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Halting the Cycle of Inter-Generational Trauma

5 December, 2005
Posted in: Family, Mr. Waffle, Princess

When Mr. Waffle was 7, his parents moved to Venezuela for six months.  I was looking at the pictures from Venezuela with him and his mother one day and there was one of him in a rather twee t-shirt featuring a little boy and girl fishing together.  “Oh yes,” he said bitterly “my ‘gone wishing’ t-shirt”. On closer inspection, the words “gone wishing” did indeed feature in faded letters over the picture on the t-shirt.  It appeared that because they were only in Venezuela for 6 months, his mother had not considered it necessary to get all the kit required by the school and instead of the regulation gym t-shirt, she had issued Mr. Waffle with the “gone wishing” number.  This had obviously scarred his sensitive soul.

Please bear this incident in mind when considering the following piece of dialogue.

Me:  It says on her school list that we have to get her a “tablier”, what the hell is that?

Him: Kind of a smock thing, but we can just cut down one of my old shirts.

Me:  But it gives the name of the shop where we can buy them…

Him:  But there’s no need, one of my old shirts will be fine.

Me: But she won’t have a smock like the other children.

Him: But, for heaven’s sake, it doesn’t matter, it’s only to keep her clothes clean when she’s painting.

You will be delighted to hear that, in defiance of my husband, I went to the authorised supplier and purchased a tablier, pictured below.

Seriously, would a cut down shirt have done?  Please note the pencils and paintbrushes embroidered above the pocket before giving your answer.

UndercoverCookie

on 05 December 2005 at 11:00

but what if she turns out to be only kid in the tablier and all the other kids are in cut down shirts? 0
Sweetie(s) given    

kristin

(Homepage)

on 05 December 2005 at 15:33

ROARING with laughter over cookie’s comment. but you would think that mr. waffle would be more sympathetic, given the Gone Wishing incident.

Friar Tuck

on 05 December 2005 at 15:42

You’ll spoil her rotten, you will. But the smile makes it all worthwhile.

LondonMom

on 05 December 2005 at 21:36

Simply fab!

belgianwaffle

on 06 December 2005 at 15:21

Bobble, right as ever.
UC, you have a very cruel streak and you too Kristin.
Ta, FT, LondonM. 0
Sweetie(s) given    

StarCorner

on 06 December 2005 at 20:20

Nope – Mr W’s old shirt would not have looked as cute as this!! 0
Sweetie(s) given    

belgianwaffle

on 07 December 2005 at 09:28

That’s right Star, excellent comment. 0
Sweetie(s) given    

Peggy

(Homepage)

on 07 December 2005 at 12:25

An old tee-shirt, even in adult size, would not have covered her sleeves as much as this lovely tablier does.

belgianwaffle

on 08 December 2005 at 15:08

And you’re Belgian, Peggy, so your advice is obviously correct, I intend to draw my husband’s attention to this very important point this evening. 0
Sweetie(s) given    

beachhutman

on 08 December 2005 at 21:57

Nope. ALWAYS get the kit the others have, as long as the overdraft can stand it…..
I remember the shame all too well
A. Man. 0
Sweetie(s) given    

belgianwaffle

on 09 December 2005 at 08:16

Yeah, parents can be very cruel. 0
Sweetie(s) given    

Early Days

7 November, 2005
Posted in: Family, Princess, Twins

Since the arrival of the boys, the Princess likes to hear stories about when she was small(er) and while her grandparents were over, I told her the story of grandad’s lost underpants which I have previously blogged about but which I repeat below for your delectation:

My father-in-law, the captain of industry, resorted to handwashing. However, my mother-in-law determined that the capt’s clothes would never dry in the shower and put them on the balcony, from whence “a garment” drifted down into the private area of the guesthouse. A couple of days later I was witness to the exquisitely embarrassing moment when the lady of the house asked my poor mortified father-in-law whether the garment she was holding between outstretched finger and thumb belonged to him.

The Princess liked the story and now, regularly, when I put her to bed she says, “Tell me the story of grandad’s underpants again.”

By the by, I have found a pair of black men’s underpants nestling under the heater in the spare room. I wonder whose they are?

