Monday, January 19, 2009

Just counting down the days.

I had the day off yesterday because I'm still feeling pretty much like crapola, but I'm back to a semi-full house today and I have to be totally honest with you and admit that I'm dreading it.
Dreading it with a capital D !!

It's been a very hectic round of school holiday's (summer vacation) this year and I'm so thankful that it's beginning to wind down. I only have 4 more days to get though and like the little engine that could says: I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.
I've come to the conclusion that I like children just fine, but I wish some of my parents had practised birth control a little more rigorously.

I'm beaded out, because I've beaded until my eyes cross.
I've colored/coloured in until my hands cramp.
I've glued sh** on paper, cardboard, card-stock and toilet paper rolls and then covered it with glitter. Enough glitter to make the entire house look like it's a fairy garden and you know that stuff doesn't vacuum up at all.
I have shoveled enough sand to make a 10 story high sand castle and have the blisters to prove it.
I have grass stains on my knees from attempting to run 3 legged races or from playing kickball with extremely short and uncoordinated little folks.
I've got scrapes on my legs from being plowed down by tricycles
and I've had my toes run over by training wheels.
We've cooked and baked in the oven, done bake-less biscuits. (cookies)
Sliced enough fruit for fruit salad to feed the populations of small countries
and the children even had a go at making butter with paddles.
(note to self : Don't EVER do this again!)

We've bird watched.
Identified plants around the garden.
Planted seeds and cuttings and have weeded the children's garden so well, that there's barely anything left but bare dirt.
Just dirt.
No worms.
The worms have all been carted away in pockets or used to scare little girls at the lunch table.
Some may even have been eaten.

And that's not even getting into the normal ,daily, day to day stuff.
Puzzles, drawing, counting, threading, reading, story telling, free play, structured play and bribing/coaxing irritable little ones into having a nap so that I can have a bit of a breather.

The problem with school hol's is that even when the littlies go down for a sleep... IF they go down for a sleep, you still have the older kids to contend with... and they refuse to go down for a nap at ALL. And "quiet time"? You're joking... right?
Even bribery doesn't work on 8-11 year olds. Unless maybe I had a Wii. But I'm not cool enough to have a Wii, so the little darlin's are just out of luck and are stuck forevermore with the Nintendo 64.
Deal with it, sweetheart.

The older kids tend to look at the time while the little ones are down, as their time and they just want to party hearty. And talk about whining ! An 8 year old can whine louder, longer, more consistently and more constructively than even a 3 year old can. And they know how to get your goat... every single day.

And they're doing all this, when I still feel like I've been run over with a Mack truck and I'm still barking and sweating like a demented seal with menopausal hot flashes?
WHY? Don't they care that I feel sick?

Hey, I can understand fully, why some species eat their young.


Thanks to Barb at A Cowboys Wife, I've found that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!
I'll remember this for next time !

16 comments:

Libby's Library said...

I'm so sorry - wish I could be there to help out. Maybe you could give the kids the tequila, as it sent you into la-la land (although I'm beginning to think that you live in la-la land:)!

Sherri said...

We have an old game cube. I'd send it your way but I promised it to Drav, Griff and Brandy. Hang in there Katie you'll get through it. Best part of your job is you get to send them attitudes home at the end of the day. Maybe you should get some help a few hours a week during summer break. A teenager maybe, not only would it help you out, but teach them abstinence.

Anonymous said...

I hope you are feeling better. I have to admire you. Only a few hours with my grandchildren ages 2 and 6, and I am exhausted. I know what I had my 2 very young.
Tending to the animals and farm chores do now wear me out as much.
It sounds like you have a lot of great activities for them(and you).

I know you can, I know you can.
Take care.
Pam

Tatersmama said...

Lib, methinks that you're beginning to know me too well!

Sherri, Don't I wish I could get some help around here, but sadly, it's against council regulations. Dick heads.

Pam, It's kind of like caring for grandchildren. The first few days of school hol's (no... make that hours) are kind of fun, but after that, you just can't wait for the parents to come back and pick 'em them up, so you can regain your sanity!

The Wife said...

Do you have any tranquilizer darts?

Tatersmama said...

"The Wife said...
Do you have any tranquilizer darts?"

ROFLMCLAO!!!!
No... Do you have some I could borrow? ;-)

CindyDianne said...

I hear Benedryl works too! That is what I HEAR anyway! lol

Tatersmama said...

YEAH!
Darts loaded with Benadryl!
I'm pretty sure that would work a treat!
;-)

Narelle said...

It's a shame we don't live closer we could have a play date and share the holiday blues together :)

rubiesrnotpurple said...

Oh Kate, duck down to your local milkbar and get some 'valium' bars - it's your choice whether you feed them to the kids or eat them all yourself. Just remember if you eat them - who's taking care of your house with all those children in it. (I asked the man at my milkbar to get some valium bars. Two weeks later he told me that he couldn't find a supplier. Did I know who supplied them? The poor man wondered why I was rolling on his floor laughing.)
No toilet rolls allowed in FDC craft boxes. You have to cut paper towel rolls in half.
Why can't you have a teenager come in and do stuff - like ironing or sweeping?
My schoolies know if they so much as breathe loudly during quiet time, they go to bed. I am so mean my friend.
It'll be over before you know it. You can use one of my mantras if you like.
- "They go home. They go home."
- "Think of the money. Think of the money."
Truthfully though - some of the little blighters are wonderful.
Enjoy

The W.O.W. factor! said...

WOW Ms KatieTatie! I love kids...but doubt I could do what you are doing! Gotta hand it to ya...want a huge slap on the back? Might knock you out for a spell...give ya some rest from the weary!

Awwwww....but the munchkins keep ya young, eh?

The W.O.W. factor! said...

ps...you can change the date & time of posting in the "post options" section right next to your "labels"..

Tania said...

Now I remember why I don't have dc schoolies in the holidays. My 12yo son is enough without having anymore to contend with.

My previous schoolies were actually really good and played with the younger ones to take the pressure off me.

The holidays have been really quiet for me this year with heaps of days off. Yay!

Lucky you have a good sense of humour Tatersmama. Honestly I don't know how some carers do all that they do. I feel really lazy by not taking on more than I can handle.

Enjoy the hot weather and stay cool.

Tania

Sherri said...

I just thought of something Kate. When my mom had her cafe, she had one customer who couldn't have lettuce because it has a natural opiate in it. It would put him to sleep pretty much instantly. You could always boil a head of iceburg lettuce and spike their kool-aid...lol I also heard that tuna fish acts as a sleep aid for children.

Tatersmama said...

Rubies... Valium ice cream? Well, if they don't carry it, maybe we need to start working on developing a new business venture, eh?

Holy Cow... tranquilizer darts, benadryl,valium ice cream and now lettuce for the opiates !!
You gals are WICKED!

( pssssttt...Tania and Narelle, are you girls paying attention here? "wink wink" )

Sherri said...

hehehe at least you don't need a permit or perscription for lettuce, and it's cheaper then benadryl.


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