Left ~Behind

One Step Behind................

I have never been one to keep up with anything, and in my mad flap of a life I’m usually running late in one way or another.

This winter the snowiest for years with snow not only falling but sticking around for weeks, I bought my boys a sledge for Christmas, handmade by a local guy and delivered on Christmas Eve still stinking of creosote, I wrapped it in tinsel and sat a giant snow ball teddy on it and waited for the little guys to discover it in the morning.

They were suitably excited and loved playing on it in the sitting room.... but alas no more snow and the sledge now languishes in the shed – but at least we’ll be one step ahead next year, if it snows surely?

Alongside the sledge in the shed is a paddling pool, (still in the box and never been used!) bought in the glorious sunny days this May, imagining a sun filled summer and easy, lazy days in the garden with a hose pipe ban...... the likelihood of us using it any time soon seems slight, as I type I’m wearing a scarf and putting on the heating mid-July.

Still, I’m about to research garden benches and parasols in the internet sales....ever the hopeful!

What I hate being behind on is stuff for the kids, dinner money, nursery fees, taking in P.E. kits, buying school shoes it makes me feel under criticism as a parent so you can imagine my shame at bringing home the little one from nursery on Monday.......

Since ‘Daddy’ has taken over child care duties things are not always as smooth as they might be........

The nursery had asked for more nappies on Friday, which I had bought and left in the hall by the door ready to go on Monday – as is his way my partner did not notice them – he really does not see the world as I see the world, he really does not notice the things I notice I guess it’s a matter of motivation, of interest, of concern.....

So the little one came home with ‘nursery spare’ written across his nappied bum in permanent marker pen!

‘How embarrassing!’ I thought and then he turned round and it was written across the front as well also in permanent marker pen – now he has had nappies at nursery before – unbranded! I can only conclude the staff were trying to send a message to my partner – do you think it worked? Of course not he didn’t even notice the words emblazoned across the boy’s tushie!

Even when he climbed up ‘Daddy mountain’ and shoulder shuffled his bottom literally right under his nose!

It will now be my responsibility to hand over the nappies on Friday as my work has finished for the summer, will I be able to do it without collapsing in a shameful heap?  Judged by the nineteen year old child care provider as ‘unfit’! Would my partner? He just would n’t even notice!