Deeleea at March 21, 2009 12:03 PM (IphB3)
31
Some times I think the difference between an average parent and a GREAT parent is that a great parent is constantly trying to improve themselves and perhaps their children are the catalyst, but they want to be better so they can be better role models, parents, or don't pass on their baggage.
You are going to be a GREAT parent... you are showing the signs. And its A LOT of work to be a great parent.
One of the mistakes I made early on was thinking that because I had three boys, I'd not pass my baggage onto them. I had read that if you're always talking about being fat, or being ugly, or 'I don't like my nose', that your daugther is sitting there listening thinking "Wait... they say I look like my Mom, but my Mom hates her nose, hates her hair..." Yeah, not so good.
So I figured, I'm home free. Not so much. I was aghast one day when I heard one of my sons say, "I am fat" (he's not) and realized as its such a fear of mine, self image is such a struggle, that he has picked up on it as he looks most like my family. That stopped my attitude real quick.
And... I'm not a great parent. It is something I constantly stive for... but I'm not there by any stretch.
Good luck to you... and good for you.
32
You have the strength that I wish I possessed. I know that therapy is in my future, not because I want to hurt myself or anything, but because I had a really fucked up couple of years. I just can't bring myself to do it, though...not sure why.
I am so proud of you.
Posted by: stacie at March 22, 2009 06:07 AM (NLFW6)
33
just wanted to send love and hugs. Will keep you in my thoughts over the next few weeks.
So proud of you taking this step. I don't know what else to say but keep going!
Posted by: Suzie at March 22, 2009 09:19 PM (oxkcJ)
34
Shit. Good luck. Thinking of you. Courage, ma brave.
35
Hi Helen,
I think you summed up the whole post in your last paragraph:
But it's because I am their mother that I need more help. I have to make myself right so that I can always make sure I am right for them. The cycles stop here, lifetimes of mental matriarches can and must come to an end. I will do absolutely anything - therapy, medication, wear polyester, walk through fire - to make sure that my children never know mental illness.
I truly think you're a wonderful mother and again you demonstrate this by putting the kids first. You will do anything to give your kids a better start in life, more opportunities and all the support they need to prevent them experiencing anything which may harm them.
You're very brave to make the phone call and book the appointment (I hope this doesn't sound too cheesy) to seek help as soon as you feel you need it. Very best of luck to you and carry on the blogging
kind regards
Robin
Posted by: robin h at March 25, 2009 05:29 PM (V5LUI)
I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me
And you'll have that song in your head for the rest of the day.
Motherhood is this club. A great, big, huge club that you get handed a laminated card to on the day you deliver a baby and for which the dues are paid in callouses, bags under the eyes, and stacks of printed off photos that you alone think show how cute your kid is. You didn't know you would be getting into this club when you have your child(ren), nor did you know if you wanted to be part of an official club anyway. Groucho Marx was an asshole but his quote "I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member" sums up my life fairly well.
And the club is often good. There are times you get advice - make milk in batches beforehand, try this swaddle, rock them this way when they cry - and times when you get encouragement - the colic will stop, this helps teething, let me get the corkscrew. But what they don't tell you is that the Motherhood Club is also something that you occasionally want to hide from. There are times when you do something and think: The Mummy Police are coming for me when they hear about this. The Motherhood Club Card was handed to me and as a dues-paying member I'm always aware that the club is out there, like the WI with assvice. It takes you forever to become a mother and when you finally get there it's barred with good intentions. No one judges as hard as another parent. Not even the UK Home Office, and that's saying something.
We all raise our children differently. No one raises their children in the same way, and yet all of us have opinions from blog-land to the nursery playground. For me, it happened the day I came out to the blog world that I was pregnant. Immediately there were opinions on how to raise my children. I hear it from my dad. I get constant advice from my sister-in-law. And it's not that I don't want advice, because there are times I ask for help and genuinely want it (except from my sister-in-law, who needs to step the fuck off already). I'm new to this Mummy business and there are times I honestly seek and need advice.
I often want to talk about my children but know that I'll be in for it if I mention some things. And it's hard because this is my blog, this is my space for dumping my thoughts. Lemme' just say that again for my own benefit - this is my blog, this is my space. But the Motherhood Club is strong, the views fierce. I have to think about what I write and feel like I have to defend myself vigorously in doing so : Our children go to nursery but they love it and they've grown so much as individuals by going. We did a version of Cry-It-Out and it worked for us but it had to be done for Nora anyway due to colic and it's not as fucking cruel as people make it out to be, it's about offering comfort in levels as opposed to just slamming the door and ignoring them. We are big believers in vaccinations and do so according to the NHS guidelines as we believe the finding that vaccinations are linked to autism are rubbish and with the upsurge in measles it's best that our immunity-challenged babies are not exposed. We bottle fed the babies and still do but my boobs were basically empty courtesy of surgery 16 years ago, the midwives suggested bottle feeding, and the UK government has said that they feel the BPA levels are well under harmful levels and yes, they can and do use sippy cups but we still use bottles because it's convenient.
Well fuck that.
I have two beautiful, energetic, happy, pain-in-the-ass children. I may give them a bottle but I've ensured that they are growing in a very loving and secure environment. They may not be walking but they know that if I come flying at them with my hands raised that it's to tickle them, not to hit them. They go to nursery but they genuinely love their carers and, as their mum, I am better for them going to nursery. They might not have an enormous vocabulary but they know that if they fall down we are there for them instantly, to blow on the owies and cuddle them until the shock of a fall fades.
That makes me more of a mother than a fucking club card does.
I'm angry, and it's just because I feel I am judged for every parenting thing I do both on the internet and off. I realize this post is a bit "rant-y", but I get comments and emails constantly telling me how to do things and what I'm doing incorrectly. But parenting style is a choice. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, maybe others are doing it wrong, I don't know. All I know is I had a great weekend and I wanted to write about it, but I opened up this blog post feeling like I had to create my defenses from the get-go.
On Sunday we spent the day in the sun. I had a sun shade on the babies for the most part, but we were all just so damn happy for the sun and the warmth that we had some vitamin D soaking in on us, on our hands and feet. I mowed the lawn. The babies played in the swing. Angus worked on the deck.
On Saturday we went to IKEA and Wing Yip, a fantastically huge Asian market. For lunch we had McDonald's. The babies shared a Happy Meal. That's right - I gave my kids McDonald's. My 17 month old babies had a cheeseburger Happy Meal. I knew writing that would bring a downpour of grief, but you know what? Save it. They never eat out like this and they truly enjoyed it. At IKEA, for their dinner, they split a hot dog and later they snacked on elk sausages. Saturday was a treat for them as they usually eat balanced and healthy meals. They don't get sugar and they don't get chocolates and cakes but on Saturday they did get food they normally wouldn't have.
They had a great day.
So did we.
My single greatest priority for my children is that every second of every minute of every day they know that they are loved. If very occasionally that love is accompanied with a side of fries then I think that's ok.
I don't believe I'm alone in being a mum who does something occasionally that others would disapprove of. But I am all done with feeling like I have to edit myself because I'll be frowned upon. I'm tearing up my Motherhood Club Card because I want to be free to raise my children the way I want to.
1
As a memeber of this club I can honestly say that just like any other club, there are always some bitches that think they know it all and better.
My mother gave me a great piece of advice one. "You haven't killed them yet so you must be doing something right." That being said, you shouldn't ever have to justify how you raise your kids ever. So they ate a cheeseburger, they have loving parents. A hotdog you say? Whatever. When Nick is older he will probably find gum on the ground and eat that. ~shrugs~ It all comes down to; Do you love them, do you care for them, and do they know it? Of course the answer is yes, to hell with those that judge you.
~ahem~ sorry am a bit snippy this morning, I have had my coffee yet. ~smiles~
Posted by: Lauren at March 16, 2009 11:39 AM (UKI6a)
Posted by: Jamie at March 16, 2009 11:56 AM (1rCJM)
3
Should be you are or you're.
Caught my spelling oops just as the comment went through.
Posted by: Jamie at March 16, 2009 11:58 AM (1rCJM)
4
I agree with Lauren, and LOVE the you haven't killed them yet comment!! Everyone has their own way to do things. Everyone else can jump in a lake. I feel that as long as kids are happy and safe everything else doesn't matter.
I never really felt bad about all those happy meals till now, jk. If you can't have a treat once in awhile what is the point in living?! I think if kids never get sweets when they go out on their own and the world is full of junk food, they will go nuts (thats what I did anyway when I went off on my own to college).
Who cares what the haters say! We love you and don't judge!! :-)
5
Everything with moderation. Anything can be too much. It sounds like you're doing a fantastic job, to be honest.
Posted by: Hannah at March 16, 2009 12:09 PM (V2CrS)
6
Just do what you think is right.... You are doing a GREAT job!
I hate those unsolicited advice too!!!!! I just ignore them!
Posted by: 3e at March 16, 2009 12:41 PM (6WIIy)
7
You are a fantastic mama!
Since BD started nursery school, I have to defend that choice all the time. People just don't get that not every family looks exactly like theirs. It's ok to do it YOUR way; that isn't wrong.
Posted by: Dotty at March 16, 2009 12:43 PM (0hLIO)
8
I think you're one of the three people I'd ever consider babysitting for. The Club turned me off it when I was eighteen with their Rules About How To Do Things Properly and insistence that mashing peas into the wall helped with sensory development. That, and actually being Nanny-Cammed. Ugh. Never again. I'm sorry, but if they are fed, clean, relatively happy except for having their mashed pea art destroyed, and 100% alive, what's the problem if I gave them a freaking blue slush? Blue #40 has not yet killed a child.
I commend you for ditching your card. Crazy Mom Club Members scare me.
9
Hear hear! Sometimes I feel like there is a group of people dedicated to surfing the internet and leaving 'You're doing it WRONG' comments everywhere.
I actually posted about sleep this evening and I'm almost regretting not turning off comments. Really, the last thing I need to hear tomorrow morning is 'Just let him cry/don't let him cry/try a dummy/give a bottle instead etc etc'. Sigh.
Posted by: Veronica at March 16, 2009 01:09 PM (l5geK)
10
Hear hear! Sometimes I feel like there is a group of people dedicated to surfing the internet and leaving 'You're doing it WRONG' comments everywhere.
I actually posted about sleep this evening and I'm almost regretting not turning off comments. Really, the last thing I need to hear tomorrow morning is 'Just let him cry/don't let him cry/try a dummy/give a bottle instead etc etc'. Sigh.
Posted by: Veronica at March 16, 2009 01:10 PM (l5geK)
Posted by: Veronica at March 16, 2009 01:10 PM (l5geK)
12
That sounds like a great weekend. Fries? Angel3 has been getting them (in low dosages) since he turned 1, and he's still a smart, healthy, active boy.
It's true, everyone has their own parenting style, and no one's is perfect; but people who take parenting seriously (as you do) are to be commended regardless of whether we agree on every parenting technique or not. You and I don't see eye to eye on everything (but we do on periodic "spoiling" w/ Happy Meals), but it's clear you love Nick & Nora and want what's best for them.
I always intend to speak what I believe is true with "gentleness & respect" (and appreciate when others do the same). If I'm one you thought was judging you, I apologize. It's not my place to judge nor has it ever been my intent. If I'm not one you thought was judging you (in the immortal words of Gilda Radner) "Never mind." : )
Posted by: Solomon at March 16, 2009 01:13 PM (x+GoF)
13
We had McDonald's twice this weekend . . . to be fair - they do have the Shamrock Shakes out now.
You are doing a wonderful job. Our jobs as parents are to be teachers but more importantly to love. Your children are loved. Sometimes, most times, that is more important than anything else. Anyone who presumes to tell you what you are and are not doing right? Can suck a tit. Yes - yes they can. . . if they want a piece of me? come and get me - I'm in a rip this morning. I dare ya!
