When I became a parent, I knew in advance that my children would need me. Need me to feed and water them, clothe them, provide them with comfort and a warm place to sleep. I did not realise, however, the full extent of how much they would need me and the complexities of their needs. Never mind that I would just be expected to understand the most illogical of needs. Let me explain.
I need you to help me sleep
Now, if I needed to go to sleep and someone showed me a comfortable bed, then I would be in there no questions asked. With Children it is a totally different Barrel of monkeys. It’s all about facilitating their trip to the land of nod. Top monkey was an awful sleeper. He needed you to be there until the very last moments of consciousness. Even then he had a special sixth sense that knew when you had left the room. His other trick was showing up at 3am to announce “mummy I’m tired”. Just saying “then go back to bed” was not enough. This would trigger an almighty, mind numbingly painful, tantrum. Not great in the early hours.
Middle has a habit of becoming over excited at bedtime. Swinging from the rafters of the monkey house, shrieking with joy and jubilation. Disrupting the other inmates, his listening ears firmly switched to off. Once navigated, however, the excitement switches off the moment his head hits the pillow. Beware though he is also a silent sleepwalker. Many a night, appearing next to the bed silently, frightening the living bejeezuz out of me and Mr LMR.
Little Miss, is currently in transition. An independant adventurer, sleep is just in the way of all the things she is yet to discover. Unfortunately, the tiredness still comes and overwhelms her. You know she needs a nap because despite her best efforts to keep beavering about, she will spontaneously burst into uncontrollable sobs. A run in the pushchair usually resolves this, but not possible in the school holidays, you will find me pacing the garden. A reluctant Little Miss just babbling away contentedly refusing to nod off. It is so frustrating because, if you took her out she would not be happy. So tough luck mummy, keep pacing until I’ve dosed off. Ps don’t try and just put me to bed. I’ll scream uncontrollably for hours, then fall asleep immediately once you pick me up again.
I need you to feed me…all of the time!
“Mummy I’m hungry”. This is the sound track to my life. There needs to be a long stream of snacks throughout the day. My male monkeys are never full. Even if they snacked all the way to tea time they would still eat their dinner. So long as I hadn’t made something offensive like macaroni cheese of course. I can sometimes distract them with activities, but the inevitable snack break will arrive at some point, and God help me if I am not prepared. My mummy friends always used to laugh at the huge rucksack I still carried when I no longer needed the necessities of nappies or changes of clothes. “What’s in there?” They always asked. “Snacks”. 90% healthy, filling snacks to be precise. Filling, my bum. Nothing ever filled them. Or if it does, no one told them.
I need you to have all of the answers
Top Monkey has recently moved into the realm of asking multiple, complicated questions. On a recent drive to my parent’s house, I answered numerous, difficult and profound queries. These ranged from why are there no women werewolves, to how does my brain work, to what happens to your body when you die and will I be lonely if all of my friends died and I am the only one left!?!
“I don’t know” is an unacceptable answer. This is met with the counter question, “why don’t you know?” I find an episode of multiple questions needs to just be navigated until he gets bored. This is done through counter questioning. “What makes you ask that?” Diverting attention to someone else. “Daddy, what do you think?” Or just providing equally fantastical answers. “Your brain works because God put magic in your head. It’s amazing isn’t it?”
I need you to be an octopus
I often find myself bombarded with a number of requests all at once. Everyone needs something promptly and before the others whose needs are different but equally urgent in their world. If you get the order wrong, which I inevitably will, all hell breaks loose. My favourite phrase at home is “Do I look like an octopus?” I know I say this a lot as recently, whilst visiting their Nanna, Top Monkey told Middle that Nana wasn’t an octopus like mummy when he was making demands whilst she was feeding Little Miss. Sometimes Mr LMR gets in on the act too.
Last Christmas we visited the local garden centre for the all singing, all dancing lighting and decoration display. Little Miss, only a few months old, was in the pushchair, screaming for a feed. Top and Middle Monkey had picked up random items and were thrusting them at me, shouting “can we have this for Christmas?” As I stood there, wondering where I was and what the hell was going on, Mr LMR sauntered over, wearing a Chunky knit jumper, which he had found in the Middle aged man’s gardening clothes section.
“What do you think of this?” He says, seemingly oblivious to the noise. “What?” I said rather iritably. He repeated the question. I looked at him in disbelief from within my bubble of noise. “Fine” he huffed starting to remove the jumper. “What do you want me to do?” I shouted over the din. “Grow another ear, that only listens to you!?!” I’ll be honest, although, Mr LMR did not find this amusing. I was suddenly overwhelmed with the need to laugh out loud. I feigned a strop and took Little Miss outside to walk around the outdoor displays, laughing hysterically to myself. Mr LMR and the older monkeys, stood in silence momentarily at the shock of my outburst. What can you do?
I need my time too
In amongst all of their complex and never ending needs sits me. Sometimes quivering in fear, often calmly hiding in the The quiet place in my brain. I am not the sand man, nor am I an octopus. I don’t have all the answers and, last time I looked, I hadn’t grown that third ear. So I am sorry dear monkeys, if sometimes I delegate the task of making endless rounds of toast to daddy, so that I can go for a run. Or that I take the time to finish eating my sandwich before I run to your cries. Or that sometimes I stare at you blankly while you and your brother have another arguement about something illogical. Because I have needs too and, they are just as important as yours are. Sometimes more so.
