Hey Ellie – slipped discs, that’s me, for real, I do actually have 2 prolapsed discs at the moment and no time to go and get the doctor prescribed X-ray. Having just waved off my 6 and 5 year old nephews who have been staying for 4 days and now welcoming my 12 year old niece and her friend for a two day stay (accompanied by my sister-in-law) for a birthday trip to Westfield I can honestly say that I will be amazed if any of my discs are in place by the weekend.
It’s the bending down, to pick up toys, and the lifting that one forgets comes with the territory of youngsters. Being an Aunt to young ones in my Fifties is fine but with no sign of grandchildren then it looks like I am going to be a 60+ Granny and will I still be able I ask myself? The car seats and the torturous shape you have to twist into to fasten the seatbelt, the endless jumpers, bags, drinks that inevitably get shedded on a day out so you end up looking like a ‘bag lady’.
Returning home and the joy of a cup of tea and feet up……oh no such luck, time to cook supper, run baths, put washing on (do young boys really change outfits that often?!), play a game, read a bedtime story during which it is more likely that I will nod off than them.
You fall into bed exhausted at 8.30 pm, no energy to cook let alone eat one’s own supper, to then be woken at 2 am because the youngest found the film that you took them to (so you could have a nap in the cinema) was so scary. Apparently Queen Victoria looked like a ‘wesbian’ – another word incorrectly picked up from their 17 year old cousin, and assumed to be a scary description of a person!
At 7 a.m. there was a request to do a puzzle, whilst cooking pancakes please. Clearly they believe their Aunt has legs and arms like an octopus.
So tomorrow off to Westfield with two eager young fashionistas, trainers on (for me) as there will be a lot of walking, more coats and bags to carry, credit cards melted but hopefully another happy young niece by the end of the day.
But, and this is the good part, I wouldn’t relinquish this joy of having them to stay for all the money in the world……Mmmm, maybe not all!
Just a word of advice to my children, I am checking myself into a home when I turn 60 so that there is no way they can dump grandchildren on me!
P.S. Husband has driven them home so if anyone sees an exhausted Uncle asleep in a service station off the M4 – let him be as he needs his rest! I am collapsed on the sofa with that well-earned cup of tea, having just received text from sister-in-law saying she is running 2 hours late….phew time for a snooze!