SUBURBAN TURMOIL FULL

I had just about made my mind up to go in with the flu regardless (why should I be the only one to suffer?) when the nursery phoned. yes you've guessed it, the flu returned and flawed me once again. Following ANOTHER spell off work, wiping brows, cleaning up vomit, worrying and getting no sleep I dragged myself into work once more before. I pulled it together for long enough to go in for 3 days before Z came down with a vomiting bug. Needless to say that work were not best pleased with me. Yet again, flu is going round, I managed to contract the nasty bug 4 days after my wedding (not surprising considering the guest list resembled something out of a doctors surgery) and I was bed ridden (for all the wrong reasons) for the following week. At least in dire situations there's usually a warning, if you know you are going into battle then you arm yourself - I had nothing. I want my sweet, affectionate, cuddly, slightly chubby baby back! Actually, screw that, if I'm wishing for things - I want my life back! (Or just a straight nights sleep?) To top it all off I wasn't prepared for this jekyl and hyde transformation. Yes I know 'it's just a phase' but blah blah bloody blah. I am at my wits end with lack of sleep and the constant antidote of praising and reprimanding - sometimes simultaneously when it all gets too much.

Independant has eat, except for the fact that he is accompanied by his best friend 'NO!' The growling, yelling, tantrums, madness, refusal of all foods other than chocolate and sausage (don't ask), utter hyperactivity, and insomnia, thrown in with the occasional bout of biting has made the perfect recipe for a cocktail of hell. I haven't felt remotely festive this year what with sickness and being busy at work - Z's apparent new attitude is not helping. I hope he understands that when he's older and doesn't repeatedly yell 'YOU WERE NEVER THERE!' across the therapists couch at me. I still have to build my career from virtually nothing and it requires grit, determination and an ability to survive on 4 hours sleep a night. Z doesn't have a typical 30-something mummy and daddy at the peak of their careers and finances. Every time he is sick or clingy I want to throw in the towel at work to be with him more but I must remind myself that this isn't a normal situation.

SUBURBAN TURMOIL FULL

I suppose it's my guilty conscience about working 5 days a week, he isn't old enough to be aware that some children have the luxury of real attention from at least one of their parents full time. He is like a sponge, absorbing everything, very much academically ready for school but perhaps a tad too young emotionally (typical male!) I'm really proud of how he copes and adapts to everything that life throws at him and carries on with the same cheerful attitude regardless. Due to where his birthday falls he must however wait a further year before he can begin school, during which we will have to make a much bigger effort to get him reading and writing properly. He's getting on fine at nursery but he is bright enough to be at school this September. He has grown a lot and now hos a 'big boy' hair cut (sob). Z is becoming a real boy now, losing a lot of the babyness about him.

Suburban turmoil