parent – Page 3 – broke-single-dad

December 28, 2017

Not quite there yet.

Has everyone had a nice Christmas?

I have, and so have the cubs. It was so far removed from what I endured last Year that it’s incomparable.

In those 365 days I’ve learnt so much about myself and the people that come into my life and more importantly, those who remain.

The cubs have had a brilliant time and have been showered with love (and presents). So much so in fact that I have decided to donate some to a local children’s hospice. I want to give back and the only reason I’ve written about it here is to maybe trigger thoughts in others as to how we can give back or help those less fortunate.

This isn’t my review of 2017, in fact I’m not going to do one; I’m not that interesting.

I will be doing one more post and that will be regarding the second part of the race to zero.

Resolutions

To read more of your blogs. I love doing so as it gives me inspiration, advice and makes me chuckle.

They also serve to remind me that I’m not the only one pushing forwards and trying to make sense of this all.

Keep on keeping on folks xx

PS.

Like a glutton for punishment I had both of them in my bed last night as they’ll now be with Mum for a week or so.

Both of them expanded like magic bath toys, moaned every hour on the hour, leaked a nappy onto me and said bed and I’m so sleep deprived I feel I may expire but, I couldn’t be happier.

BSD

December 25, 2017December 24, 2017

He’s making a list; he’s checking it twice..

And he’s working out who’s been naughty or nice…

So you need to be good! I told my son, in a last ditch effort to keep him still while I cut his hair.

You know who’s coming tomorrow don’t you?

‘Batman?’

Merry Christmas folks; I hope you and yours all have a happy holiday.

Thank you for your continued support in this little project of mine. Xx

BSD

December 21, 2017

Really short (short) one.

She used to do the wrapping.

I suck at wrapping.

I’ll tell the cubs that Santa was in a hurry.

BSD

November 11, 2017

Learning the language; a Saturday short..

We’re all in the kitchen; its breakfast and I’m making the porridge.

She’s knuckles deep in the mixed nuts, separating the almonds and he’s milling about, generally under my feet.

I don’t usually like them being in the kitchen when I’m cooking but they’ve gravitated back; I haven’t seen them for a while so I allow it.

He is learning to read and is able recognise certain letters, especially those in his name. His current phase is to mistake any word that begins with the first letter of his name for his name. It’s an interesting premise.

He points to the washing machine:

“That’s my name!”

No darling; it’s not.

“Yes it is!”

Well no, it’s not, because…..

“IT IS!”

He’s becoming upset.

Darling; you’re name isn’t Mixed Load.

“That’s not my name!?”

He sounded quite indignant.

BSD

November 8, 2017

Heart truly touched!

02:09 this morning, I was woken up by the sound of singing.

I lifted my head off of the pillow to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

Yep. Definitely singing.

My initial, waking thought was one of terror, until remembered that the cubs were here and they had decided to share a bed that evening.

The feeling quickly turned to one of a protective dad, but as my confusion cleared, that clarity reassured me that it was my daughter’s voice.

All sounded ok; I lay my head down.

The next morning, I roused them with the usual rendition of ‘Good morning; good morning! You’ve slept the whole night through…’ and a barrage of kisses.

As they both came around, I asked if one of them had been singing last night.

“Yeah that was me..” said my daughter. She pointed at her brother.

“He couldn’t sleep and asked me to sing him a lullaby. I couldn’t remember one so I hummed to him instead until he went to sleep.”

I’m still sighing now, 13 hours later.

BSD

October 28, 2017

YAY! POO!

Moreover, perpetually smelling it.

As any parent of young cubs will know, poo plays quite a prominent role in your day.

Nappy changes, potty training and generally forgetting that toilets need flushing are all part of the jolly tapestry of the reward that is parenting.

Understand this; I’m a clean freak. My home is tidy for the majority of the time and I’m no fan of this ‘lived in’ philosophy. I prefer the showhome standpoint. My two beg to differ and occasionally, I’m happy to compromise.

The Saturday routine I had as a kid was that we would all chip in and help clean the house; this has extended into my adulthood.

Today was no different and the cubs are doing their rooms. Well my son isn’t but he’s only 3.

They were upstairs as I cleaned the kitchen. Occasionally I’d pop up, if only to restore some civil order where my son had wondered in to my daughter’s room and refused to leave.

As I neared, I was met by a poo haze, and my youngest in his favoured ‘mid poo’ squat.

Come on big man; time for a bum change.

‘Not finished yet!’ Was his customary reply and this time was no different. I waited.

His sister’s room was full of the most interesting funk so I opened the windows.

Eventually, he followed me. Before we went through the process I opened the windows. I do like open windows and whatever the weather, this is my first job on waking. A home benefits from a good blow through.

‘It’s a sloppy one daddy!’

I appreciated the warning, and the fact that his vocabulary is coming along so well.

Change done. No drama. He ran back to his sister’s room.

It smelt of poo, despite the windows being open. Hmmm.

I went downstairs with the offending package bagged up.

Downstairs smelt of poo.

I couldn’t understand it. Windows were open but it lingered.

I put the bag in the outside bin;

Outside smelt of poo.

By the time I came back in, both cubs were downstairs and hunting for snacks. My daughter looked at me, and screamed.

Well actually, it was more of a scream/laugh thing, accompanied by her pointing.