Blessed

As the majority of my posts are about my kids driving me completely bonkers, I wanted it to be documented that sometimes I feel so blessed by being a mum that I could cry (which makes a change from the other ways my children regularly reduce me to tears ;)).

I went out with friends last night, had a late one and woke up early as hubby was working.  The boys came and got into bed with me for a cuddle and when J learned what time I got in he said, ‘It’s OK, Mum, I’ll take the little ones downstairs and you can go back to sleep. Have two hours or five, I’ll look after them.’  Bless him.  It was obviously never going to happen but the offer was there, he meant it and I appreciated it.

As I lay awake willing myself to get up I could hear them pottering about in the kitchen and my four-year old asking J, ‘What can we get for Mummy? Should we get her some orange juice?’ and J answering, ‘We don’t have any until Mummy goes shopping.’ (Bad, neglectful Mummy). Then M said, ‘Shall we make her a brew?’ to which J replied, ‘No, we’re not allowed to use the kettle.’  And even though I obviously wasn’t going to get a drink anytime soon, I was touched that they were trying to look after me (…whilst also observing health and safety).

After ten minutes (not quite the two hours, or indeed five, that J had originally suggested) I heard the pitter patter…well thud, thud, thud of clumsy feet on the stairs and the door opened to J balancing a very, very full bowl of cereal.  I didn’t particularly want cereal just at that moment but J said he thought I’d be hungry after all that time (!) so they watched as I struggled down my body weight in Special K with a teaspoon (with my two-year old sharing and punctuating eating with lots of sweet, milky kisses).

We went downstairs to a kitchen like a bomb site and I would have made a brew at this point but predictably J had used the last of the milk on my gallon of cereal.  I settled for a glass of Vimto at which point J informed me, ‘Mum, I’ve washed up for you too to save you a job because you’re tired.’  And even though he had used freezing cold water (I don’t like them using the hot taps because the water gets scalding very quickly) and no washing up liquid (he was obviously following my husband’s tips on washing up ;)) I was unbelievably touched by his thoughtfulness.

Whilst J and M played a Ben 10/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hybrid game (nicely for once) I went to check on Z who had gone suspiciously quiet upstairs.  I found him wearing my lipstick (again) but not only on his lips but inexplicably all over his tummy too, with particular focus on his belly button.  He stretched to kiss me and whilst it felt bizarre to kiss someone wearing lipstick (other than my husband ;)) and I found I couldn’t get Katy Perry out of my head, ‘I Kissed a Girl (and I Liked It)’, I cherished his cuteness because I won’t get it back (unless he grows up to be a cross-dresser, of course).

Then when Z asked for a drink he pulled on my heartstrings because he wouldn’t drink it until he’d checked I’d also made one for J and M and then we snuggled under a duvet and watched Johnny English together.  And as I sat with my boys, admiring their beautiful, innocent faces, listening to them laughing at the film and watching them manhandling the dog to shower her with kisses, I have honestly never felt as blessed.

…So remind me of this post on Monday when I’m late for the school run again or later in the week when I want to rock and dribble in the corner with an intravenous drip of wine.  Because right at this moment I can honestly say that despite all the trials and tribulations they bring, having children is the best thing I have ever, ever done.