Leaving aside the fact that my thighs have gone blue this morning and I can't work out if it's dye from my jeans or I have got something horrible and vascular, the week has started relatively smoothly.
The boy has gone off to start his first full week in school with excitement and reissued threats from his parents that all Christmas presents will be dependent upon Santa's satisfaction with his vegetable consumption.
We are hoping that school will, how shall I put it, smooth some of the rougher edges off his behaviour because Ieuan's favourite thing to do at the moment is "grumping".
When he doesn't want to do something he will adopt the posture of a miniature rapper - less Eminen, more M&Ms (actually I still remember Peanut Treats but then I am a child of the 60's when established brands weren't buggered about with to keep the USA happy - Snickers? Oh really.).
Lately Ieuan has ramped up this posture in homage to Derek Zoolander (the fab Ben Stiller in the film of the same name) to include his "spooky look". Disciplining a child whilst trying not to snort with laughter is no mean feat I can tell you.
Currently our discipline methods include threats of toy removal, early bedtimes, cake bans, confiscation of Toy Story dvds and exchanging him for a cat. These are all about as effective as Ed Milliband.
So, at various times during the day I hear the phrase "mummy, I'm grumping!" and then "I'm doing my spooky look" - and I'm trying to ignore it and channel the behaviour into something positive.
I think it may be time to work on a new face of my own, (my repertoire includes "nearly manic" and "cajoling") - but what will instill terror into the heart of a four year old? Oh, I know. Dr Who.
The boy has gone off to start his first full week in school with excitement and reissued threats from his parents that all Christmas presents will be dependent upon Santa's satisfaction with his vegetable consumption.
We are hoping that school will, how shall I put it, smooth some of the rougher edges off his behaviour because Ieuan's favourite thing to do at the moment is "grumping".
When he doesn't want to do something he will adopt the posture of a miniature rapper - less Eminen, more M&Ms (actually I still remember Peanut Treats but then I am a child of the 60's when established brands weren't buggered about with to keep the USA happy - Snickers? Oh really.).
Lately Ieuan has ramped up this posture in homage to Derek Zoolander (the fab Ben Stiller in the film of the same name) to include his "spooky look". Disciplining a child whilst trying not to snort with laughter is no mean feat I can tell you.
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| Courtesy of Dailymail.co.uk |
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| Ieuan Hobbis - "Spooky" |
Dare I say that I have noticed the tendency of some mothers to be a little more lenient with sons? I wonder sometimes if I am being less firm with Ieuan than I am with Caitlin and I really don't want him to grow up as a mummy's boy. I am advised that a reward chart might be the way to go. Kids certainly seem to love stickers. Needless to say, when I was in school we did not have stickers. We had detention.
So, at various times during the day I hear the phrase "mummy, I'm grumping!" and then "I'm doing my spooky look" - and I'm trying to ignore it and channel the behaviour into something positive.
I think it may be time to work on a new face of my own, (my repertoire includes "nearly manic" and "cajoling") - but what will instill terror into the heart of a four year old? Oh, I know. Dr Who.
