Yesterday was going well, all things considered.
To take into consideration –
- Oli has a sprained shoulder most likely from it being dislocated. He fell from a climbing frame at camp and dodged a rope to stop himself from being hung, but folded himself in two the wrong way, like a suitcase his brother assured me and landed very heavily on his arm. If he had been a “normal” child he would probably have been hospitalised or worse, but give them their dues, the Flay Twins seem pretty indestructible and bouncy!
- Harry has Ringworm, another “gift” from camp.
So we have been housebound for the last 3 days and the boys have gone feral! Trying to stop Oli from being active and Harry from bumping into him has been like trying to hold back a tidal wave and I am exhausted!
The boys were bickering, constantly at each other to the point I told them that if they continued Lee and I would have to get a divorce and live in separate houses so they could be split up! Great parenting I know, but Harry’s response was “fine, do it!” So you can see what I was dealing with and surviving on fumes of sleep! When I told Lee he asked what he had done to deserve divorce? Fair point! I mean I hadn’t actually really thought the statement through and was desperate! You try being locked in with two ADHD 9 year olds and two demanding fur balls!
Harry suggested we go for a nice walk to the beach, a bit of sea air, climbing on the rocks, chips at sunset, getting the juices flowing, maybe stop the dogs from their incessant barking, seemed like a good idea.
He was very specific about the time he wanted to go, 16:35, but when the time came he had changed his mind and went full meltdown, angry mode!
Harry didn’t want to go, Oli did, the dogs desperately needed it.
This was all mid putting the online grocery weekly shop away.
Harry was actually the one who made everything better by starting to help me put the shopping away as an olive branch, which led to a group hug and the incentive to go for a walk together.
I pointed out it was a bit gusty, but Oli said that a bit of wind wouldn’t spoil our walk and he wouldn’t let up about taking his scooter.
Everyone got changed, I grabbed Tilly’s pram and we got in the car. I realised how stressed I was by the dents my nails made in the steering wheel, but the site of the beginning of a sunset soothed me in seconds. However, when we stopped at the lights the boys asked why the car kept swaying and I answered it was the weather! It was getting to be like the beginning of Mary Poppins for the poor pedestrians, but still we headed on.
We found a parking space pretty easily, possibly due to the fact other people weren’t as foolhardy as us!
I gave Oli his scooter, Harry Holly (mini schnauzer) whilst I was getting Tilly and her buggy out the boot.
Oli whizzed past me saying “look mum, I’m going full speed and not even put my foot on the ground!”
Trying to get them to the traffic lights was like trying to herd cats.
Once at the lights a not very helpful couple just stood by us letting their big dog provoke our little ones. I wasn’t sure what they wanted me to do, I literally had my hands full and was just waiting for the lights to turn red so we could cross. In the end they walked through the car park, two steps extra to their journey, but he let me know he wasn’t pleased.
Seriously, I was trying to unwrap Tilly’s lead from around my legs whilst she was giving it rootitoot to the big dog (who started it), whilst trying to stop her buggy run away with my other hand, whilst trying stop Oli from blowing into the road as he glided past me shouting weeeeeee, whilst helping Harry to untangle himself and control Holly who was defending us all from the big dog instigator, whilst having my hair smacked across my face and in my eyes and mouth! BUT him and his missus had to walk two extra steps out of their journey so obviously I can understand his resentment …… like heck! He’s lucky my hands were full or I might have let my fingers do the answering! As it was I just ignored him and pretended I was being the bigger person, but it really wasn’t by choice!
We managed to cross the road only to find the sea wall was closed! How we didn’t notice was beyond all of us!
Back across the road and I decided it was time to put Tilly in her buggy to weigh it down as it had literally flown up into the air like a balloon. Every time I tried to pick her up she ran away and every time I got her the pram moved. Oli came to the rescue which was quite remarkable considering he was on wheels, like I said, not “normal”!
Harry had Holly under control, Tilly was in her pram, then the heavens opened and the rains fell!
Harry said “shall we just go home?”
This was something Oli could actually agree on.
Fighting the wind to get to the car was like the Michael Jackson song video to Earth Song!
Once in the car I asked Harry what he’d been telling Holly off for. Apparently she’d had a poo. I started to tell him off for not telling me so I could pick it up (something we are firm believers in), but he said there was no point because it had blown away before he could say anything.
Oli then giggled and said he hoped it had blown into the nasty man’s face!
I started to tell him that we should always be the better person and turn the other cheek, to which there were roars of laughter from both Harry and Oli.
We felt like a family again, laughing together, brought together by a rubbish walk and a dog poo!
So maybe, upon reflection, it wasn’t that much of a bad dog walk altogether. Actually, the dogs both seemed happy with it, especially when they got to eat the left over chips! I’d promised the boys chips on the beach whilst we watched the sunset, so still went to the chippy near our house. They ate about 4 each and then proclaimed they were full. Obviously they came up to me an hour later to ask what they could eat.
Should have ended on that good note, but this is life xxx
Love and hugs, kisses and wishes xxx
A cheeky little Twinkle update xxx 