An example of mummy and daddy humour as we're putting him to bed...
W: It's funny how he sometimes sleeps with one eye partly open.
Me: I swear he can see us.
W: Our little pirate.
Me: If he becomes a modern pirate, he might end up hijacking yachts and kidnapping rich older couples.
W: That's true. Where would we put them up?
Me: No one ever pays the ransom. We'd have to build a granny annexe.
W: (to baby) Let's draw a line at kidnapping eh?
Me: And hijacking.
W: That too.
Me: Stick to the nicer bits of pirating eh? Travelling and singing.
Clears throat and sings
Oh! The pirate alphabet is very very short,
N, O, P, Q, Arrr!
And the pirates sail in a great big boat, on the
Y, Z, A, B, Sea!
Like it?
W: Love it!
Little J smiles too.
Showing posts with label mummy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mummy. Show all posts
Monday, 16 January 2012
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Give Way
Parenthood changes us in many small ways. Just a few months ago we thought little at crossing the road wherever we wanted. Now, for baby's sake and sheer ease of manoeuvrability, we always find safe and convenient places to cross.
We're just about to cross a small road, checking behind us. A car has stopped in the main road, holding up traffic behind, and beckons us across.
Me: (mouthing) No, you go.
Driver: (gesturing) *After you*
Me: (mouthing) You go.
The driver edges forward and I stop W from crossing.
Driver: (gesturing) *After you*
Me: (mouthing) After you.
This is getting silly but I wave him past with a larger hand motion than he can muster. We then cross.
W: He was just being nice.
Me: I know and so was I. He was edging forward and I'm was a bit dubious about that. Plus I didn't want to hold the traffic up any more.
W: We had right of way.
Me: We did? I'm not sure.
W: Benefit should always been given to the pedestrian.
Me: I think you might be right.
W: (to the baby) Mummy is right.
Me: (to the baby) Hear that boy? There's a phrase to get used to.
And of course I later checked it in the Highway Code (Rule 8). Mummy is right.
We're just about to cross a small road, checking behind us. A car has stopped in the main road, holding up traffic behind, and beckons us across.
Me: (mouthing) No, you go.
Driver: (gesturing) *After you*
Me: (mouthing) You go.
The driver edges forward and I stop W from crossing.
Driver: (gesturing) *After you*
Me: (mouthing) After you.
This is getting silly but I wave him past with a larger hand motion than he can muster. We then cross.
W: He was just being nice.
Me: I know and so was I. He was edging forward and I'm was a bit dubious about that. Plus I didn't want to hold the traffic up any more.
W: We had right of way.
Me: We did? I'm not sure.
W: Benefit should always been given to the pedestrian.
Me: I think you might be right.
W: (to the baby) Mummy is right.
Me: (to the baby) Hear that boy? There's a phrase to get used to.
And of course I later checked it in the Highway Code (Rule 8). Mummy is right.
Monday, 19 September 2011
The Fountain of Youth
We're gazing down on a peaceful baby as he lies in his bassinet.
W: He's such a precious little thing. It's a shame that he has to grow up.
Me: Yeah, but that won't happen just yet.
W: I suppose, he is only 10 days old.
Me: And quite the little trooper.
W: (smiles) Did you have another changing incident?
Me: Uh-Huh.
W: Much?
Me: He only got my T-shirt this time.
W: Better than his own vest.
Me: I suppose you could say that his direction is improving...
W: It's a reaction to the cold air when you open the nappy.
Me: I know that, but the thing that gets me is that it doesn't happen straight away. It's almost like he waits a full minute later, when I'm in the middle of doing something else, like placing the new nappy underneath or reaching for a cotton ball...
W: ...and then he lets it go?
Me: Yeah.
I pick J up and he starts to wake.
W: Mummy's little rascal.
Me: He looks so calm.
W: To be honest, it looks like he's working something through.
Me: Such peacefulness means internal forces are at play.
W: Or it could just be a Pavlovian response to Daddy.
Me: Don't say that!
W: (laughs) I'm joking! He does it to me too.
Me: Glad to hear it.
W: He's such a precious little thing. It's a shame that he has to grow up.
Me: Yeah, but that won't happen just yet.
W: I suppose, he is only 10 days old.
Me: And quite the little trooper.
W: (smiles) Did you have another changing incident?
Me: Uh-Huh.
W: Much?
Me: He only got my T-shirt this time.
W: Better than his own vest.
Me: I suppose you could say that his direction is improving...
W: It's a reaction to the cold air when you open the nappy.
Me: I know that, but the thing that gets me is that it doesn't happen straight away. It's almost like he waits a full minute later, when I'm in the middle of doing something else, like placing the new nappy underneath or reaching for a cotton ball...
W: ...and then he lets it go?
Me: Yeah.
I pick J up and he starts to wake.
W: Mummy's little rascal.
Me: He looks so calm.
W: To be honest, it looks like he's working something through.
Me: Such peacefulness means internal forces are at play.
W: Or it could just be a Pavlovian response to Daddy.
Me: Don't say that!
W: (laughs) I'm joking! He does it to me too.
Me: Glad to hear it.
Friday, 16 September 2011
All Names Have Been Changed
The arrival of J has changed the names we give to things.* Here are a few examples.
Ourselves (during most baby-related tasks)
W: (changing J) If Daddy could just hand me one of those cotton balls...
Me: Is Mummy changing little J?
W: Daddy's going to look after you in a moment. The next change will be Daddy's turn...
The Nursery (although we saw this one coming)
Me: Have you seen the wet wipes?
W: They're in the study.
Me: Where?
W: The nursery.
Me: The nursery, yes. The space formerly known as the spare room.
Flaily
W: We can't call him Flaily now he's out in the world.
Me: I agree. He's got a proper name now.
W: No more Flaily.
Me: Or El Flailerino.
W: And definitely not the Flailmeister General.
Grandparents
My Mum: (during a phone call) I'm glad you're all doing well. I'll just put Grandad on so he can have a word.
Me: You just called Dad 'Grandad'.
Mum: Yes, I know. That's what he is.
Me: It just sounded funny at first. We've all got different names now.
*It all makes sense to us but, rest assured, I'm not changing the 'Me' and 'W' to 'Mummy' and 'Daddy' - that would be too cutesy and make the blog just a little vomit-inducing. On a deeper level, this link to the work of Saussure is a very interesting introduction to the way we understand each other through names.
Ourselves (during most baby-related tasks)
W: (changing J) If Daddy could just hand me one of those cotton balls...
Me: Is Mummy changing little J?
W: Daddy's going to look after you in a moment. The next change will be Daddy's turn...
The Nursery (although we saw this one coming)
Me: Have you seen the wet wipes?
W: They're in the study.
Me: Where?
W: The nursery.
Me: The nursery, yes. The space formerly known as the spare room.
Flaily
W: We can't call him Flaily now he's out in the world.
Me: I agree. He's got a proper name now.
W: No more Flaily.
Me: Or El Flailerino.
W: And definitely not the Flailmeister General.
Grandparents
My Mum: (during a phone call) I'm glad you're all doing well. I'll just put Grandad on so he can have a word.
Me: You just called Dad 'Grandad'.
Mum: Yes, I know. That's what he is.
Me: It just sounded funny at first. We've all got different names now.
*It all makes sense to us but, rest assured, I'm not changing the 'Me' and 'W' to 'Mummy' and 'Daddy' - that would be too cutesy and make the blog just a little vomit-inducing. On a deeper level, this link to the work of Saussure is a very interesting introduction to the way we understand each other through names.
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