This morning was like every other morning, which is like every morning in households everywhere that children live. The dreaded school run! Why oh why is it just so hard!?
It doesn’t seem to matter what time I get up, how organised I might be, the result is still the same… shouting that we need to go, teeth still not cleaned, ties suddenly lost and an announcement at two mins to blast off that they need to take something random with them to school! Why do they do that, they’ve had a whole sodding night, but NO, please announce this at 7.55am!!
The difference in my household and I’m sure its the same for all mum’s of special ones, the worry is that it will always be Groundhog Day. Will I always have to remind about putting on deodorant, brushing hair and the fact that there is jam smile on her face?! Don’t get me wrong, I am happy to do this for as long as it takes, but A. it worries me that I’ll still be doing this when she is 25+ and B. it pisses me off!
Thing is, as mums we (that’s the Royal ‘we’) have enough trouble having to think about what we need to do for ourselves, but as a mum, you also have to do the thinking for everyone else as well! All my two kids want to think about is Pokemon/Skylanders and Coronation Street episodes from three years ago, therefore it’s down to me to remember drinks bottles, PE kits, reading records, lunch, teeth cleaned, suncream/scarf & gloves (depending on the time of year) and any other parafinalia I may have missed!
So literally, every day, every single sodding day, I say (shout) the same thing to the kids before school… and I know you do too… and if you don’t, you are a very lucky lady! It has to be beyond a shadow of a doubt, the worst hour of the day. The relief that I feel once they are both dropped off is immense, it just rolls off my shoulders in a big “thank fuck for that!”.
I’ve mentioned before about how hubby would call me, usually on his way to work during school run hour because he thought of something trivial on the way to work. He quickly learnt not to do this. Well, a few weeks ago, I went away with my old school mates for some R&R which meant hubby had to do two mornings of school runs! As we landed in Dublin, I called home to say we arrived safely… His first words were “how the fuck do you do that every day? You deserve a bloody medal!” I know!!
I’m very fortunate that I mostly work at home and go into the office once (sometimes twice) a week, so for four out of five days, I know I can wing it where I am concerned – if I’m only half ready its no biggy. If I had to go through the stress of being ‘work ready’ every morning and try to get out of the door at stupid o’clock, I would now be found rocking in a chair with a very large Gin! At least this way, its just Gin!!
But in all seriousness, as our children grow up, they do become more self-sufficient and do things for themselves. I have a fiercely independent eight year-old who even now, does so much for himself.
However, for our children who have challenges and needs, it doesn’t always go that way and as parents, there is always the niggling worry in the back of our minds that we will always need to be around to help… which of course, we always will be. Just pass me the Gin!! xx
Until next time…
Tales of a Mother’s Daughter xxx
This blog of course, extends to stay at home dad’s and not just limited to us mums!
Tales of a Mother's Daughter 