Posted by: oddybobo at March 16, 2009 01:17 PM (mZfwW)
14
I hate that you feel you ahve to defend your parenting style! Your kids are gorgeous and you and Angus are doing a wonderful job at raising them!
I tore up my card as soon as I got it
I parent in my own way and I have four happy and healthy kids to show for it. Who freakin' cares if somebody else thinks they can do it better!
Posted by: justdawn at March 16, 2009 01:28 PM (TrTl8)
15
I believe you have more of us "Happy Meal" moms behind you and on the side of you than you think.
Besides, clubs are overrated.
Posted by: Stacie at March 16, 2009 01:48 PM (nwjkI)
16
Babe, you know that there are so many of us out there just like you. Bridget watches far more TV than I ever thought I'd let her watch, but damn, I sometimes just need to unload the dishwasher without her killing herself on the knives.
Fuck 'em. You are doing a great job.
Posted by: donna at March 16, 2009 01:58 PM (uJ7AG)
17
Harry's had Macdonalds. Loved it. I plan to go back.
Fuck 'em!
18
"I'm tearing up my Motherhood Club Card because I want to be free to raise my children the way I want to."
We all should be so wise! Your children are blessed to have a loving mom who knows that what is right for her family IS right. Thanks for sharing your weekend.
Posted by: Evelyn at March 16, 2009 01:59 PM (mxAK2)
19
Mmmm... Happy meal. (Insert Pavlovian response here.) LOL We don't often do McD's around here either but when we do? YUM! I can't see anything even remotely wrong with it. I laughed when I read the line about showing around printed out pictures and being the only one who thinks your kids are adorable - hardly your situation.
There are so many of us spread around several continents who "Ooooh!" and "Awwwww...!" over your children that you must know how adorable we all think they are. I think you're doing an amazing job raising them and you must be one of the bravest people I know putting what you do out into the internet. Thanks again for being willing to share in spite of the misguided and annoying posts from the haters.
Posted by: Lisa at March 16, 2009 01:59 PM (YEsan)
20
People can be complete bitches! It is blindingly obvious to anyone who looks, that Nick and Nora are happy, healthy and loved! You continue to do what you're doing and they will continue to thrive. Ignore everyone else!
I start maternity leave a week on Thursday and already seem to be getting all this 'advice'. We've decided to follow your approach....what works for you is what is 'right'! Stuff the rest of 'em.
Posted by: Suzie at March 16, 2009 02:11 PM (zJPh8)
21
All I want to say is that your Saturday sounds completely delicious. And I mean all of it; not just the food. :-)
Posted by: Kelly at March 16, 2009 02:30 PM (Cid/I)
22
I've always said, kids don't come with manuals. We all do the best we can. You're doing fantastic. Keep up the good work.
23
It had to be McD's didn't it? We used to have a long walk on a Sunday and call in there for coffees and a milkshake for the small tired boy. The main attractions were that it was clean, there were highchairs and they had good toilets. My SIL delighted in telling me that her son (two years older than mine) had never set foot in one. The first time I let it pass, on the second occasion that she went all virtuous on me (in exactly the same words) I rose to the bait and asked if she wanted a medal. It was never mentioned again. I was overjoyed to hear that when my nephew was four and was offered a bithday meal absolutely anywhere he chose to go to McDonald's.
Posted by: Caroline M at March 16, 2009 02:47 PM (x3QDi)
24
Ok I'm going to tell you my 'dirtly mommy secrets'. My 4 year old still has to have his pacifier to go to sleep. He also has to have it in the car. There. I said it. We keep this secret pretty under wraps (because the daycare gal would get really crabby at us) but that is my 'mommy bad'. Oh and we go to Micky D's far too often but when you live in MN and the temp outside is -20F and McD is the only place with an indoor playland, where else can you let him run?
There. You are not alone. We all have our issues but dang I love that boy! I'm his mom and he knows it. :-)
Posted by: Jennifer at March 16, 2009 02:52 PM (6JvP5)
25
I remember being so totally excited on the rare occasions that mom and dad took us to McDonalds when I was small - As much as when we went to Carvelle (anyone?) for ice cream cones (brilliantly green mint chocoate chip for me...)Mom is a great cook and filled us with nutritious home-cooked meals and lots of fruits and veggies, but balanced that with the fun stuff. And seriously, how can you go to IKEA and not get a hot dog?
Posted by: Suze at March 16, 2009 03:37 PM (0doyF)
26
Once upon a time I was a super perfect ecologically correct mother, who put cotton diapers and woolen pants on her son's bum, and cooked only biological prooved food from health stores, until I saw French parents "poisoning" their babies with hot chocolate from a vending machine in a motorway service area in France. The babies did not die and looked quite happy and healthy, and the parents seemed rather relaxed in comparison to ourselves. That gave me a lesson!
Posted by: Paula at March 16, 2009 03:42 PM (yy2sX)
27
You know I give tons of EDS assvice, but I think that you are a great mom, and are much better than I was. One of Mary's first words was "fry" if that tells you anything! We use to drive by once a week on the way home from a night class I use to take, a large diet coke for me, a small fry for her. I think she was 14 months old; just call me a bad mom (I think it was the highlight of her week actually). She said "fry" before almost any other word!
And there are some new studies out about how kids in the US are having vitamin D deficiencies because they are not allowed out in the sun, even with sun screen on. My son was at the doctor last week and they drew a vitamin d level, first time ever, so you were just being proactive.
I know that things have changed since my kids were babies but I have discovered that it seems that regardless of how well I tried, and it seems how my mom tried, we will all be judged by someone with newer and better ideas about childcare so I just take the attitude that I did the best I could at the time. (and tell your sister-in-law to frack off!)
Posted by: Melissia at March 16, 2009 03:43 PM (IBnue)
28
Dear Helen, I know I've been away from here for far too long (but I'm all caught up now! Every word!) but I wanted to come out of the woodwork at last and scream "Amen" to your post. It's so silly, how people just get a tiny glimpse into your life and extrapolate the wildest theories from that.
I had to smile at the IKEA hotdog. Guess whose Banana ate a whole one all by herself just today? And why do I feel the urge to write "this is the first one she's ever had" right after saying that? It's really annoying, how we get into the habit of ducking preemptively...
Posted by: Kath at March 16, 2009 04:02 PM (qhQC2)
29
Good for you. I've been a Mom for nearly 28 years and have hated that Mom club just as long. From the get go I simply followed my heart and now I have two beautiful Men who can also be quite annoying to their Mom still.
Sounds like a fantastic weekend. Here's to many more!
Posted by: Jade at March 16, 2009 04:11 PM (RuJ5t)
30
Hmmm...I believe I spoke out on this way back when, right?
Opinions are like assholes. Everybody's got one and they're all full of shit. You know what's best for your kids. Period.
Feel free to tell everyone else to stuff their opinions where the sun don't shine. (including me!)
Posted by: ~Easy at March 16, 2009 04:16 PM (IVGWz)
31
thank you, thank you, thank you.
my son is nearly 11 months old and we recently had to do some crying it out so we all could sleep. i began this journey with the dr. sears book in my hand, prepared to run to my baby every time he cried, co-sleep as long as we could, wear him 27 hours a day, etc. etc. i couldn't tell some of my friends that we were letting him cry even though it was one of the hardest things we've ever had to do and i really could have used the support. he's now sleeping an 11 hour night with two naps during the day. my friends ask me how we 'did' this and i just smile and say that he apparently just worked some things out and started sleeping. i think a lot of parenting is all about survival. that sounds dramatic, i think it's true. my son adores us and is very attached to us even though he sleeps in his crib and had to spend some time crying in it. my little boy is happy, healthy, and just amazing. i'm not sure why then i still sometimes feel like i need the validation of the mommy club. it's just crazy that parents -- people who should be supoprting one another -- are some of the most judgemental people out there. kudos to you, Helen. you're right on the money to tear up your club card.
Posted by: megan at March 16, 2009 04:36 PM (jy7KI)
32
I'll have you know it's all your fault that all I can think about this morning is an Egg McMuffin. Hmph.
Posted by: Lisa at March 16, 2009 04:52 PM (YEsan)
33
I fed my kid Kraft Dinner this weekend...and he fucking loved it!
34
As you know my son is dead and one of his happiest days was the day I let him pick his own food and eat it and my organically fed nutrintionist diet-fed baby sat and ate french fries with whipped cream. There is no way to describe the joy he took in that simple meal - enough so I remember it to this day. Whether he had lived or not there is no way I could regret that moment or those choices.
Tell everyone to shut the fuck up and get over themselves.
You are doing an awesome job.
Posted by: That Girl at March 16, 2009 05:09 PM (hzryQ)
35
I am so glad that you posted about this today. I fed my 11.5 month old his first McD's happy meal yesterday. I am in the midst of writing a post about it. he normally east healthy whole grain foods and fruits etc etc. I feel that if some of my friends new i would be judged. My reasoning we had a car trip to make and dad didn't feed him lunch b4 his nap and he was hungry. He is a damn picky eater at the moment (I have no idea why he usually fare is toast, cheese and bananas.) So I fed him what I knew he would eat grilled cheese and fries. I know he wouldn't touch hamburger with a 10 foot pole at the moment. (Maybe I have a vegetarian in the works)
Also the CIO; had to do that too. But I didn't just close the door and leave. I let him cry himself to sleep for an hour once and I felt guilty. So I did what worked for me going in every 10 minutes or so... the co-sleeping? Sometimes we did that for naps. I liked napping with him but I can't do it now as he moves around too much. My doctor says to do what feels right. I think this is sound advice.
I am still breast feeding as well. I feel that I am judged for this as well. I have some friends who are very organic and believe in extended breast feeding this doesn't sit well with me. And I feel I will be judged if I donÂ’t' breast feed my son until he is 3. Yet I have other friends who say "you're still breast feeding and he's how old'?" it's my baby my choice. And I shouldnÂ’t be judged for breastfeeding my 11 month old or for not stopping. IÂ’ll do it for as long as it worked. So far it still is. I also give him formula; my choice. I donÂ’t know when IÂ’ll stop but weÂ’ll figure it out when itÂ’s right for both of us. If he decides he is done then were done.
Posted by: Siera at March 16, 2009 06:38 PM (Ckc6D)
36
Oh good grief - can't believe that people would actually have the gall to criticize your parenting online & in person. Your beautiful children are the evidence that obviously you're raising them well and making great choices. Each to his/her own.
Posted by: Lori at March 16, 2009 08:01 PM (Dh3/s)
37
You and I have different views on parenting. I'd never take my kid to McDonald's (then again, I don't really eat there myself, so there's no point in going out of my way to get him something and not us), and daycare just isn't for us, but really, it's different strokes. Your kids aren't in immediate danger. You don't abuse them. I don't really have the right to get all judgemental on your ass, unless you were letting them run out into traffic.
My thoughts are that parenting is a hard enough job without having to hear it from other people. I actually just wrote this on Electric Lady's blog too, weirdly. I think it's a pack mentality. You feel better about the job you're doing when you have solidarity in numbers that you ARE doing the right thing. But what the fuck is right? If your kids know they're loved, and they're happy and well adjusted, then that's all that matters. I hate people who feel the need to judge what others do. My goal is to make it through the day unscathed and fuck anyone else.
Posted by: statia at March 16, 2009 09:43 PM (s5ipx)
38
I cannot tell you how much it irks me to think there are people who would do more than give advice. If they try to impart their beliefs in a critacal way, they don't deserve the respect to be heard. You and Angus are good parents. You are loving and caring and do what you believe to be in the babies best interests. That is ALL that counts. That is why those of us who care and respect you keep coming back. Don't listen to the critical ones. They are just trying to stir the pot. Not worth the time or energy in my opinion.
Posted by: Terry at March 16, 2009 09:45 PM (mxAK2)
39
First, IKEA meatballs with cream gravy and jam ROCK.
