Monday 9 November 2015

What Weekends Are For

 






Monday evening, and I am already eating Nutella from the jar. The reason? The trials of homework coupled with pre menstrual madness. And I think I have toothache. I say think. I've never had toothache before. I've never had a filling before. I'm blaming it on stress induced hazelnut spread bingeing. Homework is giving me cavities.

Of course had I written this post earlier today (which was the plan, but other stuff got in the way), then it would have been a much more laid back affair. As it is, I am sat inwardly seething. After school shenanigans, which lead to confiscation of his games console and computer, Alf spent an hour or so doing his homework at the dining table. He huffed. He puffed. He kept making the computer talk to me. It kept saying "I'm tired," and "hello Mother," and "what's French for poo?" Then he started drumming his fingers on the table, cracking his knuckles and coughing.

Meanwhile Olly wouldn't read his reading book. And he wouldn't do his spellings. I have to admit my dismay last Thursday, when his teacher stood at the top of the steps that leads to his classroom, and announced the inclusion of spellings in his book bag. I nearly ran away. I have spent eighteen years cajoling homework out of my children. I think I deserve a medal frankly. Talk about pull your hair out parenting.

But I digress.......

Weekends chez Today's Stuff are fleeting and precious. Fleeting, because Marc is only home at the weekend. Precious, because of our time spent as a family. My favourite kind of weekend is one that is a mixture of doing something and doing nothing. I feel that the weekend has been wasted if we can't get out and about for at least some of it. I also feel it's important for everyone to be able to relax and chill out. Certainly since Olly has gone back to school, his need for relaxation at home has grown. Marc uses the time to unwind, relax and catch up on his sleep (or at least take advantage of a long Saturday lie in). Alfie disappears into his teenage cave. Sometimes the weekend is scuppered by illness. Or bad tempers. Or bickering. Sometimes the children are a handful. But on balance, the weekends are usually good all round.

This weekend was no exception. Saturday was gloriously sunny and warm, and we wandered into town for a pasty lunch. We sat on the harbour, and met up with friends. Olly climbed the harbour wall ropes. Town was busy, but not full. There was a good atmosphere along the front, as local people made the most of a town without too many visitors. A good day in November is as nice as a good one in July.

We walked home along Porthmeor, where the wind blew in gusts along the beach. The tide was on the turn, but the waves were foamy. Olly walked along holding onto his hood. There weren't many people; mainly dog walkers and the odd surfer. The cafés are closed until Christmas, and the Tate is closed until next May. Honey, who loves a bit of wind, barked until we threw pebbles for her. I inhaled lungful's of air in the vain hope that my detox headache would subside, and it did ease.

Weekends are all about food, and that usually means curry. And pudding. We had the curry on Saturday night, and the I made a rice pudding on Sunday. There are usually bacon sandwiches, there is lots of tea and coffee. I enjoy cooking, and Marc enjoys eating what I cook. He never complains, and is always grateful. Sometimes I think I'd like to be cooked for, but to be honest that's just the way it is here.

Weekends are all about lounging. On sofas, while engrossed in a book. I finished a book about The Krays this weekend. Not my usual thing, but interesting nonetheless. Or we sit watching the television. This weekend was the obligatory Attenborough, Dr Who, Star Wars, Antiques Roadshow and an Aardman film about pirates. Marc lounges, drinking coffee and snuggling up with the boys. Over the years, it has been tradition for them all to jump into bed with him on a weekend morning.

Weekends are about something different. This weekend, Alfie and his cadet chums were part of the Remembrance Sunday parade in Hayle. We went along too, in support of him and for the service itself. I had never been to one before. I usually watch it on the television. It was very emotional. I was immensely proud of Alfie, and very moved by the service. The names of those men from Hayle, who lost their lives in the two World Wars were read out. A poignant tribute.

Weekends are about baking. This weekend I made my Christmas cakes. I used self raising flour by mistake, and had an inner hissy fit while they cooked. But they seem alright to me. I was going to make a ginger cake, but couldn't be bothered to buy any more treacle. I enjoy baking at the weekends. It feels more leisurely than during the week.

This weekend was about a spot of DIY. There is a long list of stuff to be done, and the window of opportunity is very small. Non existent during sailing season. I am hopeful that some of it will get ticked off this side of Christmas. I don't blame Marc for not wanting to do it. He spends precious little time here as it is.

Weekends are far too short. It only feels like it has started when Marc gets home on Friday evening, and it finishes quite early on a Sunday evening. Marc has to be gone by 5am on Monday morning, and so it's an early night all round. Sometimes I get frustrated by it, but I'm also used to it.

Our weekends are no different to most others. But they are special nonetheless.

