Is Your Sun Up? (Gro-Clock)...

We've let it slip again.

Which is annoying as Team Parent (yay!) worked really hard on this last time.

It took a lot getting up really early, but we persevered and got the rewards.

BabyBoy3 was managing to sleep until it was wake up time.

Except we've now let it slip.

I love my children.

They are fab. I just wish they would sleep when they are meant to. That would be really good. Then Team Parent (yay!) would get more sleep. And life would be better for all. It's a win win.

It's just hard to make them see that way...

[ARHG O'clock in the morning]

BabyBoy3 go back to bed

BabyBoy3: 'No!'

<Stern voice> It's very early in the morning go back to bed

BabyBoy3: 'No!' <Gets back into bed anyway>

BabyBoy3: <Lies the wrong way up in bed, kicks off all the sheets>

Close enough... Night...

<BranchesLeaves>

(BabyBoy3: <From his room> ‘YAY MORNING!’

TeamParent: <In bed, hiding> ‘BOO MORNING!’)

We have one of those clocks.

A time machine. A Gro-Clock. We had one for Boy10 and Miss7, and now BabyBoy3 has one.

All of them rebelled against it. Fight the power!

The idea is simple. You set the time you want the 'Sun' on the screen to come up. And when that time comes up, the screen changes from a blue sleepy night time picture, to a happy sun picture. There's even an adult lock on it.

So no little hands can alter it.

Boy10 altered it.

He hacked it (as he would say). He jabbed buttons until the sun came up. So we never bothered with the adult mode again. I say Boy10, but he was Boy3 back then.

There was a little while where the clock worked and Boy3 stayed asleep. But I am pretty sure that wasn't for very long and eventually we gave up with the Gro-Clock with Boy3.

There was a few times when we found it unplugged and Boy3 stood there telling us it went off all on it's own, but he did see the sun come up honest guv', just before it went off.

Other times Boy3 would come running in and announce that the sun had come up, only for us to check our clocks and find out the horrible truth.

But on the whole the clock worked well enough that we used it again.

For Miss7 - Who was at that time Miss3.

Miss3 reacted differently to the Gro-Clock.

Most of the time she got it. Most of the time. We still had the same discussions about whether or not the sun had come up with her. She would sit and watch the stars go out until morning. One an hour. <Gives you a look>

The main difference between Miss3 and Boy3's approach to the Gro-Clock. Was anger.

Miss3 broke it...

What on earth was that noise? <Goes to see Miss3

Miss3: <Sat in corner looking furious>

What's this cable?

Miss3: <Huffing sounds>

This is the Gro-Clock cable, where's the...  clock? <Fears the worst>

Miss3: <Points into the hallway>

Oh no... <Checks for pulse> <Attaches power cable>

... I'm afraid it's gone...

Miss3: <Whispers> 'Good'

(Mrs. Amazing: ‘What’s that?’

The Bat-Clock…

Mrs. Amazing: ‘Oh….’

Mrs. Amazing: ‘...I thought it would have been bigger.’

<Lots of giggling>)

I probably could have fixed the clock.

I'm a believer. And a fan of taking stuff apart and jabbing it with a screwdriver until it works or not. But considering Miss3 had broken one Gro-Clock Team Parent (yay!) were not about to throw more money at Miss3. For her to literally throw about.

We're not silly all the time.

So BabyBoy3 does not have the family Gro-Clock.

Passed down through the generations. Both of them. That clock died. From clocktracide.

BabyBoy3 got a brand new one. Which I suppose goes to show just how much we thought the Gro-Clock did work. Despite all I am saying, it still did a lot of good stuff.

It's main bonus was being able to discuss the time with tiny people very early in the morning in a very black and white way...

Is your sun up?

BabyBoy3: 'Er....'

Simple question, yes or no?

BabyBoy3: 'Um....'

That's a no then. Back to bed!

Now try that without the Gro-Clock and it's polarising powers on whether or not it is time to get up...

Do you know what the time is?

BabyBoy3: 'No'

It's far too early, look...

BabyBoy3: 'I literally have no idea what I am looking at, I can't even read my name yet. What the hell are those little lines? …'

It says it's far too early, go back to bed...

