If you’re a parent with young kids, chances are you’re always late. And if you’re not actually late, you’re rushing. Always rushing. Because toddlers and babies just don’t care about timetables; they’ve never even heard about schedules. In fact, they’re just too busy to think about things like that; they’re busy running mini dictatorships instead.
Even the most organised parents can have their day turned upside down in an matter of seconds. Sound familiar?
Late parents, we salute you. We know that even with the best-laid plans, time becomes this weird vortex, here are a few of our favourite time black holes:
1 Food indecisions
Mornings planned to military perfection get transformed when a little person takes a disliking to what you have made for them. This scenario might sound familiar: You set your alarm to get up earlier than the little rascals. You’re all over it, up and dressed and in the kitchen to make their favourite breakfast exactly to their liking – a sprinkle of cinnamon, a teaspoon of honey – in the centre of the bowl, of course – only to be told they don’t actually eat that type of breakfast any more. They hate it.
2 The favourite lost toy
Eddie the Teddy is a particular little person’s best friend. He goes everywhere with them; he sits with them at mealtimes, travels with them on every car journey, even gets tucked-up in bed with his own blankie each night. Then – horror of all horrors – Eddie goes walkabout. "Does anyone know where Eddie is?" Silence. Cue hours spent searching every crevice of the house, the car, the driveway… only to find him ‘reading’ a book on a deckchair in the garden. Where else.
3 Tidying toys
Oh, the joys of picking up toys. Then doing it again; then again and again. Groundhog day anyone? The best is always when you have just about managed to separate all the Lego into one box, the bits of random plastic into another, and popped all the dollies back in the Doll’s House in their respective beds, only to turn around and see everything taken out again to be played with. Sometimes there are not enough eye-rolls in the world.
4 Last-minute toilet trip
It’s Ireland; and it’s winter. A parent’s most dreaded season because along with the biting winds, you get to dress your little brood up in a million layers and accessories. Cardigans and sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, you name it; they need it. Anyone who knows the drill will know precisely how maddening it is when you master all the layers, zips, buttons and bothered kids, and you’re just about to skip out the door, and there’s a “I need to go to the toilet!” And the undressing and re-dressing cycle begins.
5 The perfectly-timed tantrum
I am almost convinced little people are mind readers. How do they know exactly the wrong time to throw an almighty tantrum? Like right before you leave the house, just as you’re about to pay in the supermarket and always, ALWAYS when you are already running late!
Have I missed any? Let us know in the comments below.