Leanne xx












19 comments:

  1. Ha. I was terrible at homework, could never concentrate. Still can't, very hyper and can never sit still for long.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just had a wonderful catchup here! You've provided a very happy half hour lovely! Thank you, Bee xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. What gorgeous photos Leanne, they really are stunning, especially the first one and the last one. Weekends can be wonderful can't they. I usually look back very fondly on them on a Monday. Homework tribulations are a familiar thing to me, especially the huffing and the puffing. I usually hope that spelling will somehow magically infuse itself into the children. I'm wishing you a good week. Put the Nutella away or you'll have to go through the detox headache again. I'm giving up sugar any day now. The treacle tart is finished and so are the chilli peanuts. Yes, I think now might be the moment. CJ xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love your photos Leanne. I don't think primary school children should have to do homework. If you're offering a bookish, creative and out and about environment at home, which you clearly are, I honestly wouldn't worry about homework unless you're both in the mood. If you're worried about Olly missing out how about starting a little project together - but only if you both want to.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You do pack a weekend full. I agree with Sarah above about homework for primary school students. I was a teacher and only gave homework because I was required to and gave them minimum I could get away with.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I too seem to have had far too many years supervising homework. The worst sort used to be the stuff that seemed to be given just for the hell of it rather than anything useful. I have fond memories of Nutella on a spoon from during my pregnancies! You do live in the loveliest of places - your photos always make me so envious. Have a great week and good luck with those spellings! xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Homework cajoling,monitoring and nagging is the bane of my life at present, I am wondering if it is a boy thing? My twelve year old sees it as an affront to his human rights. Your weekend looks lovely. We haven't seen blue sky here for a fortnight and I miss it

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't know which bit of parenting was the worst! Potty training, bloody homework, making endless packed lunches or worse, peeling yogurt lids off packed lunches the next morning because despite the daily 'empty your lunch box ' command, THEY NEVER DID IT! Of course now they are all growed up, I'd do it again in a heart beat

    ReplyDelete
  9. oh what a lovely post. I am so glad that homework (except basic facts and reading) was banned at my boys' primary school. They are all atrocious spellers.. Stunning photos too btw

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Leanne. Your weekends sound lovely and special. I have sourced the homework dilemma out to Sam, who gets paid to do look after the little ones two days a week and is expected to do the homework with them, too. Works well because Sam is saving up for a computer, and then for a ski trip (he hasn't yet noticed that for me it is a cheap option because I only pay once and get childcare and meet their demanding needs in one). Have a lovely week. I hope the weather in your parts of the world is not as abysmal as it is here! Christina xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. You obviously make the very best of your weekends! It is a shame that more of us don't use the weekends as family time. xx

    ReplyDelete
  12. your weekends sound very special indeed. I whole heartedly approve of a mix of activity and lounging! Homework supervision is truly an evil thing, I always feel like it's much harder work for me than it is for the child.......

    ReplyDelete
  13. It sounds like you really make the most of your weekends. I worked every Sunday for twelve years and then every other Sunday for two years so when I stopped working back in 2010 I made sure that we didn't waste our weekends, especially as the kids were growing up by this time and I knew we wouldn't have many years left living together as a family. Sometimes it takes a bit of an unusual situation to make us appreciate the time we've got and to use it wisely. As for homework, thank goodness I don't have to contend with that any longer. Your photos are wonderful, I especially like the ones of the sea.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your weekends sound the perfect way to recover from the hassles of the week,appreciate family life and the wonderful location you are living in. Your description of St Ives in November mad me smile, like so many sea-side towns it is nice for the locals to enjoy it without too many tourists! Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Doing homework is like pulling teeth in our house too. Why it is always a surprise that it's got to be done? Glad the rest of your weekend was lovely xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. So much of this resonates with me and our weekends. John works alternate weekends and so I feel the need to make those count, to balance activity with inactivity, and yes, do the dreaded bloody homework, I spent three hours last Sunday afternoon with Bella and Angus's homework - supervising, cajoling, making suggestions, cleaning up paint...and I was in a foul mood when John got home.at 6pm. And yet the normality of it all is lovely. I think your weekends actually sound perfectly normal and happy. xx

    ReplyDelete
  17. I think your weekend sounds like a good mix of resting and catching up. I honestly can't complain about homework (our partial homeschool requires that we do a lot of work together and it mostly goes well), but around here it's the other chores I can't seem to make anyone see the importance of. Pick up your socks, put your books away, make your bed, blah, blah, blah. Nobody else even notices mess but it drives me crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I feel the need to make the weekends count too. When the ABO was working away it would be even harder...but he'll generally now be rostered for 2 of 4 weekends a month and trying to keep children entertained and as Gillian said, balance activity and inactivity, is hard. I really dislike having to encourage biggest to do reading or spellings. It's v.v.v dull. Still those walks and that sky...stunning!! Hope you;re hvaing a good week xx

    ReplyDelete
  19. A lovely blog post and gorgeous photos, I love the blues of the sky and sea and white of the buildings. Once when I spent a holiday in Devon, we went to St Ives and I bought a painting that was layers of blues and creams and whites, because it summed up that day to me. I sympathise with the nutella and stress, I have had 2 bars of chocolate already, stress management of course due to a 14 year old having major tantrums Unfortunately he was cooking dinner at the time and there was a fair smattering of passata all over the kitchen! Your weekend sounded perfect, have a good week x

    ReplyDelete