Wiggles
He used to get the Wiggles
Just once or twice a week
I saved them up for the days
Without an arvo sleep
But now he hears a single word
That associates with them
Hot potato, fruit salad
Hammer, dance and sing
It doesn't help that now he sleeps
Only every second day
I need to find activities
To keep his mind at bay
We paint, we draw, we walk outside
We even hang the clothes
We look at books, we play with cards
Trains, some cars, his nose
It doesn't matter what we do
Even if we've done his faves
He'll dance around and beg and plead
For Wiggles every day
And then when I say no
You've had them once this week
He lies upon the carpet
And his eyes, they spring a leak.
“Being at home can be fun, insulating, relaxed, boring or isolating ... depending on how the day is going.”*
School holidays are almost over in my part of the world – six long weeks of noise and squabbling balanced by hot, lazy days at the beach or the pool with lots of daring exploits and laughter. Many of our days were spent at home, basking in simple pleasures like baking, playing games or outdoor pursuits – trying to relax the everyday routines of school-morning bustle and ‘having to be somewhere on time’. However pleasant, I must admit to being relieved that life gets back to normal next week, and I can reclaim some of my own time for writing again!
* From Being Mummy by Anne‑marie Taplin published April 2007