A Sewing Challenge of a Different Kind

I took the girls into town today because we have decided to sew something, for them. They each picked a pattern and then some fabric to make said pattern with. I let them choose. Well, other than steering them clear of any fabric that was stretchy, really ugly or see through.

Helen wants a summer dress, which would be lovely seeing as how it is halfway through July and summer happened in April. But we shall make sure there is enough leeway that she can wear it next April.

Helen's choice.
She wants a dress like the green one.
Glad she went for knee length as it saved me buying another yard of fabric.

Emily had an outfit like this made by me when she was three.
Emily likes things to stay the same.
Emily chose the cherries, not me.

Now theoretically I should be down on my hands and knees pinning pattern pieces to fabric right now. But I am not. That is because the girls were lucky to still be alive by the time I brought them home. By that point I needed to put space between me and them before violence ensued. How is that kids can push every button you have and still not see the impending doom? How have they not learned that pestering does not work with me. It just gets them a thoroughly annoyed mother?

How is it that getting a pattern each, and fabric, and lunch from the Thai restaurant (that had a stall set up outside for some festival) selling prawns wrapped in filo, satay, spring rolls and more - how is it that this is not enough? Why do they still hop from shop to shop asking to have things bought for them, repeatedly.

They got off lightly. They did not get the 27 pack of Penguin biscuits in Tesco because one of them whinged about wanting the orange flavoured ones. Despite me rationally pointing out that she likes the regular flavour and they were on sale. 27 for £2. The orange ones were 9 for £1.60. She still didn't get it. So then I didn't get them. And that was that.

Okay, that wasn't that - because the whinging didn't stop so nor did we get the promised chocolate puddings for desert. And I forgot to pick up the mini prawns so she could make layered prawn salads tomorrow, and by the time I remembered I was at the till and I was so not going back out in to a Saturday afternoon Tesco melee for love nor money, nor prawns.

And that is why I am not making clothes for my precious darlings right now. All would be lost but I happen to know that there is a little mini bottle of pink wine about to go in the fridge, and that there is a tub of Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream in the freezer in the garage. And I know that ice cream is not coming out until certain little madams have gone to bed!

Tomorrow I will start on the dresses. Tomorrow will be a new day. Clean slate and all. And we won't be near a shop so they can't ask me to buy them something, again, and again, and again. Tomorrow we stay home and sew. Bliss! Tomorrow me and my girls will be friends again. Meanwhile, they are cosied up to their father. They know where it's best to be right now.

I will leave you with a photo of Emily dancing in the rain this morning. Doesn't she look too happy a child to ever cause an ounce of trouble?

None of you have children who behave like this, do you? Because I know I have brilliant kids. Just some days I need to step back, breath deep and then start all over again.

Susan