Snow, Big Changes, and Random Kindness

Now, the toddler loves snow. I'm still not such a fan, though she does provide an excuse to build snowmen. I just don't like being excessively cold and damp, and neither does she as it happens. It's all great until she reaches that stage, at which point it's much less fun. Admittedly, we've managed to avoid any excessive tantrums of the 'I'm too cold' variety, so far.

I should give the toddler more credit. She was so excited when she first saw the snow, presumably not remembering last winter. She had a great time playing in my parents' garden, helping build snowmen and snow castles (she filled a bucket with snow, and tipped it up - snow instead of sand). And then she accepted the decision to go back inside when it got too cold. She has a smart head on her shoulders. Just as well really, given she starts nursery next year, on January 5th. Now that's exciting, and scary. I can't quite believe we're at that stage now, but I am looking forward to having my afternoons back. Toddler free shopping and chores. Or maybe even a crappy part time job somewhere. Mmm. A bit of a life for myself in any case, no matter how dull.

Fortunately the nursery is just up the road from us. This is good, not just for convenience, but because the pushchair is now broken. The wheel fell off for the second time, only now the pushchair's not under guarantee anymore. As she wouldn't be needing it for much longer anyway, I made the executive decision to not bother forking out to get it fixed, and just to give it up. Luckily we do live near town and shops and the nursery. Her father's as well. In fact, it's just getting to my parents' that could be fun, and in all fairness, we could get the bus. The toddler would love that. She does love watching the buses. It's yet another of those everyday mundane things that fascinates her so. Oh to find the world so amazing!

Actually, something amazing did happen today. A complete stranger I have never met before stopped me on the way back home from the shops. She wanted to tell me how nice it was to see me and my daughter walking along together in the snow. But that was not all. Her point was that we were walking together at the toddler's slow pace, rather than my normal pace which is a heck of a lot faster. She said that she was sick of seeing mothers just dragging their kids along behind them, rather than taking their time walking with their children. Now, I'm beginning to wonder if I am the mad one. But she's right. This place is so full of people like The Family, forcing the kids to fit around them. After all, to stop the kids slowing them down, the ex's sister had her son in his pushchair until very recently. Well I'm assuming she doesn't still put him in it now. He was still in it a month ago though. And he started school back in September. Four and a half and still in a pushchair. Now, the toddler has only just turned three, and we've ditched hers. Admittedly it's only permanently ditched because it broke, but we were cutting back on it. I assumed it'd be done with by next summer anyway.

But that's getting off the issue. I was horrified at the idea that millions of kids out there are being dragged around. What's wrong with slowing down for the children? Hmm. It's like all those parents who don't drill into their kids that you stop at traffic lights, and WAIT for the green man. I do, because I don't want the toddler to just leg it across the road and get killed by a car. But that's just me. Of course I'm doing millions of parents a great injustice. There are many more parents out there like me I'm sure. I hope so anyway, because the alternative is so depressing. But you never know in this day and age.

It's That Time Of Year Again

As a miserable, cynical adult, I normally hate Christmas. I'm not religious, so to me it was always just a hassle. Endless traipsing round overcrowded shops, trying to find something half decent to get various friends and family members. Tedious, and stressful. Though not so this year. To be fair, with regard to presents I was a little more organised than previous years. I only have the toddler to purchase presents for still. And that's purely because I have no idea what to get her, having used up all ideas on her birthday last month. Hmm. Not so good, and slightly stressful, but not the end of the world. I shall find something. And there it is, that unfamiliar optimism creeping through. Strange sensation.

To be frank, I suspect what has changed is the fact that the toddler is now of an age that Christmas is something she finds exciting. All our neighbours have lights, decorations, and Christmas trees up. They're also making a deal of it on CBeebies. It's so sweet seeing her so excited about our tree going up in the lounge, her little eyes lighting up when she helped decorate the thing. And of course, now she understands what I mean when I say she'll get some presents. And the toddler loves presents. She told me so on her birthday. Bless her. And so she eagerly awaits Christmas Day, while I look forward to a day of eating my Dad's cooking while watching the toddler rip into her presents. Of course we'll be off to my parents for Christmas dinner. It'd be miserable if it was just the two of us.

But of course, I cannot forget The Family. She has to see them as well. It's only fair of course. That's assuming they can be bothered to turn up. Though they managed for her birthday this year, so maybe it'll be different Christmas too. For her sake I hope so. Unless the sullen cousin tries to spoil it again. Hmm. I anticipate much fun there.

But aside from my renewed sense of Christmas spirit, I have been feeling positive this past week for other reasons. Without meaning to enjoy the misery of others, I couldn't help but smile when told that someone had slashed the tyres on Psycho's car. It seems I'm not the only person who can't stand the bloke. Haha. Good on 'em I say. Now he has to fork out for new tyres. As well as all the parking fines, because he won't put his parking permit in his car. He lives in a disk zone you see. But it's all part of his battle with the council or something. Hmm. Not that he pays the parking fines, hence the bailiffs. Not forgetting the outstanding council tax as well. Idiot.

So, aside from my nice family Christmas, and the toddler's other one, I am also looking forward to hooking up with friends back in the city. I must confess that I'm almost looking forward to seeing the city again as much as my friends. I always was more of a city girl though. I like the anonimity, and the shops. We've barely anything decent here, and what shops we do have are tiny. Most of what we have here are cheap, tacky shops. Grimness. But I shall be glad to see all my friends again, while escaping the toddler. As much as I love her, I do need to escape every now and again, so that I can just be myself. I know a couple of mothers who are all about the kids. I'd never want to lose who I am. And so to the city I'll go, to eat out and have a few drinks with friends. Before catching a train back to this dump. And what fun I shall have, while the toddler torments her grandparents.

And so, for once I actually look forward to Christmas. It's been a good year so far. Mostly anyway. And so I wonder what the next shall bring. Hopefully the ex shall meet someone else, and get off my back as a result. Maybe Psycho will get struck by lightning. Maybe The Family shall learn to put others first. Or maybe it'll just be more of the same. But either way, it can't be that bad. I hope.