If you were to ask me whether or not I like the school holidays and having the Little People at home for a week or two, I would say without hesitation "Yes". A surprising number of my friends with small children tell me otherwise, that they dread these stretches of time at home with their offspring. I mean there are certain moments, around about day 5 or so when I long for them to be back at school and nursery. I begin to get slightly niggled by the constant stream of demands, crave a little peace and quiet, and long for my little un-interupted domestic routines. I like my itsy bits of the day when it is just me taking a moment with my own thoughts without the background noise of children. But balance this out with the freedom school holidays bring, the fact I don't have to make packed lunches, don't have to watch the clock, can enjoy the Little People enjoying their time at home. We bake, craft, play, read, make mess, stay in pyjamas all morning (shhhhhh don't tell J!). And that time spent with them at this age far outweighs the small niggles and extra noise and mess.
The above photo was taken at 9.37am yesterday morning. The Little People were playing happily upstairs and I suddenly noticed the light streaming in through the bay window, lighting up a corner of the coffee table and my beloved blanket. Time for me to sneak a small cup of coffee and enjoy that sunshiney moment.
Can you just see me, sitting, thinking, sipping, basking in the light and feeling all peaceful and serene?? I thought that it would make a lovely photo, the sunlight on one of my favourite little hand made mugs, capturing that moment of domestic calm. Yeah......well now. Looky at the BIGger picture of my coffee table as the camera zooms out, and Bang goes the serenity.
School holidays seem to generate a particularly huge amount of mess. This is what happens when we neglected to tidy up for a day or two. You can tell a lot about my offspring from this photo. Discarded clothes. Felt tip pens, Power Rangers colouring book, Disney Princess Sticker book. Magic Fairy wand, pink fluffy pen. Sketch book and diaries. Bits of lego, part of a plastic dragon. False monster-fingers. Polly Pocket furniture.
Actually you can also tell a lot about my attitude to tidiness and housework around here. I would say we inhabit a very relaxed, lived-in sort of home, and yes the children do tend to take over the place a bit at times but hey, thats the way I like it right now.
Yesterday J complained mildly about the above state of affairs and inquired why the Little People didn't do all these activities up in their bedrooms instead of taking over our coffee table. I said that there would come a time soon enough when they were older and would do everything behind the closed doors of their bedrooms and we wouldn't get a look in. Will no longer be able to witness the imaginitive play, the frowned concentration of sticker-peeling or colouring. Will no longer be attacked by false fingers and a monsters growl or turned into a frog with a wave of the magic wand. So for now we should enjoy the fact that they choose to be wherever we are, choose to sit and do their thing alongside us as we drink coffee, read the papers or crochet. That the coffee table is as much theirs as it is ours. Maybe we just need more of an end-of-day-tidy-up-routine, thats all.
Talking of which, I saw this a while ago and thought at the time what a good, fun, creative idea, so I think I might work on a couple this weekend and encourage the Little People to tidy their own things away. Instill some responsibility for their own possessions and for sharing the upkeep of the household. Sounds very grown up and Mummsy and organised doesn't it, not like me at all!
Will let you know how it turns out.
I'm new to your blog, actually I am reading January 2014 right now, but I enjoy it so much I wanted to see where number 24 and Lucy started out, so I went to the beginning. This post made me cry, and I felt very sad for me but so very happy for you, J and your babies. I wished my parents had the same feelings and intentions you do, I am 45 now and I still remember 'children should be seen and not heard' or the way I was shuffled off to another room for making a noise while the TV was on. How lucky your children are to have you two as parents. How lucky you are to have such lovely babies. Thank you, deeply and truly, for the insight into how it should be. We never had children, I was too afraid I'd make the same mistakes.
Posted by: Alison Griffiths | January 23, 2014 at 09:48 AM
I love having kids at home as well. That's why I have them. I pick them up from nursery as soon as I can and then we're together doing a mess at home.
Your coffee table is pure tidiness compare to mine!
p.s. Yes, i'm reading your blog from the beginning and I'm having so much fun.
Posted by: Anja | March 30, 2009 at 12:46 PM
We have a relaxed & lived-in home too. Glad to hear we're not alone!
Posted by: Chris | March 28, 2008 at 01:18 AM
Fantastic Lucy! I've had a good look at your blog, and I'm overwhelmed.......... what a wonderful window in to your world......... those views, and your gorgeous crochet.......... it's all fabulous. Well done for starting a blog, and I'm just sorry I didn't have time to look at it sooner. I'll be putting you on my 'blogs I read'!
Posted by: vanessa | March 27, 2008 at 05:11 PM
You are so right to enjoy your little ones while you can, the years go very quickly...
Posted by: Shirley | March 27, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Lucy, that's a lovely post and your mug and blanket look glorious in the sunshine however I am particularly loving the fairy wand!
I love school holidays too for entirely different reasons you mention although the clock watching does come into it....no early mornings, no mouthy delights, no moany colleagues and no early nights. I love my job!
Clairey xx
Posted by: Clairey | March 27, 2008 at 04:20 PM