I am already fearful of the big day. It’s not the concern over crying in public (although, knowing me, I will be an emotional wreck). It’s not even the immense feeling of parental responsibility at helping her learn her lines. No. It’s something far, far worse.

At pre-school drop-off yesterday, I was given a sheet of paper with lyrics to the songs in Frog’s Christmas play. Contained within the package was a CD. Oh good, I thought, we can have a jolly sing-a-long when she gets home this afternoon. I pictured some good mother-daughter bonding. Possibly even an early mug of mulled wine for Mummy. We made an imaginary stage and Frog stepped behind the curtain…

The first song comes on. It’s an up-beat number, all about a bossy king who is (from what I can gather) a bit rude. My three year old related to the lyrics, “Being bossy is such fun” and threw herself into the verse with gusto.

The second song was a bit slower. I encouraged her to pretend to rock baby Jesus. “He not Jesus Mummy. He baby CHEESE-US”. So that didn’t go too well.

By the third song she’d had enough. The Christmas cheer had all but evaporated and “baby Cheese-us” was not cutting the mustard.

“This is SOOOOO BORING Mummy,” wailed my sullen daughter. “I hate baby Cheese-us songs. I WANT OLLY MURS!”

So now you’ll see why I’m scared.

The post The Nativity play rehearsal appeared first on Mother's Always Right.

When you have a baby you don’t get much time to “chill”.

Gone are the days of lie-ins and lounging. Welcome to early morning wake-up calls and Sundays at swimming.

With that in mind, I have struggled to find an appropriate picture for this week’s Gallery theme, Chilled Out.

We went on holiday recently, so I thought about posting a photo of me lying by the pool in my bikini. But I wouldn’t want to put you through that.

So, then I considered putting up a picture of Frog at her favourite time of the day, naked time before her bath. But I doubt she’d thank me for that in her teenage years, so those pictures of her baring her bum to the world will stay firmly put (to be used as bribery and threats at a later date).

Then I realised Frog’s idea of “chilling” is pretty different to mine. She’s happiest when she’s playing with a tambourine, shaking it along to a nursery rhyme or the sound of her own babbling voice, wowing an imaginary audience. Poor girl, takes after me like that…

Tambourine *girl*

But that’s not my entry either.

Because then I found this picture, by my amazingly talented friend Caroline Gue. It shows Frog when she’s at her most chilled. Sucking her thumb. And for me, this is perfection. Because when Frog’s chilled out, so am I.

The post The big chill appeared first on Mother's Always Right.