Yesterday Jemima was three

She completely charmed me by being so gently pleased that it was her birthday. She was thrilled to be allowed to wear her new necklace while we took Dan to school, she asked to watch Christmas Timmy Time and then begged to have a bath so she could play with the boat my parents gave her. The bath thing is basically a miracle – she’s never asked for a bath.

We played in beautiful sunshine with friends and family, we ate cake and Jemima opened the rest of her presents with beautiful enthusiasm and pleasure.

She is such a treasure, such a delight, such a wild one and such an astounding blessing. We’re so glad she’s our little girl.

Sophie’s Mum (a follow-up to The Tiger Who Came To Tea)

By alice Thursday May 16, 2013

Following yesterday’s post about The Tiger Who Came To Tea, I might as well confess that I quite often imagine sub-plots for the books I read the children. I think I empathise a little too much with the harassed Mums…

The sub-plot for The Tiger Who Came To Tea

Sophie’s Mum is exhausted. Sophie was an Autumn baby and she’s quite clearly ready for school but they have to wait until she’s very nearly five. Sophie asks questions and demands that books be read, games be played and cakes be baked. Sophie’s mum loves Sophie and she thinks she’s fun and clever and creative. But today has been one of those days and she can feel her patience running low.

Sophie’s Mum sits down to eat the fairy cakes that Sophie helped her make. (Is that a hair?) Suddenly there’s that sinking feeling. “Oh NO! I completely forgot to go shopping! We don’t need milk because the milkman came this morning but we need practically everything else.”

Sophie’s Mum can feel the tears rise. She’s too tired to go out and the shop will be shut soon and she can’t face taking Sophie out at this time of day – she gets so whiney. The house is a mess and all they’ve really done today is make and eat cake.

Just as she’s trying to work out what to do Sophie’s Mum hears Sophie say, “oh look, the cat from next door has got in the house again!”. An idea forms. She tells Sophie a story, she’s quite proud of it and it makes Sophie laugh. It’s got a hungry tiger in it and it just might solve her predicament. “Let’s tell Daddy the story when he gets back”, Sophie’s Mummy says.

They hear Daddy open the door and they tell him their brilliant tale.

“…So that’s why we don’t have any food for tea!”, Sophie finishes.

Daddy looks at Sophie smiling. Daddy looks at Sophie’s Mummy. He sees the look – the look that says, “I am desperate. Please just go with it.”

Daddy smiles – he loves his girls and knows better than to squash their spirits. It’s been a long day and he’s tired too. He really fancies some chips. “Let’s go to a cafe!”, he says.

As they walk to the cafe Sophie’s mum spots the cat from next door and smiles. Tomorrow is a new day.

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