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 daughter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label daughter. Show all posts

30 September 2016

Skater Girl...

I got to take Miss5 skating a while back. 1703
It was her first ever time. I'm not sure she had even seen roller skates before.

She had been invited to a roller skate party.
They exist. And Mrs. Amazing asked me if wanted to take her along...
YES! OMFB! YES YES YES! OOH OHHH!!! <Puts up both hands>
Yeah, alright... <Smacks lips>
... If it helps you out... I could maybe think of doing it...
For you mind… £10 <Holds out hand>
Mrs. Amazing: <Pays in invisible money> There you go
Damn it! Cool...

I was quite surprised to be honest.
I had assumed Mrs. Amazing would want to take Miss5 skating herself. Seems like a lovely mother daughter activity to me. Something physical they can both enjoy.
It wasn't until later that night, back mostly broken, feet sore, exhausted and still sweating. I realised that maybe I was played like a one-string banjo Mrs. Amazing had thought it through better than I had.
Still.
Bonding and communicating in a physical way is very important for Dad's to do with sons and daughters. Maybe even more so for daughters. Maybe not. Probably more.
Either way, it was quids in for me.

It cost more than two quid.
The skate hire was £2.25 (and yes I did ask why it was 25p and not a nice, non annoying change amount, like 20p or 30p. And yes they thought I was mad).
Still. £2.25 is less than a pint. And considering the fun and giggles we had, that made it an absolute winner. The skate party was at the local leisure center (which is where I go to do anything but leisuriate but whatevs.) where me and Miss5 normally go swimming.
In a huge room that's normally for badminton or other sports. So the floor was lovely and flat.
Handy.

As we queued to go in I wondered if would be allowed to skate as well.
Not that I'm any good mind. I was once on a Street Hockey team years ago, but everyone that turned up for practice got on the team (they were nice). And sometimes I do head out with blades (cool skates) on with the kids.
Wearing my cool, street, totally down with the kids, trick, grinding skates.
And then I fall over a lot.
I may have the equipment and experience, but the skill is still very much lacking.
I can stop. But only in one direction (don't ask).
However, hand me an enormouse (better spelling) hockey stick and I can totter about a street hockey pitch well enough to get by.
And fall over a lot.

(Busy today... I hope they’ve lots of skates in stock…)

I opted not to get myself skates to start with.
For a few reasons.
1. I didn't want to be told I wasn't allowed to skate when I had already put on skates and be laughed at.
2. I didn't want to be allowed to skate and then realise I was the only adult skating, and be laughed at.
3. I didn't want to be allowed to skate and then realise all the other adults in the room were ex-olympic skaters perfectly and brilliantly gliding about the room like swans, and then be laughed at.
4. Putting on skates takes smegging ages and it always takes me ages to get them right. (Yeah I know, a courageous little trooper I. So brave...).

Plus I thought if the opportunity arose I could always run out and get myself a pair of £2.25 (I've no smegging change left! What do you mean you won't take cards for that much?) skates.

As we stood there queueing.
I suddenly worried that Miss5 may have inherited my amazing skills at skating.
Poor love. That's a lot of floor she is going to be seeing.
Of course she may have inherited Mrs. Amazing's skating skills instead. Which could be great news!!! Except...
Except that in Team Parent (yay!), relatively speaking, I am considered the greatest skating person of all time. Ever. In all realities. Relatively speaking that is.
I consider leaving immediately...

We stay.
And eventually troop in. There are only a few adults left in the room. All the other parents are doing a drop and run. I have so much to learn. Which I now realise as I'm not skating would have been a great idea. As now I have a few hours of boredom to slowly die in. No one to talk to. No book. No phone.
I bet Mrs. Amazing would have a book. Damn it!
But as lots of small children start skating I realise me skating was a bad idea...

I am so sorry about your daughter. I lost control and…
<Shows pancake shaped daughter>
DadOfPancake: <Is speechless>
... Is there anyway Maple syrup could this help situation at all?
DadOfPancake: <Turns red>
Thought not... <Runs>

(Ready! ... Lets go narle those grindings home friend...)

We trade in Miss5's skating chip for actual skates.
So much easier to skate with. They are huge. Well they’re the right size for Miss5 obv. But the scaling of the boots mean they look quite comical on Miss5. Kind of like clown-skates.
Still Miss5 is very excited to put them on. It’s really sweet.
She’s one of the smallest in the room but without doubt the most excited.
Hella cute.

I sit her on a bench and put her skates on for her.
The straps are like my skates, so it goes very well. I even help another child with theirs whose parents have scarpered.
With Miss5 still on the floor looking at her huge skates I start think that maybe this won't be so bad after all. I’m sure the time will fly by. I’ll find some way to entertain myself I am sure.
I could count all the face splats laps she does .

