belgianwaffle

Middle Child

The Organised Child Plans Ahead


Posted in: Middle Child, Twins, Youngest Child

Daniel (who, you will recall, is 8): Where am I going to secondary school?
Me: We’ll see it’s not until you’re 12, we have time.
Daniel: Well I want to go to [the school for which his primary is a feeder].
Me: OK, that’s quite likely, why do you want to go there?
Daniel: Because my friends and I are all going to go there together and then we’re all going to college in Trinity and then [pause] we’ll live our lives.

On questioning Michael, he too had the same plans – clearly there’s a group in the class hard at work on these important issues. When asked, “Why Trinity?” he said, with dignity, “Because I know where it is.” Practical.

Parent Teacher Meetings


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

We had our annual parent-teacher meetings. Mr. Waffle and I went along and wedged ourselves into tiny primary school size chairs and heard that all is well. Though Michael is inclined to question the utility of much of his repetitive labours such as colouring, writing and sums which could be done much more speedily and effectively on the computer. I got the impression that his teacher did not entirely welcome Michael’s consequent reluctance to engage in these activities. However, some kind of truce appears to have been worked out. I am pleased to reveal that only other day I was summoned to the classroom to admire a project on Ancient Greece which he, his brother and a classmate had worked on. It involved both colouring and writing and they were all justly proud of their labours.

Relationship Status: It’s Complicated


Posted in: Middle Child, Twins, Youngest Child

Daniel: Jabba the Hutt has a son, was he married?
Michael: No, I think Hutts just breed naturally.
Me: What did Jabba the Hutt do again?
Daniel: He made Princess Leia wear inappropriate clothing.
Michael: That’s not really a problem in “Angry Birds Star Wars” though.

There’s a whole world out there.

Separating the Parental Wheat from Chaff


Posted in: Middle Child, Twins

Daniel’s new GAA training regime is killing us. He has a match at weekends and training two evenings a week from 5.00 to 6.15. Who does this suit? On Thursdays he goes with a neighbour. When he gets home about 6.40 he wolfs down his dinner and goes to choir practice at 7.15 with the Princess and me.

On Monday, Mr. Waffle brings him and the neighbour’s child out for 5.00. I leave work at 5.30 (deeply inconvenient); cycle home like a fury; hop into the car at our house at 5.45 (left there by Mr. Waffle following depositing of children); sit in traffic for 30 minutes; collect the boys; drop the neighbour’s child home; and return, late, for our own childminder, who is at home with the other pair, at 6.40.

All I can say is, it’s a good job that Daniel really loves it.

On Perfection


Posted in: Middle Child, Twins

Daniel: Nobody’s perfect.
Me: Nope.
Daniel: Except Jesus, Jesus is perfect.
Me: I suppose.
Daniel: Actually, no he’s not, he’s a bit of a goody two shoes.

Basking in Reflected Glory


Posted in: Middle Child, Mr. Waffle, Princess, Twins, Youngest Child

One Sunday, the Princess did a second reading, Mr. Waffle did a bit at the start of mass and all the children did prayers of the faithful. I didn’t do anything, though, as Mr. Waffle pointed out, “We’re not the ones who need practice with our public speaking.”

As Mr. Waffle was doing his bit, a neighbour in the seat behind poked me in the ribs and said, “He’d be perfect for RTE.” I assume, a compliment. The American priest said mass; we’re getting used to him. At the end, he singled out herself for particular praise, “I would like to compliment the young lady who read the second reading; it’s a difficult text and she read it beautifully.” Everybody dutifully clapped and herself was mortified, though pleased. This kind of announcement in the church is, of course, the kind of thing I normally despise but, like many another thing, it’s never so bad when you’re involved yourself.

I think I have reached the high water mark in church engagement. From here, it’s all downhill. Indeed, Michael has recently begun pumping the air when the priest says “Mass is ended” which is unwelcome.