Saturday 28 January 2012

Isn't it strange

... how years after your precious baby has learned to sleep through the night, at weekends you are sometimes still kept awake and pacing the floor by them? Or rather you are kept awake by pacing the floor waiting for them to get home. I'm not pacing the floor with a slightly inebriated 6 foot 3 lump of useless upon my shoulder, that would be silly. Not to mention, difficult.

... and how there is a mummy and son phone failure after midnight? O2 and BlackBerry should really get on that. My son never gets any of the texts or calls I make that start around 1am and continue at 15 minute intervals, they all arrive together once he is on his walk home. It really is most peculiar.

... not to mention that my hearing is also impaired on these kind of nights. He is definitely not slurring his words. I am just getting old and deaf.

... that even though it's 3.30am he isn't late, if I don't tell him each time he uses the front door what time his arse is expected back through it, he's not late, he's curfew free. Despite the fact we have these conversations at least fortnightly and the weekend and school holiday curfew always has been, is now and shall remain 1am.

... I am the only Mummy in the world that is concerned about what time their teenager gets home and how much they've had to drink and what effect all this partaaaying has on their health, not to mention their A levels. Apparently no one else's parents care. I am clearly quite deranged through lack of fun in my own life.

...that I worry so much about my child, when he is ALWAYS the most sober one there. He is never as bad as Johnny/Craig/Rachel/Mel and in this instance Imran.

...that I am not proud of my child's public spiritedness and caring nature, clearly he is late home because he is looking after Johnny/Craig/Rachel/Mel and in this case, Imran.

... that genuinely he appears sorry that I am awake but he continues in his mad notion that it is a choice for me to stay awake and worry. Trust me son, I would so much rather be in my warm bed asleep than pacing and worrying. I look like a caricature of a 1970's wife waiting on a husband's return from the pub, I have the dressing gown and sheepskin slippers off to a tee, only the curlers and fag dangling from my lip are missing.

... and now he is fast asleep in bed and I am still awake, and I would lay money on the fact that as soon as I get to sleep, I will be awakened a minute later when his 6am paper round alarm goes off.

... that I still love him. And some days or more factually 3,30 am's that can be slighly more of a challenge.

37 comments:

Sweet Seahorse said...

I saw a photo recently of a note that a mother left for her child(ren) on the front door. The door was locked and mum wasn't letting them in. She left blankets on the porch. She told them that the next time it happened they wouldn't be getting the blankets!
xXx Helen

Anonymous said...

I have an agreement now with Attila; I go to bed and sleep and she rings when she wants to come home and doesn't mind that I turn up in my pyjamas. That way I can sleep before and after picking her up because I don't have to worry about what time (or how) she gets home. Funny though, she gets my texts OK, maybe there is some kind of problem in Leicestershire.

I love the idea of leaving blankets outside the front door - but mine is just below my bedroom window and I just know she would wake me (and all the neighbours) up howling for me to come down and let her in!

Anonymous said...

Oh yes, we've had all these. Plus, apparently, we should be pleased they've come home at all - they've done themselves and ourselves a real favour by not staying out all night and getting completely wrecked.

It's also strange how we are the world's lightest sleepers. Nobody else's parents, we're told, would get woken up by something as minor as drunken teenagers slamming doors, walking up and down the stairs endlessly, standing outside our room discussing who's going to sleep where, cooking a light post-session snack etc etc. We've only got ourselves to blame!

Sueann said...

Yes I think locking the door and leaving blankets on the porch is a smashing idea.
I mean...no calls or texts were answered so who knows what will walk in the door at that hour!!
Ha!!
Hugs
SUeAnn

AGuidingLife said...

Grrrrreat I've just seen the Ghost of what is to come. Oh joy. I remember my parents sitting up all night with my brother in fear he would be sick in his sleep. I on the other hand just didn't bother going home mainly. In the days without mobile phones it was much easier. One call from a loud night club where a slurred voice said 'don't wait up'. I suspect my mother's cries of wait until your children do it to you are about to come home to roost. Hope you catch up on your sleep x

Mac n' Janet said...

Go out with him, you stop worrying, he'll finally get the hint.
i've always heard that our children are our parent's revenge on us.

libby said...

I bet he just hugs you and you forgive him don't you...x

Nota Bene said...

*knowing smile*

Expat mum said...

We've always said we'd pick the teen up if ever they were in trouble etc. but I'll bloody well kill the first one who actually takes us up on it!

Looking for Blue Sky said...

