Ok, an admission, and I sincerely hope you won't think badly of me for saying this :: But I have to confess I was unbelievably glad when yesterday arrived and the Little People were back at school. So glad to be back alone in the house again after quite a noisy, bustly, muddled week last week during half term. Glad to have the return of peace and quiet to potter and think and write. Glad of my own daily quirky routines returning and glad to find breathing space again.
Late on Sunday afternoon I found myself creeping up to my bedroom to get into bed with a book :: I didn't really want to be in bed but I couldn't think of anywhere else to go, I was so desperate for a bit of silence and space to myself without a child in sight. I know I sound mean, but hopefully you understand what I am saying and know that I am not a mean Mummy. Truthfully, I think I lasted all of about fifteen minutes before I was called back downstairs for something or the other, and I gave up the quest for peace and solitude. But I craved it, oh I really did.
Our half term holiday last week was uneventful. We didn't do much. We were hampered a little by having to wait in on numerous occasions for various Men to arrive (electrician, plumber, window man, one of which grrrrrrrrrr didn't even turn up), which was frustrating, although I think it was mainly me that felt it. I kept getting this nagging feeling that we ought to be doing more, going out more, making better use of our holiday time, but in truth the Little People were extremely happy to stay at home. Like most of our holidays, we often had other children in the house, and they happily amused themselves with very little intervention from me. In fact, there were one or two minor tantrums thrown when I suggested various intended woodland walks or trips out. Even the park was turned down in favour of staying home. Well, it saved money, and energy, but I wrestled with guilt for most of the week because of it.
On Sunday night, I had my usual bedtime chat with the Little People and I asked them if they had enjoyed a good holiday. They both answered a resounding YES, and I was so pleased to hear it. I asked them if they felt we should have gone out more? NO, definitely not, we like staying home. Oh Good, that's OK then. So long as you are happy my children, then I am happy.
I was looking through my photographs yesterday and realised with a start that I had taken a lot during last week almost without realising it. Photographing Life-As-It-Happens has become so much second nature now that I do it almost without thought. And it's been lovely to look at them all, to remind myself of our week spent at home, and think that it doesn't look too bad, all things considered.
We started the week with a jigsaw :: a 500 piece one that I've had for ooo about 14 years. I am a closet jigsaw-maniac. I LoVe doing jigsaws, have done since being a child. But it's one of those things that you don't mention too often to folk, in case you get Odd Looks.
We worked together on this puzzle, the LP and I, over 2 or 3 days. It was Little Man's suggestion to dig it out and do it together, and we all really enjoyed it. Good choice, better than the Snakes and Ladders experience.
Other activities included plasticine modeling (with accompanying singing)...
...Creepy Crawly displays (Come LOOK Mummy, COME NOW!!)...
...work on the computer (like mother like daughter)...
...very important work (documents to be typed up don't you know)...
...music (I did very well not to smash this little keyboard to smithereens after day 3)...
...joint colouring (can you tell which bits Mummy worked on? Oh you can??)..
...stamping (ahh the messy, inky joys of stamping)...
...lots of stamping (the messier the better)...
...yes, lots of Messy stamping (note Little Man's nails, painted for Halloween)...
...more colouring (Mummy not allowed to take over this one, even though I begged)...
...Hama beads (causing Mummy to spend much time up and down 2 flights of stairs to the iron)...
...dancing (twirling in her new skirt, 50p from a second-hand sale)...
...and resting (ahhhhhh)...
...baking (with Licking-out privileges)...
...and washing up afterwards (more messy than it looks, but hey-ho)...
...stories (ahhhhhhh newly acquired Little Grey Rabbit books)...
...hopscotch (weren't those £1 summer chalks such good value?)...
...and just being together (LOVE this photo)...
All of it good. There was also plenty of television, films and computer games, just in case you begin to think we are too damn wholesome and goody-goody :: I more or less allowed the Little People free choice over what they wanted to do each day, and truthfully the above activities were interspersed with quite a lot of sitting around in front of the tv.
Ah well. We can't all be perfect.
Oh yes, I can relate to the need for quiet time. We had a fantastic week together, but I loved the silence on Monday morning when I returned to an empty house.
I feel so guilty about making sure the children have enough variety of things to do, you just want them to be happy above everything don't you.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Lisa | November 05, 2008 at 08:07 PM
my two were just the same - "do we have to go out?" and so the house became overun with lego and colouring and it hasn't recovered yet...... oh and yes we watched a fair bit of tv too........
Posted by: driftwood | November 05, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Isn't life with kids full of lots of little bits and pieces?! Bits of jigsaw, beads, fun, tears, quiet times, busy times, sighing, laughing....and the list goes on! There's nothing wrong with wanting a bit of peace too! Grab it when you can.
Posted by: beck | November 05, 2008 at 05:37 AM
Sounds just perfect to me! You can come share jigsaws with us any day - (although hubby has a bad habit of staying up late and finishing them when the house is asleep!). My boy loves to stay home and potter and rediscover his toys. It's so it's important for him to recharge his batteries! Besides- the whole country is out there queuing and yomping around. Best to keep out of it methinks!
Big hug to lavenderhouse ! What a hoot to leave such a long comment. All sounds totally normal stuff to me!! Ride it out honey! t.x
Posted by: Kitschen Pink | November 04, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Ah, now I can empathise with this as Harry never wants to go anywhere but just stay in and play, that's his idea of a treat, to the point where when I asked him what he wanted to do on his birthday, he said "Have free play at home"! I'm quite glad to be back to peace and solitude and my normal routine too, but I hate having to get up at a certain time in the mornings!