Second, dear God, you mean if I DO get to have a baby, the judging will not only not stop but GET WORSE? I thought it was bad enough having people make the assume-assumey face at me when I get hot chocolate and croissants and smear them all over my enormous hips.
I mean, I hate McD (that's a personal have-issues-with-certain-textures-also-potatoes thing), but I hate people who pull the 'and my foot will never cross the threshold! My child's innards are sacred!' shtick even more, and they make me want to run in and hold my head under the strawberry milkshake dispenser. Let the kids have the odd Happy Meal, for God's sake, before the entire family's humour and proportion glands shrivel away to organic unsulphured raisins.
Posted by: Vicki at March 17, 2009 12:33 AM (2VoLW)
41
My twins eat grass all the time, and they love it! I take them to the park everyday (its the tropics, green grass year round) and they play and squeal and usually at some point, sample the grass. I consider it part of the experience. I try not to listen to unsolicited advice, as most of it is total rubbish. Your kids are happy, healthy and gorgeous. You are doing an awesome job!
Posted by: Jungletwins at March 17, 2009 12:45 AM (wyPEC)
42
If people walked up to you and told you how to wear your hair, apply your make-up, choose your clothes or decorate your house you'd probably tell them to F-off at worst and just laugh at their audacity at best. Yet when they tell you how to mother it's sometimes hard not to take it too personally but it's really no more out of line than any of those other things.
Advice is great and so is comparing notes but I'm sorry, it's just wrong to tell a mother she's doing something wrong and I really think more people who do this should be told to F-off.
I wish every total stranger who commented that my son was too old for a binky only knew how close they were to getting their face slapped or perhaps just laughed in. You know my child better than me? Ha! You know what? When I did decide that it was time to take it away, we never had a tense moment over it. Instead of scarring him by struggling to take it away when everyone else thought he was ready, we did it with no negativity whatsoever (and he was only 4, by the way, not leaving for college or getting married or anything).
Posted by: paula at March 17, 2009 12:57 AM (0/w29)
Posted by: tink at March 17, 2009 02:15 AM (ADv8Q)
44
You are right...we ARE watching you...and you know what we see?? We see a mother who LOVES her children wholeheartedly, and we find joy in the joy we feel in you.
Posted by: Mitzi at March 17, 2009 02:36 AM (jG8/2)
45
Indeed.
My thing is moderation. My kids eat mostly organic, mostly healthy, but Lane wanted an M&M so I gave her one. And she liked it!
Posted by: erin at March 17, 2009 03:53 AM (XpMYV)
46
AMEN! You know best for your kids and tell the dissenters to go to hell.
Posted by: kenju at March 17, 2009 04:48 AM (hMUhQ)
47
I haven't read the other comments and I am almost afraid to, for fear of seeing even one which criticizes you as a parent. I know that's life, that people can say whatever they want to, and so let me say this: ANYONE (and I do mean anyone) who would look down on you, think less of you, or in any way insinuate that you're not a good parent because of the things you did this weekend (which luckily do not include typing run-on sentences on blogs) needs to have his or her head examined.
Your love for your children (biological and step) shines through in every post you write, even when you are writing about how they drive you crazy sometimes. Having a hot dog or a french fry doesn't change that, and no one should have the right to make you feel otherwise.
I admire you for putting your life on display for all of us, and I am so grateful that you do. Thank you.
Posted by: Sarah P. at March 17, 2009 06:10 AM (EeDct)
48
It's so difficult to be a mother some days that every criticism stings. This is one job that most women put their entire being into, and to be told "you're doing it wrong" can be devastating. I think that's why it's easier to be an older mom (like me, where you know your own mind, and can separate the useful advice, the advice that's great but not for you, and the "advice" that's just someone taking a shot at you for doing things differently than they would) or a really young mom (who has an excess of confidence and a sense of infallibility). It's you moms in the middle who suffer the most. You've probably only recently come to the realization that life goes on for a lo-o-ong time, that decisions made today can have long-lasting consequences, and that the nebulous future you've always heard about isn't that far off. While you might say f.'em, you're still questioning the validity of the criticism, so you don't really mean it yet. But, once you decide that you really do know what's best for your children (and your family), you will stop caring that people are always watching you.
49
Here here, Helen. And whatÂ’s hurts is how easy it is to get under our skin. Like weÂ’re not already staggering under the weight of our own parenting questions and insecurities.
I think it all comes down to two words...loving and thoughtful. In my mind, being a LOVING parent and being a THOUGHTFUL parent are the necessities for raising kids. Everything else falls from there, and the ways those words manifest in each parent’s decision making are going to be very different. This is what the assvicers can’t get their collective heads around… kids don’t come with operating instructions, and we do our very best with what we know. It doesn’t mean we don’t EVER need help, it just means we don’t ALWAYS need help. And I’m using “help” here loosely.
Instead of assuming that a parentÂ’s choices come from, letÂ’s repeat, a Loving and Thoughtful place, the immediate judgment tends to be we must be crap parents and should be doing whatever it is someone elseÂ’s way. The kneejerk criticism makes me want to rip someoneÂ’s head off.
Case in point: Today I dropped E off at preschool. He needed to focus on something and wasn't. As he wasn’t listening, I gave him a soft, quick whistle to get his attention. It works for him – every time. The preschool aide turned to me and said “he’s not a dog, you know” – in front of the other parents. I was furious and mortified. And even more furious with myself that I let her to get under my skin and allowed it to undermine what I felt was right.
Your heart tells you that you are a good parent. Your childrenÂ’s hearts tell them they are loved and well and cared for and happy. You are a good parent.
Posted by: Jenn at March 17, 2009 04:11 PM (OUTBp)
50
I'll admit it - when I was still pregnant with Julian I was a judgmental bitch. I'd never be one of "those" parents - oh no...my preshus bebe would be only breast fed until he was a year old. He would only play with natural toys (no plastics!). No bottles. No disposable diapers, etc. He would eat only all organic homemade food and absolutely under no circumstances would he eat candy or sweets - and DEFINITELY no french fries. Absolutely no t.v. - ever.
*choking on laughter*
Then I had him, and reality struck. Now our house looks like a Fisher Price factory exploded in it - our living room is cluttered with toys that I'm sure are covered in lead based paint and giving off toxic fumes. The cloth diapering lasted about a week. Breastfeeding lasted about four months - and I supplemented with formula until six months in when I threw in the towel completely. He fucking loves french fries, vienna sausages (gag!) and Sid the Science Kid and Super Why on PBS.
And he's happy and healthy as an ox. And I love him so fiercely that it frightens me sometimes.
Posted by: April at March 17, 2009 04:42 PM (Ac9pW)
51
I'm guessing someone has already told you this but I'll say it anyway. Nobody is as hard on us as we are on ourselves especially when it comes to being a mom.
I have a 4 yr old and a 15 yr old and I can say my 15 yr old is one of the most amazing kids I know..one of the best people I know of any age.She ate mcdonalds sometimes (and still does) and she watches a lot of tv. I think the biggest thing that attributed to who she has become is the fact that if you ask her who her biggest advocate is,who her biggest fan is she will undoubtedly say "my mom" I don't know why what I did worked for her, I hope it works for her brother lol all I know is from what I read here you are your childrens' biggest fan and advocate.My daughter has never doubted for one minute in her 15 yrs that everything I do,every decision I make is done with consideration for her happiness and well-being even when I fuck up big time. I think your kids will know that,too.
Posted by: Fawn at March 17, 2009 08:07 PM (9nvx5)
52
Here's my take: When my mom was trying to get pregnant with me (she was 28 when it "finally" happened), the doctor told her to hurry up as she was getting old and her eggs were drying up. She smoked cigarettes through her pregnancies (my brother preceeded me by about 4 years) and also in the delivery room, as it was allowed. She was encouraged to drink a glass of wine each night in order to help her get some sleep. She bottle fed us both, as that was the thing to do at the time. (Also, I was a month late so she says she just had cheese-boobs by the time I was born.) We played with toys that are no longer sold because they could harm people. We had metal swingsets without playmats. We were occasionally left alone while she ran next door to get whatever she needed.
My point is: Back then, people kept more to themselves. And frankly, I think that's something we need to go back to.
I understand the information age and blah blah blah. But everyone has a friggin opinion about EVERYTHING and believes that EVERYONE is not only "entitled" to it, but that listening is compulsory. And no. It's not.
When the harpies come a'calling, smile your sweetest "eat shit" smile and say, "Thank you, I'll take that under advisement. Have a nice day." If they continue, repeat the phrase like a parrot.
Also, kick them.
Posted by: Ms. Pants at March 18, 2009 05:29 PM (xg9yQ)
53
Well understood.
When I was a baby, back in the days when you had formula as powder and mixed it up yourself, I was so hungry that I demanded twice and sometimes even three times the recommended strength for formula feedings. My mom took some grief for doing that, and already feeling bad because she couldn't produce enough herself (and, at the time, also feeling some guilt because she and my dad couldn't afford DES while she had been pregnant, which at the time was being pushed hard on parents (before it became yet another health disaster)), it did make her feel pretty much a bad mom for the first few months. But I lived through her caregiving, so did she, and when my two sisters came along, she tuned out most opinions. And they turned out fine as well.
When my daughter was born, my ex could produce, and so we did breastfeeding. My ex liked the closeness, my daughter grew like a weed, and she pretty much skipped baby food and went straight to softened bits of fruit and veggies. She was breastfed until around 16 months, and my ex took a lot of grief after six months. And yet my daughter is here today at 15, doing OK in spite of it all.
There's always advice - there's also the choice to accept it or not.
Posted by: palamedes at March 18, 2009 09:22 PM (N7uu0)
54
A bit late to the party but I just want to say that you do a f*in good job in my eyes babe. F*ck them that's what I say.
I never judge friends and in a never met you kind of way, I see you as a friend too, so no mud slinging from the back from me...about anything you do. I just love ya for what you are, you fabulous tart.
Posted by: Bee Cee at March 19, 2009 09:14 PM (aOCBi)
55
Well, in my opinion, you do a fabulous job babe. The videos just make me smile so much my crooked teeth are being passed around the room. F*ck the criticism, that's what I say.
I never judge my friends and in a never met you kind of way I see you as a friend too. So no mud slinging from the cheap seats from me. I just love ya for what you are, and what you do, you fabulous tart.
P.S Happy Mother's Day for Sunday Chica.
Posted by: Bee Cee at March 19, 2009 09:18 PM (aOCBi)
Playtime, Children In Need, and Recipes
OK, first off for anyone in the UK who hasn't heard (and how is that possible, I ask?) today is Red Nose Day, which is Comic Relief benefitting the children of Africa. Yesterday I took my kit off and took a photo of me with my Red Nose. I watched a prelude to Red Nose Day/Comic Relief last night - in it they had boy/girl twins. The twins caught malaria. The boy died. Cue me in floods of tears racing upstairs to check on my own little boy. Tonight I'll be glued to the TV alternating between crying and laughing.
If you live in the UK, dig in and donate.
The babies' nursery did - today the nursery is having a pajama party and a teddy bear picnic, so the kids were urged to bring a quid, a toy, and come to school in their pajamas (a policy which I love). We painted their noses red to add to the fun.
Secondly, sometimes my babies do actually play well together. Hang in there to hear them screeching with laughter at each other.
And finally, the recipes I have been sent - thank you all so much for the suggestions and ideas. There are many of them that are going to be tried out in this house, and if anyone tries one of them let me know!
Click below the jump to collect them - don't forget to check thecomments in the post where I asked for recipes, as there are a number of good ideas in there, too.
more...
3
My the Lemonheads have certainly grown up. They are adorable, Helen. Simply adorable!
Posted by: Poppy at March 13, 2009 03:16 PM (aT4K+)
4
Too funny - the pork chop casserole recipe is the same as one we make here, except we substitute Stove Top Stuffing (pork flavor) for the potatos! Yummy. Might have to make that tonight.
