We’re homeschooling again today as sickness seeps through the house this week. Harry trudges downstairs, sighing. ‘I’ve been learning something, Mummy. When William goes on and on and ON about Lego, I just switch my brain off and forget everything he is saying.’
Yes, son. And we’ll file that homeschool lesson under ‘life’.

[Read more →]

We miss most of the Trick-or-Treaters as we are out at a party.
We get back and Ben, my routine-loving toddler, starts to close all the doors. I watch him make his way to the front door, pulling the loo door open towards him and manoevering himself into the corner of the hallway by the stroller. [...]

[Read more →]

‘Mummy, I got poo in my pants,’ William says accusingly as if it is my fault.
‘What happened?’ I ask absentmindedly, as if I didn’t already know. I’m concentrating on getting breakfast on the table. It takes a great deal of effort to think about anything before my first cup of coffee.
‘DO NOT throw them on [...]

[Read more →]

Harry, my four year old who is DEFINITELY ready for big school, to younger brother William: ‘I’m going to tell you a story Bubby. Once upon a time there were two little boys called William and Ben and one day they were playing in the field and they went on to the train [...]

[Read more →]

Harry, my astute three year old, on returning from pre-school: “Mummy, it’s all so brand new in here. What happened?”
(I vacuumed.)

[Read more →]

It’s pretty difficult reaching my legs to keep them smooth and hair-free at this stage of the pregnancy. Still, it was only when my son pushed his Thomas the Tank Engine up my trousers (pants) and then paused, slowly lifting the material so it rested above my knee and said with some uncertainty “Mummy, [...]

[Read more →]

Harry, my precocious three and a half year old: “Mummy, what we having for breakfast today?” (See, I may be sick, but I still do variety in the food department, even at breakfast)
Me: “Porridge.”
Harry: “Oh good, I’m going to need that today.”

[Read more →]

Harry (seeing the news on again): Mummy, can I watch CBeebies (children’s television)? I don’t want to watch the news. It’s boring. Only grown-ups like the news.”
* * * *
Me: It’s Daddy’s birthday soon. What do you think Daddy would like for his birthday?
Harry, the wise three year old: Well, Mummy, not Thomas [...]

[Read more →]

The setting: Me feeling very sick last night while putting the boys to bed.
Eldest Son: “Mummy, what you doing?”
Me: “I’m just lying on the floor for a moment because I’m feeling very sick.”
Eldest Son: “You feeling sick?” (looking concerned)
Me: “Yes.”
Eldest Son: (his eyes, I thought, shining with love and concern) “Oh, [...]

[Read more →]