Hi! <Waves>

Funny and honest tales from a made-to-work Dad of three, wobbling, graying, and laughing his way through parenthood. Armed to the teeth with Nerf guns, full of pie, fighting a chocolate addiction, but genuinely honoured to be at least half of Team Parents (yay!).
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Showing posts with label dad fail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dad fail. Show all posts

21 May 2018

Out of Time...

I so want to be a good Dad.
<Crosses fingers>
And be there for all three of them. In their lives. Connected.
Some days I feel I do this.
And others... Well other days I fail and that sucks.

This week.
Team Parents (yay!) main focus has been on Boy10. As he is sitting his Key Stage 2 SATs tests (exams) whilst being whipped by the education flail of pigeonholing and self esteem destruction.
And I've upped my game and attention on him.
Before he left for school I picked him up, and balanced him on my shoulder.
Then spun him round and round really fast, pretending that his head was gonna smack on a wall (it wasn't). And for good measure I did a few huge little jumps with him over my shoulder.
Classic Dad stuff. That is like crack to Boy10. And relieves any tension in him through fun and laughter. My special powers skills.
Then when I got home from work on his first day of exams. I told to him grab a ball and we headed off to a field to practice catches for ten minutes.
Boy10 loved that.

(Michael: “I sat there looking ugly, looking ugly and mean
I knew what you were saying, You were saying to me…”
(treat your ears here: Me In Honey))

As for Miss6 and BabyBoy3 that day.
Well BabyBoy3, the utter little delight that he is, had me up at 5am. Joy.
And after an hour of returning him to bed, despite him being utterly, utterly awake, and finding the whole process hilarious.
I gave up and we went downstairs, as quiet as mice, to watch cartoons.
At least that was the plan...

I give up! Come on then... Let's go watch cartoons...
But we have to very very very VERY quiet. Boy10 needs his sleep...
BabyBoy3: 'OK DADDY!'
Shhhhhh
BabyBoy3: 'SHHHHHHH!'
Dude!
BabyBoy3: <Covers little mouth with hand>
Better... Let's go...
[THUD, THUD, THUD]
Maybe you should just walk down the stairs...
BabyBoy3: 'OK DADDY!'
Shhhhhh
BabyBoy3: 'SHHHHHHH!'
<Grumbles>

And as for Miss6.
Well that morning of the week is ours. It’s the one day everyone else naffs off.
And we get a full thirty minutes in the house together.
Alone...

What do you want to play?
Miss6: 'Game of Life?'
Boy10's 'Game of Life'?
Miss6: <Nods>
It's fine, just wanted to make sure you knew...
We've only thirty minutes, you gotta be utterly, UTTERLY, ready before we start?
Miss6: <Nods and runs off to get ready>
[Thirty minutes later]
Let’s go then… Hang on! <Notice’s Miss6 is in jammies for the first time>
YOU’RE NOT READY!
[Lots of running about]
[Both are late]

So yesterday win!
Full sweep. Every child got some focused Dad attention. I even found time to sit and watch tele with Mrs. Amazing.
Whilst eating. Planning out our lives over the next few weeks.
A brief hour of time with all children in bed, when neither of us are too tired to talk, and are not actually sleeping.
Special moments.

But today.
Well I thought it was going well.
To add spice to Boy10's leaving for school rough play: I chased him full pelt through the house. Shoes on and all.
Ending up with me bundling on him on a bed. Boy10 giggling away.
Job well done I felt. Although there were was one scary moment when I rounded a corner at top speed and my not-quite-twenty <Coughs a lot> frame nearly didn't manage to turn in time. Before a wall. But I soon shrugged off that pain.
<Weeps and limps off>

(Boy10: 'Are you OK DAD?'
<Whimpering sounds>)

I spent some good time with Miss6.
As we, and BabyBoy3, scooted into school. It wasn't great time for BabyBoy3 as he was crying and wailing most of the way. Because he wasn't in the lead.
As Miss6 wasn’t letting him be in the lead. She kept scampering to the front. Much to BabyBoy3’s annoyance. And continual tears.
I'm afraid I wasn't very sympathetic as he was making us all late. Well except him, nursery don't care when he rocks up. We pay them a lot.
But my boss and Miss6’s school very much do care.

It wasn’t all bad for BabyBoy3 though.
As we arrived at nursery he smelt crumpets in the air. Which cheered him considerably. Second, and possibly third breakfast can have that effect.
Bless.
I like hot crumpets too.
<Grins>

Then I missed another chance to spend time with BabyBoy3 at lunch.
My parents were at my place looking after him and I only had an hour for lunch.
And it's such a treat to see both my parents, and to chat to them both.
And they won't be here forever...

