November 2008 Archives

I decided against walking into A&E and setting up camp until an expert paediatrician came to see The Kid. I thought that I'd have one more try at explaining to the Doctor just how bad he is.

Despite cutting out milk from his diet he continues to have diarrhoea. I've been to the docs several times and all they've done is given me a number to call and arrange a hospital appointment. Every time I call there is nothing available.

At the end of my tether I bagged a nasty nappy that The Kid dutifully produced that morning and set off for the Doctors.

When my friend Henman-Hill gave away her family cat when her baby was 2 months old I did wonder why. I mean, cats are fairly inoffensive animals, aren't they?

I can understand why new parents might re-home their pet pooch. Some of them don't make for the most child-friendly pets, but unlike dogs you wouldn't find a boisterous moggy bounding around a living room upsetting any moses basket that may be in its wake, would you? And I've never really bought into the idea that cats are attracted to the smell of the milk.

Yes, I've always thought that cats made perfect pets. That was until last Thursday at playgroup.

They say it is important to keep to a routine after you've had a shock, which was the reasoning behind me hauling The Kid to playgroup on Thursday morning.

It was nice, albeit it strange to be in a place where life carries on regardless.

I spied another mother across the room, looking like she'd had a couple of rough nights. I really felt for her; I know all too well what it's like to survive on minimal sleep and have to go through the day looking like a zombie.

I went over to her to chat, to offer support, a sympathetic ear, advice and understanding as one mother to another.

Before I could speak she laid a gentle hand on my shoulder and said: "You look just like I feel."

I spent much time fretting and worrying about how to tell The Boy about Uncle Mark passing away.

As he is now at the ripe old age of 8 I decided to be honest, but not blunt. Tell him what had happened gently, but not waffle about angels or heaven. Ask him how he feels, but not tell him to be brave.

I thought about the wording and the tone of voice. I planned to hold his hand, to be prepared with tissues ready for the tears, the sadness, the huge sense of loss.

I waited in the playground, staring at the school doors as the bell rang. Sure enough, he came bounding out as happy as ever. I really didn't want to tell him what I had to say.

I am sorry for not writing for so long.

My uncle passed away very suddenly on Wednesday, which has understandably come as a massive shock to us all.

Rest in Pease Uncle Mark.You will be greatly missed. x

I didn't think he'd notice - just a little bit of carrot, disguised in a spoon of fruit pudding.

The Kid had shown no interest in his dinner, mashed tatoe, burgers and carrots. He miraculously recovered his appetite when I opened a pot of apple and plum dessert though.

The left over plate of food was still on the table, so I thought, why not? I got a little bit of carrot and a big spoon of the fruity goo, and popped it in. I doubted he'd realise; what a great way of getting some extra vitamins down him!

I feel I need to apologise to fellow environmentally friendly people. Yesterday I drove around for the best part of an hour in an effort to get a poorly The Kid off to sleep.

It doesn't matter how economically you drive or how environmentally friendly the car, driving round for ages in an attempt to soothe a child makes you very un-green.

And so it was that I found myself driving round Tesco's car park in the dark, in the lashing down rain, complete with The Boy and a sick Kid.

All I wanted to do was park close to the store, go in, buy Calpol, nappies, baby-wipes and milk.

I circled the block of baby-spaces near the main door. Round and round I went, watching cars pull out and others in front of me nab the spaces. If it had been a normal day I'd have just parked closer to the back but it was really busy, dark, chucking it down and The Kid had a temperature of 38.5. I just wanted a dam space. I have a baby, that's what the spaces are there for.

The worst part about it was two of the people who got a space didn't even have kids!! The drivers were perfectly able bodied, single people who were just too selfish and bone stinking idle to park further away!!

I was shocked to see a lad, no older than eleven, walking a Pit Bull Terrier down my street today.

Why is it, that when we need proper training, a licence and insurance to drive a car, we've got 4 stone of meat eater, hauling kids around on the end of little more than a piece of string?

Carrying a gun carries a minimum sentence because they have the potential to cause severe injury and death, yet a firearm is unlikely to become unstable at the sight of a passing cat, small child or anything else it deems offensive.

It's a disgrace. After the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand fiasco so many people were up in arms; suspensions, resignations, job losses. A baby loses his life in the most desperate of circumstances and no one, not one single person has lost their job.

The suffering of that poor little baby boy in Haringey has haunted me since I heard about it. It is wicked beyond measure. There are simply no words to describe this.