h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yesterday was off (did I mention that he started a new job last Monday?)

So after work I went to the gym with some colleagues, and when I got home the Gruesomes were in bed. Only #2 wasn't asleep, her door was open and her blinds weren't down. So I went in and put the blinds down and gave her a kiss.

#1's door was closed, and because it was right after falling asleep time, I had a listen at the door, heard nothing and wet downstairs. After about an hour, #2 came down and said "I think #1's crying"

went up, then called me. The poor lamb hadn't been asleep, she had been listening to a quiet story on CD. She waited and waited for me to come in and when I didn't convinced herself that I don't love her. Sobbed her little heart out.

Bad bad mummy! Of course, I was in there for half an hour talking to her and so on, and she's ok now, but oh my...

My poor lamb!

Oh my , sorry for here. But this doesn't make you a bad mum, and you know that, I hope

That was me 20 years ago, only I didn't have a co-parent. My girls are 28 and 26 now, I miss those little girls, but I love my big girls and they love me

ah we're fine.

I only have a co-parent one or two evenings a week, so I can imagine how it is for single parents.

sometimes I wish I could mention that a bit more to my workmates or others - they seem to think that because I'm still with the other parent, we're both there at the same time. In fact we are - but only when we (and the Gruesomes) are asleep

sorry... bad day.

anyone?

oh and yes, In general I do pretty ok at the Mummy thing.

#2 is having awful trouble keeping secret whatever it is they are making at school for Mother's Day!

I know how it is to be alone with the kids for most of the time.
is fine, thanks.

I have a rather tasty orange spice at the moment
yummy!

Mmmh, sounds good

I used to try to be the perfect mother - and eventually decided that there was no such thing. I ended up settling for being 'good enough' most of the time, with a few moments of absolute brilliance and even more really crap ones.

I think you should award yourself the title of Pretty Darn Good, Sho

thank you

I've come around to that way of thinking too - I guess most of us get there, sooner or later

What are these s of which you speak?

My childhood largely consisted of being ignored by them.

RF

Huge s

I'm having a really tough week with my 2.

I know the so-called "terrible twos" were bad - but the teenage years, with the lies, and manipulation and deliberate deceipt, and constant fighting and pushing of boundaries and consistent rule breaking....I am seriously going grey as we speak. What hair I haven't torn out, that is.

Who knows what the right way to do this is. Every parent does what they see is best. Maybe it is, maybe in long term retrospect it isn't.

I know the profabity filter won't let me give the full Philip Larkin quote of what your parents do to you. And I know I'm trying my utmost not to. But it is SOOOOO hard this job.

Sorry for ranting. And mucho respect to concerned parents everywhere.

Gawds, Philip Larkin has a lot to answer for! It's a horrible truism that as you get older,and as your children get older you realise that what they did is (generally) what they honestly believed was the best for you.

I very often and heartily wish that I had ignored that biological clock, stuffed my fingers in my ears and sang "lalalalala I can't hear you" until it had gone away.

But it's too late now, and of course I really would NOT be without the little pests most of the time.

But oh my.

oh and Mr. RF

your parents obviously had the right idea, since you don't totally suck

Mmm.

#3 Gradientling convinced herself this week that no one loves her because no one laughs at her jokes.

#3 is an immovable object when it comes to opinions she holds.

for Sho, because I've had one of those half hours where you try to remind a kid how the world is instead of how they've convinced themselves it is too this week.

Want some good news, Sho?
Eldest Gradientling now works for a living and in the space of three weeks has developed respect for her parents.

Note: not "more", just "some" respect. We weren't expecting that.
If you feel like a chuckle at the expense of a teenager, let me know and I'll relate the details.

oh yes
tell all

and big for #3. Life is a bag of toenails a lot of the time, I've convinced myself of that and there's nobody here to help me out of it...

As I was explaining, only two minutes ago on another thread, our Parents probably thought the same. I know mine did. I was no but not a complete either. I think the leaving home for College, or gap year (which w didn't have as no-one could afford it) solves a lot of these things. Especially if there is a fair distance. I was desperate to go to College in Scotland, as it was as far away from Kent as I could get. I had to compromise on Manchester eventually, but still didn't get home once during the first term, and did I get a shellacing for that, both verbally and physically. Didn't do it the second either .

But they are stil the best parents in the world, despite what my sisters say.



You can but do your best, as they don't come witha "Parenting for Dummies" manual, and there is no GCSE on Parenting that I am aware of.

hey you!

( did you get the link to my photos?</offtopic&gt

I was at boarding school from 11, and before that my dad was rarely home (the Army before it got all fluffy almost frowned on the idea of families)

ah well... we do our best.

No one is a perfect parent even after 12 years it's still trial and error for me

Are we sitting comfortably?

Then I'll begin.

Eldest lands herself a job at Harkins, a movie theatre chain. She is startled by a number of things.

1: They insist on specific clothes. There is no "nearly" in the dress code.

2: There is no recess.

3: She tries to book time off, to be told that she hasn't earned any yet.

4: She confronts a manager, telling him that unless she can work in a different part of the building she will hand in her notice. The manager smiles and tells her that either way, she's working where she's working and she's welcome to quit...at the end of her shift.

5: She was surprised when her boss was annoyed at her for getting in late "because it's usually OK at school..."

6: Her least favorite customers are...wait for it...smart-mouth teenagers who think they're *so* funny.

7: Talking back makes the angry person yell at you longer.

8: She now has her own money. Now all cash from parents is accompanied by "when can you pay me back?".

9: She now has her own money...and tax! ("That's so unfair! Why do they do that?! God!").

10: When she finishes work she's very resentful of her sisters crowding around her and talking rubbish just so they can spend some time with her; she gets quite rude and blunt about it, wants space and some time to unwind. She told us this. Then she stopped talking and apologized for doing the crowding and babbling thing to us for the last two years.

As for #3...we had a father/daughter half hour on the subject of wit, funny and jokes. And the end result is...#3 still isn't funny but she's got the idea that she might be witty. Which she is. Kinda. It's hard to be Oscar Wilde when you're ten.