<Checks watch> Another cuppa?
Parents: 'Isn't it a bit late for caffeine'
YES! FAR TOO LATE. Especially when you have young children. This time of night is basically the morning for ...
Parents: 'Go on then...'
<Mutters off to make cuppa>

So sadly once again BabyBoy3 was sidelined.
I hate having to make that kind of decision. But I only see my parents for an hour a week.
And to be fair BabyBoy3's around a lot more than that...
But then his need for my time is greater…. ARGHGHGHH!
Why is there no answer for this!!!
Anyway, moment with him not taken.

Then we were onto the evening.
Miss6 had already mentioned that she was looking forward to story time with me.
Which is nice. Although she only seems to say that on the one night a week I go out.
My night. My one evening a week to myself, that I prioritise above everything else. Ish.
Learning to be a ninja classes.
Being able to sing full volume in the car for the hour it takes me to drive. Is worth it alone.
Being able to punch and kick the crap out of a bag and sometimes people, whilst waving swords and sticks about, WHILST learning how to be ninja...
Frankly how could I not go.

(Scale 1:1)

Still it makes the evening tight (time wise).
Especially as Boy10 still needed to be taken out to play ball or something.
Boy10 gets his time with me outside. He is calmed.
Miss6 gets a whopping twenty minutes of my time before I leave. In which I make sure I am extra funny. Extra caring.
And I let her jump on my tummy and squish me an extra time.
Then I'm off to ninja training.

By the time I've got back.
Washed. Calmed down. Eaten something. It's generally close to midnight.
Which is so unbelievably late going to bed in our 5am starts lifestyle. It's a wonder I can still move.

As I crawl into bed.
Body half broken from class. Hella tired out. And tummy full of crisps pasta and salad.
I'm feeling pretty good about how I've spread my time with everyone today.
Been good son. CHECK.
Been good Dad. CHECK.
Went to work, didn't get fired. CHECK.
Made self healthier and learnt new killing methods. CHECK.
Phoned at least one brother. CHECK!
Yep, nailing it!

But then, just as sleep has nearly scooped me in her lovely arms and whispered naughty things my ear. Mrs. Amazing wonders to me if BabyBoy3 will be feeling better tomorrow...

... What?
Mrs. Amazing: 'He's been poorly all day, I wonder if he'll be OK tomorrow for nursery?'
I... I didn't know he was poorly... Crap...
<Is attacked and eaten by guilt monster>

I obviously don't sleep for a bit.
However an hour later. I've worked out a few things:
1. I should have noticed BabyBoy3 was poorly. Bugger.
2. Three kids is hard. Harder than it appeared when BabyBoy3 first turned up. Being outnumbered is exhausting.
3. The Cat is a git. Because he didn't really want to come in, but is now being a smegger downstairs and I'll have to go let him out.
4. I do not have enough time to give everyone the time and attention I want to. Or they need.

Conclusion:
I can change 1) & 3) and make sure they don't happen again.
I can't change 2). I can just rest more. Somehow.
And 4) well...

That's the whole point of this tale.
I don't have enough time for them all. I don't. There's three of them.
Me and Mrs. Amazing barely scrape together a hour a day together.
And I certainly don't have enough time for all the things I want to do. Which always seem to be last in priority. But that's OK.
Really. It's OK...

Brainzilla: 'It's not OK you know?'
Shhhh it is...
Brainzilla: 'But our dreams? Our plans?'
Can wait. Or have changed...
Brainzilla: 'BOLL-'
Hey, hey, keep it clean please!
Brainzilla: 'OCKS!'
<Tuts>

It is OK.
Because this mad, busy to the eyeballs, no sleep, life, will pass. It'll change. Stuff always does. At some point I'll / we'll have a chance to catch up. Hopefully.
And if not? Well at least I tried my best and had as much fun as possible along the way…

KIDS! TO ME!
<Kids all assemble>
Nerf war? Water fight? Or just a bundle on the sofa here? <Points to sofa>
[Intense kids discussion]
<Is dragged onto sofa>
<Is shot at, soaked and jumped on>
<Is happy>
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(OK let’s have a water pist….
BABYBOY3 WHERE THE BANJO DID YOU GET THAT PISTOL?
<Mutters>… Mine’s tiny compared to that…)


24 February 2018

Parenting with a Hangover...(Or: Accepting Defeat)...

It is so much harder parenting with a hangover.
Soooooooo much.
Especially when Team Parent (yay!) are dividing and conquering, and I am left to do stuff on my own. It was all my own fault obviously.
No one made me drink all that red wine...

Mrs. Amazing: 'Right! If you don't down all that glass right now, I'm gonna let BabyBoy3 play with all your Star Wars figures... UNSUPERVISED!'
You wouldn't? <Is scared>
Mrs. Amazing: 'I would... When you're at work'
EKKK! <Man wolf cry>
OK,OK. I'll drink it. <Downs glass>
... <Urps>...More please...