BabyBoy3: 'Are you sure you're reading it right? It's not'

Yes I am and it is

BabyBoy3: <Points at the window>

Yes I know the real sun is up and beaming in the window... But it's very early morning and we need you to go back to sleep

BabyBoy3: <Opens curtain> 'Oh father, but look it's a glorious day already! UP! UP! Come and share this day with me! ...'

Go back to bed... Zzz

<Fake sleeps and hopes BabyBoy3 goes round to see Mrs. Amazing>

See! Quite a difference.

The Gro-Clock provides a very simple way to not get involved in basically what is a conceptual relative time conversation first thing in the morning before you've even had your first cuppa.

There's some merit in things.

Still results may vary and all that.

As the two bugs have shown. And of course BabyBoy3 has his own interpretation of the Gro-Clock and its effect on him. BabyBoy3's take on it is that he ignores it.

He knows the rules. Don't come and see us until your sun comes up. So he doesn't.

But he does get up. Starts playing with his toys. Noisily. Shouting at stuff as only three year olds do. We hear the toilet door opening and closing a million times. A light from his bedroom going on and off. He’s no ninja yet. And BabyBoy3 is up and his day has started.

Far too early.

And because he does know the rules.

But only wants to do his interpretation of them. BabyBoy3 waits until the sun on his clock does come up. Which is still far too early in my book, but it's the time we set.

BabyBoy3 waits for the sun and then comes running into us.

Like a HERD OF FLAT FOOTED GIANTS TRYING TO MAKE AS MUCH NOISE AS POSSIBLE.

Miss7 in tow. Utterly silent...

BabyBoy3: 'MY SUN'S UP!!! YAYYYY!!!'

Miss7: ‘Mummymyclocksaysit’stimetogetup.Whyarn’tyougettingup?’

<Is hiding under covers><Where it's warm>

What choice do we have?

None. Team Parent (yay!) are bound by our own rules. We have to get up and start the day. We can't tell the kids to stay in bed until X-o’clock and then change it. Why would BabyBoy3 every care about his sun if we don't follow it ourselves.

Sadly.

So back to us letting it slip.

We have allowed BabyBoy3 just to get up when he feels. Mainly so we can sleep.

But that’s backfired as BabyBoy3 isn’t getting enough sleep now. And is whiny all day.

Which is exhausting, better we have less sleep than him.

So now we've got to train BabyBoy3 to stay in bed and sleep again. Until his sun is up.

Team Parent (yay!) know what we have to do. It's pretty simple. We just don't want to do it.

We will though.

We were on it this morning.

Which is why if you see either of us, we looked extra tired. Not tired. Extra tired.

A whole hour before sun up time. BabyBoy3 was up.

And Team Parent (yay!) being the good team we are tried to out pretend each other being asleep, we shared the early morning pain.

Of putting a very sweetly apologetic BabyBoy3 back to bed, and then tucking him in.

Kissing him good night. Again. Turning off his light and pointing at the Gro-Clock.

And telling him to stay in bed until your sun comes up.

Should only take a week or so to change his habits.

And considering how many years I've got by on this sleep.

I doubt the decrease in sleep will have any affect on me at all...

[Piers Morgan is talking on the radio]

<Listens, doesn't smash the radio to bits and burn the tainted circuits, just listens>

Hmmmmm... You know this Morgan twat fella is actually an utter twat quite interesting and worse than everything soulless and evil in the universe insightful...

Mrs. Amazing: <Dials 999>

X

(HEY! Does my butt really look that big? Hell yeah!

<Swaggers off>)

She's Seven...

It's not much of a change.

Six to seven. It's only one day that elapses. Which seems very easy and very manageable.

No need for having a bit of a moment as Team Parent (yay!) made birthday plans for Miss6. <Sobs>

But despite my wish to stop time and keep Miss6 forever. The latest version of Miss6 arrived.

The upgrade. The new improved model.

Miss7...

Miss7: 'Brilliant! I'm seven! What can I do now?'

Miss7: 'What new skills do I get? Any powers yet?'

