Today was a rough day.
Shopping day, which is a say no more.
But I had to wrangle with extra shopping for Two Foot Guru’s birthday on saturday.
She wanted a big party with all the kids from her class but that is not the done thing out here.
And we are aware that at least some of the parents do not approve of us being “new blood” in the area.
So we’ve gone for taking a cake into school on friday.
Then, as a family, I am setting up a treasure hunt on saturday.
This has required some careful planning and finding a few things.
Now it would not be a problem if we lived in the middle of somewhere.
But I spent the larger portion of today, with poor little One Foot Guru, walking around our closest big town searching for Knights.
Yep.
You know – steel PJs, sword and horse type fellows.
She is madly in love with the idea of being a knight (or a superhero).
So she wanted to have a birthday based around this.
I thought it might be nice to have a little plastic figurine of a knight on her cake.
So – many kms and hours later I’ve managed to get a pewter knight that stands a good chance of sinking into the ice cream up to his neck.
The whole time my little One Foot Guru walked with me.
His little shoes cloppity-clopping next to me, slowing down as the hours wound on.
He chose what to get his sister for her birthday.
He called the violins in the music shop “stupid guitars”.
He made me stop when things had fallen off of shelves and wait whilst he picked them up and replaced them.
He insisted on helping me with the bags.
He told me the cars were naughty because they were driving badly.
As his little self wore down and started to flop slightly he bucked up and held on until a late lunch of fruit salad.
He then watched me getting quietly distressed at the checkout as the girl packed 1 in 3 of our items and just threw the rest in the trolley.
In the middle of it all he wrapped his arms around my neck and pulled my face into his little chest.
“Loveyoumamma, loveyou, loveyoutoo.” He murmured and cuddled me.
His fortitude, his patience, his loving approach got me through today.
When I arrived home Two Foot Guru came out to tell me her news and explain she’d learnt from Dad that I’d had a difficult day.
It was the first time I’d not been home to meet her bus and when she’d seen just him there she’d asked after me.
She gave me a big hug and said I should lay on the couch and watch TV whilst she and Dad did everything.
Dad wasn’t down with that but I told her she had a good heart and I loved that she’d thought of me.
Tonight as I tucked One Foot Guru in I told him he was a helpful boy and awesome.
He gave me sloppy kisses on my face and another hug and said “Iloveyoumamma. I’n orsun I help you.”
And as I kissed Two Foot Guru good night I thought about the guitar, books and satin (to be sewn into a super-hero cape) hidden in the wardrobe.
Suddenly it all seemed worth it.
I am glad I had today.