However Miss5 cannot stand at all.
The funny thing is that trying to stand on wheels. When you're not that awesome at regular standing, say like a wobbly five year old, is really really hard.
I help Miss5 up.
I have each of her hands in one of mine. And basically I am holding her up.
My back moans a little. But the father in me, the Dad that wants his daughters love and respect.
Well he tells my back to shut the hell up.

Brainzilla: Stop that! That hurts. That's awkward!
No way! Daughter needs me! <Shakes fist>
Brainzilla: Fine! But I will make you pay.
Fine you suck.

As I guide Miss5 out of the safety of the bench area.
Almost totally holding her up. It occurs to me this party lasts three hours. I will be broken by then. Holding Miss5 up is frikkin’ awkward already.
It's really hot in here too. And the water I brought for us both is unlikely to be enough for three hours.
However that's not a huge cause for concern. As I left the bottle in the car. And cannot go get.
As I’m holding Miss5, on wheels, up.
We are going to die.

Luckily the party has drinks!
I’ll have fifteen shots of Jack Daniels please. In this plastic cup <Points>
DrinksGiver: ‘Another? That's your fifth second ’
Yes <Is firm> lots of ice...

Well lucky for the litte ones.
Not the parent helpers. Of which I am one of five. I am sure had I asked... But you know. Don't like to cause any fuss I prefer to dehydrate. I'll be fine.
I can always steal Miss5's water later on when no one’s looking.
All the parent helpers are the doing the same awkward slow walk about. Child hanging from their arms like a puppet.
Constantly falling over.

For the next hour or so.
Me and Miss5 go round the hall. Slowly. With me in pain.
I have sweat on my brow from trying to hold her up. Whilst trying to let her have enough freedom to learn to skate. But at the same time being ready to stop her from falling at any moment.
So soft and tense and hard muscles all at once.
EASY! And exhausting.

Miss5 though is amazing.
Her boots are huge. They are so heavy for her tiny feet. Everyone can see the effort it is taking her just to move them about. But she keeps trying.
There isn’t one moment where she gives up, or says it’s too hard. She just keeps going.
The smile on her face cannot be shifted. She is here to skate.
She’s sweaty from effort. I’m sweaty from effort.
And despite my best daughter guarding skills Miss5 has crashed on her bum a million times already. And not once has she cried or said it hurt. Not once. I couldn't do that. I'd be moaning. She is amazing.
Miss5 pulls on me again to get her back up. And off she skates about an inch.
OMFB is this girl determined.

I then have a brainwave!
And show her how to use the brakes on the front of her skates. So Miss5 can finally manage to stand without me hauling her up by the arms.
Miss5: ‘I did it! I stood!’
<Straightens up> ARRRGGGHHHH <Crack!>

I still have to lift her up a bit.
It's just not a dead weight any more.
Yay.

(It’s blurry because Miss5 wouldn’t / couldn't stay still…)

The party is stopped for the first water break.
Which is badly needed. I feel hot and sweaty. Miss5 is crimson with heat.
We sit where we are and I head off to get water.
Everyone else skates back to the benches. Leaving Miss5 on her own out in the middle of the huge hall. Opps.
I dash back. And we slowly stagger / skate back to the benches.
I go for water again.

I get back and she’s gone.
Obv. not far. The lure of skating has managed to get her off the bench and left her in a pile a few feet away. Miss5 is a bit like a upturned turtle with her boots on.
Huge smile on her face.

I am really impressed with her.
She’s putting so much effort and energy in and loving it. She's one tough scrawny cookie alright.
Still. There’s an hour to go and I don’t think either of us is going to last that long. Without hurting ourselves (me mainly). I am unsure of what to do. And a bit too tired to think straight.
I want Miss5 to keep going. But fear I cannot.
Then out of the blue... An angel flies in to help us...

(No… not that smegger kind of Angel…)

A lovely nine year old angel called Frank MissA.
A friend of Boy9’s, and coincidentally my BestDrinkingInThePubPlayingBilliards(coz he sucks at it ha ha)Buddy’s daughter. Small world huh?
I am not sure if MissA saw we were struggling. I honestly believe she came over to say hi, and ended up helping us for the rest of the party. Without even being asked.
MissA saved that party for us. She was brilliant. And Miss5’s eyes went wide as plates as MissA, a nine year old and very much a kick-arse role model for Miss5, asked if she could skate with us.
I definately could have hugged her.
Miss5 did hug her.