Don’t worry though, I don’t expect you to understand. Not right now at least. However, every time I look after me too, I am so much better for you and much better at meeting all those needs. Like finding that perfect piece of square toast!
I have to say I’m quite surprised at how needed my children are compared to how I was. I suppose I was the youngest in the house so I just had to sort things out myself!
nessjibberjabberuk recently posted…Finance Fridays – Smart Meter Update
My youngest is already my most independent mostly because her brother’s demand so much attention x
I’m amazed by the questions I am expected to know the answer to. Some of which I am able to look up, but Google can’t help with lots of them.
Erica Price recently posted…DIY Helpmate
I know. My friend is researching women werewolves for me. Lol x
They do like us to know is all and get cross when we don’t!!
#sharingthebloglove
Carly @acupfullofglitter recently posted…Lanzarote, Pool Days and Chocolate Fountains #littleloves
I’m lost most days x
I know, how dare we. Lol x
LOL they’re just so demanding aren’t they? Like ALL OF THE TIME!!
Wouldn’t have it any other way though.
I agree. At the time it’s painful with hindsight it is hilarious x
Why does no one tell you but the sleep!! I think naps and sleep are the hardest for me. At the end of a long day and everyone is tired, why can’t they just give in, close their eyes and drift off!! We have had various sleep issues over the years and thankfully we are in a good place with Alice. Holly isn’t too bad and does still love her nap, thank god!! Thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove Laura x
Laura – dear bear and beany recently posted…School Shoes, Splash Parks and More Birthday’s…Happy Days #22
I know it isn’t just the lack of sleep but the fact that they won’t sleep even when they are exhausted. It makes no sense!!! x
All of this is so true, how do we do it? I think being a mother is the hardest job on the planet and of course we are allowed a little me time too x
Although I love most of it, it really is relentless at times x
Oh this made me chuckle. Especially the “shall I grow another ear that only listens to you?!” comment.
So bloody demanding aren’t they? I’ve done a lot of blogging this morning and been out for afternoon tea this afternoon, my husband had the cheek to ask if I wanted to spend some time with our son, I was like “I spend everyday with him” – apparently we’re not allowed a day off from being needed. Thanks for joining us on #KCACOLS. Hope to see you next Sunday. Xx
Thank you. Loved writing it. Very therapeutic. I hope you enjoyed your afternoon tea. You deserve it x
Sounds like my family from start to finish #KCACOLS
We are not alone. Lol x
And it doesn’t stop, it just changes. I think I never realised just how all-consuming being a parent would be. You are always on alert
Jen Walshaw recently posted…Rules for relaxed family meals
I know, it never ends x
hehe this is so true 🙂 my boy CAN do lots of things himself now but he chooses not to hehe 🙂 although I kinda like that too as I figure he will soon be old enough and wont want me :/ #KCACOLS
I know. My eldest hates when I say one day he won’t need me anymore. He shouts “No. Never!” x
Oh the eating! The endless snacks! My son is two and already is constantly dragging me to the snack cupboard and just pointing up with this hopeful look on his face. Or to the fruit bowl where he’ll say ‘na-na?’ with that little lilt at the end! I can only assume that his other internal organs are all squished up to make way for his presumably enormous stomach! It’s so difficult to find any time for yourself sometimes when the demands are just coming from all sides. I find the toilet is a good place for quiet time if my husband is around to watch my son. If not, I’m out of luck! Thanks so much for joining us again for #SharingtheBlogLove
Katy – Hot Pink Wellingtons recently posted…Living Arrows 34/52
My boys should be huge they eat so much. It’s a good job they never stop during the day x
Even when they’re nearly grown up, they still need to know everything! My 17 year old still asks the most random of questions, or wants to know exactly what is for dinner, or where we might be going!
I forgot about the constant need to know where are we going. I could have written a whole series of these posts x
My youngest is the neediest! She is stuck on me night and day! The eldest are forever asking me where I am going and what am I doing when they are sleeping.. It’s like a running commentary! 🙂 The joys… They will soon be over and then we will miss them! #KCACOLS
I know. Lol 🙂 x
A great post! The octopus analogy is fantastic and so true. As you say though, we all need me time too, and in the long run, this makes us better parents and is better for our children. #KCACOLS #Sharingthebloglove
Thanks. Me time is so important x
and one day when they no longer need us we will be sorry… that’s what I am always saying to myself 😉
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I know. Me too x
YES! Looking after oneself when parenting is so, so important! Teaching children from an early age that parents have needs too makes them less selfish and more aware of how life is in reality.
Just common sense really 🙂 x
Oh this is spot on! We’re in the middle of potty training as well at the moment, and the shout of ‘I need a wee’ always seems to come at the most annoying time, haha! x #KCACOLS
Oh the joys of potty training (shudder) plenty of “me time” required to endure that experience. Good luck x