Today we've been living up to our new mantra of catching up with old friends when we have the chance. Instead of doing the Newbury Triathlon as originally planned (in reality both of us had gone off the idea not due to lack of training but lack of enthusiasm for the admin of getting the kids babysat etc.) we went to Fareham and had a lovely lunch with Tom, Rachel, Beth and Oscar and admired their newly renovated house. I love a good house renovation - who doesn't? We surprised them by being super-early (unfashionably so - oops) which meant we got back in good time for Glenn to see the Moto GP and me to walk the dogs then head into the garden to tackle to worst of the brambles. These are either providing plenty of free blackberries or threatening to take over with amazingly long shoots of viscous spikes. I think the latter type are winning. While I battled the vegetation, the kids and dogs ran around the garden having a massive game of chase / tag / ball. I don't know who was enjoying themselves more! Once they started to head in Bertie was left with me - he does love being outside and with someone - regardless of what they are doing.
In an attempt to stretch out the last minutes of a week off I then offered to light the fire pit so the kids could toast marshmallows and poke the flames in the way only kids (and men of all ages) need to. It was nice but then everyone needed hair washes as we all stank so off to the bath. The girls don't always get in together these days, its a bit of a squash, but today they jumped in and I came back to find them all snuggled up together under the water, giggling away, so sweet! Izzy was feeling very loving - she got out of the bath and gave Abi a great big hug and said "I love you" - surely not the same child that was shouting at her just 10 minutes ago?!
In a more serious moment today we have also been talking about weight. Abi is getting conscious of size and this led to an "Am I fat?" discussion. With so much media attention on obesity its hard not to have the subject raised and I'm very aware that its a fine line between making sure your child has a healthy body image and an eating complex. Abi takes after Glenn and I and therefore will always need to be careful about what she eats. Izzy is a waif and can seemingly eat what she likes, but she also needs to understand about eating well and recognise that healthy eating now will stand in her good steed in later years. It's so difficult to have the right discussion, particularly when even at their age they are exposed to all kinds of 'ideal' of what a woman or girl should look like. I know this is just the tip of the iceberg and we have a lot more to come - I don't look forward to it at all. We found a good guide online (whatever did we do before Google?) and worked out that all of us are in the healthy range, but Abi's at the top of it and Izzy closer to the bottom. We've agreed we are going to look at our eating and make some healthier choices - hopefully if we do it together as a family now it won't become some big thing that she gets hung up about, at least for another few years. Having completely messed up the cheesecake I made for dessert last night at least I won't be tempted to make a pudding for a few days!
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