Have you ever encountered One of Those Days?

I should have known it would happen. I should have seen it coming. After all, he only preys on the sleep deprived. He knew Lady F had been up all night, teething, so we were both tired and grumpy. I should have realised. If I'd have known, I would have stayed safe and sound at home. But I didn't see it coming, I didn't stay at home and I fell victim to 'One Of Those Days'.

I should have realised in the morning when Lady F woke up after 20 minutes into her nap and refused to go back to sleep. I didn't. One Of Those Days saw it though.

It should have hit me during our morning trip to the shops when Lady F tipped her new 'non spill' cup all over herself, soaking herself and the car seat simultaneously. It didn't and I made the foolish decision to carry on my journey.

'One of Those Days' was laughing at me as it thought up its big revealing moment. In the Tescos car park. We had been to pick up a carpet cleaner from the Dry Cleaners. It was a heavy, bulky contraption which looked fit to launch us into space. Then came the loading into the car boot. At that precise moment Lady F decided to have a screaming fit about going into her car seat. I couldn't physically get her wriggly, writhing body into the seat. And boy did she scream. Embarrassed and annoyed I stood, Lady F in one arm and the heavy cleaner in a trolley in another. I was clueless as to how I would get it into the boot. Luckily a nice lady came riding in to avenge 'One of Those Days' and helped me load it into my boot.

'One of Those Days' just gleefully rubbed it hands together as it realised that I thought I had won the fight.

My confidence was growing with the boot loaded so, I used the usual tactic of food bribery to get Lady F to sit in her car seat. We went back to the shops and I bought some watermelon cubes. Back at the car and she eagerly sat in her car seat munching on the watermelon. I on the other hand was eagerly searching for my debit card that I had just used to pay for the watermelon.

That sinking feeling hit as I realised I'd left it in Tescos and I had to get Lady F back out of her car seat. Off we went, back to Tescos. The card wasn't there though.. 

Back at the car and 'One of Those Days' was revelling in its triumphs.

Then, as I put the empty watermelon tray on the roof of the car and leant down to negotiate a resisting Lady F back into her car seat I spotted my bank card on the floor. The relieving moment was short lived though as 'One of Those Days' revealed itself in all its glory by blowing the watermelon tray off the car roof so the juice trickled down my back.

Next time, 'One of Those Days', I'll be ready for you. I'll look out for the signs and i'll lock my door, draw my blinds and keep you out.

Have you ever had one of those days?

Dear Mothers,

I didn't want to be the one to do this, but you see, it has to be said. We have to be told. It's becoming quite the problem and mothers all over the world are suffering unnecessarily. So, here goes.

We need to take a stand against burnt toast.

Why is it that when you have two pieces of toast, one is burnt, the other is perfect, your child is offered the perfect one and you resign yourself to the burnt piece? It's not a mutually exclusive relationship. Do yourself a favour and make yourself another piece. Go on, you deserve it. Don't resign yourself to the scraped burnt toast.

Now, onto another matter. Shopping.

When you go shopping, you eye that beautiful and reasonably priced dress in the window. Heck, you even imagine yourself in it. Consider how you might even feel beautiful. To top it off you can afford this little splurge. Why is it that you keep on walking, into the kids aisle and come home with a bag full of purchases for your already well clobbered child? Do yourself a favour and this once, buy yourself the dress. Go on, you deserve it. Don't resign yourself to thinking the kids need it more.


Now I'm on a roll. Chocolate.


Don't feel guilty about eating that extra piece of chocolate. I know you said you'd stop at one, maybe two pieces and you've already had five but don't worry about it. Give yourself a break. Consider that if you've got to bedtime and the children have been fed, watered and entertained all day long then you've worked hard enough for it. Do yourself a favour and eat that last piece. Savour it in your mouth and enjoy it, guilt free. Go on, you deserve it. Don't resign yourself to unnecessary guilt.


So go on, take my advice and enjoy yourself a little more.

Go on, you're a mother. You deserve it.

Yours Sincerely,

One mother to another