Er... You get the power of better concentration! <Tries to make it sound fun>

Miss7: <Is not convinced> '...and...'

Er... You get to manage your temper and emotions better! Yay!

Miss7: 'What, like Boy10 does?'

Fair point... er... you got new shoes with wheels in them (Heelys)! Yay!

Miss7: 'They are cool... And look what I can do!'

Miss7: <Rolls along a bit, then falls over>

THAT'S AMAZING! YOU ARE BRILLIANT!

<Scoops up big seven year old in my arms, that is actually still quite little and is surprisingly easy to scoop>

Let’s go get you and me some chocolate shall we!

I thought you were really getting it that time!

Miss7: <Is happy>

(Er... You might wanna move the balloon a bit…

Yep! That’s it!!!)

It does feel like a new frontier though.

Everything is about to change. I can just feel in the air. Miss7's relationships to her friends and her family are all about to change. She's becoming more aware of the world around her. My Dad alarms are going off pretty much daily.

They are telling me something. And I think it's pretty simple.

Miss7 isn't such a little girl anymore she's a rampaging monster.

But that's just my thoughts.

Based on the slice of Miss7's life I get to see. I get the weekends. And as I work (I do) 9-5:30 weekdays. Means I get a few hours in the morning with her, and then maybe an hour with her in the evening. Which isn't exactly golden time as Miss7, like her brothers, are knackered out by that time of day. And just want cartoons, maybe warm milk, and a bedtime story.

Being a kid does sounds sweet sometimes...

Hey! Why don't I get a bedtime story?

Mrs. Amazing: 'What?'

The kids get a bedtime story... I like stories... Where's mine?

Mrs. Amazing: 'YOU want a story?' <Rolls up sleeves> 'Right!' <Looks a bit annoyed>

<Regrets asking almost instantly>

Mrs. Amazing: 'Once upon a time, there was a grown man that asked his busy and hard working wife for a bedtime story. And later that night he was beaten to death with HUG, The Ravenous Beast, The Gruffalo and every single Mr. Sodding-man and Little Miss. Annoying books she could find. And the wife lived happily ever after. The End.'

...

...

...

I'm just going to pretend you said no nicely and just go to sleep now...

Mrs. Amazing: 'You do that'

Zzz... <Is secretly reading 'Little Rabbit Foo Foo' under the sheets>

Anyhoo...

So as I hate those blogger birthday lists that get all mushy, and are basically a long lost of why a parent loves their child.

Here's my traditional list of things you probably didn't know about Miss6.

1. Miss6 has mad hiding skills.

Miss6's hiding skills have gone through the roof (they are very good).

She is an absolute master of hiding in plain sight. I think it's something to do with her clothes blending in with all the fabric around the house. <Gives Mrs. Amazing a look>

Recently we all played hide and seek. And whilst Boy10 is a hella genius at squeezing into spaces I don't expect him to able to fit in, Miss6 has surpassed him, hiding skillswise.

Miss6 doesn't do anything complex. She just finds somewhere a bit messy and stays still. Her hair covering her face. Clothes blending in.

And smeg it if I can't find her.

If she didn't giggle and call out 'Cock-coo' I swear I'd never find her.

These very useful skills Miss6 uses on me during bedtime.

I can be following her from the bathroom to her bedroom. A foot behind. Round a corner... and BOOM she's gone. I've lost her.

I look for a while. Get a bit frustrated. Call her name. And then like the Predator coming out of the water.

She appears...

Miss6: 'BOO!'

ARGH! Where did you come from? <Clutches heart>

Miss6: <Crouches down again to demonstrate>

WHAT THE SMEG! WHERE DID YOU GO!!! She's a WITCH!

Of course.

And I am sure Mrs. Amazing will back me up on this.

Miss6's skills at hiding do need to be tempered by my legendary skills at looking for stuff.

I have poor skills...

WHERE THE SMEG IS OUR CAR?

Mrs. Amazing: <Gives me a worried look and just points a foot in front of me>

Mrs. Amazing: 'There'

OH! Right... Thanks... <Mumbles stuff about ninja cars and just gets in>

2. Miss6 sings with headphones on.

I know.

