Questions from a small boy, aged nearly 4

1. “Grandma, why is there a rainbow coming through the window and onto the floor?”

(Grandpa explains. Mummy would have no idea.)

2. “Mummy, why do I go upside down when I am looking at myself in a spoon and turn it around?”

(I never even knew that happened, did I?)

3. “Mummy, what’s that shape called?”

(It’s got 5 sides and I really can’t remember.)

4. “Mummy, what’s that shape called?”

(It’s got 6 sides and I can’t remember that one either.)

(And then my personal favourite.)

5. “Mummy, what do girls have instead of willies?”

(Oh God. It’s happened.  THAT question.  Off I go to ask daddy what he thinks it’s called.)

(Damn.  I wish I’d paid more attention in science classes.)

Hard working families hit yet again

So, I work on average a 50-60 hour week and my husband puts in a similar working week.  We pay for full-time childcare for our son and have done since I went back to work when he was 5 months old… because I had to, not because I wanted to when he was that young.

Now the government’s plans will hit hardworking families such as ours and for what?  So that we can pay for other people’s kids to go to nursery for ten hours a week?  You almost need a second mortgage to pay full-time nursery fees as it is even if you are so-called “middle income earner”!

So I am to be penalised yet again for working hard to look after my family, paying much of my salary in taxes, paying for private nursery education, paying for private healthcare, and now this.  Maybe I’ll just give it all up, sign on, and claim all the benefits I can.

And sadly and disappointingly, the Tories (in Manchester for their annual Party Conference bash) will do exactly the same thing (as revealed by George Osborne yesterday) unless we all make them realise what a mistake it would be to move forward with this.

There is something about George Osborne.  Maybe it’s how he tried desperately not to smile at the end of his address yesterday that makes me question his honesty and integrity.  (That and meeting him face to face on more than one occassion in the past.)

I think both the Labour Government and the Tories have got this one wrong and underestimated the combined power of the hard-working parents amongst us.

Sign the Downing Street petition here.

Give us a break!

So according to today’s research, I am a working mother and therefore I am making my child fat and lazy.

Well, like this working mother, my child is happy, healthy and active.

I work because a) I have to and b) I want to.

I will not make excuses for it.  I should not make excuses for it.

He has a father too.  Is the research showing that by working, his father is also making his child fat and lazy?

Our lives are manic. We work hard. We play hard. We have fantastic family times.  Natan has a rounded balanced life.  He spends time with us and he spends time with his grandparents, he spends time at nursery with other children and with babysitters.  He is not suffering for it.  On the contrary.

He swims, plays on his bike, plays at the park.  He also watches TV and plays computer games with his dad.

He eats a balanced diet, drinks water and apple juice and has never had a fizzy drink in his life.  He also eats chocolate and ice cream.

In other words, he is a normal healthy, happy, rounded, active child.

As if working mums don’t have it hard enough…

Daddy, when will I be a Grandpa?

Daddy, when will I be a Grandpa?”

(Daddy thinks.)

“I know Daddy. When I have kids. That’s when I’ll be  a Grandpa.”

(Natan thinks.)

“But I’ll need a mummy to have kids.”

“Don’t worry. You will get a mummy to have kids.” Daddy replies.

(Natan thinks some more.)

“But I’ve already got a mummy.”

Yes, and don’t you girls forget it.

Anyone want to buy a house?

It’s been another mental week.  A trip around the North West including Haydock, Liverpool and Penrith.  More stupid hours.   Some great speakers including Karen McCormick (former Head of the Cheshire Building Society) and Helen Colley (Founder of Farmhouse Fare) – both fantastic women and truly inspirational.

The working week is not over yet.  Tomorrow night I’ll be looking after a big client event with Bob Mills and Take That (well not really Take That, rather a Take That tribute, but I had you going there for a minute.).

Natan’s been great and seems to be forgiving me for working all these hours.

Grandma took him to his first proper swimming lesson yesterday “mother and child” – well “grandmother and child” in our case.

We seem to have completely mastered the potty training all of a sudden, not before time.

