11.03.07

Perfect Mom

Posted in Sunday Times Columns at 2:10 pm by Sarah

(even though we say Mammy around here, but anyway).

Much to write about today so think I will split up the posts.

I have an adrenalin headache from last night’s Leviathan – more of that later – but this morning we were a hive of activity. My eldest son is 4 tomorrow! This seems like a significant benchmark. He is articulate, cautious, affectionate, highly strung, funny, makes me so proud and want to scream. He has ivory skin and big blue eyes and curly ginger hair. Not the carrot kind, the David McWilliams kind. In fact, if David and I were seen in public together too often people would think he was our love child.

We have, through cunning and luck, managed to avoid being sucked into the hysterical, high-cost mania of birthday parties so far. Celebrations to date have consisted of summoning the immediate family including the two cousins for a blowing-out-candles event and even the little guy’s 2nd “party” was just a bit more than he could handle. When we produced the cake the first time he was overwhelmed and bowed his head. We blew out the candles for him and then repeated the ceremony. Second time round he did it himself and then wouldn’t stop. We were blowing candles out for a week.

We are breaking with tradition tomorrow. We have invited ONE friend from the creche to attend the “party” along with the two cousins. The friend has been instructed to wear old clothes, bring no present and the top billing entertainment is my father bringing the children around the field in the jeep! High excitement. My only fear is that when he grows up he will cop on that he’s been deprived of professional entertainers, squads of children and disgusting sweets on his birthday and develop a grudge and blame me for being meany mom. But sure, I suppose everyone has to blame their parents for something.

So this morning we made..the chocolate birthday cake! He helped. It was great fun. Also made were sausage rolls. Haven’t made them since I was a teenager and yes, with homemade pastry! (I totally have the hang of it now) and “help” from the two lads (where my perfect mom exterior struggled deeply with my inner frustrated project manager ). God its so bloody hard to do something so simple with kiddies around, but anyway, we have buy-in, as the corporates say, and they weren’t watching telly, so its all worked out.

We have to ice the cake tomorrow. That could be more challenging. Delia’s recipe calls for melting sugar in evaporated milk and stirring in chocolate for precisely 6 minutes…Mother says I’m over reaching and a simple butter icing would do. We’ll see. I do hate to defy Delia. And my mother of course. But Delia more.

Update: I am totally shattered. How do other parents do the big parties? It went well, though one funny thing. His presents were, a telescope (from Belfast grandparents). This went down very well. A Spiderman watch (bought by grandparents in Belfast but presented by us). This was ok..it didn’t throw out webs so bit of a crisis but he seems attached to it. When We Were Very Young by AA Milne, bought by me and presented by Enfield Grandparents. Eh, unimpressed. A measuring tape, bought by me and presented by his Daddy. That was good. He’s into measuring things. More books and a colouring set from the cousins, eh, unimpressed at presentation but did colour happily after dinner. Then the creche friend arrived with a present, despite instructions. It was a PROPER present. A garish box with a garage and cars and stickers that had to be put together. HUGE hit. The five children obsessed with it for an hour. Just shows ya..I consoled myself though; we will read the books over the next year or so..Oh and! the sister arrived with two farmers overalls for both the boys. Hurrah!
Party highlight was the trip around the field in the jeep. I think this could be the new bouncy castle. We could send the councillor off to parties at say, €50 a go?
They are in the bath. One more hour before they’re asleep. Then it’s the couch for me.

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