(One bottle or two?
Mrs. Amazing: ‘One is probably enough…
but let’s take another for luck!’
Good plan <Packs three>)

Team Parent (yay!) had managed to go out.
Amazing I know. Together. On a Friday night!!!
Wine, curry and board games at friends house. And what was particular good was that they live nearby so we could walk there.
However as it can take two smegging hours to put the three terrors to bed. We wanted to maximise our 'out' time. So we drove. Planning to leave the car there, and walk and get it in the morning. Brilliant!
I love when a plan comes together.
<Rolls huge cigar around in mouth and grins>
<Coughs on the nasty smoke>

Granny Amazing had agreed to babysit.
So Team Parent (yay!) had thrown as many children into bed as possible before she got there about 7:30.
BabyBoy3 was a good little boy and was fast asleep. Knackered out from the day. We had had haddy had fun reading a story and I sang him his bedtime song as normal. I went with swing-style this time. Out like a light. Bless him.
Miss7 had got out of bed again for the billionth time with some tiny problem or concern, much to Team Parent's (yay!) frowny faces.
And then once Granny Amazing arrived, Miss7 left her bed once to say hi. Sigh.
Boy10 however doesn't go to bed until 8, which is when we were due.
And although we had managed to convince him to shower and get some jammies on. Boy10 wasn't showing much signs of being ready for bed.
So he was allowed to put on a Harry Potter movie which he promptly slumped in front of, and vegged.
Phew. Good luck Granny.

Obviously we were late.
That's what we do <Grumbles>. But who cares. Team Parent (yay!) were out, there were board games to be played, curry to eat and laughs and grown up speaking with swears to be done.
We had a bloody lovely time.

I may have had to much wine.
Definitely did. June. May. As when Team Parent (yay!) stumbled home to release Granny Amazing at the staggeringly late 11pm. I suddenly realised that laying down in bed going to sleep wasn't really to work well in my stomach.
So I stayed up later, and consumed as much water as possible.
Mrs. Amazing wisely went straight to sleep.
I finally crashed and awoke late the next morning...

Where am I? <Staggers>
What planet is this? What time of mannnnn is this? <Dons asking the heavens pose>
Mrs. Amazing: 'I've made you a tea'
Ta chuck
Mrs. Amazing: 'Now get up, I wanna take Boy10 and Miss7 out for a jog before 10:30, which is when I'm going to go get my Grandma for lunch at ours'
Huh? Right... Was I drunk when I agreed to having your Grandma over?
Mrs. Amazing: 'Nope. Sober. And it was your idea!'
REALLY? <Is shocked> That was nice of me... Surprisingly nice of me... Were you naked?
Mrs. Amazing: 'Nope'
WOW... <Is really quite shocked, but hides it badly>...
In that case I totally recall all that stuff you just said there... <points>... with your lips thingy... mouth...
Mrs. Amazing: <Is suspicious> 'It's 8:30 get up'
Have I got time to take BabyBoy3 swimming?
Mrs. Amazing: 'Yes, if leave soon'
BONZA!...

And despite my head.
Acting like it was a drum being flattened by elephants. Taking BabyBoy3 swimming was going to be totally worth any pain.
Whilst handovers do hurt I find that if I just get on with stuff it's better. Sure I make more mistakes those days. I may not be the most tolerant. Weirdly I am better at just sitting and playing, as I think I just like resting those days. And with a head full of pain playing with kids is probably all I can manage.
So I did get out of bed and fell straight back down.

Me and BabyBoy3 needed to leave soon.
If we wanted to make the most of being in the pool. BabyBoy3 would only cope for an hour in the pool before he got cold. And I wanted to max that.
I just needed to slap myself in the face a bit, blowtorch my teeth clean, throw some clothes on, pack a bag with our swimming stuff, and down two maybe three cups of tea.
And get BabyBoy3 dressed!
Easy!

(Dudes!!! Back up… I wanna clean my teeth…
Now where’s my lighter?...
[KABOOM])

It wasn't easy.
I couldn't concentrate and my normal skills at managing to distract BabyBoy3 whilst dressing him were failing me badly. So that every time I sat down next to him to get him dressed.
He would simply run off.
And I was too slow to catch him.
You maybe wondering where Mrs. Amazing was, a fella Team Parent (yay!) member. Why was she not helping?
Well Mrs. Amazing was already doing what I was doing.
But for Boy10 and Miss7. So twice what I had.
It felt wrong to ask for help.