Hen x
Posted by: Hen | November 04, 2008 at 09:40 PM
Wonderful Lucy! I especially like the tootsies photo at the end!
Posted by: simone | November 04, 2008 at 08:24 PM
Lovely post as always, with great photo's. I don't have children but I can imagine how you feel!! Hope you've enjoyed your 'you' time today :) x
Posted by: Josie-Mary | November 04, 2008 at 07:18 PM
yep I'm really pleased you put in the last bit about the tv watching too as it does make me feel far less guilty. Your half term sounds fab but yes really get where you are coming from about needing peace too. Hope you have a great week getting back to normal stuff before the weekend chaos(well that's what it is in our house) kicks in again.
have fun
Janette
x
Posted by: Janette | November 04, 2008 at 07:08 PM
Do you know - I think that you could have a profitable sideline offering restful halfterms to tired grownups. I would LOVE to come to No 24 and be fed wholesome food, sit on the sofa, bit of hopscotch, jigsaws and hama beads....sigh...
Posted by: Alice C | November 04, 2008 at 06:10 PM
Sounds like a fab half term, the kids enjoyed themselves so stop worrying, you have plenty more half terms to do something "interesting".
Rosie
Posted by: Rosie Graham | November 04, 2008 at 04:10 PM
Do I get the prize for being the longest comment ever left. Should have put this on your email instead sorry!
Posted by: http://lavenderhouse.typepad.com | November 04, 2008 at 02:43 PM
I am glad you put that list bit in as well - i was gulping down the guilt rising as we had a sicklyish half term so lots of dvd's etc - although lots of hama beads like yourself as well - what is with small girls and hama beads!!! looks like a fab week Lucy as usual I feel inspired to do something vaguely crafty now.......
Lesley x
Posted by: Lesley | November 04, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Lucy
Love the honesty. I dont want my kids to go back to school but I do want, when they are here, to be QUIET!!!! One in particular is giving us all problems - says NO to everything - I mean everything!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is all a bit too much sometimes isnt it. Have to rally myself at times to keep going. It all seems like a big flipping mountain to climb sometimes doesnt it! By the way have been very rude and not answered your email about what I did before kids I think (who knows - either have alzheimers or brain injury - not sure which?!?!?!?!?)
Before kids I trained as a medical secretary - had very poor careers advice. Got loads of o levels but never did A levels. Everyone was failing them at my crap school so decided to do a course instead. Didnt know I could do a levels at college too - doh! Never went to Uni but met my husband in London when I moved there at 18 not knowing anyone else - fate - meant to be etc! Good thing to happen. Would love to have gone to art college - told to get a real job instead!!! Worked in hospitals as medical secretary/slave and then temped in Central London commuting from here. Gave it all up to do our house up and have kids - kept having miscarriages so needed to pace myself a bit to get kids. Would love to have had an artistic career - my life is dominated by colour and its effect on me and creating things - dont know what to do now - at a major crossroads or t junction or roundabout or something - dont know where I am going with my life mmmmmmmm 41 - smacks of midlife crisis - oh well!!!!! As Jasper started in school in sept have just been given the brain space to think a bit about it but seem to be unravelling 10 years of child rearing tension so in current meltdown I think!!! Also have 10 years of sorting out to do of crap in the house etc - so MUCH to do! Have loads of ideas, need to lose weight, get fit again, career, house, make some money, work out my place in life etc - SORRY Lucy - think I should have phoned the Samaritans instead of leaving you this comment!!!!
Anyway, at least life has not come to a grinding halt and have nothing to do! Just too much - certainly must be fixable!
LOVE Emma xxxxxx
Posted by: http://lavenderhouse.typepad.com | November 04, 2008 at 02:42 PM
It looks like you give your children the most wonderful time! Wish I could come to your house!!
;-)
Posted by: Sal | November 04, 2008 at 02:23 PM
When all the noise and mess and people saying "Mummeeeeee" without ever finishing their sentences gets too much for me I quite often snuggle under my duvet (but I usually fall asleep).....
I don't think anyone will think you're mean or rubbish or whatever, sounds like a perfectly normal half-term to me and perfectly normal reaction at the start of a new term!
Posted by: Mrs Be | November 04, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Looks idillic. My children are 6 and 4 and they too adore time spent at home. My daughter can easily be persuaded to go out at anytime, but my son loves lego and star wars and they go together so perfectly that he would rather go into battle with.....(whoever the baddies are) than go out! I love it too, it means there is less pressure on me. Enjoy the quietness now they are back at school - I am.
Posted by: Woody | November 04, 2008 at 01:24 PM
Sounds like a fantastic week. So good to see so many creative activities. I had a huge urge to do some 'colouring in' over the weekend but as we have no little people in the house as yet I had no colouring books. Hubbie to be did give me a very funny look when I told him that's what I felt like doing! Might treat myself to a colouring book for future wet Saturdays. Another jigsaw lover here by the way.
Posted by: Fiona | November 04, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Glad you 'fessed up to the screen time element at the end, as I was feeling decidedly crap-mummy-ish before that point!
Posted by: Ali | November 04, 2008 at 01:21 PM
I meant arty time. i really ought to re-read my comments. I also meant to say that I fully understand needing to escape sometimes. Cherrie
Posted by: cherrie | November 04, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Looks like a smashing week, hopefully the keyboard batteries wont last long!
Posted by: French Knots | November 04, 2008 at 12:49 PM
You have had a busy time but it is nice to see that your children have an asty time as well. That skirt is to die for. I should turn it into a bag when she has outgrown it complete with frill on the bottom. I love it. Cherrie
Posted by: cherrie | November 04, 2008 at 12:46 PM