That probably sounds really annoying. And I am sure if it was Boy10 it would be really annoying. In fact I know I've told him not to. As it was really annoying.

But for a few reasons Miss6 is not annoying about it.

a) She doesn't do it right in your face whilst your watching your favourite program on tele. Miss6 can just be found walking about the house, playing, singing away.

b) Her volume is just quiet enough. So you can hear it, but it doesn't grate.

c) Her singing is not constant. As Miss6 only seems to know a few lines of a song, chorus obvs.

d) And this is the real seller. There is so much passion and hand gestures when she does sing, it's brilliant. You know how you (and I) dance when a 80's classic comes on? It's that level of passion.

Brilliant.

(You know this doesn't count as swimming?

Miss6: 'I'm watching Octonauts, it's underwater'

Right... <Is confused>)

3. Miss6 can stiiiiiiill only swim 10m.

Which isn't entirely true.

Just last week Miss6 produced her personal best of 12m without drowning. I was so proud.

I take Miss6 swimming once a week, when she's not ill, I'm not ill, and neither of us are busy and Mrs. Amazing is not going out, on a Sunday morning. So probably twenty times last year.

What I sneakily do is watch the swimming teachers already in the pool and copy what they do. So I feel my lessons haven't been completely awful. There's been content.

But for some reason Miss6 hit a wall. 10m, and got no further all year.

Despite the enormous carrot of a brand new swimming badge should she do it, me cheering her massively, and an adult sized milkshake from the milkshake shop (McRonalds)...

LifeGuard: 'Hey! You! I've told you before, no giant inflatable vegetables in the pool!'

<Sticks out tongue> Oh right... Sorry...

<Leaves pool with Miss6 and giant inflatable carrot>

4. Miss6 spills non-spilling bottles of water regularly.

She even has a towel next to her bed for this, I've had words.

I don't doubt Mrs. Amazing has had words too.

Words along the line of 'You're seven! Even your little brother doesn't spill his water at night, what on earth are you doing?',those kind of words.

Of course Miss6 says sorry and she will try really hard not to do it again.

But still. It happens.

5. Miss6 finally won her first ‘Mario Kart’ race.

Which I am very proud of her for.

I’ve no idea what changed. As until recently she drove like a drunken one armed, dwarf, with inner ear issues (badly). Weaving about the road back and forth, until finally getting lost on a one-way track (??).

She went from never actually finishing <Gives you a look> to mostly 3rd, sometimes 2nd, and run and tell Daddy when it happens, BOOM POW! 1st!

I am very proud.

6. Miss6 is faster than you at ‘Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes’ with actions.

She is. She's hella quick at it.

We had a New Years party. There was a who can do 'Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes’ with actions, fastest competition. Miss6 beat everyone. Adults too. By a lot.

If you ever need to see H.S.K.&T with actions done at an incredible speed.

You know who to ask. Her manager.

7. Miss6 is fearless with sauces and condiments.

This is in stark contrast to Boy10.

Who refuses food unless it is chips or sandwiches. May consume a roast if he's in the mood, but don’t count on it.

Miss6 in contrast not only tries and likes most food. She also loves all the sauces and condiments Team Parent (yay!) have. Mustard, horseradish, mayo, brown sauce, soy sauce, pickles, chutneys etc... You name, she'll try it.

Bravo Miss6, bravo.

8. Miss6 makes treasure bags at a industrial scale now.

Treasure bags (as mentioned in ‘Bouncy or Not?’) sound lovely don’t they?.

But they're not. No no. They are the bane of Mrs. Amazing's life.

A treasure bag is a bag into which has been put billions of little things.

All from somewhere else. And at first they might all seem unconnected, but Miss6 will have a theme she is rocking that day.

Only problem is that it would've taken Miss6 most of the day collecting these things. It will take Team Parent (yay!) most of the night to put them back. <Grumbles>

Miss6 has increased her production of treasure bags to a new record output.

I came home the other day to find Miss6 loading BabyBoy3 car with at least ten treasure bags. Not little play bags. No.

Full sized bag-for-life bags. Full of crap.

I was pretty miffed.

But that was nothing compared to what Mrs. Amazing would say...