What didn't help me was Boy10.
And Miss7. Both who were ready to go for their run, and quite excited about it.
So they bugged me instead. Everytime I managed to corner BabyBoy3 with the right clothes in my hands. One of them would appear, talk to him, and then they would run off to do something.
Time after time. Until with BabyBoy3 only half dressed.
I gave up. And went and packed our bag.
Swimming kit for me. Swimming kit for BabyBoy3. Two towels.
Post swimming chocolate for BabyBoy3 and water.
And flippin' armbands as BabyBoy3 has been talking to Miss7 who told him he needed them. Which was annoying as my plan was just to have him in my arms and get him used to being loose in the water.
Then he'd learn to swim quickly my way...

Right I'm going to let go... ready
BabyBoy3: 'YES!'
Go!
BabyBoy3: <Dives in from my shoulder>
<Watches through the water>
Dude... dude... your not using... anything...
<Scoops him out> OK?
BabyBoy3: <DEEP breath>'YEP!'
Let's try that again...

It just got worse and worse.
The more flustered I got at the time. The more I was stumbling running about the house not getting stuff done.
At times I found BabyBoy3 with socks on, other times he would throw them at me.
I pointed out that if he wanted to go swimming he should help me.
He cared not.
And just ran off shouting ‘SWIM-MING!SWIM-MING!SWIM-MING!’ punching the air.
(Love that loonie).

Eventually Mrs. Amazing took pity on me.
As my cool was definitely leaving me. I still hadn’t got cross and stompy. But I was definitely starting to crack at the seems.
Time was getting short and I was basically flapping about the place. Like a big fat hung over awesome chicken.
Mrs. Amazing grabbed BabyBoy3 and got him ready, with little fuss.
Which gave me time to have a paracetamol, some tummy pills, and gather my thoughts.
Which I needed.

With only myself to concentrate on.
I was ready quickly. And with Mrs. Amazing concentrating on BabyBoy3, not hungover me, he was ready pretty quickly too.
I grabbed the car keys, opened the front door. And without looking pointed the keys at the car pressing the unlock button. As I was rushing and simultaneously calling for BabyBoy3 at the same time.
BabyBoy3 came and with swimming bag in hand I turned and stepped out of the door.
Only to release something was missing.

I had expected to hear the beep beep of the car unlocking.
But there was nnoise. There was no flashing lights either.
There’s normally lights.
In fact there was nothing.
Not even the car.

Where’s the FU … BAR… <Resists>... car?
<Internal screams of frustrations and anger>


I took me a few moments.
Stood there. Keys in hand. But no car to match them. (Have you been paying attention> Have you worked it out yet?).
I was just about to go back in the house and ask Mrs. Amazing if she knew where the car was. Which may sound funny, but it happens more than you might think (if you might think twice).
We left the car at our friends house last night.

<Lots of really bad swears>
<Loses cool, head starts emitting high pitched buzzing sound>
[Bang]
<Looks down at BabyBoy3 stood next to me>
Change of plan… Get your scooter… We’ve a walk first…
BabyBoy3: ‘Yay!’

I checked the time.
The walk was a pretty long one. There was a slight chance that we could rush round. Rush back. Maybe get in the pool for a bit. Baring in mind rushing BabyBoy3 rarely works.
And despite my head hurting, and how everything had been going.
I made a good decision.

I accepted defeat.
The universe for some reason had decided that me and BabyBoy3 were not to swim that morning. And who was I too argue?
If I tried there was a chance we could make it. But everything would be rushed.
If I didn’t try, and made the most of what we were doing. We could have a really fun time scooting off to get the car.
And we could always go swimming this afternoon.
Which we did. Both counts.
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(BabyBoy3: ‘DADDY! LOOK! It makes a really loud
bang noise when I do this! Look!
[BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG]
Great mate! <Is rolling about in agony on the floor>)


Epilogue:
It turned out the bag I packed that morning was missing BabyBoy3’s swimming stuff. Yay.
We found this out in changing rooms at the swimming pool.
I think I actually cried real tears at that point.
Luckily the swimming pool sold size BabyBoy3 shorts, at £15 (!!), which for hygiene reasons could not be refunded unless the world was ending…

Does it really say that?
SwimmingShortsSeller: <Points>
… Fancy that… in bold too…


The shorts fitted fine.
But BabyBoy3 needs a top when he goes swimming. Or he gets cold too quick.
They didn’t sell tops (which I was kind of happy about) nor did we have one.
So very quickly and in a ceremony attended by me and officiated by me. BabyBoy3’s t-shirt was promoted to ‘swimming t-shirt’ and was suddenly fine to go in the water. YAY!
We finally got in the pool.
And spent the next hour having the best fun we’ve had together in ages.
#WorthIt (#ButNotTheBuyingNewShortsBit #ThatWasAnnoying #HeAlreadyHasSixPairs #NoNotFromMeForgettingEverytimeThankYou #HandMeDowns).
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