About Me

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I live in Kent with my husband, toddler Tilly (henceforth known as Monkey) and another baby due in November. We have two cats, Duncan and Lady Macbeth, and four chickens who kindly lay us eggs daily. We live in the picturesque seaside town of Broadstairs. I enjoy reading, knitting and cooking. I'm trying to be a bit 'greener' (not sure how successfully), and to be a gentle parent. Extended breastfeeding and co-sleeping don't freak me out, we use cloth nappies and try to follow some of the ideals of Attachment Parenting. If that sounds as if I know what I'm doing, I don't! I am also a psychotherapist with an interest in Focusing-oriented therapy, and I have a small private practice in the area.

Tuesday, 20 January 2009

Nanna and the Poorly Monkey



Poor babe has been unwell. She was looking a bit pale and tired yesterday. Nanna (my Mum) was minding her yesterday while I was at work. It was a bit of a nightmare day: I set out at 8.30am to drive to Canary Wharf for my first, 10am, client, but had to turn back because the roads were gridlocked. The Blackwall Tunnel was closed and I couldn't get across the river. I ditched the car halfway home and walked to get the train instead, I had to cancel my first client, something I hate doing. I was feeling really upset because it meant I would be home later than scheduled and I had already booked one extra client in, meaning that the babe would be without her mama for over 8 hours :-( As it turned out, when I eventually made it home I was more upset than she was, and a long feed pretty much made up for my absence. Nanna stayed over as I had another couple of hours work this morning, and Daddy was leaving early to go to work in Wales for a couple of days. At 4am Monkey came into bed with us and after having an enormous feed promptly vomited the entire lot into the bed- cue frantic bedclothes changing. Monkey just wouldn't settle after that, so I went to take her downstairs at about 6am but before I could get there she was sick again, all down both of us. She felt very hot and feverish, and was very distressed, so I called Nanna who helped us to get cleaned up. Babe was running a high temperature and for the next couple of hours could only lie on me whimpering and nursing a little. We're pretty sure it's teething rather than a bug. I felt horrible having to go to work again, but I knew Nanna would look after her well, and indeed she fell asleep for a couple of hours on her lap. Her temperature has gradually subsided and she had a nap this afternoon and even managed a few spoonfuls of porridge. She also modelled her new pink bolero knitted by Nanna (I'll post a photo tomorrow, it's GORGEOUS!). Babe went up to bed just half an hour ago; she wasn't settling upstairs on her own so I brought her back down again. She'll sleep with me tonight, firstly because she's unwell but also because I don't like her sleeping in a separate room from me when we're in this house by ourselves.
I've rambled on but what I really wanted to say was how fantastic my Mum has been, not just today but ever since the Monkey came along. On a couple of occasions she has told me how proud she is of me, but I'm also really proud and impressed by what a fantastic Nanna she is. I don't find it easy to ask for help but it felt okay today to ask Mum to stick around and lend a hand. I think she must have done about 8 loads of washing in 2 days, and that isn't an exaggeration. It gives me such pleasure to see how she interacts with the baby, it really has given her a new lease of life, not that she's particularly old or anything, just that she seems energised and rejuvenated spending time with us. I think it has revived our relationship.

2 comments:

Daisie said...

Hope your monkey is better soon!
Hugs xxx

Claire said...

Poor Tilly! Poor you too, it's so horrid when they are ill.

I liked reading about your relationship with your mum - with mine we are about a million times closer now I have my children, it really mended and rejuvinated something between us. Plus aside from dh she is the only person who loves my children as much as I do and is always as endlessly fascinated by them as I am. Which is wonderful :)

Oh - and the colour of your wool is fab! Looking forward to seeing the babylegs - I have not even started mine yet!

Claire