In other news, the boys are six weeks old today. The books tell us that we may confidently expect smiles from now on. I suspect that Faith and G are much more likely to get first smiles as they tend to gaze at the boys lovingly while feeding them while their nearest and dearest tend to read the papers. Oh have a heart, we’re still knee deep in newsprint from the parent-in-law visit and somebody has to read all those Guardians.

Example of dialogue with husband:
Me: Whenever I see you with one of the babies, I’m reminded of that bit from Hilary Clinton’s autobiography (which we listened to on tape while on holiday one Summer, NOT recommended, hugely tedious).
Him: The bit where she talks about the cold meat selection at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration?
Me: No.
Him: The bit where they fill the swimming pool in India with mineral water for her?
Me: NO.
Him:Oh alright the bit where Chelsea bites Bill on the nose to try to get his attention.

Comments

giftofthegab

on 07 November 2005 at 17:23
how do you know the pants belong to a black man? oh wait, i see. i’m also agog. happy 6 weeks!

jackdalton

on 07 November 2005 at 21:06
Probably Locote’s…

belgianwaffle

on 08 November 2005 at 08:10
Minks, er, it’s not 6 weeks, clearly my focus isn’t all it might be.
GoG, very funny, maybe my syntax does need some work though…
JD, I beg your pardon??

Royal visit

3 November, 2005
Posted in: Family

The royal grandparents aside from allowing their sick daughter in law to sleep also bonded with their grandchildren and brought them mountains of presents. The Princess was delighted to have them here and the boys were fed (which is really the height of their demands at the moment).  I did feel mildly guilty at one stage as grandma went off to the park with her crutch, the Princess and her buggy but I’Â’m a catholic, we have strategies for dealing with guilt.

I am gratified that my parents-in-law seem to enjoy my blog (hi guys). My father in
law, the captain of industy, pointed out that I donÂ’t seem to update when we have
people staying. I said “well, I suppose that IÂ’m busy doing other things”. “Yes”, said he “I notice that you didn’Â’t blog at all while your mother was over”.  “Well, that might have been because I was in the hospital after having given birth”.

Comments
Friar Tuck

on 04 November 2005 at 03:41

He’s a captain of industry! You cannot expect him to be acquainted with all the technicalities of childbirth. Anyway, don’t they have wireless laptops or something for you to use in the hospital? Seems a colossal waste of time just lying around doing nothing.
Push. Breathe. Type. Repeat.

belgianwaffle

on 04 November 2005 at 09:28

OK, check out the gentlemen’s comments. May you both be reincarnated as mothers of twins.

poggle

on 05 November 2005 at 07:46

Those boys have always been tempted by the dark side, waffley – especially that Friar …
jackdalton
on 05 November 2005 at 12:11

But there is a great power there that can bring balance to The Force

belgianwaffle

Pog, now look what you’ve started. Jack, stop it.

poggle

Sorry waffley – I should’ve known … Tch. Boys.

belgianwaffle

Indeed you should, I hope that there will be no more in this vein from the lads but I sincerely doubt it.

Sick

3 November, 2005
Posted in: Family

All last week I had a sore throat but Friday to Tuesday it got really miserable and I couldnÂ’t swallow. Mercifully, the parents-in-law were here to baby mind and I was able to nap during the day but I hadnÂ’t really expected to spend most of their stay languishing in bed. Nights were particularly miserable and, at least once every night, I found myself standing at the microwave (heating a bottle), weeping (the pain, the exhaustion) and drooling (the inability to swallow) and hearing the boys wailing in the background. All is much better now though, however, if you subscribe to any religion please beg your gods to ensure that it is not passed on to any of my many children.

Incidentally, I stocked up on a number of over the counter remedies to try to address my symptoms, most of which were useless but especially useless was a throat spray rejoicing in the name of “Neogolaseptine®”. You can see, of course, why they decided on this as a registered trademark. It’s a name to conjure with really. In my mind’s
eye, I see them all brainstorming “what kind of name can we use which will inspire consumers with confidence, give them a clear idea what the product does and stick in their memories?” They must all have been delighted when they came up with Neogolaseptine.

Comments
NorahSplog

on 03 November 2005 at 15:25

Poor Waffly. All sympathies. I’m revoltingly throaty and snotty too. But I don’t have three small children. Did I mention that you get all the sympathy?