Posted by: Tracy at March 13, 2009 03:34 PM (eiiGE)
5
I forgot to email you this. Super simple, super tasty, and it makes a TON. They also keep really well for leftovers.
2 lb. bag Hashbrowns (the chunky potato kind, not the shredded, Denny's-style ones)
1/2 cup light butter
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cans cream of chicken soup (or one can cream of mushroom, one cream of chicken)
16 oz sour cream
8 oz shredded sharp cheddar
Melt butter in a small pan and saute garlic for a couple of minutes. Mix hashbrowns, butter, garlic, soup, sour cream and half of cheese. Spray a 9” x 13” baking pan with something non-sticky. Put mixture in pan. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Sprinkle remainder of cheese on top. Bake an additional 30 minutes.
Enjoy!
Posted by: amy t. at March 13, 2009 03:51 PM (3dOTd)
6
Well, at least I'm appropriately festive for red nose day. And my appetite, which has been MIA the past few days, has focused in on that cocount rice...if only dinner wasn't going to be soup and soy patties. Again.
The video made my day. It'll go in my list of videos to watch when I'm feeling blue, next to the sneezing panda, the narcoleptic kitten, and this amazing Durex commercial.
7
I love all photos and videos of the babies! Nick looks so much like Angus!
Posted by: kenju at March 13, 2009 10:35 PM (hMUhQ)
8
Meant to send you this on the recipe post: http://www.101cookbooks.com/
It's my favorite go-to site for simple, healthy, and tasty. Every one of the recipes I have tried has come out really well, even the weird ones (like caramelized fried tofu and brussel spouts with nuts)
Posted by: caltechgirl at March 15, 2009 01:54 AM (IfXtw)
9
Another recipe! for breakfast, this time. Our kid is almost 2, and doesn'teat much at dinner and has a hard time if he's too hungry (like his mama). If yoru get up before the kids, or are doing brunch or breakfast-for-dinner this is perfect This dish has been adapted from the church cookbook of my husband's family (use leftover and/or stale bread, it's better):
--enough chopped bread to cover an 8 x 12 bakingdish. We like bread-with-bits, like rosemary bread or something. We can get these round loaves in the grocery store
--1/2 lb sausage, cooked, drained, cooled
--6 eggs, 2 cups milk, 1 tsp dried mustard, salt to taste. Whisk that sh... stuff together.
--1 cup shredded cheese of choice (we like gruyere, but you can really use anything you like)
Night before (or morning of, if you're doing dinner) put bread in bottom of baking dish (large chunks is best, and maybe any extra herbage you like. Like I mentioned eariler, we like rosemary). Put cooled sausage on top of that. Put shredded cheese on top of that. Pour egg mix on top of that. Put in fridge. Bake at 350 F for 40 minutes. Eat.
Posted by: Mandalei at March 15, 2009 04:37 PM (OjVcs)
10
This is a wonderful post, thanks for sharing! The kids are just adorable, that video is priceless. They look wonderful. Thanks for sharing the recipes, too!
Posted by: Michele at March 16, 2009 02:24 PM (Rc6kC)
The Perfect Family
You get a lot of comments when you have twins, as I've said before. Most of the time the comments are stunningly unoriginal and lame - You must have your hands full! Double trouble! Better you than me! The one I get the most is something that I've thought long and hard about - You have an instant family!
It's like my uterus was a bucket of pot noodles, just add boiling water and a sachet of herbs and spices and you've got yourself a meal in a can.
The instant family comment is clear - we are a Mummy, Daddy, Brother, Sister, Dog and House With a Picket Fence. We are the way a family should be. From the outside we typify all that the statistics love us to be. I should be wearing a full skirt and an apron and serving up meatloaf in my hot pad clad hands.
People usually remark on the "instant family" thing when they find out we have boy/girl twins. Boy/girl twins, viewed as the winner in the IVF Lottery. One of each, the ideal combo. Having a male and female means we get the pink and the dolls and the lipstick as well as the blue and the trains and the footballs.
And this bothers me.
Mostly it bothers me because of the definition of family. Family used to mean nuclear family, yes. But I like to think that in modern times a family is what you make it. My family is Angus, mostly, and my children and his children. But it's his children that throw the perspective for a loop - by definition we already had an instant family as he has a son and daughter from his first marriage. So if we already had an instant family, what are we now?
My family has a mutt named Gorby and an angry Maggie Cat. My family is my father and stepmother and my step-grandma. The maternal side and my sibling have been neatly cleaved from my family tree. Are we still then a family? Have we just broken the family mold?
I think the family mold was broken before we got to it. I think in today's day and age a family is who you love and need, the ones you turn to in times of darkness and in times of light. My family consists of the people that, without them, life doesn't look even a little bit tempting.
Don't interpret this as being ungrateful for Nick and Nora, because I am almost daily grateful for them in a way I can't describe (the days I'm not grateful for them include teething days and days when one or both of them are being assholes. Yes, we have those days.) I just resent the idea that a house with Angus, Gorby, and Maggie didn't constitute a family. We were a family then. We're a family now. Adding little people to the mix doesn't make us any more of a family, it just changes the dynamics a bit.
I understand when people say I have an instant family. I have a son and a daughter, and I can recognize that if IVF had never worked I would have mourned the loss of both. If I had only one child I would always wonder what it would have been like having one of the opposite sex.
Take Statia - she's due with baby number 2 in a few months and is already the mother of a 2 year old son. Since she phoned me in shock that one could, you know, actually get pregnant by having sex, I've called her bun in the oven Fred. When Statia evicts Fred, if she has a girl she'll be told "You have an instant family!" and may feel as stabby as I do sometimes upon hearing it. Should Fred turn out to indeed be a Fred, she'll probably often be asked when she's going to try again to see if she can get a little girl.
Or take April - also a mother to a little boy, she recently found out baby #2 is also a boy. She writes that she feels a mixed bag about this, as she's not sure they'll try again and she does sound as though there's some yearning for pink frilly clothing. And undoubtedly she'll be getting the "going to try again for a girl?" shtick.
It's a formula people expect you to live up to - you get married. Enter house with white picket fence. Then after a TV dinner one night you and the spouse bump uglies and - because the world is perfect - 9 months later you have a boy whose name invariably includes the word "Junior". Then 2.5 years later a little girl arrives. Presto - you are complete.
I never get asked when I'll be having more. It's as though, having met the nuclear family quota in one go, I've fulfilled my responsibilities. Now the truth happens to be that I am indeed not having any more - five years, two miscarriages and five rounds of IVF followed by a perilous pregnancy do tend to have that effect - but I get left alone on the "when are you having more" front. After all, I have an instant family.
And you shouldn't just have one of each. Oh no, that's too easy. If you're placing an order at the Booty Bar then you should know that the boy needs to be born first. This is the Way Things Should Be. The boy should be older! This is the way! The girl should not be born first, she needs a big brother to protect her and to be the family heir! Do not mess this up or centuries of stereotyping will catch up and coat hanger you!
I look at my two. I have a boy and a girl, and the boy was born first no less, the way it should be. I'm not sure 2 minutes older really makes any difference one way or another, but Nick was pulled out first. I can now see gender differences in them, and they're not difference we have pushed or encouraged on them. Nick likes to bash and be noisy and move a lot. Nora likes to be calm and social and likes to dress up. This morning she had a small handbag slung over her shoulder and wouldn't remove it. Let me be clear here - I'm happy for both of them to dress up and both of them to play with trains, we don't try to enforce stereotypes here but it has transpired that I have a boyish boy and a girly girl, all done of their own volition.
I do think I am amazingly lucky to have the opportunity to not just be a mum to them, but to have one of each. And if I only had one child or two of the same sex, I think it goes without saying that I would have wondered what it would have been like to have a child of the other sex running through my household. Maybe it's that way with everyone.
But instant family? Nope. They joined a family that was already here, and that will undoubtedly change and grow in the future, too.
-H.
PS-I'm looking for a reputable tattooist in the North Hampshire area. If you know of one, please let me know!
2
I know what you mean about the comments.
I had the perfect pregnancy with Ailane, no problems, perfect birth. She was my firstborn. Then, it came time for another. And, I couldn't get pregnant. Had three miscarriages, and finally had Blake when Ailane was 8.
I get comments all the time asking why I waited so long, that my kids won't be close because there is such an age difference. I ignore the comments, but seethe on the inside. I didn't want that gap, I sure as hell didn't want secondary infertility either.
And then, I felt like a sham in the infertility world. I once got a comment that I should be happy with my first one, that those with primary infertility have it worse. I get that, but my first was a girl. I HAD to have my boy, you know.
Posted by: Andria and Co. at March 12, 2009 12:01 PM (sn8R/)
3
I recently had a little boy (I have a 2.5yo daughter) and I hate HATE the 'pidgeon pair' comments. Seriously, I was going to be happy no matter what the sex of my children, simply because they are my children.
And so far, my son is so much more placid and laid back than my daughter ever was. But then, he is only 7 weeks old, so I can't compare too much yet.
Posted by: Veronica at March 12, 2009 12:01 PM (l5geK)
4
This comment turmned into a post--I hate people who put a post in a comment. I'll put the post on my own blog.
I'll cut it short by simply saying that there are many connotations to "family". For myself, my family is my wife and my kids. Everyone else is extended family.
Posted by: ~Easy at March 12, 2009 12:54 PM (IVGWz)
5
I've got three girls, so I definitely get the "trying for a boy" comments. What I thought you were going to come around to was that people need to challenge the idea that girls = pink and dolls, etc. There is very little pink at my house and dolls have never been big and when I look around our playroom it's all red green and blue, blocks, ring stacks and balls. And thank the dear lord, no princess crap. Sometimes I do get the feeling that parents push a lot of this nonsense on their kids rather than their children requesting all pink, all dolls, all the time. Thanks for a thoughtful post on what it means to be a family.
Posted by: Laura GF at March 12, 2009 01:16 PM (9Sd31)
6
Laura - I didn't address that but it's a very valid point. We did subscribe to the colors of pink and blue when taking the babies out as infants as then people knew what their sexes were and generally left us alone (what is it about having twins that everyone wants to know the sexes?) But I too think there's room for changing stereotypes. Case in point - over Christmas a family member sent Nick a train and sent Nora a doll. Lemme' just say that the train remains a hotly contested item between both babies to this day.
That said, Nora is a bit of a girly girl. I'm not looking forward to anything even remotely princess.
Posted by: Helen at March 12, 2009 01:23 PM (LewRx)
7
Try walking around pregnant with baby #5. It apparently puts us in "Duggar territory". If we bother to explain that the oldest is mine, and the younger 3 are my husband's from his first marriage, we inevitably get the "OH - Your's, Mine, and Ours!" references.
Meh. This is the second child I have been lucky enough to carry long enough to give birth to. She will be my second girl, and I couldn't be more thrilled. I don't think I'll ever sit and wish I'd given birth to a son...maybe that's the benefit of having two older stepsons...maybe not.
Posted by: Tracy at March 12, 2009 01:46 PM (eiiGE)
8
Ugh. What a stupid statement. In a related episode of ridiculousness, I've had people tell me that P wasn't conceived naturally, which pisses me off. My egg, husband's sperm, in my body, and guess what, a baby. Sounds pretty natural to me.
Anyway, if you come up with a reputable tattooist, please let me know. I'm looking to get one soon-ish but all the ones down here seem like vestiges of those who would cater to 17th century port folk. Ew.
Posted by: MsPrufrock at March 12, 2009 02:10 PM (CA+L6)
9
when my aunt was pregnant for the third time, having already had two boys, she got the 'are you hoping for a girl?' comment all the time. eventually she would just reply with 'no, we're hoping for a redhead'.
her son (my godson) was neither a girl nor a redhead, and none of us would want him any other way.
