tattycrafts

I've always enjoyed celebrating Mother's and Father's Days.  Long before I became a parent,  I knew it was something I had to do. I've always appreciated the things my parents have done for me,  and the love they gave no matter how I behaved.  They could be angry with me,  SO angry, and deservedly so,  but I always knew they loved me and would always be there for me. Now I'm a parent and the days seem to slip by too quickly.  Sometimes I worry that I'm not doing enough,  but then I stop,  take a breath and just know that even on a bad day when I haven't sorted a nice dinner or I'm behind on the washing and his Pj's are not as fresh as they should be,  I stop, I remember that those things don't matter.  He won't remember.  He'll remember that instead of doing all the housework or hanging the clothes out to dry,  we were jumping in puddles,  painting pictures,  racing cars and enjoying cuddles.

About a month ago, O started showing lots of interest in his mum and dad's trips to the loo.  He would sometimes ask to sit on it, but only fully dressed.  He also started asking us to check his nappy and would say "poo!", sometimes he'd only pumped, other times he'd had a wee, but either way he was conscious of what was happening and communicating it. The idea of toilet training has been on my mind for a while and honestly terrifies me - ha ha!  We've had a potty kicking around for a while and apart from one very flukey wee it's generally been kicked about or used as a hat. I decided to just skip the potty and invested in a family toilet seat.  Oscar's loved being a big boy sitting on there every so often and has his own step to climb off.  Actually he uses the step to climb up to the windowsill and steal my toiletries. Two nights ago while getting ready for bed he was rather insistent he wanted to sit on the toilet.  After the third visit he f...

I absolutely love it when your plans are changed in the blink of an eye into something you wouldn't ordinarily do but which turn out to be even better. Today's plan was to drop D off at work, go buy a raincoat for O and head home.  Very simple and not very exciting, but a plan that I actually felt a bit stressed out about.  As I wandered around that large well known chain for baby and children clothes and supplies I heard a voice talking to me (not in my head,  I hasten to add), and without even thinking turned around and said,  "OK". It's one of those vague responses I tend to do when I'm not concentrating or haven't heard properly and I'm too embarrassed to explain I'm deaf and didn't hear.  What had I just committed to?  Apparently the photographer had a cancellation and I'd agreed to fill it.  PANIC!!! I immediately questioned how much it would cost,  and was pleased to hear it was free. Where's the catch I thought,  and asked...

In 1976, the Chinese Year of the Dragon, the hottest summer in history (at that time), I came rushing into this world. I think many of my family and friend would agree the Year of the Dragon is fitting for me, and suits my forthright, argumentative and fiery nature. It's now 2016, the Year of the Monkey, and I feel it's definitely going to be full of some monkeying around. In August I'll turn 40, and I don't want to just let this pass by without proper celebration. I'm not one for big loud parties and huge celebrations, but I do want to do something that makes this birthday memorable.  I want to be able to look back on the day and know that it was special, never to be repeated, and cherished. When I look back at my happiest memories, it's never anything huge, it's the little things, the things that have taken time, thought and care, not the huge gestures or the expensive gifts and public demonstrations of affection. It's been the impromptu moment...