What do I owe my parents...?

...A lifetime of gratitude.

Today my parents made the journey back home having been up to stay for the past five days.  I had to go back to work on Wednesday but as the nursery doesn’t open until Monday I was stuck relying on my favourite babysitters for urgent childcare assistance.

Over the past few days I think every other word coming out of my mouth was “thank you” and if it wasn’t, it should have been.  In addition to taking care of Alby (no small thing) and Percy (a bigger piece of work than people assume) they also:

-          Put up a swing
-          Visited the dump to clear my cardboard and polystyrene supply
-          Cleaned my curtains (Alby’s yoghurt flinging is more impressive than I had realised)
-          Cleaned my sofa covers (Alby and Percy jointly responsible for mess there)
-          Fixed my freezer drawer
-      Bled the radiators
-          Defrosted my freezer
And that’s not to mention all the cooking and washing up that they did, plus ensuring slightly more grown up conversation than I get with just the boys each day. 

I’m sure I’m forgetting loads of other errands they did - the to do list I wrote on their arrival was no small thing.

The thing that I found hardest over the Christmas period was that I couldn’t be of any help to anybody.  If I wanted to lay the table or help serve or do the washing up I had to rely on somebody else to keep an eye on Alby.  And whilst I was keeping an eye on Alby, I couldn’t do anything else.  During the hour he spent asleep I did my best to be of use but by Boxing Day as he slept I sat without moving in the kitchen just watching Mark’s mum rush about.

Whilst I was south I met up with a school friend who has two little ones – just 17 months apart in age.  I asked if she was enjoying motherhood and she replied with “I hate that it’s hard”. 

I know exactly how she feels – well I don’t as I get overwhelmed just having Alby so I have no idea what two little ones would be like right now, but I appreciate the desire to be this natural mother who breezes through life with a baby because you’re so on top of everything and organised with it all.  And how tough it is when your life is actually anything but that.

And then my parents show up.  And, with them helping out, I get the chance to be the mother I want to be.  And the daughter I want to be.  And the employee that I want to be.  I suspect that they have gone back completely knackered and will be rejoicing a week without baby, dog and daughter to sort out.  For me, I got to sleep in this morning and that is the best gift I could ever get.  I get to start the Year feeling well rested and generally on top of things. 

What's more, I get to see how closely Alby has bonded with his grandparents.  How they are the bestest of friends.  I was sad to see them go, but they have left me on the biggest possible high. 

Sharing Granddad's toast

Story time with Narna

To my parents I give my thanks, my love and my constant admiration.  They are truly deserving.