Posted on 07/26/2006 7:17:10 AM PDT by carlo3b
Sorry, but my children bore me to death!
by HELEN KIRWAN-TAYLOLR, Daily Mail 08:00am 26th July 2006It's the start of the summer holidays, when millions of mothers despair at how to entertain their children for the next six weeks. What none of them dare say is that they would rather their children were still at school or, frankly, anywhere else. Helen Kirwan-Taylor, a 42-year-old writer, lives in Notting Hill, West London, with her businessman husband Charles and their sons Constantin, 12, and Ivan, ten. Here, she argues provocatively that modern women must not be enslaved by their children.
The lies started when my eldest son was less than ten months old.
Invitations to attend a child's birthday party or, worse, a singalong session were met with the same refrain: 'I would love to but I just can't spare the time.'
The nanny was dispatched in my place, and almost always returned complaining that my son had been singled out for pitiful stares by the other mothers.
(snip) Kids are supposed to be fulfilling, life-changing, life-enhancing fun: why was my attitude towards them so different?While all my girlfriends were dropping important careers and occupying their afternoons with cake baking, I was begging the nanny to stay on, at least until she had read my two a bedtime story. What kind of mother hates reading bedtime stories? A bad mother, that's who, and a mother who is bored rigid by her children.
(snip) Am I a lazy, superficial person because I don't enjoy packing up their sports kit, or making their lunch, or sitting through coffee mornings with other mothers discussing how Mr Science (I can't remember most of the teachers' names) said such and such to Little Johnny and should we all complain to the headmaster.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Two boys who live around the corner spend a lot of time at my house. These boys (7 and 9) have two little step-brothers (1 1/2 and a few months). Well, I got to hear all about how mom sends the oldest baby off with grandparents for days at a time because she can't handle both little ones.
Meanwhile, her older kids are with me learning how to swim and float (both were afraid of the water last summer), talking a mile per minute about all sorts of things, begging to be fed, and the little one takes every opportunity to grab ahold of me or lean against my leg.
Frankly, it gets irritating. If I wanted 4 children, I'd have birthed 4 children. But then I look at these two little kids and think that someone has to care about them.
Time to read it - thanks for the pings
Nice thread Carlo and great commentary as usual... Now we have two beautiful women to miss... right?
"I always just hated that Staples commercial at the end of the summer that has the parents skating behind a shopping cart buying supplies so that their children can finally return to school. Even though I worked, I loved having her home."
Me too! Probably has something to do with why I'm now a homeschooler. I enjoy having some "down time," but I like my kids! There is something magical about seeing the world open up to them a bit at a time -- she's totally missing that.
The author says that kids are fine if you feed them, dress them, and tell them you love them -- she may tell her kids she loves the, but does she *show* it?
There are very few young kids in our neighborhood.As a matter of fact they are closing schools here in Eureka...
Indeed we do my dear Waspman, I was thinking that very thing earlier today.. I know both are just jabbering together all day long and watching us to see if we drop the flag.. I am so happy to have you close my dear FRiend.. It keeps me in line.. :)
Woo Hoo!!!
Please build a ping list for the birth announcement and put me on it!
Good post.
I just had my 16th grandchild!
How lucky we are my friend to have the kids close, and to see them working together.. That is a real treat.. I raised my first 3 daughters doing homework at a back table in my first restaurant.. We were closer than most families back then and I am proud to say we are even closer now.. Keep cookin and kissin, that is a perfect recipe.. :)
I agree Don, we should build a ping list.. Geeeze, that's entertainment!!! CONGRADULATIONS.. YeHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Good on ya - you never know what a touch of human kindness may do for these little ones
.. and I know that they love you too sweetie... Huggg
"Frankly, it gets irritating. If I wanted 4 children, I'd have birthed 4 children. But then I look at these two little kids and think that someone has to care about them."
Please know you're doing something truely wonderful for these kids. It may just be the influence in their lives that they need to keep them on the "straight and narrow", knowing that somebody cares about them.
They are all moving to Tennessee. We are building schools here
I suspect she has a problem with the father in order for her to despise the children so.
What a blessing.. and still soooo young.. but you must of had your first child at 4 years old.. :))
Hugs to you as well.
Kids know good people almost instinctively.. Bless them, and bless you, they are just starved, for everything that all children need.. :(
I am afraid that he is problerably no better than she is.. Reading the article, there is no mention of dad taking the kids to the park or anywhere else, only a nanny.. God bless her kids to have been brought into the world to build their resume, and complete the Christmas Cards photo..
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.