Yesterday it was Mum’s work’s kids’ Christmas party, and as my sister and brother-in-law had conveniently arranged plans already, I nominated myself to take three out of their four along, as well as Miss 9.3, while Dad got to babysit no 4, Nephew F, who isn’t up to the whole partying scene quite yet.
It was held at the local aquatic centre, as the weather had up and decided to get all moody on us and rain after a golden week of hot, dry, glorious sunshine and make the original choice of a local beach not very appealing at all. Saying that, I would have rather sat in the drizzle on the beach, as I have a deep aversion to public swimming pools after a rather unfortunate incident with my hair and somebody else’s snot at Waiwera Thermal Pools in 2003.
The nieces and Miss 9.3 love, love, love the pools however, as did Nephew T, whom I had to take one for the team and supervise in the kiddies’ pool for at least an hour, sharing gallons of grimy, germy, snotty, body secretion-riddled water with all sorts. Arrrrgggh! Eeeeoooow! Thankfully, Nephew T was a delight, splashing and laughing and returning to sit all snug on my lap when the pool got too scary.
Later on it was party time out at the barbecue area, and Miss 9.3 and her older cousins suddenly switched from fun-loving waterbabies to Too Cool mode and began mooching about, asking when were the presents coming? And could they have some chips? And when were the presents coming, again? And when was the food ready? With Niece G in the lead they made for the furtherest corner and sat in a row, no doubt gossiping about Taylor Lautner and how cool Miley’s latest song was and wasn’t the last episode of Glee so awesome?
Fairy Mary in her day-glo pink outfit, giant bubbles, fuzzy pink wand and giant squishy pink dinosour slippers were of no.interest.whatsoever to them – but again it was my nephew who saved the day and after a little bit of reticence he was of the definite opinion she was the loveliest lady in the whole wide world, catching her bubbles and sharing his new Matchbox Concrete Mixer truck with her.
Miss 9.3 then proceeded to be ticked off not once but twice for moaning about her prize for winning the egg and spoon race, then for grizzling about having to sit in a circle with all the “little kids” to get her present.
Niece T was next; her present was deeply disappointing, and she let all in earshot know about it.
A few lectures about not appreciating things, being thankful, grateful and polite, and not saying out loud EXACTLY what one was thinking ensued.
The three girls learned a lesson that day, but then it was fairly obvious that the days of fairies, magic, bubbles and pinkness are over and done with for Mum’s three granddaughters – and those days will be missed.
Next year, however, Nephews T and F will have VIP invites coming their way.
