Tuesday, September 25, 2007

The Middle Years.

"I need to have a chat with you." I say to hubby as he gathers up his laptop and heads off out through the door on his way to work.

It's a chat that has been waiting for at least three months. There are a million and one things that we need to sort out. Little things. Some big things. Things that need input from both of us. But between the chauffeuring of the kids, the washing, the work, the committees and various other commitments, talking to each other is, on a scale of one to ten........................minus five thousand.

"Yes", says hubby, "but not now, I'm on my way to work."

"You did say that you would take a day off, just to talk."

"I can't take any days off in September" he says.

"Can I book a day in October then?"

"Yes, that should be fine."

Meanwhile, will someone please tell me why I probably had forty classes teaching me how to give birth, and was even offered classes fifth time round, (as clearly nature had changed in the previous 20 months), why we were given midwives, health visitors and regular support in child rearing for the first five years of the children's lives, five times round, but, just when it starts to get really challenging, interesting, impossible to deal with.................

Everyone has disappeared off the face of the earth?

Health visitors? Where are you now?

Don't you know that I could bring up fifty 'four year olds' standing on my head reading a story backwards with funny voices and strange accents, whilst mopping up the spills and baking a cake all at the same time?

But it's now that it's got 'tricky'. With three teenagers and a nine and seven year old...

So where are you?????

I guess you'll be back when our teenagers are all grown up and dealing with their own teenagers, and we are old.

Fortunately though for all the health professionals, anyone aged from forty to sixty five disappears from the G.P.'s computer screens.

Saves a lot of wasted time for doctors.

Lucky really, for them.

p.s. Meanwhile I have discovered on signing up to an American website that I can lose seven months without even blinking.

In fact, this particular website insisted that I was still 44, despite putting in my DOB.

It doesn't work for all of you.... But my DOB is 12th May. Now in the USA, when I write 12/5 that reads as 5th December....... So I'm still 44 in the USA...

28 comments:

Alice Band said...

You know what i've been thinking exactly the same thing. I am sooo bored with youngish mothers going on and on about nursery schools and what to feed their little darligns etc. Jeeze, now its just total firgging heartache. Maybe we should write the book Sally? A chapter each?

sallywrites said...

That sounds good!
My first chapter could be "putting your foot in it!" (As per previous post:))

meredic said...

A shameless attempt to fish for more cards. I really think you should have held back on this one until the first week of May though.
What happened to that book Sally? And when are you going to tell me how to do one?

pierre l said...

But, if I remember the French way of doing things, you are in your 46th year. *ducks* and says sorry.

sallywrites said...

Meredic

No cards. No....

Just a shameless way to make myself younger....

Re book, it's needs rethinking. My idea works I think, but the first draft as is doesn't. So am going to rewrite.

Re publishing........

I wish I knew. I have been hounding people for years just to take on an article or two and publish it. (I used to write some columns for our local daily a few years back. Have been trying to get another deal for a long time now!) As for a book, I, like you am a beginner.

In the meantime, if anyone would like an weekly article in "Sally style", please use me. We need a boiler. It's nearly winter!

And while you are at it, Meredic could do with a publisher for his 'Ordinary Life' Series. We would all like to buy it for people at Christmas, so there must be someone out there who would like to publish it?

pierre l said...

I hope the comment above wasn't too rude. I'll read the rest of your post properly this evening.

sallywrites said...

Hi Pierre
That's the way my father always used to do it. Still does. He will sazy "I am in my 85th year......"

No.

The Americans say I am 44. That will do. That's enough years.

sallywrites said...

Hi Pierre

No not rude at all!

FH said...

LOL!! We had re-learn the date and lot spellings too when we moved to US! We learn Queen's English in India, everything is opposite her.
My DOB is Feb 6th (6/2 in India and UK) but here they switched as June 2nd (6/2!). I am 4 mnts younger too!!;p

Alix said...

Hi Sally,

I've been reading you for a few months but this is my first comment. Just wanted to say I really enjoy your post, you always make me laugh. We've just moved to the US and I've been confusing everyone saying my birthday is 25/6 - many strange looks.

Alix

P.s I've linked to you on my very new (only 1 post) blog hope that is okay

sallywrites said...

Hi Asha

I've had quite some fun with the date thing. Quite a few of my friends who had been younger than me for instance, are now older.....

Hi Alix!

Welcome to the Sally blog. It's always lovely when people come out into the open, and hey ..... I have a new reader. Good luck in Washington!

Anonymous said...

Drop me an email?

Anonymous said...

Well, as far as birthdays go - you can be as young as you want on any site - just change that last number after the 196.

Unknown said...

Hell. my b'day is 28/1 ??

Anonymous said...

I'm glad I'm single. The only people I have to book time to see are my lecturers.

sallywrites said...

Hubby - Thanks. I'll keep you posted.
Karmyn - Now that is brilliance.
John - Guess yours would be thrown back at you then. No getting younger for you!
Ig - I used to cancel most of my appointments with my lecturers and reschedule them. Usually due to needing several extensions on an essay or six.....those were the days.

Mary Alice said...

I too am up to my armpits in teenage angst...three teenagers all at once, obviously my family planning foresight was lacking...anyway, all the mothers in my neighborhood have small children and spent all their spare time looking concerned, comparing their children’s milestones, working on getting the "right" teacher for first grade and seeing specialist for how Johnny is holding his pencil. They worry so over nothing. If they were smart they would conserve energy for the trouble to come. I pine for the old days of a simple screaming toddler fit....those were the easiest of times! Now I feel alone adrift a turbid sea of illogical hormones.

sallywrites said...

Mary Alice

I fully understand!!! Like you I have 3 teenagers.....Now mad as I am I also went on to have the other two.............but what bliss the little ones are!! So easy..... Like you I wish all young mothers would conserve their energy for times to come....

I do sometimes wonder though. Will I find my younger two much easier when they are teenagers, and wonder what all the fuss waas about this time round??

I'll let you know in four or five years time!

Anonymous said...

It won't work for me, sadly, my birthday is 31/12 (December 31st) so I guess I'll have to stay at my current age.
I'm blithly going through life trying to deny teenage years will happen, thanks!
I usually have to e-mail my hubby, talk to him by cell, or wake him up to have a good conversation (needless to say he like the last choice the least!) We're just too busy, I guess.

Anonymous said...

'likes'

Pamela said...

take a deep cleansing breath......
now S.C.R.E.A.M.

there. don't you feel better?

Beccy said...

It's the reverse here Sally, now Joules has finished his degree he's here lots, I find it weird (in a nice way)!

As for teenagers, I've only one and would be happy to keep it that way but Mollie isn't very compliant!

meredic said...

OK, She Of The Town House, Headless Chicken, your good self and others. I shall spend October rewriting and expanding 'ordinary life'. I think 6 to 18 has legs.

sallywrites said...

Lisa - They will ahppen!
Pamela - Thank you!
Meredic - VERY glad to hear it!

la bellina mammina said...

I'm 22 and I'm sticking to it! ;-)
Hi Sally, sorry I haven't been visiting. Have you received the invite to my blog?

Akelamalu said...

Oh teenagers - I remember that part. :(
Tell me again how to lose several years?

sallywrites said...

La B - Have indeed, thank you! And have visted too!
Ak - The SAY system is the best. Sally Adult Years. Blog post about December last year...

sallywrites said...

Hi Ak!

It was January!

It's here!