Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Picking up the pieces

I broke my six-year-old's favorite egg cup. This was not good. I was trying really hard at breakfast. I had scrambled some eggs for one of them, boiled an egg for another, made porridge on request, fed the baby, spread three different flavour jams (pear and raspberry, raspberry and strawberry) in stripes on one piece of bread. I had not laid down silent on the crumb-strewn floor. I remained upright and mobile at all times. Then I broke the egg cup. Technically, the baby broke it, but really it was me because I said to my eldest: "She'll be fine with it, don't be silly" when she grabbed it and he wanted to take it back from her. She looked straight into my eyes to thank me for my trust in her, slowly opened her porridgy fingers and dropped it. The cup, last year's gift from the Easter Bunny, smashed leaving a yellow spotted cheetah holding nothing but disappointment in his arms. My six-year-old gulped, he folded his arms together, laid them on the table and buried his head in them. The despair I think was half because of the egg-cup and half because of me. My four-year-old came over. He laid a consoling little hand on his brother's heaving back. "Never mind," he said, "you can share my lion."

10 comments:

Tony said...

I love how little children and puppies have an uncanny knack for wanting to heal a broken heart, even if it is only an egg cup.

Anonymous said...

fantastic! Oh how I can empathise with you!

Anonymous said...

heard about your blog on Radio 2 and sat and read the whole lot, laughing and crying!

hope it works out for you oop north and your parents are OK

Isobel said...

Like so many others, I came to your blog via The Sunday Times,and have now read all your entries. You write beautifully and deserve the book deal Well done-and keep blogging.
Isobel

Cathy said...

Don't worry, all sons despair of their mothers at times. I think they are genetically predispositioned to do so! But I'm sure you will be forgiven, especially if the Easter bunny is extra generous this year...

Anonymous said...

Cute! I needed the smile :)

Anonymous said...

A smashing time, but no yolk I think, you will have to shell out for a new one, so don't be a chicken, ... I am trying to be funny without being rude - do you think it works?

Anonymous said...

I had no idea when I embarked on the Journey of Motherhood that the path would contain so many shards! It multiplies by number of offspring, naturally.
Well Done and true!

Anonymous said...

Started to read your blog after seeing the piece in the Sunday Times - you make me laugh out loud. We have all been there at some point.

My sister had a blackbird that came into the house every day to eat off her crumb strewn floor.

Anonymous said...

If you need a replacement, Denby do hand painted egg cups based on your own picture for about a fiver ... may be of interest.

Not sure whether they do mail order, but if you're driving from London to civilisation it's a nice point to break the journey.

Try : 01773 740899

Matt