It was so, SO, SOOOO, much easier with two us.
MissA took one of Miss5’s hands and I had the other. And off we set. My back cheering already.
Miss5 started to get it a bit more because she was better balanced with someone either side.
Not just me lopsided on one side trying not to get run over and moaning about back pain being silently very manly. And with MissA there to copy as well. Miss5 could soon stand and push off on her own.
By the end of the party Miss5 did one whole lap of the hall without falling over once.
Which may not sound much. But before MissA swooped in to help. We had only managed four laps of the hall together.
In an hour and a half.

I made a point to tell me BestDrinkingInThePubPlayingBilliards(coz he sucks at it ha ha)Buddy just how much help his daughter had been.
Thank you MissA. We couldn’t have gone on without you. You are lovely.
I'll buy you booze when you get to college.

As we hobble walk out of the leisure centre.
We had already said our goodbyes and thanks to MissA.
Miss5 is holding my hand, happy, still excited and nattering away as we leave.
I feel very close as Dad and daughter right in that moment. And it made me very happy.
Not bad for £2.25. All the pain my body may moan about for the next month, the dehydration through sweat and exhaustion, can smeg off, to be addressed in bed later.
Hella good times.

As we hit the car park Miss5 turns to me asks?
Miss5: 'Why are you hitting tarmac?'
Miss: ‘Daddy can I get some skates?’
Why are you trying to kill me?
… Yeah. Sure! Do you want to go skating again then?
Miss5: ‘Yeah!’

And then she adds in, just in case it wasn’t clear.

Miss5: ‘With you. Skating with you.’
Sure. I'd love to watch next time. I'll bring my blades and huge hockey stick!

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27 May 2016

One hundred posts! (pulls party popper... nothing... darn cheap party popper) (BANG!) (Owww)...

This is my one hundredth post.
A century! <Gentlemanly claps all round>
<Politely raises keyboard into the air to acknowledge the crowd>
<Wishes had been born with just a million times more sporting skill>
<Finds chocolate under keyboard, is happy>

So what the smeg do I write about to mark this occasion?
Pie?
Chocolate?
Chocolate beer pie?
How about a sort of rambling, retrospective of the last year, that has no clear goal and is likely to be a bit overly sentimental, with the odd saucy gypsy thrown in and at least two car chases?
YOU BET-CHA! YEAH!


BabyBoy1
Well one hundred posts ago he wasn’t even one.
He was just BabyBoy. He could point at things and say Uh.
And was probably crawling about like a good’un and falling over when ever he tried to stand.
Hilarious Good times.

Now however.
BabyBoy1 is walking about. Climbing about and he's got quite a few words on him…

‘MINE’ - (Like the seagulls in Finding Nemo) This comes up a lot.
‘Noooooo’ - Is becoming more frequent.
‘Daddy WORRRRK?’ - Is his way of making sure I know I am working today, again. (Thanks dude).
‘Yas’ - Not quite sure where the South African twang has come from.
(Lethal Weapon II -’ I was just checking to see if I was standing on plastic’).
‘DarahDuck?’ (Sarah and Duck) - Still the houses favorite cartoon.
‘Noc-Naughts?’ (Octonauts) - Rapidly becoming the houses favorite cartoon.
‘CAKE!’ - Well he is a Team Parents (yay!) child. He was always going to love cake.
‘CAKE! MINE!’ <Shoves a huge bit of cake in his gob>
‘MAKE!’ <Cake goes everywhere>

And he still runs to me when I get home.
I love that. He’s still the person most happy to see me when I get home from work. He still drops everything and anything he is doing to make a bee-line towards me.
What a dude.
No matter what, consistently and without question, he loves me for just being me. And that’s smegging pretty darn cool...

Kids come and listen to this amazing song!!!
<Gang all arrive, excited>
This is Lindsey Stirling's song Transcendance, the orchestra version... It's amazing!!!
[They listen]
Boy8: 'That's not rock?' <Is shocked> 'Where are  the guitars? The singing?’
Her violin is her voice! … And she has a voice... sometimes...
Boy8: 'I just don't understand you sometimes' <Boy8 leaves disgusted>
<Turns to Miss5>
She’s taking us on a journey, it's an adventure in music, it's battling pirates on the edge of a pirate ship, it's leaping into worlds in a drop of water, it's flying through the sky and waving at the birds, it's a rush and tumble through the clouds, being able to taste the air in your heart!
<Is doing overly dramatic big arms and hands>
Miss5: <Listens and considers> ‘BORING!' <Sticks out tongue and skips off>
Philistines <Shakes fist> … What about you BabyBoy1?
BabyBoy1: 'Daddy!' <Runs to hug my leg, but hits face on my knee>
<Cries>
<Get a huge cuddle>


(You sure that’s your hat… and not mine?
‘MINE!’
Fair enough then...)

