12 July 2012

a little one on one time with my first born

Greetings all,
Mothers of more than one child either struggle to find time or schedule dedicated time to spend with each child one on one.  My children have been known to book an appointment with me (imagine my evenings with 4 children & a husband away) just to hang out, chat, plan or do something special, like French plaiting their hair.  I could be accused of keeping the odd child home from school, just to hang out, i call them 'family mental health days' & write that on the absentee note too.  I'm have written "teenager with bad attitude" on a late notes for school, the office staff love my honestly & all have teen daughters too, they understand . . . we're a club, a club i refused to go into dreading, this mother-of-teenager-dome, it doesn't have to be 'doom'.  It's going to happen, may as well hope for the best - that my teen daughters will still love me - even though i'm ruining their lives with boundaries.  
My darling first born daughter just returned from a sleepover at her school friend's vineyard, tough life for some.  She might be in year 8 & in that awkward age stage - to act cool & aloof - but she still laughed when we showed her the 'bum' apple we found in the fruit bowl while she was away.  
 I have often planned to have pedicures in Summer, then i will stub my toe barefoot outdoors or ruin a nail = pedi-cancel.  In the Wintery cocoon of ugg boots & thick socks, my nails were in great condition so i told my teen "we're getting a pedicure & with those lovely fingernails, can have a manicure too."  My husband took 3 children to see Brave, using the free double pass from Blogopolis thanks & we went to our 'mani pedi sesh' (teen speak.)   
Channelling Faux Fuchsia, i looked under the O.P.I. bottle of polish to see what clever-named-red colour i had chosen . . . wait for it . . . O.P.I. "Red".  Ok, those creative Dutch, not!!  I was too polite to check the label on my daughter's bottle, she's going to a Friday the 13th party, so picked this black/ blue/ purple dazzling colour.  She's already chipped a nail at the vineyard & was too embarrassed for me to photograph her 9/10 perfect talons.  I love that she's sporty & girlie.  My husband dropped her off at the movies (first part of the vineyard stay over) & apparently all the 'beautiful' girls (wearing full make up) were swooning over her saying "oh, my mum's never taken me to a manicure before, you're so lucky."  Score!!    
We've found another fun thing to do together (after saving some pennies) with a little warning for new players . . . those manicure seats are also massage chairs!!  I was absolutely pummelled, just as my daughter looked at my violently-vibrating-body & was about to laugh at me . . . she started getting punched in the back too.  She whispered to me "i think my massage chair is set to 'angry' mum" & now we have another in-joke, just between us, along with all the knots in our backs beaten out.  I love being in the moment during experiences like this, thinking of all the dedicated time it's taken to raise a child this far, a little pamper indulgence goes a long way, even better, together.  Love Posie

13 comments:

The Moerks said...

looks like great fun. It is so hard to squeeze in one on one time. My daughter and I squeezed in 45min the other day and most of that was spent bra shopping. At least that part was girly.

Tania McCartney said...

I so want those toenails!!! x

Anonymous said...

I have a year 8 teenager in the house, so I feel your pain. mine talks VERY loudly when she thinks she is being clever - aarrgghh, hope she grows out of it soon!

tash

Cas said...

how gorgeous spending girly time with your first born :)i remember doing it with my mum for her 60th. it was her first ever pedi & massage & it was so special sharing it with her :)

The Accidental Housewife said...

That sounds like a wonderful trip! Even if she's occasionally obtuse, I'm sure she's absorbing and appreciating all your love, despite the attitude she might bung on.

alison@thisbloominglife said...

Hmmm, I struggle with my pre-teen who in my day would have been classified a teen. It happens so early and she is still really a baby. Oh I know, I'm old, old, old. Time really is the key, there is no substitute for it. Thanks for the timely reminder...enjoy!

ally said...

So ripped off with that red colour name!!!
One on one time (doing anything) is to be cherished

Jan Maree said...

it is these kind of experiences that will become her cherished memories in years to come, keep on being the wonderful mum you are Posie - she is so lucky!

ClaireyHewitt said...

Red! Plain old fabulous red!

My big girl is now six, we sneak in a hot chocolate on Wednesday's before crèche pick up when I get her after school. It's lovely. She also does my pedi for me...but only in winter when no one sees my toes!

TexWisGirl said...

this is awesome. i felt the bonds between mother and daughter. :)

Mum on the Run said...

Beautiful - in every way.
Oh - I neeeeeeed a pedicure now!!
(Minus the beating though!)
:-) xx

Sindy said...

I loved the painted toenails - no guessing where that size of foot came from - still, as you always said, it makes shoe shopping in the sales very easy as they always have your size left...

Makeminemidcentury said...

What a sweet post. I agree, it's hard to find the time to focus on one child at a time. I'm thinking of doing the same thing when I have days off work ... taking turns at giving each of them a day off school to do something solo.