You love 'em but...

Wah!

These past few weeks have been relentless. Which is partly why I have been a bit quiet on the blogging front.

Moody kids, other half working all hours, sleep is hit and miss and the feeling that sometimes you just want to jump off the hamster wheel. For good!

I have no idea where I would escape to, and what with all this ash cloud business I'd have to forget Barbados and make do with Bognor instead.

God only knows how much I love my children, but that doesn't mean I always like them.

Be honest with yourself, have you ever looked at your little treasures and wondered how the heck they came from you?

How at times they can be so bonkers, so tricky, so unpredictable and also so funny you start wondering if they are just aliens posing in your childrens clothes.

Minxy is doing a great job at pushing my buttons at the moment, and at the end of a day (which could've started as early at 5am), I'm frankly not in the mood to be messed with.

But when you're that frazzled and you're faced with the usual sticking points of the day like mealtimes, bath or bedtime, it's hard not to get just a wee bit worked up.

Smacking is a complete no-no and shouting is the new smacking, so what's a parent to do to reign in the situation?

I once went on a course to learn How To Be A Positive Parent. It was great, but the details are a bit fuzzy now. So I've delved back into my notes and my new tactic of staying firm yet calm is finally starting to work.

And while all around me others are losing their heads. I am not. Well not visibly anyway. Obviously, inside I'm screaming into an imaginary pillow.

Yesterday morning was a case in point. The Boy had been struggling to get the The Peaceful One dressed, so after what had seemed like an eternity he said: 'You don't want to get dressed then you're going out in your pyjamas then.'

And that was that.

The Peaceful One spent the entire day (which included the school run, going to the supermarket, and visiting two different parks) in his jim jams.

At one point he said: 'I don't want to be in my pyjamas' but once he realised he I wasn't going to change him, he just got on with it.

Rats.

This plan may have backfired. I now have visions of him permanently dressed in flannel.

One thing I've learnt is from that exercise is that I would have given my eye teeth to spend the day in my jimmies.

Sweet success

I survived half term, and to be honest it wasn't too bad.

Today was really nice, no tantrums, no rushing, and nothing really planned.

Highlights included the appearance of uncle Tom who entertained the children and making homemade lemonade.

Food is a big deal in our house. What are we eating when? And where are we eating it? What are we having for tea at so and so's house? Plus, with constant cries of 'I'm hungry' and 'I'm still hungry' it means keeping the cupboards well stocked on a regular basis.

So I was interested to read that MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace said the weekly shop was marking the 'death knell of decent cooking.'

He said: "How does anybody on a Saturday morning know what they want for dinner on a Thursday evening?"

Um, because they meal plan is the answer. Now, I'm not quite on the path of 'Monday night means sausage and mash' but you've got to have some idea of what you are making across the week otherwise you're doomed.

Online shopping is my saviour (along with a couple of trips to the actual shops), and although it might lack imagination you can still pick up some little gems, like this beautifully packaged sugar from Barbados.

My parents are Bajan, and I've been on numerous occasions (pre kids) so any chance I get to support the country I'm there. And one day the children will get to visit. Until then, I can only give them a taste of this small but stunning island.