I had rules and curfews and drink limits and dd was fairly happy to go along with them. Just as well, as I was never able to stay up, but just used to wake at regular intervals to check my phone to get the latest updates. I wonder what my son will be like?

Helena said...

It's mad, isn't it? I don't know how many times I've played 'Lock The Door, It's Half Past Three'. Always let them in after 20 minutes........

Sandi said...

My kids always got me to pick them up before they could drive, then when they drove they arranged to stay at someones home so they didn't drink and drive. I think I have been ultra lucky somehow.
Although my 22 yr old left here at around midnight last night in his sisters car and I havn't seen or heard from him since!!!!(It's 2.20pm)

Looking for Blue Sky said...

By the way, last night I was out late trying to relive my misspent youth. I left dd1 in charge and she waited up for me!

Rarelesserspotted said...

I still worry when my 25, 23 and 21 year old lads go out but have learned to go to sleep before they get in in the early hours. They'll ring and wake me if there's a problem.
xx

DAB said...

My Mummy still worries about my brother and his 44! ;-)

Trish said...

I think I'm a year or so behind you and am dreading this. It's going to be just like when my husband used to be on-call at weekends: I just couldn't sleep when he was out of the house at night.
I'd best make the most of uninterrupted nights while I can!

Mrs Worthington said...

I gave up in the end. I managed to sleep through the palpitations and very late home ness or the texts at 3am to tell me he was coming home. He always came and he was always inebriated or the other *ahem. And no it doesn't get any easier!

Curry Queen said...

I feel your pain (seriously). I have got rid of one to Uni (but still worry about him) and the 17 year old is becoming a total trial with the wild social life taking precedence over everything else. Starts driving soon too...God help me!

Ayak said...

But don't you recall your teenage years? We were just the same..well I was...worse in fact

mumasu said...

Could have written this myself. Son is better at texts and calls not so the daughter. She has in fact said exactly that more than once. Hey ho we'll miss 'em when they've left for a more exciting home/life styly thing!

Family Affairs said...

SO now about this phase - and I've got two more behind him. I'm not sure I'll cope Lx

ADDY said...

Sounds about par for the course! So so true x

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Missing you already, BAGwennie! Hope you are just too busy with life to waste time with blogs - It's certainly less funny around here without you! Take care, much love,

Fhi x

Sandi said...

Where are you Auntie, its been a while, missing you.
xx Sandi

Helena said...

Just a quick 'hi' in passing, Gwen!

busana muslim said...

This is a great posting I have read. I like your article.

family Affairs said...

Where have you gone??

Helena said...

Hoping this blog isn't abandoned for good, Gwen, that'd be a real shame but I hear congrats are now in order!! Leaving best wishes....Lena xXx

Anonymous said...

Hi AG. Have you been hibernating? Me too...just getting on with life.
Hope all ok?

Mae xx

Anonymous said...

Hiya. Are you hibernating? Or like me just getting on with life..? hope all ok. Mae xx

Anonymous said...

Hello Auntie G. All ok in your world? Not seen you around for a while and I was a bit worried!? mae xx

Anonymous said...

Hiya, not seen you around and I wondered if all ok? Mae xx

Biddy Burns said...

Hello, I'm a New Media specialist working for an advertising agency based in London. We are working with a new start up business, www.bakerdays.com who send personalised cakes for any occasion through your letter box. I was wondering if you would be interested in doing a review of one of their cakes. Let me know if this is something you would be interested in and I can sort out getting the cake to you - just reply with the style of cake you would like and your UK postal address, and if there is any requirements such as a specific message or gluten free etc. Many Thanks, Biddy.

family Affairs said...

What is more strange is where on earth you've gone! x

Unknown said...

I absolutely love this post and can relate so much to it. I too have been exactly like you, and been constantly chastised for it during my son's growing up years. In fact, I can't really tell you when I actually stopped worrying about them both, I don't think that I have, but at least it doesn't keep me awake at nights anymore now that the eldest is in his 40's and the youngest is 30. Sigh.

Elderberry-Rob said...

Well we haven't moved to the 3.30am slot yet - we're still on 1am which is bad enough - I have been well trained through - I am to go to bed and take my phone(s) - he will ring if anything is wrong - not - I always hear about it the next morning - but I am ashamed to confess that I do often go to sleep very nicely. The only rule we have is he MUST get a taxi home (he doesn't want his mum picking him up in front of all his friends that's for sure). We haven't seen any alcohol effects yet either, that is no doubt to come.....

Looking for Blue Sky said...

Are you back?