Miss5
She was Miss4 one hundred posts ago. How did that fly by?
She went round telling everyone she was forty-five, four-to-five, get it?
Of course we didn't stop her it was hilarious.
She doesn't do it now, guess she knows she’s five now.
<Weeps> That’s not as funny.

Miss5 has just got more and more interesting.
To me she's fascinating. I’ve never met anyone like her. Her entire worldview and values, and thoughts are not the same as mine. It’s surprisingly brilliant.
Watching her grow is like being allowed into a whole new amazing world of capes,  pom-poms, rainbows, hair styles (?), fierce, fierce, emotions, clawing, kicking and screaming that can shatter glass and ear drums. And talking.
And the second best hugs.
And utter madness.
And a lot more complex clothes...

Miss5: 'Dad can you help me with my dress'
Yeah sure <Looks and turns it round in hands, in wonder and confusion>
Actually... No. No I cannot. This is Level 4 clothing...
I'm not trained to operate these. I'm only a Level 2 clothing operative. Jean and t-shirts…
This is way beyond me <Hold up a bit of clothing> I mean, what this bit do?
Miss5: 'That's a plete'
A what? What is its primary function?
Miss5: '...'
What does it do?
Miss5: '...' <Shrugs>
OK.... Look <Glances around> ... I probably shouldn't do this <More glancing>
But let’s just give it a try together, shall we... It can't be that hard to put on a dress…
Miss5: 'Yeah! I believe in you Dad!'
Thanks
[Much later]
That's still not right is it?
Miss5: <Muffled> 'No'
Can you move your arms?
Miss5: <Muffled> 'I can move this one!'
Hmmm... So we're making progress at least...

(Mrs. Christmas wiggling her bottom at me on the way to swimming… 
Life can be very surreal at times with Miss5...)

Boy8
Crikey. He’s nearly 9. <Weeps>
One hundreds post ago we were in a very different place me and Boy8. I was struggling.
I was getting too cross and being grumpy. And he was getting the brunt of it.
Sorry Boy8.
I’m pretty sure I’ve stopped most of that, and have made up for it in some small way.
<Glances at Mrs. Amazing>
<Gets a small nod>
<Celebrates by raiding the chocolate cupboard>

Me gaining more control of myself is good news. Obv…
Especially as his emotions have become, let’s say shouty and loud and cross and slammy more dramatic.

The door to his bedroom is coming off it’s hinges. Really.
I’ve had to repair the stair gate thrice this year.
I had to fill in holes in the wall.
And he can be the most annoying, stubborn, obnoxious, rude little so-and-so...

But he’s also utterly amazing.
And I'm really proud of him. School’s improved so much. He’s been really brave.
There’s a girl that likes him.
He’s washing cars to make money to buy crap stuff.
He made a nice cake!
I'm teaching him to play chess, properly. Not battle chess which is what we have been playing, where you just smash all the, plastic, pieces off the board. (Love that game). Proper chess.
He’s doing things without me. I can’t keep up with everything he’s doing. No matter how hard I try. He needs me less and less. I’m so proud.
He’s away tonight at a friends house.
He goes away for three nights soon.
He’s just starting on the very first rungs of growing up. He’s doing stuff on his own…
OH KEVIN BACON WHY??? WHY???

But he called me at work today.
Because he needed me. And hearing that little voice reminded me of little he still is. He’s just acting very big at the moment. Practising.
But really he’s still quite wee.

(Arghhh! Octonaut!!! <Stomp, stomp, stomp> GOT IT!)

And you know the amazing thing?
The earth shattering thing? I knew what he wanted to know on the phone.
<Does dance>

Boy8: ‘Hi Daddy? Do you know where my football boots are?’
Yes! <Stands in shock>
I tidied all the shoes and bags, a few weeks back... and I put them in your kit bag with your shin pads!
Boy8: ‘Mum’s just checking...’
Boy8: ‘She says they are… Bye!’

I KNOW!
That my friends, is modern Dadding for you right there. 
Knew where the shoes were... <Is smug> Because that’s where I had previously tidied them too.
BOOM-POW!
<Raids chocolate cupboard again in celebration>
Hey? Which swine has eaten all the choc… Oh yeah…
<Calls out> I'm going to the shops...

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And for those of you still hanging about, waiting for your saucy gypsy and two car chases? Well…

Gypsy: ‘I've just been shopping!’
Gypsy: ‘Look at the size of my enormous melons!’ <Holds up melons>
Cool <Is feeling a bit awkward> Isn't that your lift home leaving?
Gypsy: ‘Oh yes’ <Chases after car>
Oh wait.. Noo… My mistake... It’s not…
Gypsy: <Stops>
ActuallyYesItWas!
Gypsy: <Chases after car for the second time> <Melons pop out>

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