A Humdrum Mum

Before Elf started school, I wanted to be a playground Yummy Mummy. I’d have lost that stone or three by then, so I’d be in my Yummy Mummy uniform of cool jeans, heels, “natural” makeup and immaculate hair. I was not going to be a Jeans’n’Fleece mum. Jeans’n’fleeces have their place, just not teemed with bedhead, no makeup, porridge on your chin and your other half’s coat slung over the top.  Jeans’n’Fleece mums are not Yummy Mummies.

Nails done in a salon Nails done by a 4 year old, or have I got them the wrong way round?

Phew the first week back of the second term is over and here is Elf whacked out watching The Clone Wars. Let's review what we've learned during the first term shall we? You can get nits when you are not actually at school! Children's behaviour in general deteriorates towards the end of term, it's not just my bad parenting After No 2 occurs, a hard reining in needs to occur - it's not all because they are tired (see photo above, day 1 of term 2 and he's watched The Clone Wars after school in its entirety) but because you have taken your eye off the ball slightly. After all, we've got them at school now, what an achievement. What? I have to continue to parent? Oh right!

Look what I did tonight! I am so proud of myself. I've been meaning to do this for weeks, and tonight I did. Don't get too excited... it's only a box of toys too babyish for Elf that are going to join the garage-full of boxes!  But it's done. I just seized the moment while Elf was playing and went through the 10 Ikea-box stacked storage system of toys. The old storage system used to be coded thus: Stuff (all children have a stuff box don't they?); vehicles; art and craft; trains; people; animals. 

Before Christmas, two friends had just got back separately from spa weekends. I would give my eye teeth to be able to afford a spa weekend, but having just moved and needing to spend any "spare" money on housey stuff, there's no way I'd be able to justify it. I don't go without, don't get me wrong - I have been having acupuncture twice a month for a year! This is my new style of pampering, focusing on the wellbeing of both myself and the family - if I don't look after myself, how can I look after the family, that's my reasoning. But whilst I'd love to be able to relax in a dressing gown, shimmying in and out of hot and cold spa pools, reading mags and eating elegant lunches, what I really need to pamper myself is this - 2 days of annual leave at home on my own to do the following:- Time to take a relaxing bath, to shave my legs, do my eyebrows, paint my nails, spend time straightening my hair with lots of product in it, lounge around in posh...

OK so my New Year's resolutions? One of them is never again to discover that Elf has nits for the first time ten minutes before my oldest (in length of service not age) friend Aunty Nic Nacs (who I haven't seen for three years) is due to arrive for dinner, over on a two week holiday from Los Angeles. I spent the first hour of the evening with the Nitty Gritty comb hunched over a four-and-eleven-twelfths-year-old boy! Two large vodkas, two glasses of champers and twelve hours later, my head is fine. Shame I can't say the same for Elf!