When life gives you lemons, ask for some salt and tequila

when life gives you lemons

The last few weeks have been a bit up and down.

It is probably fair to say that they have been a bit shit.

Ironically, the lack of which is what is causing us the most grief.

Our toddler has decided that although he is happy enough to wee on his potty, he’s not as convinced about going number two, so has just decided that he will not go.  Like, at all. 

Of course, there is only so long he can hold it in before an emergency dash to the potty is required, but then the actual act of going freaks him out so much that he resists going again for another day or so. 

At the same time we started potty training, he started to climb out of his cot.  So, we took the bars down and made his bed up with a shiny new duvet and junior pillow set.  This he loves. 

He also loves getting up in the middle of the night and coming into our room. 

You know, just because he can.

The Greek God(zilla) woke up startled one night to find Zachy standing by the side of our bed, just staring at him.  I scooped him up, popped him into the bed with us and he promptly fell back to sleep. 

He liked this too, so repeated it again every night until we finally put a stairgate on his bedroom door.  Now he just stands there and calls out for ‘Mummy’ instead. 

Oh, and all this around the same time that he dropped his afternoon nap.  Or rather, we dropped it for him when he started refusing to go to bed at 7.30pm, preferring to read & play in his room until almost 10 o’clock.

That is even past my bedtime. 

So, in the matter of just one week we have adjusted to no nappies, no poos, no bars, no naps and no sleep (for us).

Work has been a struggle on such broken sleep and I have felt even more exhausted than usual. 

On top of this – the miserable weather; the hangover from Greek Easter; the people at Barclaycard being complete muppets; the falling off the diet wagon; the preparing for a single parenting gig when the Greek God(zilla) is in Poland for a month; the unsightly look of myself in skinny jeans; the balance on my credit card; the reliving of my birth story; the pile of laundry mounting; the sky planner being backed up with shows I cannot watch because the toddler is not yet in bed/the Greek God(zilla) is watching the footie; the not knowing how to dress for this weather; the season finale of True Blood; did I mention the rain?

Basically, taking everything above into account I am just tired, wet, frustrated, fat, broke, busy and badly dressed.

But, I am not going to feel sorry for myself for a moment longer. 

I am going to focus on the positive things happening in my life instead – the Greek God(zilla) and I laughing together at something Zachy has said; the anniversary of our beautiful wedding two years ago; the taking of so much pleasure in hearing someone else’s good news; the joy in our little world; the extra cuddles with Zachy when he wakes up in the still of night; the knowing I will have sole custody of the remote control when the Greek God(zilla) is in Poland for a month; the planning of surprises for others; the fact that in 3-weeks time I will be in NYC with one of my oldest friends; the time to blog.

This weekend, we are going to a birthday party for my friend Susy.  She has put a Moroccan tent up in her garden and invited all her friends over to celebrate.  I am going to drink wine.  I might talk jibberish to her sister-in-law/best mate/ex-husband and then cringe about it for 5 days afterwards. 

But this weekend, I am not going to be feeling sorry for myself. 

I am going to LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE.

I am going to take those lemons, slice them up and body pop all over them.

What do you do with your lemons?

Normal chirpy service will resume tomorrow 

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10 Comments

  1. April 27, 2012 / 8:38 PM

    Always a good plan…have a fab weekend. I’ll be doing the same 🙂

    • Grenglish
      Author
      April 29, 2012 / 1:01 PM

      Thank you! I think there has been something in the air recently 🙂

  2. Kamila
    April 27, 2012 / 9:23 PM

    Hiya, not sure if this helps you, bit it has been the same in our house for quite a while. The going to bed late, coming to our bed and even we had the potty problem. The potty is sorted, luckily, but the rest is still going on. At first I was really stressed out, but now taking each day as it goes, can’t do anything else ;-), still lover her!!

    Good luck have a great weekend!
    K xx

    • Grenglish
      Author
      April 29, 2012 / 1:03 PM

      Thanks Kamila, really helpful. It is good to know that it’s a common occurrence although I am sorry that you are also having broken sleep. It has felt like having newborn again. The sleeping issue is getting better – he is still resisting going to bed but seems to stay put once he finally drifts off now 🙂

  3. April 28, 2012 / 1:16 AM

    That’s the problem with kids, eh? You get one thing sorted and another problem you hadn’t even thought about raises its ugly head. Good job there is wine in this world. And tequila! Have fun with your friends. Soon this phase will be over and the next one will start…

    • Grenglish
      Author
      April 29, 2012 / 1:05 PM

      Exactly! I’m not sure it get easiers, the challenges just different. Also something to worry about 🙂
      Friends are amazing though – I skyped with one on Friday night for 2 hours with wine and I woke up feeling so much better about everything xx

  4. April 28, 2012 / 4:03 PM

    You are ace! What a great outlook on life you have – there is always something good if you look hard enough (through the downpour)!
    Re the new bed thing – you are describing my child. I’m afraid it took a long time and a lot of being very firm (she eventually figured out how to get that stairgate open and reverted to staring in my face until I woke up in a panic) but she now stays in her room for 12 hours and never bothers us – so you will get there! Good luck x

    • Grenglish
      Author
      April 29, 2012 / 1:09 PM

      Thanks AM!
      Oh.My.God. I did not even think that he would be able to work out how to open the stairgate!! But, of course he will… yikes!
      Glad to hear GG is staying in her room now though – gives me hope! The last few days have not been too bad – still resisting going down but has stayed there once settled.
      As Almost Bedtime said above – this stage will be over soon and it will be onto the next thing… 🙂

  5. May 5, 2012 / 11:06 PM

    A bit late in commenting on this one, but sorry you’ve been going through an up/down time of it lately – well done for rising above it all though and staying so positive – hope things are on the up and you’ve at least managed to get some sleep! xx

    • Grenglish
      Author
      May 11, 2012 / 1:56 PM

      Thanks RM, coming through the other side now but sleep is still scarce!! xx

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