We attended L’s third birthday party yesterday. The invitees were encouraged to come in their carnival outfits. There were eight little girls in attendance. We had seven fairy princesses and one pirate. I regret to inform you that I was not the mother of the pirate.
on 27 February 2006 at 13:01
Sorry, I meant why, thank you. Not why thank you? 
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Pass Remarkable
My daughter is chatty. I like that. Unfortunately, her ability to talk considerably exceeds her knowledge of socially appropriate behaviour. We visited friends at the weekend and she said to me, loudly and clearly, a propos of their two year old I’m nicer than her. We all laughed and the poor mite knew that she had said something wrong and went pink in the face and asked “Was I bold, Mummy?”.
The other day in the car, we saw a woman on the pavement with weird hair and we had a little chat about her odd hair. I seized the opportunity to say that we could have this chat in the car where the lady couldn’t hear us, but that it would be rude to have this conversation where she could overhear us (Mr. Waffle challenges the ethics of this, but tough). She knitted her brow and mulled this over. Later we went for a cup of tea and
one of the men sitting behind us got up and left his coat over the chair. The Princess said “Look Mummy, he has gone and left his coat and his friend behind.” Pause. “Oh, I shouldn’t say that out loud. I should whisper it to you.”
poggle
on 21 February 2006 at 10:49
And me.I love her earnestness.
Friar Tuck
on 21 February 2006 at 16:23
She catches on quickly. She’ll go far in life.
kristin (Homepage)
on 22 February 2006 at 18:10
she is so precocious. bless her concerned little heart.
Norah
(Homepage)
on 22 February 2006 at 18:47
I am so terrified of having a girl. I’m not good with girls. I like your posts about the princess because it makes me realise that having a girl would be just fine too.
belgianwaffle
on 27 February 2006 at 13:00
Dmts, pog, this is what we love about you.
FT, dunno.
Kristin, thanks.
Norah, you’d be fabulous with a boy or a girl. Lucky little Splog sprog.
We have
determined that the boys can no longer sleep in our bed. We have re-read Gina. We have re-read “The no-cry sleep solution”. Rather pathetically, in the latter, I see that my notes on the Princess’s sleeping patterns at 10 months old are still there.� You will
remember that she finally started to sleep through the night at 2.� I
prefer the gentle approach, which is just as well because crying it out is not
a huge option in a three bed appartment with three small children.� Mind
you, on Friday night, I was absolutely exhausted and Mr. Waffle nobly
volunteered to mind the boys.� At 1.00 in the morning, I got up to see
what was happening to discover that he had got Daniel to sleep in his cot
(good); Mr. Waffle had given up the struggle with Michael and he was howling
himself to sleep in the kitchen (bad); and Mr. Waffle was doing some work
because there was no other time to do it (even worse).� Last night, I genuinely don’t think that I
slept for more than half an hour at a stretch. �We put them to bed at 7.00.� I fed them alternately and together until
ten, when I took a break to wash my teeth, ablute and prepare for bed. �I then stayed with them until 3.00, rising
every half hour to sooth one or other of them back to sleep in his cot. �Went into Mr. Waffle exhausted and he stayed
with them until 4.30 when I went back on shift and they continued the waking every
half hour thing until 7.30 when we all gave up the struggle. �By the time 7.00 rolled round this evening they
were exhausted and straight after dinner, amid much wailing, I bathed them and then
fed them and then put them to bed about 7.45. �As of now, they have therefore been asleep for
35 continuous minutes.� Both of them, at
the same time. �Which is more than they
did at any stage last night. �I feel
myself indulging in, probably groundless, optimism.
on 20 February 2006 at 20:17
oh…. **hugs**
I’m not going to offer advice because thatcan be just annoying. Instead I’m sending good sleep vibes from across the globe. 0
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on 21 February 2006 at 06:40
I would have resorted to gin well before this stage – for everyone. Like Minks, I can’t imagine how you are feeling – take care. 0
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on 21 February 2006 at 07:54
I hope our optimising is well founded Waffly. I also hope when they’re, say six, they will be performing all sorts of household tasks for you. 0
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on 21 February 2006 at 09:02
Thank you all very much. 2 sweeties as well, cool! Last night was much less grim but mostly because I was too tired to keep putting them back in their cots and they slept with us which is, of course, where they firmly believe that they belong. 0
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on 21 February 2006 at 10:49
Jebus -and you’re contemplating going back to work? I was grumpy enough with just the one howling cat the other night … 2
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(Homepage)
on 21 February 2006 at 15:11
We’re having the same issue with our little one . . . and we can’t bear to let her cry (it has dubious success, at any rate). Occasionally, my resolve firms up and I say, “Tonight we shall be strong and let her cry!” But a few minutes of tears and I’m willing to let her sleep in our bed till she’s 13.