Minkleberry

on 03 November 2005 at 15:31

Ouch! poor you- that sounds truly miserable. Not to mention the Neogolaseptine… 2
Sweetie(s) given

(Homepage)

on 03 November 2005 at 19:13

Thanks be that you’re back. I was afraid you were ill, after all that regular posting, and then NOTHING. Either that or that you had hired yet more help and were on a marathon bout of shoe shopping. Feel better!

belgianwaffle

on 03 November 2005 at 21:27

Lauren, like my daughter, I occasionally have difficulties stringing English sentences together.
Norah, you are kind and good. As are you Minks.
Kristin, I am touched by your concern and much better.

Gosh, just noticed the sweeties. Thanks guys.
UndercoverCookie

neogola sounds like near-goal, like they were watching a footie match and it came to them what to call it.

belgianwaffle

Really, that’s as likely an explanation as any.

A Visit

24 October, 2005
Posted in: Family, Middle Child, Princess, Twins, Youngest Child

The in-laws are coming on Thursday. Great excitement. I received an email from my father-in-law as follows, comments are in italics:

Hello there

Reading between the pixels, things may be more than a little hectic, even with help. It may be a Freudian slip, but the lack of a mention of Princess might mean that she is becoming more attuned to the new arrivals (or just spending time at the crèche). Au contraire, madam continues to regard the new arrivals with
disdain. Yesterday I spoke to my brother and he asked after her and her views on the new arrivals. I said that she liked them. Later when I reported this conversation to herself she said in tones of great disgust “But Mummy, I DON’T like the babies.

Anyway, for what it is worth, grandma and I are getting measured for our cavalry uniforms, practicing the bugle, buying prezzies and the like. We will be ready for our gallop to the relief of the Fort, way out in the Belgian desert. Really looking forward to the visit, to do good works and drink a few beers. Beer, beer?
He thinks there will be beer? I doubt it, it will be constant baby and toddler minding duty for the royal
grandparents here at baby bootcamp.

Comments

Locotes
on 24 October 2005 at 12:58
Surely even a little beer during babysitting duty can be allowed? Have a heart…

Minkleberry
on 24 October 2005 at 20:48
make sure you sit down a lot!
belgianwaffle
on 25 October 2005 at 11:52
HJB, their sufferings are about to begin. Loc, under no circumstances, they are here to work. No beer on the chain gang. Minks, most certainly.

poggle
on 25 October 2005 at 13:20
Go girl – head for tham thar hills!

Pregnancy Woes

8 September, 2005
Posted in: Family, Princess

With apologies to Dorothy Parker and her estate.

Three be the things I am wiser to know:
Antenatal classes, proper diet and the myth of a pregnancy glow

Four be the things I’d been better without:
Swollen ankles, vomiting, heartburn and doubt.

Three be the things I shall never attain:
Stylish clothes, a tiny bump and insufficient pain.

Three be the things I shall have till I deliver:
Anaemia, diabetes and worries about problems upriver.

Yes, I know it doesn’t scan. Poetry writing is harder than you might imagine.

And may I use this opportunity to announce that my sister-in-law has joined the ranks of the pregnant. Fantastic, the Princess will have a cousin in February. Yes, I’m sure that they think of it in those terms also; why do you ask? Anyhow, much rejoicing and excitement

Comments

belgianwaffle

on 09 September 2005 at 13:11

Thank you. You are most kind, I will save the sweeties for when I can eat them again..

KateEvans

on 09 September 2005 at 21:25

That’s very good. Are you not glowing though? I’ve been aglow for six months now and just assumed that, with twins, one would be doubly incandescent.

jackdalton

on 10 September 2005 at 18:08

oh puuatree… very nice. 🙂

Friar Tuck

on 12 September 2005 at 02:58

At least your pome rimes. I don’t take to them pomes what don’t rime.
And you’re wrong about it not scanning. I scanned it this evening, and it worked perfectly.

belgianwaffle

on 12 September 2005 at 09:23

Um, no KE, I am pale and wan. The sedge has withered from the lake and no birds sing (this poetry stuff gets really addictive).
You are v. generous JD.
FT, you’ve been away. Welcome back.

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