Wow! It has been absolutely ages since I last wrote anything! Quite a few things have happened … Foal turned 7, the silkworm eggs from last year have hatched, and I’m looking for a job.
The most important one was Foal’s birthday! I’m not sure which bit is more surprising – the fact that he survived until the age of 7, or the fact that I survived him turning 7 and didn't get locked away somewhere. Don’t misunderstand me because he really is a lovely boy. At least he is when things are going his way. When they don’t… well, let’s just leave it at the end of the world sounds like a lovely experience.
He was horribly spoiled on the actual day. Our tradition is Dad and I buy the presents (more on this bit in a moment), I wrap the presents and then I have to hide them around our home. I’m the one responsible for this last bit because when the boys were MUCH younger, they’d wake us up in the middle of the night wanting to open their pressies. Alright, I might be exaggerating that bit because it was more like 5 am. I am not a morning person so when I had the brilliant idea of hiding their pressies around the place, I figured it would buy me enough time to make my coffee. Cruel, I know but it worked – until they decided to search for stuff and then wake me up! And that’s only when they wanted to know if they’d found them all. I guess it’s a type of payback… Now every year they request the “Treasure Hunt” as it’s now called.
Buying of the presents is always interesting. Because all three boys tend to be very specific about what they want, they write detailed lists for us. They even indicate which ones are the more desirable. I know – very considerate of them.
Foal is no exception to this rule and the majority of objects on his list were Transformers. Actually, that’s all he had on his list with absolutely no room for negotiation. Personally, I blame the movie. How dare they bring out “Transformers 2” just before his birthday!
Anyway, Dad, the list, and I popped into the toyshop. Dad immediately picked up a huge (and obscenely expensive) Bumblebee. I told him that it’s the wrong one. He disagreed and the first discussion (read - argument) began. I’m sure it amused the staff but we finally ended up with “Fine! You can take it but you DO NOT get to choose anything else!” (Obviously that last comment was mine). I chose two other Transformers from his list, a stencil set, a slinky and a really cool bug robot for him.
The next morning our tradition began as usual. The other part of the tradition is that on school days, they can choose one present to open before school and the rest must wait. Because Dad starts work long before I’m even thinking about crawling out of bed, this rule has been amended. Now they can open one present with me, and then another when he gets home from work. I think that’s more than fair.
Foal’s first choice was the really brilliant stencil set and that’s probably because he couldn’t figure out what was inside. Due to the packaging of certain toys he’d already worked out that he had at least two transformers – he just didn’t need to know which ones yet.
His second choice was the present Dad had picked for him. Unfortunately, by the time Dad got home, he’d figured out what was inside. The stupid thing makes noises and all but told him its name.
Foal then declared that this was the worst day ever. First he got the stupid stencil thing and that wasn’t even on his list. And then he got the wrong size Transformer!
Lucky for him, he had school to go to! That cheered him right up! Ungrateful little creature!
Anyway, Dad and I recovered and while he was at school, I actually made him a cake. At the time I wondered whether he’d appreciate it but I did it anyway.
After school his day (and attitude) had improved. He finally decided that he had had a great birthday and the cake was the best ever! By the time he was in bed I put his initial cranky ungratefulness down to over-excitement and anticipation.
And a final message for Foal – If you should actually live long enough to read this, this whole post has been firmly tongue-in-cheek. This last bit is true.
I am extremely proud of you.
I admire your spirit, confidence and conviction.
Know and remember always that
I love you.