OMFB! <Shakes head> Are all these treasure bags?

Miss6: <Looking proud> 'Yes!'

You're going to die. Look. We have to get this cleared away before your mother gets in and sees... well... this...

<Motions at neatly bagged wrong sorted mess>

... but we've only ten minutes...

Miss: <Is now seeing the problem> <Face goes pale>

There's no other choice... Take this <Passes fake passport>

Your name is now Mungo Bungo and I'll see you two years times when this has all blown over. ... We'll miss you... I love you...

Miss6: <Runs>

Boy10: 'Can I have her LEGO?'

Give it a while...

[A second passes]

Boy10: 'Now?'

9. Miss6 does the press-up & sit-up challenge with me.

A bit random this.

I wanted a way to curb my Christmas waistline issue. As it was November.

And I needed a morning training partner. Boy10 I guessed wouldn't be keen. As it would affect his YouTube watching time.

And I thought well why not with Miss6 <Slaps thigh>. The worst that could happen is that she would become healthy and strong.

Win win.

So the rule is we do one extra repetition every day. We manage four days in a row. We do four reps.

(Note, I did check it was safe for her frame to be doing press-ups and sit-ups. It is).

Our personal best so far is nineteen days in a row.

Which means Miss6 did nineteen press-ups (very iffy ones to be honest), and nineteen sit-ups (very good ones).

I am so damn proud of her for that.

10. Miss6 still does what she wants.

She is not a follower. She is a not sheep.

If she doesn't want to do something, she cares not if others are. Her choices are for her.

Really I wish I could be that free. To just do what I want with worrying what my peers are doing.

Amazing.

Of course this does lead to some 'issues' parenting her...

GET DRESSED!

Miss6 : 'NO!' <Runs, gets even more naked, and hides>

NO! SHE'S DISAPPEARED AGAIN!!!

11. She's quite, quite, mad.

(Go get dressed for a Nerf war! It needs to be protective but look hella cool!

Miss6: 'Tada!

Mission accomplished! <High Fives>

Armed and fabulous darling! <Regrets the heel kick>)

Thank you Miss6 it's been utterly amazing.

A real honour.

I've trepidation about your sevens to be honest. My amazingly bad knowledge of aged seven girls I fear will start working against me very soon. But I am very optimistic as well.
I'm sure it's going to a blast.

And funny. Really funny.

One song sums up Miss6 for me.

It is 'It's Magnificent (She Says)' by the amazing 'Elbow', who I love.

Best you listen rather than read about it.

Take it away Sir Guy...

Goodbye to lovely Miss6 and hello, wotcha, about time, hi, to the amazing and fabulous Miss7!

Long may she reign.

X

Epilogue:

I really did have a bit of moment when planning Miss6's birthday party with Mrs. Amazing.

It just kind of hit home in my head that my little six year girl was suddenly going to be seven.

And seven feels really big and grown up, and I know it's silly to think that.

I love being in her life soooo much. We have so much fun together. And I know as she gets older I'll be less and less involved.

So in that moment as we planned a party. I faltered and it hit me. No actual tears, I would just like to clear that up.

But some serious throat clearing.

But Mrs. Amazing noticed...

Mrs. Amazing: 'You OK?'

<Is squinting> Yeah... Just sad that this part of her life has past, if you know what I mean...

Mrs. Amazing: 'Yeah... but snap out of it we've got eleven...'

Eleven? I thought only eight were coming?

Mrs. Amazing: 'No Miss6 invited more people...'

Really? Shesh...

Mrs. Amazing: 'And we've only an hour before I will crash out to plan the entire party for twelve, themed on a book, none of her friends have ever read'

Mrs. Amazing: <Seriously sups wine>

<Glugs Guinness>

Mrs. Amazing: 'And I doubt us having started drinking is going to help is it?'

<Re-glugs Guinness>

I'm thinking lasers, ropes hanging from the ceiling and a klaxon going off, indoor fireworks, and maybe a shot bar?

Mrs. Amazing: <Moves away my Guinness> '... Very much no'

Right... How about I make Fairy sandwiches?

Mrs. Amazing: <Moves back Guinness> 'Good idea!'

X