No1 Daughter and family will be flying off to New Zealand on 5th December, to spend a month with far flung rellies. So I was not too surprised when, about a week ago, said daughter 'phoned with this rather odd suggestion:-
'Mum, I've promised to babysit for Hubby's eldest sister next Saturday evening. Could I drive down to deliver Christmas Prezzies as soon as the revellers get home? The roads will be much easier then - (think Daytime Roadworks Nightmare) - and they should get back around midnight. It'd only take me about an hour to get to you, and I could let myself in and crawl into bed without too much noise, if that's alright?'
Not your normal arrangements for visit, but who'd expect normalcy from either me or mine?
'No problem', says I.' I'll probably still be awake then, anyhow.'
'Okay, I'll text you when I set out, shall I?' replied daughter.
And that was how the matter was left.
Yesterday evening it was getting close to midnight anyway, before I climbed into bed and snuggled down to watch the X Factor show I'd missed earlier in the evening. The mobile sat hopefully beside my bed, awaiting the all important text message; X Factor would run from 11.55pm to 1.10pm.
The mobile remained silent.
Eventually, by a quarter to one, I decided to be the one to text, to see what the hold up had been. As I was squinting at the buttons, composing my message, Daughter got in first, and my phone rang! She was at last about to leave.
Hence it was closer to two in the morning, not one, that we finally settled down for the night. Well, daughter settled down, and I spent a further hour waiting to be lulled to dreamland by my radio's World Service.
Come the morning, eight o'clock saw me up and about, as I'm long past the days of extended lie-ins. Daughter, however excelled herself, and didn't surface for coffee until mid-day. She was delighted at the chance to sleep undisturbed for such a long time, as her kiddy-winks would have scuppered that if she'd been at home!
'It comes to something, Ma', said she,'when I have to babysit till after midnight, then drive an hour through the pouring rain just to catch up on a bit of beauty sleep!'
Bless her little cotton socks - er, correction - pink, leopard print, furry bootees!
Jinksy
ReplyDeleteDaughters are wonderful, aren't they? Full of surprises and ideas that are hard to resist.
Mind you, if I went to bed at 02.00, that would mean just three hours sleep for me. If I'm still in bed at 06.00, I've overslept!
Daughters...gotta love 'em!
ReplyDeleteI love the tone in this blog...comes through loud and clear. I smile...
Smiles from Jackie
Oh how nice to have D1 for a sleep over, no matter what time she arrived....I know you enjoyed having her Maggie as well you should. Stay well my friend......:-) Hugs
ReplyDeleteWonderful that D1 can enjoy a sleepover & a late morning wake-up time with her delightful mum! Is this the daughter who won you your reputation as a seamstress extraordinaire?
ReplyDeletejinksy - so real!!!! real life with people who don't clock in and out at pre-determined times. people who sleep in!!!! ahhhh me. it's just like home!!!! lovely post from you. steven
ReplyDeleteYou're a bit like me -- late nights AND early mornings. Although my nights are probably not quite as late as your lately.
ReplyDeleteEven working late as I do, I still fancy a wee kip just to re-charge( and copious amounts of coffee help, as well ). Too, travelling at night-time does yield better.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter often gets here at midnight WITH the grandsons as its easier for her too. The boys go straight to bed and then everyone lies in late the next day,
ReplyDeleteWhen the boys were babies they didn't lie in!!!!! Babies rarely do.
I babysit the girls once a week when Daddy goes out with friends. Sometimes he gets in just before dawn...... & then everyone sleeps late.
Kids eh!!!!!!
I sometimes wonder if my children are reading from the same time zone!!!
ReplyDeleteLove Granny
No matter their age, they're always our kids aren't they? LOL
ReplyDeleteI admire you, I couldn't have stayed awake until the small hours.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had some time with your daughter even if most of it was spent asleep. Nice too that she, at least, caught up with hers. :)
ReplyDeleteGirls will always be girls won't they. LOL! This story cracked me up!
ReplyDeleteJenni
lots of praise for wonderful daughters; I think you're a marvel to be so accommodating!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like a lie in to make you feel good!
ReplyDeleteIn response to a comment that you left on my blog about a week ago. My e-mail address is cheshire.wife@googlemail.com or there is an e-mail button on the left side of my blog under my blog list.
I am a night person. I find as I grow older, I can go to bed at 2 or 3 in the morning and still get up at 7 if I must. There was a time when I had to have my full 8 hours but no more. Sounds like you and your daughter have a great relationship.
ReplyDeleteI guess MOthers arfe supposed to have a very flexible timetable or a clock that stands still.
ReplyDeleteBless her! Hopefully she managed to catch up on some sleep.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I don't know how or why I fell of your band of followers.. When I read your msg on my post, I suddenly realized, I hadn't seen any new post from you on my dashboard for a long time.. and on further inspection.. I found your blog had disappeared from my list! I swear I didn't do anything!!! It is the blogger fellas...
Oh boy!! Now I tried to join back again and this is what blogger had to say,
ReplyDelete"We're sorry, the site owner has blocked you from joining this site.
Sign in as a different user"
Blocked me :(( !!
Hello Jinksy,
ReplyDeleteWhat mums will do, bless 'em?!
I love the term extended-lie-ins:) I 'm in the process now of trying to get out of bed really early. I was actually in Walmart at 6:30 this morning! wow--it was empty!
ReplyDeleteyou know jinks, we dio not I SAY NOT have as much in common as i originally though...my bed time is around 9 pm at night and i rise before 5am most mornings, and you seem to be az night owl, and you thibnk i should know exactly what everyone wants for christmas, no not alike at all we two,,,read my latest blog or blag and see how i NOW think of christmas gift giving...all because of you I HAD TO CHANGE MY WHOLE MIND, AH AND THAT OTHER TWIN BOBSIE ALSO CAHNAGNED MY MIND...LOAVES YOU THE PUTZ
ReplyDeleteWhat it is to be young, eh Jinksy - I can just about remember what it was like, can't you.
ReplyDeleteThis made me smile - I don't know, I just got joy from reading it, imagining y'all snuggled in - her sleeping in and you, like me, up early no matter what time you go to bed!
ReplyDelete*big smiling*
Sweet, made me smile too ;-)
ReplyDeleteWordverification: comac.
What a lovely post, Jinksy, I smiled through it. I'm glad you were able to allow your daughter a good lie in!
ReplyDeleteOh my, you're much more indulging than I am. I would have told my lovely to email me.
ReplyDeleteWe get the late night arrivals all the time. Well, it seems like it anyway. Just last night my son and his family arrived from Tampa, FL, (500 miles away) at 2:00 in the morning. This morning we are all having "extended lie-ins" too, except for me. I was inexplicably drawn to the computer.
ReplyDeleteWhat are we to do with Putz????
The quest for rest knows no bounds ;-) A terrific anecdote, dear Jinksy...You have such a fantastic writing voice...I can hear you crystal clear...your personality, and warmth shine through every word! Hope you are all well...Been a crazy week for me...My computer crashed...But as you can see, I've stumbled in finally...even if it is a bit late...Love you much~Janine XO
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit. Believe it or not, it's only around 7:45 and I think I could go to bed, but that means I would wake up around midnight thinking it's time to get up. LOL
ReplyDelete