Tough Day

I had a tough day at work.

There was no internet for the entire day.

I could not check on the banking, get emails, read emails, peek at blogs, check the weather for the week ahead and numerous other time wasting activities.

Instead I did a solid seven hours work before heading home to pay some work bills via the bank account on my internet.

I was once again reminded how the internet plays such a huge part in my life. Sigh.

Today is the first day of two week school holidays. Because both my husband and I are working we left S home alone. He had a friend coming over around midday so that was fine.

Before I left I made his breakfast and then showed him all the food there was to eat in the house.

I got home at about 4.00 pm and he was in the "Xbox" room with his friend playing away (no surprise there).

When I asked him if he had eaten he said no.

"Are you serious? What? Nothing all day?" I quizzed.

"A drink of juice and a bit of popcorn," he said.

Now I know for sure my son would DIE if left alone for too long.

Although, the good thing is, he does not randomly pig out when home alone. Then again, there is not very much junky food to pig out on in the house so he must figure starvation is a better option.

Tomorrow he is out with my husband on a trip to the museum to see the Titanic exhibition so he will be moving around at least. On Thursday I am taking him and his friend to the Royal Show to see animals, go on rides and buy some show bags. It involves me walking around like a pack horse most of the time, but they are happy to see the boring things there as well.

On Saturday night we went to someone's fiftieth birthday party. I knew nobody and for the first 45 minutes sat with my son playing games on his Itouch while we waited for a friend of his to arrive. It was utterly boring.

By the time a joined in with the "grown up" group I was feeling a bit agitated. I am not very good at big social get togethers and take a while to get into the conversation. So, I had a glass of wine to loosen up. I might drink three or four times a year and it would never be more than a glass of white wine. No reason other than alcohol makes me feel pretty sick. But I do think it is a great social lubricant so to speak. So, now and then I will risk feeling blech the next day if it puts me a ease enough to talk to people I don't know.

Anyway, everyone is chit chatting away about different topics (mostly sport) and I am listening politely. Then the conversation got onto everyone's kids. The wives went on about how they limit time on the television and Xbox for their boys.

"I never let the boys have more than one hour of television per day or half an hour of Xbox per day'" said one of them.

"Oh, me neither. I really limit their computer use as well," says another.

"If my boys are on any of those things I just unplug them or turn them off when their time is up, no warning. I want to show them I mean business," pipes up number three.

They went on a bit about parents who let their kids play Xbox all day and those who let their kids watch tv for more than two hours. Blah, blah and more blah.

Well, I am one of those mothers so I just could not keep my mouth shut.

"I let my son sit in his pyjamas all day on a Saturday and play Xbox. I also let him use the computer and watch tv. I am one of those shit mothers you are talking about," I said to them.

There was a bit of silence and then some back pedalling going on.

"My boys like to play sport so I just kick them outside to do that when they are inside too much. They get moronic when they are on the electronics for too long," one explained.

"Mine too. He is a complete shit if he plays Xbox for more than an hour so I have to make sure he doesn't sit too long at any of those things," admitted number three.

Then the other confessed that if her two could play Xbox without being grumpy she would leave them to it.

So, why not say that in the first place? Because as parents we do what works and because my son is easy going on or off the Xbox why would I deny him that?

And, am I wrong here, but I think that the mother who just unplugged her son's electronics when it was time for him to get off, is disrespectful to him. What is that about? I would never do that to a child or adult. It is just rude.

Then we changed the subject. Well, they did. Started talking about all the sport their boys play and how good they are.

At that point I was tempted to have a second glass of wine to completely zone out but figured it was not going to be worth the crappy headache the next day. So I smiled politely and listened attentively and made all the right noises.

And wondered if anyone would notice if I farted.

Oh, I hate parties..

Ciao
LC