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 pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pain. Show all posts

14 March 2017

TH-UUU-D!...

It wasn't our fault.
I think. I'm pretty sure. I'm sure.
It wasn't our fault. I don't think we could have reasonably avoided it.
Without affecting BabyBoy2's natural development.
Still. We did know BabyBoy2 could escape from his cot.
And it was on our watch...
<Hangs head... but only a little bit>

It was bedtime at the zoo home.
Team Parent (yay!) we're running our standard 'Divide and Conquer' repel boogies squad attack pattern. Variation Sex-Match.
Mrs. Amazing had been assigned Miss6 to convince to sleep.
I had BabyBoy2 first. Then a quick sit down. Cold tea. Then the level boss.
Bedtime war with Boy9...

NO YOU CAN NOT HAVE ANOTHER CARTOON! IT'S BEDTIME!
Boy: 'IT'S NOT! I GO TO BED AT 7:30!'
NO! THAT'S WHEN YOU GO TO SLEEP! FIRST I, AND THEN YOU READ!
Boy: 'SINCE WHEN?'
SINCE DINOSAURS FOR EVER! ARHGGHHGGH!
<Face melts from sucking in anger>
Boy: '... Oh... then why can't I have another cartoon now?'
Because... <Head explodes> that's... makes no sense... What?
<Dents wall with forehead>
Boy: 'Are you OK Dad?'
How did I get down here?

(YOU SHALL GO TO BED!
Love the jammies by the way…
<Casts atrocious spell>)

And still BabyBoy2 is the easiest to convince to sleep.
It must be because he is utterly scrummy.  And a right little dude.
He has been escaping of late though.
BabyBoy2 (with Miss6's help I bet) worked out how to climb out of his cot recently.
Three mornings we been greeted by a very excited and happy BabyBoy2. Leaping on our bed. Crushing parts of Daddy that don’t like being crushed.
Sometime around 5am (it was hard to see the clock through the tears in my eyes).
And twice BabyBoy2 has been put to bed at night. And then decided sleep that night wasn't really for him. And he had climbed out again.
A real problem. Kind of want him to stay put.
Which so far he’s been awesome at. And happy about it too.
Whereas Boy9 and Miss6 had Team Parent (yay!) running to them far too much...

[Seven years ago]
Boy2: 'Wah'
I'M-A-COMING BOY! <Runs>
Mrs. Amazing: <Cheats at scrabble>

[Four years ago]
Miss2: 'Wah'
<Ignores it>
Mrs. Amazing: 'Tada! Badger!' <Lays Badger letters>
Mrs. Amazing: 'And, double-points for a comedy word, puts me in the lead!'
Well done! You have made a mortal enemy this night <Draws blood> Great word!
... Badger <Chuckles>
Miss2: 'WAHHHH!'
I'M-A-COMING GIRL! <Runs>
Mrs. Amazing: <Cheats at scrabble, steals letters for Amaze>

[Now]
BabyBoy2: 'Wah'
<Lays 'Jam'> ... and double-points for amusing word... not losing by so much now!
Mrs. Amazing: 'Is 'Jam' really a funny word?'
I'm not even dignifying that with an answer… <Giggles>
BabyBoy2: 'WAHHHH!'
Hey remember when you laid 'Badger'
Mrs. Amazing: 'Yeah...'
BabyBoy2: 'WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!'
And then, unbelievably, you got 'Amaze' and got to lay 'AmazeBadger'
Mrs. Amazing: '...er yeah...' <Does shifty eyes>
BabyBoy2: 'WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
BabyBoy2: 'OH COME ON I MIGHT BE HURT UP HERE OR SOMTHING!'
Good times. Good times...
Mrs. Amazing: <Lays 'Windjammers' through my 'Jam'>  
<Giggles>
Mrs. Amazing: 'You giggled! I get double-points!!!'
BabyBoy2: 'OH FINE! I'LL JUST GO TO SLEEP THEN!'
Damn it...
BabyBoy2: 'Zzzz' (Like a noisy angel)

Anyhoo...