10
People constantly tell me that I'll change my mind about wanting kids. That some day I'll want a family. I have one. It includes a brother, parents, two great nephews, lots of cats, and the greatest friends a girl could ever ask for. I do not need crotchfruit to feel complete. I've wanted to be sterilized since, oh--birth.
I really just think that everyone in the world needs to stop worrying about the state of other people's genitals and gestating bits.
Posted by: Ms. Pants at March 12, 2009 03:02 PM (xg9yQ)
11
I understand about the world's need to define family. My mother's first words to me after the birth of my son was "okay, now you have one of each, you can stop". Nice.
Family is who you invite into your life and heart, not just who is related by blood.
Posted by: Melissia at March 12, 2009 03:18 PM (IBnue)
12
when my aunt was pregnant for the third time, having already had two boys, she got the 'are you hoping for a girl?' comment all the time. she would reply 'no, we're hoping for a redhead'.
her third son (my godson) was neither a girl nor a redhead, and none of us would want him any other way.
13
I HATE when people including my father ask “when are you having another one?” Or assume "when you have your next..." I have a son. I have always yearned for a girl ever since I was a little girl. But now that I have one who says that I am going to have another one? That's up to me and my partner. Being a mom is tough. I love it. But it is hard. I honestly don't know if I could handle another one at this point. One may be it for me. Or it may not.
I still fantasize about having a little girl at times but when I have a shitty night like last night of teething happens, I am brought back to reality. I don't think I could be as good as a mom to my son if I had to divide up my time. I have never known such exhaustion or depression since becoming a mother and it's not a something I care to repeat soon.
Posted by: Siera at March 12, 2009 03:59 PM (Ckc6D)
14
Mrs.Thomas and I have have two black cats which complete our family.
Posted by: Mr.Thomas at March 12, 2009 03:59 PM (bB3uL)
15
I've always only wanted to have one child and I probably would have been happy either way, but I'm secretly pleased the one I'm having in a few weeks is a girl. Of course, I have a built in excuse, "Michael has two boys from his first marriage, so she makes three!" It's easier than telling people that I just want one and that being an only child (since I was one) isn't torturing a child or depriving them.
Posted by: Emily at March 12, 2009 04:26 PM (xm1A1)
16
So, do we get to choose what the tattoo says?
"Yes they are twins, no they aren't identical, one of them has a willy", perhaps?
Posted by: Katie at March 12, 2009 06:07 PM (UaL+O)
17
I was all set for the Mini to be an only, and while I was still on the fence was actually leaning towards being ok with just one. Of course, nature had other plans, and I've gotten the "do you want a girl now that you already have a boy" question more times than I can count. It annoys me to no end, because um, no, I'd be totally ok with either, as long as it's healthy, but the other side of me wants another boy. I have all of the clothes, and the stuff, and I already know what I'm up against, and it's total bullshit when people say "oh now your family is complete." What if it IS a boy? My family isn't complete then? WTF?
But really, the cliche that you just want a healthy baby is really true. And that's all I want. If I had wanted to choose a gender, I'd have done IVF with PGD. Designer babies FTW!
Posted by: statia at March 12, 2009 06:08 PM (s5ipx)
18
And then there's those of us who haven't had kids, and therefore my teeny family (H. Me. The aspidistra) is not a considered to BE family, and our parents still seem to expect our primary loyalties to be to THEM and not each other.
Which sucks.
19
Apologies for whining in last comment. It's something to do with Mother's Day looming, and the resulting Mumzilla moments the step-mother/ mother/ mother-in-law can pull about visiting rights, and the way my sister gets a fuss made of her and I don't, which is childish of me, and I'm sorry, but clearly not sorry enough to shut the fuck up about it, must go fossick on my OWN blog and stop consuming oxygen on yours.
20
Have to jump on the bandwagon here. I have twin boys, and the first (out of countless) times I was asked if we 'we're going to try for a girl', was LITERALLY rendered speechless by the stupidity of the question.
Posted by: Alison at March 12, 2009 07:09 PM (xhJLD)
21
I totally know where you're coming from. I live on an island, where my twins are the ONLY twins (as far as I know) and we get comments ALL THE TIME. I resent the "instant family" thing too, as it implies my husband and I were incomplete people before we had babies. My twinnies are girls, and what really bugs me is when people say "So are you going to try for a boy?" Cuz you know, life is meaningless if there isn't an extra penis in the house. I grew up with 3 brothers, so I love my female dominated household. I won't be sacrificing any live chickens to fertility goddesses in the hopes of attaining a boy.
Posted by: Jungletwins at March 12, 2009 08:36 PM (wyPEC)
22
I have three children, all boys. I love my family as is and did when it was just one boy, then two boys, then three boys. Never once did I feel cheated or feel the need to 'try for a girl', yet I got that every step of the way. After my first, "When are you going to try for that girl?". When pregnant with the 2nd, "Trying for that girl?" With two boys... "When are you going to try for that girl?" and when pregnant with the third, "Still trying to hold out hope for that girl?"
I got to the point I wanted to smack the every living sh** out of people. I only wanted healthy. Now? I have my own personal little army.
People ask me if I wish I'd had a girl. I get that ALL THE TIME. I tell them emphatically, "NO. I could NOT be happier with what we have."
To this day, I have people ask me if I've ever thought of having one more, just to see if I could have the girl. (My children are 14, 12, and 10... like I want to start again?) A little bit of me permanently hates them for saying that... as if my three boys are the blue light special.
23
Just a fun little conversational tidbit from the delivery room:
"Did your husband actually ask when you're going to have a second?"
"Yes."
"Did you hit him?"
(for context, I'd already brought it up before him, as in, "oh god, I don't know how I'm going to handle this again." I hated being pregnant.)
Posted by: B. Durbin at March 13, 2009 01:39 AM (eauGZ)
24
Great post Helen. As someone who is still trying to have her "instant family" I find this very interesting. Currently my "core" family consists of my husband and our two dogs. Yes we are a family. Would we love to have children to add to that fold - 150% but we are still a family. I think that family is no longer defined by that old adage - as I have many friends who are considered family as well. Family is what we make of it.
And it looks like you've made a great one!
25
I remember being unbelievably cross when my b-i-l announced that his wife was preganant and therefore they would be a proper family implying that we childless ones were not. I've never really felt the same about him since. he is also part of the reason why I never revealed our infertile status.
I confess I was quite pleased I had a girl then a boy as saying "oh I've got one of each I'm stopping" stops all they "are you having any more?" comments and I really don't want to explain that I'm probably too old and too reliant on drugs and drs to make and keep me pregnant.
As to family - my husband became part of my family without needing to be married to me and without us needing our kids.
Posted by: Betty M at March 13, 2009 05:05 PM (q0m9f)
26
I lucked out with boy-girl twins, thanks to modern medicine. Again, thanks to modern medicine, they were born 14 weeks early. By the grace of God, our baby girl is still with us, perfectly 'normal' in every way. Her brother has special needs due to extreme prematurity. All I wished for when trying for years to get pregnant was a healthy, happy, normal baby.
Posted by: Kristy at March 17, 2009 03:43 AM (78h+n)
Funny title, though, and I wonder how many people freaked out reading that in Bloglines.
I recently wrote a post about what toys babies hate and love (particularly my babies). The first 6 months in Land 'O Baby are a maze, though, particularly if you are a new mom like I was. Everything promises to make your life easy and wonderful and to keep your newborn happy and smiley. It's bewildering. It's overwhelming.
So Angus and I put together a list of what we call The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (The Ugly being thoroughly useful things that maybe don't imply greatness). This is in addition, of course, to the two biggies you need - a baby bed (cot over here) and a car seat. The car seats are overwhelming, but there's good information on car seat guidelines in the UK here.
We wound our way through Land 'O Baby and hey! Both of our children are still alive! (Knocks furiously on wood here.) And I know that every family is different and that what may work for some doesn't work for others, but here's how we've gotten our two to the robust age of 17 months.
The Good
1) A Baby monitor. Doesn't have to be a posh one, but having one does give you peace of mind.
2) Avent bottles. I know people will explode about plastics and what have you, but we used Avent bottles, our babies loved them, and let's move on since I hate being lectured.
3) Lots of babygros/sleepers/onesies. Seriously, you need a lot of these in the beginning because we went through (on average) four of these a day and we weren't precious about things. A little bit of spit up didn't mean baby got changed, but any number of things happened during the day and we'd need to change their babygro.
4) A Baby Bjorn or a sling. Very, very useful particularly when you want to have baby near but need your hands. For slings go to a shop and try a few on, everyone likes them different. I had a Mobi wrap and I loved it, but others have found it uncomfortable.
5) Muslins. John Lewis has great ones, a pack of 6 and they're long, soft things. You will need many of these as little ones have the tendency to be little bundles of vomit for the first 6 months.
6) Cotton wool (cotton balls). The midwives and health visitors recommend that you don't use wipes to address baby bottoms but to use warm water and cotton wool. We do exactly that, as we think it's better for the babies than using wipes on them constantly, and it's a lot cheaper too.
7) Sudocrem (nappy rash cream)
Calpol (baby Tylenol. After 3 months of age you can give it to babies and it will make you love it.)
9) A bean bag. Sad but true, if you have the space an inexpensive bean bag is phenomenal. It's good for you to sit on while you're pregnant as it's comfortable (although getting out of it is another story) and throw a blanket over it and the baby can sleep in the living room with you. Now that my babies are toddlers the bean bags get heavy use - they're easy for them to climb on, we nest them in them for their morning and evening milk, and they're great places for the babies to sit and read.
10) a bouncy chair, like the ones I posted about a week ago. Alternatively, I've seen swings out now that are basically giant baby papasans, I can imagine those would be popular.
11) A multi-gym, the kind where baby lays on its back and looks up at a variety of dazzling hanging toys. Mine had the Baby Einstein gym and loved it for ages.
12) a travel cot.
13) lots and lots of cot sheets, as well as at least 2 cot underliners to prevent damp.
14) Grobags/swaddles. We used Kiddopotamus Swaddle-Me for the babies when they were small, and I am a huge fan of swaddling when the babies are small, as is the NHS. The babies still sleep in Grobags as they throw covers off, and they are so versatile and useful.
15) A mobile over the cot. The babies will indeed stare at it. We found it was better to have a non-musical one as our two weren't keen on that kind of thing.
16) A drying rack and dishwasher compartment for bottles.
17) Hand-me-downs. Fantastic, useful, and so gratefully received.
The Bad
1) Dr. Brown Bottles. Look good, supposed to prevent colic, but don't. The truth is colic will happen if it's going to happen. We tried to prevent it but Nora had it, and we tried to help her with it but the fact is colic will go when it's ready. Dr. Brown's doesn't stop colic. Fucking pain in the ass to wash, too.
2) Itzbeen. Statia sent one to use and I know she's a fan, but with two babies we just never used it as my two always let us know when it was time for something.
3) A Baby bath. Had one, never used it, gave it away.
4) Changing table - we had one, but found a changing mat on a lower surface (like the floor) was better, particularly post C-section days. Don't have to worry about them rolling off, either.
5) Dummies - the babies used a really great pacifier called a Soothie for a month or two, after that they weren't interested in the slightest.
6) Sterilizing kit - we boiled the bottles the babies used the first two times we used them. After that they went in the dishwasher.
7) Moses baskets. You can use them for about 10 seconds, then they're obsolete. Go bean bag instead.
The Ugly
1) Sainsbury's brand nappies. Believe it or not, they're great and when they're on sale they're a third less than the name brands.
2) Ebay - great place for toys.
3) You need a stroller but you don't need a posh one unless you plan on absolutely using it every day. I'd avoid the sets where the carrier becomes the car seat becomes the stroller, they're problematic.
4) IKEA. They have a lot of useful baby things and a few nice cots out now as well.
5) Boppy. It's a nursing/pregnancy pillow shaped like a horseshoe. Ugly but great while pregnant, great if nursing, great to sit baby in.
