There is nothing better or more delicious than the first sip of coffee in a quiet house. Have lit the fire and am watching the tortoise basking in its heat, with the cat curled up dreaming next to him. Thinking maybe I was born into the wrong species. Working later, Dads Aloud. Dads bring their children to play in the Nursery, leaving the mums at home. First one of this academic year so I am never sure how many dads will be brave enough to come. I always watch them as they walk uncertainly under the enormous horse chestnut tree towards our Children's Centre. Holding hands, pushing prams. Feeling unnatural. Many of them out of role and even more of them out of comfort zone. I imagine how it must feel. Don't think Ninesh ( my husband ) would have been brave enough to do it! Don't think I would have been brave enough to come to anything like it either. It must be scary wondering who will be there, will everyone be watching everyone else. Will their son/daughter have a tantrum. Will they know what to do if that happens! But as soon as they step into the organised chaos of our Nursery: paint and glue and bricks and train tracks and play dough and bikes and footballs, nervousness disappears and playing takes over. And before you know it, they are elbow deep in glue or constructing an amazing boat or covered in paint. Kids and dads engrossed! And I always wonder at what a leveller being a parent is. Makes no difference if you are a politician or a plumber, a head teacher or work in Argos, if you have had no sleep because your kids have been up all night, or had to deal with a tantrum in the middle of a shop, the exhaustion you feel and the worries you have are the same! And the deliciousness of the sausage sandwich before going home is also probably the same for everyone!
Coffee finsihed. Got to read 300 pages of Diana Athill's Instead of a Book by Wednesday. Quite hard going. Reading one sided letters is a bit like reading a book full of holes.
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