Of course, by then, she wouldn’t be caught dead in our bed. ���
on 21 February 2006 at 16:23
Blimey, I don’t even have kids and I’m in total awe.
This goes to you and Mr Waffle:
0
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(Homepage)
on 21 February 2006 at 18:32
all i have to say about this is Dear God.
And to add that i’ve read the no-cry sleep solution, which ended up with the child sleeping with one of us. which she still does. poster-child for cry it out, i’m not. but dammit, we all sleep now.
and thanks for your kind note about the cactus. i had nothing to do with it, if i had it would be nothing but a brown stump. ���
on 21 February 2006 at 21:09
well, a ‘child rearing expert’ on telly today explained that children around the world sleep with their parents quite happily and its good for them. Both mine do and have slept in our bed. 0
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(Homepage)
on 22 February 2006 at 18:45
Sometimes I read your blog out to Mr S and we both smile nervously at each other. ���
on 27 February 2006 at 12:59
Pog, ta for sweeties. Yes, back to work or escape as it’s known round here.
Jordana, thank you for sympathy. Obviously, I know precisely how you feel.
Jojo, come back, we miss you. Or at least set up somewhere else…
Diva, a megal (as herself would say), how kind.
KE, truly? Is your child sleeping through the night. If yes, please don’t tell me.
Kristin, you all sleep. I am so envious. Of that and your cactus.
Minks, yes, but we need a bigger bed.
Norah, I wouldn’t be smiling at all if I were you…evil cackle. 0
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On accommodation:
So just saw a place with bells for summoning servants, still a bit
shabby though.� Off to see newer places now. Will report anything
of interest.
On local colour:
Lots more cows today too!! Though nowhere near as many as yesterday when I was out at my meeting.
Just saw my first monkeys on the street.
And, most lengthily, on her trip home to Chicago:
Absolutely exhausted was on a conference call at 5am this morning and
now have to stay up until at least 3.30 am when I can board my flight.
I have been to a lot of airports before but Delhi is hell on earth. The
line [she has been in the US too long, she means the queue] moves at a rate which makes erosion seem rapid, horns sound all
around, everybody smells and the concept of personal space is virtually
non-existant.� I cannot see the top of the queue which is several
meters ahead of me before we get to the terminal door.� Next to me
a woman attempts to push her heavily laden trolley through the throng
to get her 11.45 flight but the sea of people is made impenetrable by
the amount of luggage carried, pushed and dragged by the passengers. A
vast number of well wishers, beggars and persons offering to carry
things rounds out the experience.� Still not even in the terminal.
Once in the terminal, I understand that the business class lounge was
not all she might have hoped for.� Poor snacks.� Very
crowded.� She tells me that to charge her laptop, she had to
unplug a lamp and plunge half the lounge in darkness.� Yes, I
know, it can be difficult to sympathise.
The next update came in the form of a call from Frankfurt early on
Saturday morning.� She had a tight connection but was confident
she could make it.� She zoomed off the plane and, as she was
travelling business, was one of the first off, but, alas there was an
airport employee gathering people for Chicago and she had to wait for
all the people travelling economy.� Gah.� Before boarding the
plane to Chicago, they had to be “wanded” (new ludicrous verb for
me).�� As there were no women available to wield the wand,
the men were wanded first.� The men boarded.� The female
passengers were eventually wanded, but as they emerged at the gate, the
airhostess looked at them and closed the plane door.� My loving
sister was incandescent.� Not to worry she spent most of the 30
hours it took her to get door to door drafting indignant letters of
complaint.
I spoke to her again on Sunday.
Me: Are you recovered from your marathon trip?
Her: Mmm.� I think I hate Delhi.
Me: Nonsense, you’ll grow to love it in the year you’ll be spending there.
Her:� The non-existant personal space.
Me: The monkeys!
Her: The traffic.
Me: You have a driver.
Her: That won’t help, if I’m dead.
Me: Um, the cows.
Her: The intermittant air conditioning.
Me: The, er, the, um, challenge of the project.
Her:� The complete absence of female colleagues.
Me: The weather.
Her: The weather?
