Friday 25 July 2014

The tiny things that tip you over the edge...

Maybe it's because it's the school holidays.  Maybe it's the heat (though please don't go away quite yet Scottish sunshine). Maybe it's because I'm working from home more.  Whatever the reason, my tolerance levels are eroding fast and it would seem that I'm not the only one...

In recent conversations with friends who also happen to be mums, we agree that it's often not the big misdemeanours that cause us to lose it.  Instead it's the cumulative effect of all the little ones - especially those petty crimes for which my own two are convicted repeat offenders.

So, while I still have the dregs of a sense of humour, I give you the top five countdown of parenting nerve-shredders here at Average Towers...



1. The pile at the bottom of the stairs

These items are at the bottom of the stairs for a reason.  Because they need taken up.  It's highly unlikely that any of them belong to you.  You have perhaps even performed an act of kindness by placing them there neatly on behalf of whichever junior member of the family they do belong to.  Will they be dutifully carried to their rightful place next time a barefoot child darts up the stairs? Will they heck.  If you don't do anything, by the end of the week this pile will have formed the foundation blocks of a precarious tower of similar items. All of which your offspring will continue to ignore.

2. The open doors

Summer's arrived.  For three consecutive days it has been warm in our little patch of the north-east of Scotland. I love the heat.  So do my children. (It's something of a novelty round here.) They love being outdoors.  And running back in again. And being outdoors.  And running back in again.  The soundtrack of my summer beats to a percussion of slamming doors.  Because no-one ever shuts the dratted things.  I mean - why would you? Breeze? What breeze?

3. What's for tea?

It's bad enough hearing this question on the way home from school.  It's even worse when it comes during the lunchtime clear-up.  What's more, it's the small person who eats the least and who is - ahem - selective about her food who always needs to know.  (I guess it's useful to gauge which level of rejection she will require for tonight's dish.)  Attempts to pre-empt this query by writing up tonight's menu on our kitchen blackboard have not helped - other than to provoke advance protests/sulks.

4. Problems, not solutions

Even as I write, I'm aware that the blame for this one may lie squarely at my feet. "I'm hungry/thirsty/too hot/too cold/can't find my hoodie/sunglasses/library book."  Repeat to fade. Captain Mum, it would seem, is expected to spring to the rescue.  Were my children pre-school age, I like to think I'd be a little more understanding.  At ten and eight, however, the novelty of responding calmly with: "Have a drink of water/piece of fruit/where did you last see it?" is beginning to wear off.  One day, I keep telling myself, they'll solve their own mini dilemmas. Ideally before I'm drawing my pension.

5. The unchanged loo roll

I think I can just leave it there, can't I? After a long hot day dealing with 1-4, the discovery of that innocuous little grey cardboard roll can push you over the brink.  While the rest of the family looks on in horror at your disproportionate and seemingly insane reaction.

But we know the truth, don't we ladies?

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The author would like to point out that she does still possess a sense of perspective.  It's just been temporarily misplaced for the duration of the school holidays.

12 comments:

  1. Love this - everything is so true, especially the toilet roll. My husband seems to be oblivious to the fact you can remove the empty roll and replace it.

    #PoCoLo

    http://fashion-mommy.com

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    1. Thanks so much for visiting and commenting. Yes, perhaps we need to run toiler roll replacement tutorials ;-)

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  2. So true. Never mind the kids, as a dad I have frequently guilty of ignoring number 1 on your list. Oops. (Although, to counterbalance it, I do seem to be the only person in the house who (a) does number 5 and (b) thinks to bring down a spare one for next time.) #PoCoLo

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    1. Haha! I think if you're a loo roll replenisher then you can just about be forgiven for ignoring number 1 :-) Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment.

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  3. Brilliant! The toilet roll holder fairy (ie: me) also springs into action a lot in our household! Oh so does the cleaning fairy and cooking fairy :) By the way, what's for tea? #PoCoLo

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    1. I think all of us cooking/cleaning/toilet roll fairies should stage an uprising! Really appreciate you stopping by :-)

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  4. Absolutely brilliant post! I am totally with you on all of these as I experience them on a daily basis. That darned loo roll issue is beginning to wear thin over here. I think once us ladies become mothers we lose the lady hat and gain the superhero hat. Meaning, of course, that we can do anything and everything for our children. I am including our husbands/boyfriends in that statement too because, lets face it, they're just as bad!

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    1. It's funny how a few people have commented that their partners are an additional offender! (Mr Average occasionally reads this so I may have to refrain from writing too much on that subject...) Thank you so much for reading and commenting.

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  5. Thats my pet peeve! The toilet roll that wont change itself!!! #pocolo

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    1. Pixiedusk - it sounds like you are in good company! Perhaps we should start a support group?! Thanks for stopping by again and taking the time to comment.

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  6. It's not just the junior members of the family either�� xx

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    1. I best not get into the discussion about the 'big kids' on here Kirsti - rumour has it that Mr Average is one of my email subscribers...;-)

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