1
Perfect timing for me - I am almost 14 weeks preggo w/ baby #1 and am trying to think of everything I will need to register for! The bean bag was a surprising but understandably great idea.
Deborah
Posted by: deborah at March 11, 2009 11:24 AM (44RGB)
2
I agree about the Dr. Brown bottles, we used that mistake for a little while and switched to Advent. We have a beanbag chair too and I now give that as a gift at Baby showers! I'm all about the different type of gift and look to get the odd glances! People just don't understand how useful they are until they use them! I got the idea from you and it's fantastic! My little man still loves his!
Posted by: Vicki at March 11, 2009 11:41 AM (2VoLW)
3
1. Avent makes BPA free bottles now. And Born Free BPA free are similar.
2. We used the Playtex drop in system. The bottles and liners are cheap. Some bottles are BPA free, but no matter, all the liners are. They worked better than Dr. Browns and they were seriously zero hassle for us. Loved them
I've heard from a lot of people the papasans aren't worth the money as they grow out of them faster than bouncy seats, but I have no comparison.
I may add to this list. Because you know me, I have opinions about everything. I'm a whore like that.
Posted by: statia at March 11, 2009 12:38 PM (s5ipx)
4
A note about the diapers (Sorry, I just can't say nappies): Pay no attention to the ads, or what people say when choosing a brand. Just find one that works for your child and stick with it. For some reason, all of the diaper brands really are different.
The brand that was worked wonders for the first child were absolute crap with the 2nd child. The ones that worked with the 2nd child were the ones we swore were the worst diapers ever made when we tried them on the 1st child.
Also, our house is small enough that a baby monitor was never useful. When they cried, we heard them just fine without the monitor. The monitor just made us hypersensitive to every sound they made.
Posted by: ~Easy at March 11, 2009 12:48 PM (IVGWz)
5
I should find that assvice e-mail that was like 4 pages long (it seemed that long anyway) that I sent you before you had the babies. I wonder how much we agree on things!
6
I have to have a car seat comment! Here in the states as soon as kids hit 3 or 4 so many people are putting them in booster seats. I watched some crash test videos online and have discovered this amazing car seat! The Graco-Nautilus. It will hold a child in 5 pt till they are 65 lbs then it transforms into a backed booster that is actually latched to the car. I like that my daughter is restrained with more than a seat belt. Just because she is 40 lbs and 40 inches tall at 3 doesn't mean she is mature enough to be in just a belt or that it is safe enough. We live near Orlando and accidents are very common. I don't want all my hard work of baby raising to go down the drain because of a car accident! :-)
I am 23 weeks pregnant with baby #2 and I have to agree that everything on your list is must haves. Especially the slings! I loved my maya wrap and asian baby carrier. Complete life savers!
7
I have to have a car seat comment! Here in the states as soon as kids hit 3 or 4 so many people are putting them in booster seats. I watched some crash test videos online and have discovered this amazing car seat! The Graco-Nautilus. It will hold a child in 5 pt till they are 65 lbs then it transforms into a backed booster that is actually latched to the car. I like that my daughter is restrained with more than a seat belt. Just because she is 40 lbs and 40 inches tall at 3 doesn't mean she is mature enough to be in just a belt or that it is safe enough. We live near Orlando and accidents are very common. I don't want all my hard work of baby raising to go down the drain because of a car accident!
I am 23 weeks pregnant with baby #2 and I have to agree that everything on your list is must haves. Especially the slings! I loved my maya wrap and asian baby carrier. Complete life savers!
8
You are a mind-reader. This is exactly what I am needing. Keep the tips and tricks coming!
Posted by: Niki at March 11, 2009 01:50 PM (s31/e)
9
I agree with some of this and disagree with some of it. There is no one magic list. Not only is it different for every mother, it can be different for the same mother, different children.
I used the changing table exclusively with my first son but not my second. He was bigger and I somehow gravitated towards the bed in his case but with my first, I couldn't have imagined not having it. I still use it for the messy stuff.
Both my babies hated bouncy seats, swings and slings. They both loved the Jumparoo.
Never needed a baby monitor or travel cot even though we had both.
I used the Dr. Brown bottles with both boys and love the baby bath (it's easier to keep clean than the entire tub). Hated the Bobby. Loved the snuggle nest even though, like the moses basket, it was short-lived. It was important for those first few weeks. I passed it along to another couple with a newborn right away.
It's good to share what worked and what didn't but I doubt you'll find two mothers with the same lists.
Posted by: paula at March 11, 2009 01:59 PM (sNZxg)
10
I have a 13-month-old and thinking back, pretty much agree with the list. My boy didn't love the sling or front-carrier until he could face out, but I'd use them again. A few other comments:
--I did use the microwave sterilizer a lot just because we didn't run the dishwasher everyday, so I think it's a good option to have if you're trying to be mindful of water and energy use. (Of course, that's out the window once they start eating actual food; we run the dishwasher all the time now.)
--A comfortable chair is an absolute must. I spent sooo much time in the chair nursing, trying to get the baby to sleep, holding the baby while he wasn't sleeping, staring at the wall suffering from sleep deprivation, etc. Doesn't have to be a fancy chair, but make sure you're going to be comfortable sitting/sleeping/zoning in it for many hours.
Posted by: rhysroo at March 11, 2009 02:29 PM (7YmKY)
11
Can you get Chicco bottles over there? There made in Italy there glass therefore sans BPA and their interchangable with the Advent bottles. as far as I know they're not yet available in the U.S. but I can get them in Canada. I like them along with advent and playtex bottles. IN Canada baby bottles and sippy cups with BPa are banned.
A Vibrating boucey seat was the best hign ever! And a swing of any kind. I liked the Fisherprice Rainforest one that swings side to side and back to back. Also a jumperoo/excersauser is a must! The jumperoo is better by far! Especially the Rainforest one.
Posted by: Siera at March 11, 2009 04:09 PM (Ckc6D)
12
My faves:
Wipes warmer. It seems like such a silly thing, but both of my kids hated having their butts wiped with cold wipes. It makes diaper changes so much easier.
A mobile hung over the changing area makes a great distraction.
Playtex drop-ins. Both kids liked the wide nipples. We tried several different bottle and nipple styles and they were hands-down the favorite. I agree the Dr. Brown's bottles are a pain.
A mirror for the backseat when baby is still facing backwards. I can look in my rearview mirror and make sure he's OK.
Posted by: selzach at March 11, 2009 04:27 PM (YDcDd)
13
I know this is a ways off...but save those cot protectors..they are great for when they babies move up to the next size bed for added protection of in the night leaks or when potty training begins.
We also had great luck with Cetaphil as a skin cleanser and lotions - both babies sensitive skin that was easily irritated.
Posted by: steff at March 11, 2009 04:51 PM (TB3OX)
14
Not bad timing for me either. Baby is "scheduled" to be here in 8 days. Eeks!
Thankfully, we've got the "Good" covered, some of the "ugly", and I think we skipped most of your bad, except a couple of Dr. Brown's bottles. OH - and the baby bath. Because there is ONE bathroom in this house and 7 people(once the baby is here). SO. Baby tub it is! LOL.
Posted by: Tracy at March 11, 2009 04:56 PM (eiiGE)
15
—Baby links. Those things that you can chain together to hang things from... but babies will play with them just by themselves.
—What's funny is the love my nine month old has for books. I mean serious love. This doesn't keep him from board book destruction but hey. I try to make it a policy to read whichever one he picks up and he's already figured out that turning the pages advances the story.
But then, we're always reading right in front of him, so I think he's just trying to get in on the action.
Speaking of that... I have to go read A Giraffe in a Scarf to him.
Posted by: B. Durbin at March 11, 2009 08:56 PM (nPkK7)
16
Fantastic, just the list I needed! Thanks for posting this Helen! (Plus the other commenters suggestions are good to hear too) Now I must go off and go surf Ebay, John Lewis, etc. Thanks again-
Kim
Posted by: Kim W at March 11, 2009 09:31 PM (0fdgP)
17
Our (now 3 1/2 year old) loved Dr. Brown's. We tried them all, they did seem to have some affect. Yes, they suck to wash - which brings us to the other great thing - a microwave bottle sterilizer (looks a bit like a cake storage tupperware with you add a little water to and nuke for a couple of minutes to sterilize the 7000 parts to a Dr. brown bottle).
The boppy rocked. And also a 'pack-and-play' - a PIA to 'pack', but definitely very handy when needed. We also had a bedside crib/sleeper that was very useful for the first 3-4 months or so.
My wife is due in ~2 months with our #2, so we'll be pulling all this stuff back out soon....
Posted by: Clancy at March 12, 2009 02:49 AM (iT75R)
18
I would swap the Moses basket (very useful if you have a) a pretty wee baby and b) loads and loads of stairs) with teh muslins - I bought tons and barely used them as my two just didn't spit up.
I also loved wooden toy strings for the buggy - the German ones with primary coloured cats etc.
Posted by: Betty M at March 13, 2009 01:28 PM (q0m9f)
Walking Wounded
On Tuesday last week I trooped into London to have dinner with a friend.
In the middle of the night that night, I woke up feeling really shit.
By Wednesday it was clear that I was ill.
Flu symptoms exploded on me - lymph nodes in my neck the size of goose eggs. Fever. Runny nose. Exhaustion. Aching muscles. I was a poster child for illness and a pharmaceutical community's wet dream. If it came in pill form I probably was downing it. If it came in spray form I probably was inhaling it. If it promised any kind of relief of any kind I sought it out. I'm lucky I didn't know any dealers in the neighborhood, I feel certain I would have even gone down the illegal route in my attempts to feel better.
Thursday and Friday last week the flu owned me, and I couldn't even struggle in to work.
And then it turned out it wasn't the flu anyway.
On Saturday it transpired that the flu I was dealing with was really the plague glandular fever. Which, if you live Stateside, you might know as Mono. The beast also nicknamed the Kissing Disease, and an illness you generally get in your teens.
Angus looked at me. "I thought you were too old to get glandular fever."
"Thanks honey. That makes me feel so much better," I replied dryly.
"Do you know where you got it?"
"Lemme' see - since the only people I kiss are you, Nick, and Nora, I can't really work out how I could've caught it. Well, there are those nights I work the Portsmouth docks welcoming sailors home on shore leave, but I tend to think of that as not so much lascivious behavior, more my civic duty."
"Very funny."
"I know. Funny and one big walking infection! The perfect woman, that's me."
Saturday night more fun came up - a rash started spreading across various parts of my anatomy.
"I am so gross," I whinge to Angus. "Any minute now my skin will just split and pus will start oozing out."
"And that's me gone right off my dinner," Angus replied cheerfully.
The good news is I've gone from insomniac to raging sleeper. I can't get enough. I fall asleep constantly and at the drop of a hat. Whole hours are wiled away snoozing, and I get to enjoy feverish dreams, the ones where the colors are too bright and the plot too bizarre.
Sunday I started developing thrush (Stateside this is a yeast infection). I've been battling that with Canesten, hoping I can keep it from going full-blown.
Yesterday I broke down and went to the doctor.
"Put me in a bubble!" I moaned. "I'm a bane to society!"
The doctor ignored my ministrations, proceeded to take my temperature (38.5/101), checked out my mammoth lymph nodes, got a flash of my pubes as I showed her the rash (which is darkest on my hips/groin area and abdomen) and then deep throated me with a tongue depressor. All before 9am and I didn't even have to leave a tip.
I was pronounced as either having glandular fever or a hell of a raging streptoccocal infection. There was no point trying to deduce which one I have as glandular fever isn't treatable, it just needs to run its course. I've been put on antibiotics for the streptoccocal infection. This after the doctor had a long self-debate of if this was right or not, as this country is not big on handing on antibiotics. I remember as a kid antibiotics were handed out like Pez - You look peakish! Have some eurythromiacin! - but over here they fear antibiotic resistance (rightfully so) and so rarely prescribe them. The hope is that I have the bacterial streptoccocal infection, which the antibiotics will address. If not, if I have the viral glandular fever, then the worst the antibiotics will do is nothing.
