belgianwaffle

Middle Child

A Day Out


Posted in: Cork, Ireland, Middle Child, Princess, Twins

As I mentioned we were in Cork at the weekend. I decided to take the children to Charles Fort.

Me: Tomorrow, we’re going to see a fort!
Daniel: I don’t want to go.
Me: It’ll be great, it’s a really big, impressive fort.
Daniel (dubiously): But forts are invisible.
Me: Not this one, it’s huge.
Princess: A fort Daniel, not a fart.

The next day we set off to walk two long kilometres to the fort. We did not get off to a good start. Daniel had a sore knee which I thought would go away, but didn’t. He just limped there and back uncomplainingly. My saintly middle child. Michael meanwhile dragged himself along saying “My legs are so tired”. He was the first to realise that once we got to the fort we would have to walk back again. He wasn’t pleased. I wasn’t so pleased myself, I had three unhappy children and I was carrying two guns – a pistol and a nerf gun – and a light sabre (to attack the fort).

However, once we reached Summercove, things began to look up. We were fortified by lunch at the Bulman (which I cannot recommend highly enough – herself had an enormous bowl of mussels, I had crab claws and the boys a portion of chips each – in our own way, we were all happy). Then the fort was great. And it didn’t rain on us. Always a plus in any Irish outing. And, as always, the road back didn’t seem quite so long.

Herself:
004

Saintly middle child:
021

Patrolling with Nerf Gun:
023

Scenery (obligatory):
011

024

Parenting Fail


Posted in: Middle Child, Princess, Twins, Youngest Child

Children’s dinner yesterday:

Princess – nothing;
Daniel – spoonful of canned sweetcorn with ketchup;
Michael – reheated Yorkshire pudding.

Children’s dinner today:

All – Domino’s pizza.

Showing Love and Affection


Posted in: Middle Child, Twins

Daniel is a stereotypical boy [yes, I know, it’s only a social construct and probably my fault too] and he likes to show his affection and sympathy by doing things.

When I said I was nervous about attending a meeting in Irish he put a pocket Irish dictionary in my bag [meeting nonetheless horrendous]. When Mr. waffle was sitting downstairs one evening he came down and solemnly gave him his Star Wars annual saying, “This is for you, I know you like Star Wars.” A remark which was as endearing as it was inaccurate. He then earnestly pointed out the best stories and trotted back to bed.

Food for Thought


Posted in: Middle Child, Twins

Daniel: You’re much older than me.
Me: Yes I am, much.
Daniel: So you will die a long time before me.
Me: Yes.
Daniel (pensively): I’ll miss you when you die. But it won’t be for a long, long time. Unless you were shot. Then it would be soon.

Can I run?


Posted in: Middle Child, Twins, Youngest Child

Every day, we park around the corner from the school. The boys tumble out of the car and say, “Can I run?” and then hare off up the road. I remember vaguely, the joy of running quickly, of feeling your feet flying over the ground almost like bouncing on air. I wonder, when does that go away?