We also appear to have new neighbours who appear to have three children and appear to be quite noisy.  They may appear to be told tomorrow if this carries on.

Anyone want to buy a house?

Breaking news…

Breaking news on Sky Sports….. Giggs has just scored and made it 5-3.

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

This is worth a read too.  Just discovered it today – very clever.

Conversations with a three-year-old

(Working late again.  I call home.)

“Hello Natan, how was your day?”

“Hello Mummy. I am jumping on your bed.”

(He stops for a minute. Worried.)

“Mummy. Is that fine that I am jumping on your bed? Daddy said I could.”

(He jumps again.)

“Yes Natan, that’s fine. Are you having fun?”

“Yes.”

“Has Michelle gone yet?”

(Michelle is our wonderful babysitter who picks up from nursery most days.)

“No, she is still here. Do you want to speak to her?”

“Does she want to speak to me?” (I ask him.)

“No, I don’t think she does want to speak to you.”

(She does.)

“Natan, give Michelle the phone.” (says Daddy)

“Michelle, my mummy wants to talk to you.”

(He passes the phone to Michelle and we talk.)

(An hour later I get home.)

“Mummy, can I call grandma?”

“Yes, of course.”

(I dial the number. He waits for her to answer.)

“Hello Grandma. I did a poo on the toilet yesterday. Can I speak to Grandpa?”

(Grandpa comes on the phone.)

“Hello Grandpa. I did a poo on the toilet yesterday.”

“That’s great Nati. Well done. Maybe I should find you a present for that?”

(We’ve been struggling with this pooing on the toilet business for some time.)

“He’s going to buy me a present mummy.”

“What present would you like?”

(He thinks for a minute.)

“Ummmm…..Ummmm…. A remote control car. A real one. One I can drive.”

(Grandpa laughs and regrets the present comment. Too late.)

“Bye Grandpa.”

“Bye Natan. Can I speak to mummy?”

“No she doesn’t want to speak to you.”

(I do.)

“Bye Grandpa. Bye. Bye. Go please.”

(Repeat and fade.)

Derby Day – the greatest derby ever (nearly)

Today was (nearly) the greatest derby match I think I’ve ever seen.  I say “nearly” because a winning goal in the 6th minute of a 4 minute injury time is pretty hard to take.  And I am a very bad loser at the best of times.

Both teams had their moments of dominance. Both teams rose to the occasion and City definitely proved they are a not the old City that they once were.  We didn’t have some of the big “stars” of our team – no Adebayor, no Robinho, no Santa Cruz.  Some United fans had written us off before we even started. Bellamy and Tevez were immense today. More of the same please.

There have been many comments today from both sides of the camp, but truth is, it was a fantastic match, a thriller, a classic and a draw would have been a fair result.

Just a shame the referee’s minutes last more than 60 seconds long.  I could do with more hours in my day so I’d like to know where he got his watch from.

It was certainly a great match for the neutral.  Problem is, I’m not a neutral.

Bring it on

I must go to bed now. I have to be mentally and physically at the top of my game for tomorrow.

I am ready. Bring it on.

I love Derby Day.

Happy New Year

This week was a tough week.  It was a big week at work which meant me working ridiculous hours.

The client was delighted with the way things went.  I was pleased with the outcome, but totally exhausted.  14 hours on my feet on Wednesday followed by 18 hours on my feet on Thursday almost killed me!

All this meant me not being home for three nights on the trot to put Natan to bed.  That was particularly tough.  When I left the house at 7 am on Thursday morning, he didn’t want to know me.  He only had eyes for daddy.  I know this was only a reaction to me not being around, but that didn’t make it any easier.

We’ve made up for it this weekend and had a lovely time celebrating Jewish New Year together.  Natan and I stayed together at Grandma & Grandpa’s house last night.  He was very excited to have a sleepover with mummy.  I didn’t even mind his wriggling, his snoring or his waking me at four in the morning because he was thirsty.

I was finally woken this morning at eight with a cuddle and a little voice saying; “Mummy I’m giving you a cuggle. Are you awight?” (sic).

Now, that really was special.