The truth behind those Christmas tweets.

My head is slightly frazzled but after a really challenging day some loose threads suddenly came together.  After reading an article in The Guardian by Oliver Burkeman I've been thinking a lot about the truth behind status updates.  We all know what we tweet and facebook can be a glossier version of reality.

Today I half wrote some tweets but the reality of the 'situation' here at Sickly, Snotty and Stir Crazy Towers was so dismal I couldn't bring myself to tweet them.   I don't want to come across as a whingebag, I'd rather wait until my positive outlook has been replenished. 

Oliver Burkeman's article made me think we should be open about the ups and downs.  Especially at Christmas when we all know that beneath that shiny wrapping we all have some serious challenges to meet.  So this Christmas I thought a more honest blog might be appropriate.

Julie at The Sardine tin challenged me to bleat, for those that haven't met this fab concept it is for those points that are too big to tweet and too small to blog.  I feel a bit like a pathetic sheep lost in a field of snow at the moment.  So in the spirit of being more honest here is my 'interpretation' of bleating, some tweets I did send this week, and some I didn't,  followed by the real warts and all you can't fit in 140 characters.

@Aresidence

Just dusted of Nigella's How to be a Domestic Goddess to make Christmas Biscuits as a family.

The kitchen is covered in flour, we still have to ice the bloomin things, we've all eaten to many and are all on a sugar low.  I'll end up eating most of them and feeling cross with myself.  Watching a festive DVD or making a snowman as a family would be less messy and fraught.  Why didn't I smell a rat when Mr A started buying me cookbooks all those years back?  Where is Mr A?

Aresidence

I do love my mum friends but it does depress me when the conversation turns to washing powder.

I read Metropolitan Mum's post this week, about how she didn't recall 'signing up' for all those extra bits of housework when she became a mum.  Since then I've been on my feminist soapbox (what an unfortunate metaphor).  During our Christmas drinks my friends and I were also having a good old feminist rant, about how we ended up with the lion's share of housework.  Then the conversation turned to washing powder brands, at which point I threatened to leave unless we changed tack.

@Aresidence

Kids had huge simultaneous tantrums then fell asleep. Hope this marks the end of their viruses, often find a tantrum works wonders ;)

We all had a tantrum, G was lying on the kitchen floor, L was bawling in the Wendy house and I was sobbing into a pile of wet washing.  Sometimes age 2 and 4 is a magic combination, sometimes it takes every little bit of strength I have not to lose my rag,  today I had no strength.  If you can't beat them join them.  Wishful thinking too, they woke up even grumpier and snottier. 

Aresidence 

My dad just reminded me Christmas is just one day. Much needed perspective :)

My dad called while my laptop was dying, the poorly 4yo was shouting for snacks and the poorly 2yo was wailing from his cot.  A much needed pre-Christmas counselling session in which the 4yo was pacified by yet more Cbeebies and I sat in the rocking chair with the 2yo nodding off.  I agreed with my Dad to put the OU assignment aside until after the big day.  The frustration of not getting any studying done because the kids were too ill to go to their morning at nursery is making me a very poor Florence Nightingale.   I twitch and itch when I hear a CBeebies theme tune.

Aresidence 

Just handed my husband a Tommee Tippee full of milk and said in all seriousness 'there you go', fortunately didn't give the 2yo my husband's glass of wine.

I am officially losing it ;)  But we laughed, and then I had a much needed G and T or two. 

Happy Christmas, you have to love the silly season, warts and all. 

I would love to invite:

Helloitsgemma's Blog

Kate Takes 5

to have a bleat!

If anyone else needs a good pre Christmas bleat please go ahead and comment below (or leave me your link to your bleat)  I offer you a safe space to let the stress out before the big day:

 Allaboutus and such like's fab bleats