Well, the kids were a nightmare today (the 2 eldest ones, anyway), DD3 was quite well behaved, DD4 was sick, the same as me, and the other 2, ugh.
First, DD2 drew all over my sofa. She's 8 years old so she should know better. It's only a few months old and still has marks on it from DD4's artistic creation, only she is 3 so can be excused. I was well annoyed about that.
As well as this, she'd got up early before any of us were awake, and cut up millions of pieces of little white paper, and littered them all over DD4's bedroom and the hall for fun. I made her go round and pick them all up.
DD1 was constantly calling DD2 names, moaning, complaining and hitting her and then getting angry with me when I told her to stop being mean to her sister. They just fought for HOURS, every 5 minutes it was literally, 'mummy, she's done this!'
Now I have a bug and felt sick all day, still have it now, and I was nursing DD4 who has a temperature and fell asleep on my knee. Now I can't carry children so I was basically stuck there with this sleeping kid in my arms, unable to move, while DD1 and DD2 were tearing each other's hair out.
My darling Lulu was the only one who was cheerful and played nicely.
I did get them making paper chains to put up round my house as Christmas decorations. If you've got kids, theres no point buying expensive decorations. The best ones are ones that your children make themselves, so we did lots of multi-coloured paper chains and I thought that would satisfy them, but no, they were fighting over the paper and who had the longest chain!!!
I put a little fibre optic Christmas tree up for them and they watched that changing colour and we put a little nativity out and a living room rug and doormat that says 'Merry Christmas' on it. They were excited about it, but just wouldn't stop disagreeing over everything. DD1 was even grumbling at DD4 because she was crying and I just said 'For heaven's sake, DD1, she has a fever, leave the poor child alone.'
Andy came back with this HUGE zit on his nose, really massive and red, like rudolph. I laughed at him - tried not to but couldn't help it. He said 'I know, if it gets any bigger it'll take over my face.' As soon as he walked through the door, DD1 piped up 'We went to Next to buy you presents!' 'Next?' he said. I butted in, 'I know you don't like Next but I was returning an item and she wanted to buy you something.' He said he did like Next but it was too expensive. He's right there, actually, it is expensive, but the clothes are gorgeous and they last well. Half my wardrobe is from Next.
They told him what we'd been doing and I told him about them drawing on my sofa etc etc.
Then he said to them that their 'homework' was to find out the meaning of advent. We didn't know it either and proceeded to have a debate about when Advent starts. I said it starts in November. He said not. So DD1 looked it up on the internet and I was right, it does start in November and finishes on Christmas Eve - that's why some people put their decs up in November. I said 'I told you, I was right!' He slapped me on the leg for being a smart arse. So we read all this stuff about advent and I learnt some things I didn't know, as well as the kids learning it, lol.
Then Andy asked me what the word nativity means. I told him Nat means birth, so nativity is basically 'the birth of Christ', like navel comes from the word nat, and pre-natal, as in pre-birth etc etc. I can't believe he didn't know that. I thought everyone knew the meaning of nativity, but then he is more spiritual than religious and I do have the advantage of being born to a Greek Orthodox (Catholic) family - never practiced it in my life, but I am aware of a lot of the teachings, because of this.
Then Andy said 'Oh, by the way, my brother's coming over for Christmas Day too.' I said 'Oh, are you having him over? That'll be nice.' I was still in the mindset of 'I'm not going because of EX-OW' etc and even put it in writing for him earlier today because I was thinking he expected me to sit round a table with her.
He said 'No, WE'RE having him over.' (as in me and him together).
DD1 started getting excited and saying, 'oh good, is mum coming round after all?' And Andy said 'Yes she is.'
I felt really awkward. He's probably not even read the email yet. I said 'Er..actually Andy, I had decided not to come round if EX-OW1 was there as I am not comfortable with the idea, so I wasn't going to come.' He said 'She won't be there; she's doing her own dinner for her kids and family.' I asked 'So Rose won't be there?' 'Maybe, for a bit, but she'll be going for the meal with her.' I said okay then, I will come round as long as I don't have to share the table with any other women. He nodded but with that, 'I am so pissed off' look on his face. I said, 'I know you're pissed off by me mentioning it, but it's my Christmas too.' He didn't say anything in response and the girls were getting all hyper at the idea so I hope he doesn't flip out when he reads my email, saying I'm not going to go there.
I said as long as it was just us, the kids and BIL I was fine with that. I am the one who will be doing the cooking, so I have to cook for BIL now too. Thankfully his mother isn't going to be there because she's a nurse and is working on Christmas Day, so at least I don't have MIL from hell to contend with.
Ugh. I think I am messing things up with my nerves here, and feel really stressed out and tired.