"Oh," the doctor called cheerfully after my departing form. "But the antibiotics will make the thrush a lot worse."
My crotch rot can attest to that, thanks.
-H.
PS-ok, I need some help. I am one of those sad individuals that loves to cook and that loves cooking magazines. The problem is all of the magazines seem to have heartily embraced the credit crunch - Feed your family for under a fiver! the headlines scream, only when you open the magazine it gives you truly horrible shit, like a recipe for beans on toast or animal fat spread on the palm of your hand and licked off. Why does an inexpensive meal have to be so crap?
So I'd like to put together a post of nice, delicious, cheap recipes that can feed a family. I'd love any recipes, which I will post on Friday (as well as a few of my own) and we can all have access to some new ideas (and then give feedback on afterwards! It's like a club! A clique!). Just hit that "Contact" button at the top of the page, or else use helen {@} everydaystranger {dot} eu (removing the { } of course). I just want to find good, hearty, cheap recipes that we can all enjoy insteadof larging it in the misery of the recession. So if you have an idea, send it to me (and you'll be credited of course). Let's say we make it under £10/$10/10 Euros or thereabouts. If you're like me, in that you are on a budget and need to feed a family, then let's find a way to help each other out (or am I the only one who's sick of awful recipes that promise cheap eats?). Thanks in advance!
1
I can probably come up with a couple of pretty good ones.Too early in the morning just yet. After the past couple of years that we have had I have become the queen of cheap but tasty meals in this household lol. Try to submit some to you later in the day!
Posted by: justme at March 10, 2009 10:25 AM (1iniY)
2
Oh Helen! I really hope you start to feel better soon.
As for the recipe thing, what a brilliant idea! I will have a think and submit some later... not very good at remembering recipes but have them all written in a book at home that my Gran, then my mum kept so should have some good ones! Will send them as soon as I can.
Posted by: Suzie at March 10, 2009 11:25 AM (zJPh8)
3
I usually plan frugal meals by using up what I already have on hand and by purchasing my proteins on sale (either loss leader or clearance). So what is cheap to me might not be cheap to someone else.
I can probably contribute a recipe or two from my blog but I can't remember, are you still vegetarian? I mostly cook with meat.
Posted by: paula at March 10, 2009 12:27 PM (sNZxg)
4
Paula - I'm a veggie, but I cook meat meals for the family, so meat recipes very welcome.
Posted by: Helen at March 10, 2009 12:31 PM (wuta+)
5
Any chance this thing is e-contagious? If so, you're on my shit list.
I'm a vegetarian (my dad so nicely bought me a "Vaginatarian" bumper sticker, not realizing what it really said), so I can offer up some good, cheap, yummy recipes. I've almost got one of my roommates on the veg track. Shall I email them to you, to save from clogging up your comments box?
Good then, I shall do so.
6
Hey, if you were going to be displaying your wares down here, why didn't you tell me? We could have combined forces! Two whores for the price of one.
Posted by: MsPrufrock at March 10, 2009 01:01 PM (CA+L6)
7
I get the same thing EVERY year. I spend time trying to figure out if it's a yeast infection, fungal infection, psoriasis, what the heck is going on? This year I did a little research on home remedies (my husband is not getting anywhere near me until I get rid of this!) and got a tip to use Vick's Vaporub. A little tingly, but boy did it stop the itch and the rash. I ALMOST look normal again. Used some on a cut on my arm with the same result. I have a feeling it was just a fungal skin infection - I am unfortunate in working across from the only female bathroom in a high traffic office. Don't ask.
I have an unbelievably good and easy crockpot French Onion Soup recipe. Unfortunately, it uses beef broth. But I have another good one for couscous with orange juice, dried cranberries, dried apricots and golden raisins, and I add shredded chicken breast for the meat eaters. I'll dig it out for you.
Sorry about the mono - I had it when I was 36 and had to get up at 0600 in the morning for PT. When I finally got a slip from the doctor - he first diagnosed me with general malaise because of constipation and socked me with a super laxative - my Colonel made me come in at 0600 anyway for accountability, then I got to sleep in my car until everyone was done. Talk about a waste of time and precious sleep.
Posted by: Genie at March 10, 2009 02:06 PM (6zvrq)
8
I get the same thing EVERY year. I spend time trying to figure out if it's a yeast infection, fungal infection, psoriasis, what the heck is going on? This year I did a little research on home remedies (my husband is not getting anywhere near me until I get rid of this!) and got a tip to use Vick's Vaporub. A little tingly, but boy did it stop the itch and the rash. I ALMOST look normal again. Used some on a cut on my arm with the same result. I have a feeling it was just a fungal skin infection - I am unfortunate in working across from the only female bathroom in a high traffic office. Don't ask.
I have an unbelievably good and easy crockpot French Onion Soup recipe. Unfortunately, it uses beef broth. But I have another good one for couscous with orange juice, dried cranberries, dried apricots and golden raisins, and I add shredded chicken breast for the meat eaters. I'll dig it out for you.
Sorry about the mono - I had it when I was 36 and had to get up at 0600 in the morning for PT. When I finally got a slip from the doctor - he first diagnosed me with general malaise because of constipation and socked me with a super laxative - my Colonel made me come in at 0600 anyway for accountability, then I got to sleep in my car until everyone was done. Talk about a waste of time and precious sleep.
Posted by: Oda Mae at March 10, 2009 02:09 PM (6zvrq)
9
Ok, as soon as you said lymph nodes the size of goose eggs, I knew you had mono. I had it in 8th grade (sorry!), and that is EXACTLY how mine were. HUGE.
Did they give you another prescription to treat the yeast infection after you finish the antibiotics? (No point in starting before.) I also seem to remember just aching head to toe when I had it.
Sorry, Darlin'. That sucks.
Posted by: Tracy at March 10, 2009 03:00 PM (eiiGE)
10
Watch it like a hawk if it's strep, after all. I had a bad strep infection like that 18 months ago - it went to my chest and then my heart. I was diagnosed as having had a heart attack and spent a weekend in a cardiac ward on Warfarin, statins and the rest and hooked up to monitors - it was only when I was on the table having an angiogram that they discovered there was nothing wrong with me.
Given your luck with healthcare, I'm just saying, like...
Posted by: steve at March 10, 2009 03:40 PM (3NryK)
11
Now-a-days in the states they don't hand out antibiotics much anymore, either, for the same reasons.
12
Am sorry that you are feeling like utter crap right now. Virtual cuppa and chicken soup?
For cheap yet good recipes, I love the CrockPot lady's blog (http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/).
Posted by: Jendeis at March 10, 2009 04:19 PM (oTrqs)
13
I hope you feel better soon Helen. I am surprised your doctor didn't do a throat swab or bloodwork. The swab would detect if you have strep or not. Being sick is the shits... I havce been tired for over a week now... I think I shall go to the dr to see if I have mono...
Posted by: Siera at March 10, 2009 05:50 PM (Ckc6D)
14
Fave recipe for under a tenner? there are a couple that I love:
1. http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5084/prawn-and-coconut-curry
Try adding a can of coconut milk for a bit of extra luxury and use a hand blender (outboard motor) to mush the sauce instead of a liquidiser - much less mess.Also works well with chicken (brown it first)
2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/calypsopepperpotchic_79922.shtml
Enjoy! Angus
Posted by: Angus at March 10, 2009 06:20 PM (IisXA)
15
Have you looked at the Sainsbury's Feed Your Family for a Fiver recipes - they aren't too bad.
Posted by: Katie at March 10, 2009 07:06 PM (UaL+O)
16
Poor you, there is nothing worse than an untreatable disease which leaves you feeling hideous but just has to run its course!
Check out my food blog http://tillwemeatagain.blogspot.com for loads of cheap, cheerful but still delicious meals. I will mail you the hardcopy of some of my family favourites.
Posted by: Super Sarah at March 10, 2009 09:42 PM (0TP8F)
17
My six year old has had both mono and strep and I think maybe you have both. Seriously, the strep will give you the high fever and the rash, and mono is the rest. Also I think mono can enlarge your appendix. It took a blood test to confirm mono for my kid, though, did you get one?
I hope it's just the strep and the antibiotics will cure you. If not, well, you'll be taking a lot of involuntary naps in the next couple of weeks.
Posted by: It's Both at March 11, 2009 03:31 AM (UlfO9)
18
Not that this counts as a frugal meal, but it is a delicious desert.
Oreo Truffles (more vulgarly- Cookie Balls).
Ingredients: 1 Box Oreos (any sandwich cookie really), 8 oz of THAWED cream cheese (low-fat is okay, no-fat sucks) and almond bark (lord, I had to give up and go to Wal-Mart for this one).
1. Grind up the Oreos (blender, food processor, whatever).
2. Mix/stir in the cream cheese until even consistency is achieved.
3. Ball up the batter, and place on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper.
4. Let these cool for at least 1 hour in freezer.
5. Melt 12 oz of Almond Bark; you'll likely want to mix in a tablespoon of shortening as a thinning agent, as that stuff solidifies QUICK.
6. Harpoon each ball with a toothpick, to dip into the melted almond bark, and place back on wax paper.
Strawberry cream cheese/Strawberry sandwich cookies/Chocolate Almond bark go over very well. Mint Cookies and regular cream cheese are also good together.
Posted by: Robert at March 11, 2009 08:45 AM (2KPHS)
So I give you the Poor Man's Blog Post, aka videos.
I've mentioned before how massively fascinated Nick is by lights, and I really mean it. We learned just how intense this love is this weekend when we went to IKEA in Southampton. When we took the babies in - and IKEA decided not to use dual trollies so I had Nora in one trolley while Angus had Nick in the other - we knew we'd have to go into the lighting section, as Angus also loves that section.
Nick, however, really, really loved it.
And he showed us his new word, which is "Yeah yeah!"
He used it throughout the section in IKEA, pointing to the lights and shrieking "Yeah yeah!" with absolute delight. As soon as you'd start to wheel him away from the lights he'd burst into tears. And when I say "tears" I mean "wailing and drama as though he'd found out he was now going to be seperated from his best friend for life".
Because we're kind, loving, concerned parents we caught it on video using my mobile phone and uploaded it to You Tube.
Also, I give you the next day, in which you see what feeding time is like in our house. This is the first attempt at home of the babies trying to feed themselves. Apparently they do better at nursery - not perfect, but often able to handle the spoon - but in this house round one showed they aren't great at this feeding themselves spiel. And we go through the same ordeal with Nick everytime - you have to forcefeed him the first bite no matter what it is, because he throws a strop. Almost 100% of the time once you forcefeed the first bite he has an expression of Why yes, I do like green eggs and ham, I do like them, Sam I Am.
And yes, we bought that light because we needed a new living room light, but mostly because Nick went absolutely mental over that light in the shop. We're such suckers. Most kids wants sweets and cuddly toys. Our son, he wants something running on 240V.
1
Oh Helen! I hope you feel better soon. I had gladular fever when I was at school - it was horrible! Rest as much as you can (I know that won't be easy!!) and I really do hope you feel better soon.
Fantastic videos - I love the Ikea one with Nick crying when you wheel him away from the lights!
Take it easy, Helen.
Posted by: Suzie at March 09, 2009 10:52 AM (zJPh8)
2
Baby videos. Love them. I hope you feel better soon.
Nora looks so tall in her high chair. Angus' play by play had me smiling.
Posted by: Judi at March 09, 2009 11:08 AM (1Y+4Z)
3
Happy well wishes headed your way!! Being sick sucks, even more when you have little ones who need you. Hope you feel better soon! :-)
4
AS soon as Nick saw Nora reach for her food, he was all 'Oh, OK then! It's not poisoned! It's cool!'
