How Do you Get it?

I am very pleased to introduce a guest post from http://mumofalltrades.blogspot.com So Thank you to this lovely lady for doing this for me.


How Do You Do It?

We all get asked this question often enough. I know the answer to this question is quite simply, 'I don't'. I don't do it, if by 'it' you mean having a smoothly running house, an organised daily routine and perfectly behaved children. In fact I don't know anyone who does 'do it'.  From talking to friends, co workers and other mummies I know, it seems to me that we are all just doing the best that we can manage. Which in my opinion is pretty brilliant. Anybody who appears to be 'ding it', has to be lying!

Whether we work full time, part time, stay at home, our conversations usually involve stuff like, how we organise the school pick ups, child-minding or lifts to swimming? What meals are handy to make? What day is best to have an on-line grocery delivery? Because we are all like ducks paddling madly below the water to keep moving along.

The majority of days tick along ok. But then along comes one that just to make me hide under the duvet. The dirty nappy that leaks all over the car seat, the football gear that has been left in the car for 3 days and isn't ready for practice, or the announcement at 8.45am that their class is having a bun sale.

Of course things like this happen and I get really worked up. But not half as much as I used to. I think the realisation that I can't do it all has made handling parenting a whole lot easier for me. Part of how annoyed I used to get was worrying about what other people's views of me were, their opinions on my parenting. Now I honestly don't have to time to think or care about what anyone else thinks.  I know my children are happy and very well looked after and that is all that matters. Frozen pizza the odd night is not going to mean they see a therapist as an adult.

My children know I would never let them down and although it can sometimes be last minute they will  go into school with a costume for assembly or a plate of something or other for the cake sale. On the other hand they have gradually come to realise that they have to remember things like PE bags for themselves. This has to be good for them and their developing independence. (Well that's my excuse!)

I have people who often ask me how do you it, when they have seen something that I have made or something like that. But the reason I have made something or finished a project is because that is what I love doing. It makes me happy to spend my time like that. The time I spend to do these things is usually in place of something like housework, as it is not unusual to find me happily glue gunning in the utility room while ankle deep in washing. The washing gets done eventually, no one has had to go out naked yet, and I am a much happier person sitting smiling at some little daft thing I have made. 

If I were to 'do it' , I've no doubt I would have myself run ragged in a month. You would probably find me rocking in a corner gripping onto the after schools activity timetable. That is not going to happen, no thank you. I will keep my sanity, my frequently messy house  and by noisy but very healthy and happy children. The world will not implode because I forgot to return a permission slip. 

So the next time someone asks you how do you 'do it?' You can smile smugly with the knowledge that of course you don't.

Our engines are on fire .. Will you please exit the plane......

Now when I travel let's me honest I am usually plagued with some trouble of other believe me if there is a travel disaster to behold I am there. One holiday woe was my honeymoon you know the one where you are whisked off into the sunset on a romantic jaunt not leaving your hotel room. Well mine started in disaster there we all were sitting on the plane ready for takeoff to Toronto Canada .  The trolley dollies had already done their safety talk exits are here , here and HERE. You listen with half an ear because you know nothing is ever going to go wrong on your flight. You are just busy looking through the duty free magazine looking at the stuff you can't afford. or you are jostling for space with the passenger next to you

We heard a click, clunk and rattle and a half hearted roar and the Captain announces over the the air" The smell of oil will dissipate in a minute, We will try the engines again"

So the Captain turned the key again to start to plane  and rev up his engines  more clunking , rattling and what's that I see black smoke wafting across the window. Now at this point I wasn't worried I just hate plane takeoff they scare the pants off me , once I am in the air I am fine.. sort of.

The Captain voice comes over the air " The Control tower has informed us our engines are on fire, please Do not panic and exit the plane in a calm fashion...." And so started my honeymoon with the engines on fire  and all the plane passengers were calm to be fair. We followed the lights that come on in emergencies and went to the appropriate exits. The doors were opened and We were met with all the emergency services under the sun. So   I calmly slid down the inflatable emergency shoot to be whisked off to the safety on an airport lounge.

We waited hours in the lounge will they figured out what to do with us they fed us sandwiches and drinks etc. We were then ferried off to the Metropole in Brighton for the night whilst they organised another place it was my honeymoon night. We were all standing in the line and some Canadian lady pipes up " Surely all the English people can go home as they live near"


Well I just flipped my new husband gave me that look men give you when they don't want a scene . I gave the Canadian a polite piece of my mine and a quick Geography lesson of the Uk.  She backed down though now strangely her left eye was twitching .




We finally got to the checking desk  and just said" it's my honeymoon night I WANT A NICE ROOM please" What we ended up was David Blunkets room he had just checked out he had been staying there as it had been the Political Party Conference.


So of course we finally got to Canada and all was well. So When we went to Egypt this happened.......

What do you call a collection of bin men ?

You know what its like you are strolling through the centre of Birmingham and you happen upon this scene..........

A collection of bin men talking rubbish in Birmingham.

It would appear after much debate on twitter the correct term is Refuse Collector . I am never shy of being corrected but there is a polite way of doing it . Such is the topic of this subject it prompted a debate over on digital spy many moons ago http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=814900 . Right I am off now to listen to some

Is your child a Fusspot ?

Is your child a Fusspot? I am not talking a just being foodie fusspot here but a fusspot  in general? A Fusspot will expert many signs from not liking the foot on their plate to the fact they don't  WANT to wear pink today. Working in a school you get fussiness all the time " Miss so and so won't play with me "  "Me Well did you ask them?' The child "No but they won't play with me.."

The problem with a fussy child is that is can lead onto other behaviours if not managed correctly. I myself am battling a fusspot eater and a fusspot shopper ...

When it comes to a fusspot in the classroom I heard about a clever idea that seemed to work for teacher that I know. You simply draw a pot on a whiteboard  and when the situation arises you put the fussy child's name in it.  The thinking behind this it will stop other behaviours escalating and thus produce a happy and harmonious classroom.

Of course simple ideas like this can be transposed to the home... Only wish I had thought of it years ago then perhaps I would have a boy who would be happy to shopped till he dropped?

Silent Sunday