I told her that Gaza M and Bosnia R are seriously considering going on
a visit and she is deeply pleased. Bosnia R is already in training for
a tough environment, he plans to spend 6 weeks walking 1,000 kms on the Camino de Santiago
from Seville to Santiago.� Of course, if they decide not to go
now, she may never speak to them again.� Based on her descriptions
so far, I can’t say I’m overwhelmingly keen to make the trip with my
little family, even if, we will each be able to have our own chandelier
in her enormous flat.
on 20 February 2006 at 16:22
Apparently, she has not been to the airport in Calcutta yet. If she had, she would be singing the praises of Delhi’s. ���
(Homepage)
on 20 February 2006 at 17:49
as much of a high flyer as she sounds, i still am feeling deep wells of sympathy for sister waffle. i used to live in chicago, and as much as i didn’t like it, i don’t think i’d trade it for delhi. maybe her posting after that will be the south of france, in recompense. ���
on 21 February 2006 at 07:58
Maybe you could compromise and meet in Santiago d. Comp? 0
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on 21 February 2006 at 09:04
Pog, well, she will be anxious for visitors. FT, scary. Kristin, you are very good and kind. On a separate note, can I say how impressed I am with your cactus?
Bobble, that would be lovely. I went there on my honeymoon and stayed in the parador. I feel very nostalgic… 0
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I met my boss for lunch yesterday to talk about
work related things.� The good news is
that I am going to work a four day week which will mean half days on Wednesdays
and Fridays, so I will be able to pick the Princess up from school twice a
week.� The bad news is that April 3 isn’t
that far away and the logistics of being two working parents of three small
children are terrifying.
As ill-luck would have it, the Princess begins
a fortnight’s Easter holidays on the day that I start back.� We have booked the poor mite in for two one week
courses learning about the music of the world.�
Stop sniggering.� She’ll love it.� She needs a packed lunch for this
extravaganza (she gets a hot lunch at school) and I fear that she wonÂ’t eat
whatever I offer.� I would like to take
this opportunity to apologise to my mother for ignoring 13 years worth of
packed lunches.� So poor Madam, not only
will I be starting back to work which will be a shock for her, but also she
will be in a new and strange place and not with her school companions.� The boys will, obviously, be starting at the
creche which, presumably, will give them the opportunity to pick up some nasty
bugs and which, I fear, they may not take to quite immediately given that the
number of breasts available to them will be fewer than at home.� We will probably have to travel separately,
three of us in the car to the creche, which is inconveniently distant, and two
of us on foot or by bike to the school which is gratifyingly close.
And, the PrincessÂ’s birthday, which she has
been looking forward to for 10 months now, falls on the 12th of
April and, as far as I can see, all potential invitees will be away on Easter
holidays.� And it will be something of an
organisational marathon.� I have promised
her the sun, moon and stars because when we go to the supermarket, she just
looks at the sweets and says “I can have those for my birthday, but not now”
and never makes a fuss.� I think we will
require a special shop to pick up all the goodies she has earmarked for the
special day and which she so richly deserves.
And I am off on a work trip at the end of
April, so Mr. Waffle will be spending 2 days alone with his offspring and the
school/creche run.� He has asked his
secretary to schedule no meetings or trips.�
He is very afraid.
Oh, and IÂ’ve promised to host the bookclub in
April.� I regret to tell you that I have
heard my loving husband muttering mutinously about straws and camels.
on 17 February 2006 at 18:11
That was exhausting to just READ that! Good luck, if anyone can handle it, you can! ���
(Homepage)
on 17 February 2006 at 18:33
if i could bestow sweeties, i would. but if you get through april, then may will be a breeze, right? ���
on 18 February 2006 at 03:06
I’ll say a novena for you. Make that two. ���
on 21 February 2006 at 09:01
Thank you all very much. I suppose it won’t be so bad, once I get started. Right? 0
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Ouch
Me (to Mr. Waffle): Nothing’s broken but the doctor says that she has a subcutaneous hematoma.
Him: Is that what you and I would call a bruise?
Peggy
(Homepage)
on 16 February 2006 at 10:04
Now I see where the Princess gets her wit from.
Bobble
on 16 February 2006 at 14:57
They’d say that on CSI:NY for sure.
Minkleberry
on 16 February 2006 at 16:32
and Holby.
belgianwaffle
on 21 February 2006 at 09:00
Yes, yes, all very dramatic. Peggy, that would be from ME!
