tattycrafts

We live in a little house. A tiny house in fact. We share it with a complete horror. A massive horror actually.  The last few weeks his behaviour has become somewhat.... "challenging". I'm being very sweet and trying not to refer to him as a tiny arsehole but he has actually been a giant pain in the ass. This last week his behaviour has ramped up and we started to receive reports of him being rude at nursery and disruptive. Well he IS 3, is to be expected really! But no it's not acceptable.  As soon as we got home on Friday we made a sticker chart for rewards. We agreed he wouldn't get the batteries he need for his remote control car until the first row was complete on his chart. Tonight he got his batteries. He lost and gained stickers like a binge eater at fat club over the last two days but he got there.  He's had some super cute moments too but the horror moments are proving hard to take. I'm currently debating what his next "reward" sh...

Too often in the past Oscar has excitedly repeated the slurs his Daddy can't help throwing at other drivers on the road. Not usually a matter for hilarity but tonight on the way home as his Daddy shouted out quite loudly,  Oscar yelled it out for extra effect.  Thankfully Daddy's "Knobhead" comment became, "Get to bed!". Yep we won't be correcting that one.  Quite funny but not as funny as "Cock knee!" Yeah maybe I'll tell you about that one some time but I still can't tell it without wetting myself a little!

As two working parents of a 3 year old it's important to us to make sure that we have fun on our weekends. Of course being full time working parents with no family childcare options we also have  a lack of spare funds due to full time nursery costs. (His nursery is fab and worth every penny!) It's essential our weekend plans are as cheap as possible. Yesterday was easy as we bundled our pride and joy off with his Nanny for the day to go to a family friend's birthday party. He greeted us in the evening with smiles, rosy cheeks, tired eyes and filthy hands and feet. Sign of a good day in my book! Today, the sun was shining and the boy wanted to play on his bike.  We don't live in a great area to be fair and the local park is always busy.  We packed supplies and headed to a quiet park the other side of town. I'm not sure who had the most fun! Daddy having a rest Afterwards we weren't ready to go home, not on such a nice day.  We decided it...

Years ago I used to go to a well known fat club.  One particular day after another disastrous week and yet another gain I broke into tears.  Yeah yeah I hear you.  I was one of "those" people. The ones who sob because they ate a giant kebab and chips with extra garlic sauce the day before weigh in and then freaked out because they'd gained half a pound. Except I wasn't.  I had my ups and downs but generally didn't put too much pressure on myself.  I had a great social life and if I gained weight that was ok because I'd enjoyed myself and would pull it back the next week. Ilost a great amount slowly and steadily. The reason I got so upset this particular time was because my consultant asked me to tell her what my reason for being there was. For my child of course.  The child I didn't have.  The one I didn't know if would have.  The one I  desperately wanted.  The one I wanted to chase around the playground.  The one I wanted to j...

Yesterday was no different to any other day. Yet to Oscar there was one thing which clearly stood out to him. As usual when I picked him up from nursery there was a gaggle of kids (I'm pretty sure that's the official collective noun) gathering around me, firing off 120 questions. There was no surprise from me when one little girl pointed at me and spouted the typical toddler question, "What's that?" I checked myself wondering what it could be. My work pass dangling from my pocket? My birthmark on show? My hearing aids peeping from under my hair? My blue/ green (not quite so mermaid anymore) hair? Nope. Nothing so obvious to me. As she pointed again towards my face I realised it was my nose ring. There was no judgment, no distaste,  just simple childhood innocent curiosity. I never gave it another thought until this morning as I was getting ready for work.  Oscar was helping me and passing me things I needed. Oscar: "Take that off Mummy." Mummy: ...

Sometimes I find myself thinking I really need to take better care of myself. In every sense, physically, mentally and emotionally. We each have different standards - different levels of what we consider to be awful, ok, good, and fucking awesome. When I think back to pre-baby I was far better at that self care. I was slimmer, fitter, healthier, enjoyed going out, made time for my hobbies, my relationship, friends and family, and really took pride in my appearance. Each of these things contributed to me being happy as a whole. Now? It's a good day if I actually apply some mascara before I go to work. It's a good day if I make it to 10pm without poking someone in the eye (only in my mind!) In part it's because I am no longer my priority, my son is of course. But mostly if I'm truthful it’s because I've became lazy and complacent. Today I resolve to make a change. I have already started with some little things. I have begun making time for my hobbies again...

One thing I've come to realise is that I can never truly relax. Even when I'm granted time to myself it gets taken up with errands and jobs that I've been putting to one side because I can't do them with a toddler clinging to me. Days off are full of things I need to get done and the pressure of completing them before it's time to pick the toddler up. Even then life has a wonderful way of getting in the way of plans. Take this week for example.  I booked this week off work to do decorating Monday and Tuesday, declutter the house Wednesday, have estate agents over for photos on Thursday morning and then finally get a couple of days to relax. So far it looks a bit like this: Saturday - dropped the toddler off at his Nanny's and reminded ourselves what it was like to not have a child. Totally failed at avoiding talking about our son! Sunday -despite enjoying the adult only time I was glad to get my toddler home. Quick bit of car shopping before picking him...