I think they're doing really well. Harry is desperate to use a spoon and fork, but struggles to load them without help - his frantic fork stabbing occasionally spears a pasta twist, but spoons are really tricky, even the special bent-shaped ones. He particularly loves peas, and the poor kid's just got no hope at all.
I eat my peas with honey;
I've done so all my life.
It makes the peas taste funny
But it keeps them on my knife.
Posted by: suze at March 09, 2009 03:20 PM (+kr97)
6
Angus sounds like Alan Rickman with that "I hate you all," bit.
Yeah, the utensils thing, that takes forever. I had no idea (because I thought at one, they'd be more like three year olds. At least I know what I'm up against with Fred). Apparently, even at two, it's still kind of hard for them. Mini can sort of scoop with a spoon if it's like, sticky oatmeal. And we've taught him to "stab" with his fork. He's still a bit of a mental patient when it comes to using them though. He still prefers his hands. Don't worry, they're not remedial.
Hope you feel better soon. Don't send me any moist kisses or anything.
Posted by: statia at March 09, 2009 06:02 PM (s5ipx)
7
So, evidently the Electrical Gene is strong on the male side of the family. That is too precious.
Love the videos, girl - and I hope you're better soon.
xoxo
Posted by: Margi at March 09, 2009 06:07 PM (haxPi)
8
Ok, I love that light. What a funny thing for Nick to get so excited over!
And you've just reminded me I didn't buy a high chair. I suppose given that my child isn't BORN YET (any minute), I have a bit before it becomes a high priority, tho...
Posted by: Tracy at March 09, 2009 06:53 PM (eiiGE)
9
Those videos were adorable! Our 3 year old still loves to go to the lighting section of the home improvement stores. Has Nick shown any interest in things like fireworks?
I hope you start feeling better. I got mono when I was in 7th grade and was teased endlessly about it being the kissing disease. Then, when a boy came down with it around the same time, we were teased about kissing each other. Middle school was so much fun!
By the way, Nick has great taste in lighting fixtures!
Posted by: Michele at March 09, 2009 09:17 PM (rXEzC)
10
"More news as it breaks." It was so cute watching them.
Hope you feel better soon!
Posted by: Hannah at March 10, 2009 09:53 AM (lUH62)
Cyclical Hopeless Phases
I'm going through one of those cycles again where I don't really have much to say, but don't want to do the blog stereotype whereby I dramatically announce my retirement, all the while clutching my cape to my weeping eyes and begging all of you to leave me, just leave me!, and then sobbing upon my return, whereby I clutch my hands to my bosom and recite some Sally Field-like "You love me, you really love me!" spiel.
Said cycles are apparently huge fans of the run-on sentence.
I feel this way periodically, this what do I really have to offer? kind of feeling. I've not been able to get to the blog daily. I haven't been able to take my 365 daily, which rather defeats the idea of a 365 but I figure fuckit. I'm no princess, but I'll do it if and when I can. I'm waaaaaaaaaay behind on emails (Beach Girl and Vicki, I'm looking at you! And Vicki, the answer is yes!), I'm currently parked on the couch smelling vaguely of infection and sickness as I nurse a fever and throat glands so large it looks like I've grown two Adam's apples, and I'm a bit lost at work and not sure where to find me.
In short, I'm going through a Hopeless Phase. The kind where you get up, get dressed and find out upon arriving at the office that you're wearing two different socks. The same as Pushing Daisies - when it's good the retro surrealism is so overwhelming you want to weep (not even taking into consideration the fab clothing) but when it's bad you could cook a meal while partly watching the show and utter a useless "Meh". The phase where you open up a blog post only to realize that once again, you'll be talking about being ill, not sleeping, or some kind of introspection that makes people shake their heads and say Dude. Dial it down.
I don't keep a stat counter so no idea if the numbers are up, down or sideways. I am crap at commenting on other sites and even worse at everything else, so a blogging Wonder Woman I am not. I remember once getting an email from someone asking why wasn't I writing blog posts 7 days a week, I should be writing them 7 days a week! And I thought: Hang on. This site is for me. I'll do what I want when I want, including cry at my party. For me, ever the loquacious chick, sometimes I actually do run out of things to say untill the guff fills up again.
And I think - do you really want to hear that I only slept two hours last night? Is anyone really interested in me telling the world that Nora can now stand unassisted for 0.45 seconds, or that Nick is cutting the last of his baby teeth and will soon have a full set of choppers? I'm just not full of things to say right now, which isn't the same thing as me swirling the cape over my shoulders and announcing "That's it. I'm leaving." but it is rather the same thing as me going "What room am I supposed to be in? You mean this class is Emergency Crock-Pot Cooking and I'm looking for How to Perform What's Opera Doc?"
1
hey babes, blog when you damn well want to sweets.
Hope that you get better and feel better soon.
We'll still be out here if you blog every day or every year!
M xx
Posted by: moira at March 06, 2009 09:04 AM (UGBIN)
2
This blog is for you. Why in the world do you worry if you bore us? Not saying you do, of course.
Posted by: Hannah at March 06, 2009 10:09 AM (lUH62)
3
Sorry laughed out loud when you wrote Dude. Dial it Down.
Never dial it down. We love ya!
Posted by: Judi at March 06, 2009 11:39 AM (1Y+4Z)
4
Why don't you use your blog like I use Facebook for a while, until something happens that you want to write about? While I'm clicking around on Stumbleupon, I usually find something silly or interesting, then I post the link and comment. Then stand back. Today I found a link that tickled my fancy - how to make alcohol in your crockpot. Moonshine for suburbanites and city dwellers - we can still be rednecks! This is good news. So just give us some insight into your web likes and dislikes. We'll still visit and this time you can read about US! Oh, and thanks for the Good Reads, I'm taking a couple off of your list the next trip to the library.
Posted by: Oda Mae at March 06, 2009 11:51 AM (6zvrq)
5
I'm a lurker, this is the first time I've commented. I enjoy your blog but please take care of yourself. If it means posting less or not at all then I'd be happier that you are healthy.
Marie
Posted by: marie at March 06, 2009 01:03 PM (1Ceyp)
6
Dude, you're ahead of me. I manage a complete post like once every two weeks. I have all these two-sentence starts and nada to show for it, so you're a star in my book.
Don't worry about us, though. Of course I'll worry if you don't blog (I'm Jewish, it's our thing) but I promise, I won't send any all-caps emails with WHY AREN'T YOU WRITING??? ARE YOU DEAD??? I find those annoying, anyhow.
That said, go. Leave us for a bit, cape or no cape. I'll recommend GABA again, but you can ignore me, it's just the pushy, overbearing Jewish mother thing. I have no children to pester, so I take it out elsewhere. Drink tea. Take baths. De-stress in any way you can. Find and destroy the wanker you Twittered about (I. can't. believe. I. Twitter.) Enjoy the knowledge that I have located one-half of my recommended toy for your children, which should arrive via carrier pigeon in 2013, as I'm not paying more than the damn thing cost just to ship it.
7
Write when you feel like it. You started this blog to help yourself, remember? Don't do it if it feels like work. You have more than enough of that.
Although, I would really hate for you to stop. Even the posts you think are boring are ten times more interesting than anything I've ever written.
Posted by: ~Easy at March 06, 2009 01:29 PM (IVGWz)
8
Feel better Helen! And, post when and if *you* want to.
Posted by: Meg at March 06, 2009 01:49 PM (1OdWO)
9
I often feel this way (notice the severe lack of regularity in my blog)....so I don't write anything...I use to have all of this remorse about it....but now, not so much.
I hope you find sleep soon...It must make everything about a zillion times harder when you only get two hours a night. I used to suffer from severe insomnia in my early twenties, I am VERY knowledgeable about how quiet the world gets in between the hours of 2-6am. Funny how our brains seem to become the loudest with the least amount of noise.
thinking of you....and YAY for standing!
10
I read or check everyday (I get RSS lovin' tho' lol) but I think most people should realise that this blog is for you! I give you props for posting as much as you do with all that you have on!
Posted by: Lee at March 06, 2009 02:33 PM (yUcAa)
11
I think you could copy the phone book and I'd read it. I'll read and like almost anything you write, so don't worry about it. I'll be here.
Posted by: kenju at March 06, 2009 02:47 PM (hMUhQ)
12
You never fail to entertain regardless of what you write. Updates on those beautiful babies is always good. I love hearing about your house projects and work and all that life throws at you as well. It makes me feel not so alone when I have those thoughts or feelings going through my head and am just too darn lazy to post on my blog. Plus the lack of privacy on mine lately. And too lazy to start a different one or figure out that password thing.
Do what you have to or just post baby pictures when you can't think of anything to say. Have you seen the Black Eyed Girl in Wisconsin? Check her out on my blog. Good parenting went on there.
Posted by: Shanna at March 06, 2009 02:56 PM (9Gp5q)
13
Helen, I'm with Marie - taking care of yourself comes first, but I also agree with Kenju who noted that you could write a telephone book and I'd read it! Please, post when you can, and take care of yourself when you need to. I truly do enjoy hearing every minute detail of the babies' progress.
Posted by: felicity at March 06, 2009 04:17 PM (5Zh0H)
14
It's your blog write when you feel like it. I find your variety of writing to be funny, tear jerking, piss my pants laughing or whatever it is you want to write about. I love reading your blog. Since I stumbled across it when I googled "one white pubic hair." I can't believe I just admitted to that, but when I was 23 or 24 I googled that to research it given my young age. And I found your post that you wrote about it and I have been coming back ever since.
I don't care if you write about your kids or books. I am a new mother myself and an avid reader. Hell I have even worked in telecommunications for 3 years. I've said it before it's treat to read your blog. I love reading about Nick and Nora as it provided some insight as to what to expect as my son is 6 months younger than Nick and Nora.
Posted by: Siera at March 06, 2009 06:54 PM (Ckc6D)
15
Ditto on the lurker status, and that Jesus, write when YOU feel like it - it's not like it's your JOB for crying out loud. I don't even remember how I found you - maybe through Snickollet - I have twin toddlers too - but just wanted to echo that your blog is great. Keep it up! (no pressure, of course!)
Posted by: Alison at March 06, 2009 07:33 PM (nqC3A)
Posted by: Alison at March 06, 2009 07:33 PM (nqC3A)
17
Hey Helen,
I'm with Moria! We'll be here no matter what, whenever you've got something, or nothing, to say. As long as you're ok, that's the main thing.
hugs.
Posted by: Suzie at March 06, 2009 09:43 PM (w8mCZ)
18
That's ok, take a break... I'll just read your old posts and pretend they're new!! Take care.
Posted by: Vicki at March 06, 2009 10:28 PM (2VoLW)
Posted by: Betty M at March 06, 2009 10:38 PM (nYVSw)
20
Whenever you fancy writing we will come and read.
Posted by: Betty M at March 06, 2009 10:42 PM (nYVSw)
21
Damn site - why does it always trick me that it hasn't posted my comments?
Posted by: Betty M at March 06, 2009 10:43 PM (nYVSw)
22
Don't leave! I just started reading you! I even read among the archives for backstory. Rock, opera place, post twice a day or twice a month...and I do too want to hear about sleeping two hours a night.
Posted by: laura at March 07, 2009 04:24 AM (noq2w)
23
I am much like the others...I'll be here when/if you have something to write. I love reading your blog, and you are often the top of my reads for the day! Much love to you as always.
Posted by: Stacie at March 08, 2009 05:32 AM (NLFW6)
24
Hey there. I think your blog is fab, however often you choose to write. Actually, I'm extremely impressed you manage to write as much as you do, while juggling a full time job and twin tots. You've got stamina, sister- more than me! Hope you feel better soon. Sending good vibes.
Posted by: Jungletwins at March 08, 2009 08:36 PM (wyPEC)
25
Delurking just to say I hope your ennui is due to your illness and when you get better you'll keep writing. Whatever you write, I will read!
Posted by: Trisha at March 09, 2009 03:32 AM (44rjQ)