Mrs. Amazing was putting Miss6 to bed.
Reading Miss6 a story and having a right giggle together. Which is lovely to hear.
BabyBoy2 also was lovely to put to bed. We giggled over who gets to sit on the chair first. Then I pretend sit on him. Gag wise a winner with BabyBoy2.
We laughed through all his bedtime books. He yawned a bit. We sang his bedtime song.
As we sing I have him in my arms and my breathing seems to calm him. Winner.
BabyBoy2 was happily laid down for a sleep. Then a quick giggle about him hiding under the duvet. And I'm gone. Door shut.
Not expecting to see BabyBoy2 until the morning.
<Shakes head ruefully>
<Does District 11 three finger salute> <Weeps over Rue>

Just Boy9 to engage in warfare with.
Over his sleep arguments and denial of clocks and their import on our lives.
First. I head into his room. ARGH. As someone mentioned there was Lego on the floor that needed clearing up. Which is probably my fault.
I bought back his huge Lego box. I lazily just balanced it on a chair. For Boy9 to properly put away later.
Yeah, yeah, what the hell was I thinking? Who knows. Boy9 might have... yeah. It was dumb.
Somehow (the smegging Cat) the box had fallen over and there was Lego all over the floor.
Lots and lots and lots of Lego.

(<Sighs>...
<Makes a spaceship>)

So that's where I am.
In Boy9's room scooping Lego up from the floor with my hands.
Mrs. Amazing is busy with Miss6.
And Boy9 is downstairs watching cartoons, not helping at all with the Lego. <Grumbles>
When a strange noise is heard throughout the house...

TH-UUU-D!

I ignore it.
So does Mrs. Amazing. It was probably one of BabyBoy2's teddies being expelled from his cot for some unknown offence. I go back to Lego scooping.
Five, maybe six, seconds pass when the most almighty cry of pain comes from BabyBoy2’s room...

BabyBoy2: 'ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH'

I am already up and running.
And passing Miss6's room. Mrs. Amazing calls out to see if I am going to see BabyBoy2.
I holler yes as I pass.
BabyBoy2’s room is pitch-dark so I flick on the light.
There on the floor I see a very confused. On his side. Cross and crying loudly.
BabyBoy2. Who had fallen when escaping his cot.
(No don't laugh you heartless swines <Tuts>)

Whilst BabyBoy2 was doing his parkour (Free running).
Which involves pulling a chair to his cot, so he can pull himself up and out.
In the dark.
The poor little lad had slipped.

I hug the crap out of him.
I envelop my little dude in my arms as much as I can. And sink to the floor.
His crying is very loud and it resonates with pain. His eyes scream at me 'Why does everything hurt so much right now! What is this! ARGHGGGH! It sucks!'.
It will pass. But right now he needs to be held and loved. A lot.
There’s a bruise on his head already. Poor sausage.
I do a mini-triage: His eyes are behaving like normal, speech is fine, shouty, and mainly ‘ow’, but fine, he's not dopey and he’s behaving like himself (when in pain and cross).
I'm happy his head is just bruised.

BabyBoy2 finally calms.
And is ready for sleep take-two. BabyBoy2 winces a bit as his head touches his pillow.
Poor little dude. My heart goes out to him.
Falling in the dark is not fun.

Obv.ly Team Parent (yay!) are appalled at this turn of events.
And discuss what we can do to make sure this doesn't happen again.
Don't want our little BabyBoy2 getting hurt.
He's scrummy.

(I know how we can protect him!
Mrs. Amazing: ‘Isn’t that Miss6’s’
Yep!...)

But...
On the other hand he’s not tried to escape his cot from again. Which is a right bonus to Team Parent (yay!). And it does save me having to upgrade his cot to a bed. And the chair in his room is the only one he has, so it wouldn’t be ideal to get rid of it...
And BabyBoy2 does seem to be staying put...
For now…
<Walks quietly off, whistling>
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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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