Monday 9 June 2008

On Yer Bike!

It's been a strange week, Father of This Lot wise.
For a start, he has engaged in some practical parenting on several occasions, by taking the younger end of this lot out bike riding.
Three times.



This is not a natural state of affairs for any of us, but apparently, a good time was had by all, and it is to become a regular event.
On a Saturday afternoon.
When the pubs are open.
I know.
Worrying, isn't it?
Well, maybe that's a little unfair. Not worrying exactly. More of...well, like I said....strange.
Of course, I wasn't involved in any of these outings.
Oh, no.
There wasn't any of this to be seen around various parks:





And before you all start having a go at me and telling me I'm letting the side down, I had my reasons.
Two reasons actually.
  1. If I'd gone, who would have stayed at home and kept four tribes of Virtual Villagers alive, bearing in mind that this lot are more concerned with solving puzzles and collecting awards than they are with providing food for the poor little cartoon people. Being an expert in providing food, I was the obvious choice.
  2. You know how they always say that you never forget how to ride a bike?

It's not true.

Anyway, the Father of This Lot seems to be making a real effort at cementing the cracks in his relationship with his children.

So much so, that one night while he was at work, I felt obliged to send him a text saying:

You've been a really good dad today.

And believe me, in the list of sentences I thought I'd never type, that one ranks right up there with 'I hope Liverpool win on Saturday'.



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34 comments:

Gone Back South said...

That's brilliant! My bike is in the bike shop being fixed and I conveniently haven't got round to picking it up yet. It's great fun when you get round to it. Unless it's raining. Or too hilly. Or too far.

scrappysue said...

hey jackie! thanks for stopping by. i don't know much about the history of the FOTL, but it all sounds positive, albeit a little freaky for ya! i bet the girls are very happy tho.

knitting on its way. LMK when it arrives! i'd love to see a finished product too some time, if that's poss.

pleased to know i'm keeping someone's knees warm...

Beth Cotell said...

Good for him! It's never to late to heal old wounds! Perhaps he has realized this...

Texas Travelers said...

I really like your blog because I like older art work.


Our odd shot is up.
Come visit,
Troy and Martha

Rose said...

Sounds good. People do wake up before it's too late, so keep positive. I like the text message; did he?

Kit said...

Well...okay, so long as the bike trips END at pub as opposed to being one of the stops along the way.

Renae said...

We all got bikes a few months ago. So far, the kids have ridden theirs several times a week. I have ridden two or three times. Mark - none. But at least he financed the bikes for us! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Aw, I feel a warm fuzzy coming on.

I hope the trend continues. Kudos to FOTL.

Maggie May said...

Well that post was worth waiting for...... it cracked me up and I need a good laugh!
Its the Village people really that did it. Like when Tamagotchis were in fashion & some kids asked me to baby sit & the things died!
You have to clean up their poop & feed them & play with them. Well I could hardly turn the wretched toy on, let alone feed & clean up after them. Being a technophobe & all that!

Grit said...

i am definitely not going anywhere near these villagers unless someone invents a clock with an extra 30 hours in every day ...

meggie said...

The FOTL must be trying to mend his ways.
It can only be a good thing for the kinder.

Anonymous said...

Aah FOTL really is giving it a go. Must be hard for him.

MY Dad spent a lot of time in the pub and only took us out to his friends house every Sunday afternoon with my Mum. The men would go to the pub, leaving me, my Mum and three little brothers to sit in the kitchen for two hours while the fellas were having a great time in the Kings Head drinking mild. Then when they came back, Mum would drive us all home.

That was our regular Sunday afternoon out....

Manic Mother Of Five said...

OMG I choked on my lunch reading that last sentence. Only English footie fans will really get the depth of meaning to that.

Brilliant, absolutely hilarious.

Hope this is the last we have seen of Stella

xx

Sarah - Kala said...

My husband says we'll get our bikes when we move to Hawaii. Hmmm. I haven't forgotten how to ride, it's just I'm ridiculously slow and I wobble all over the place. I've tried. On my kids bikes. Uff dah!

But you can see my new mode of transportation on my blog, if you like. I like!!

Mrs. Fox said...

Hope springs eternal. :)

Working Mum said...

I am so heartened by this post!

And fell about laughing at the last line. Tell me, if it's Liverpool and City, who do you want to win? (I have no feelings either way, just gives me an insight into true Utd fans)

Daryl said...

WOW ...

Good on you for sending that text ... positive reinforcement encourages good behaviour ... cant believe I said that I seem to have misplaced my snark...

:-Daryl

Amrita said...

Hi Jackie, enjoyed that. FF must be enjoying the Euro 2008!

Kit said...

PS I think it may be time for you to introduce some sort of foreign communicable disease to these villagers, one they are not immune to so that you can have an afternoon out.

(I mean smallpox or plague, of course!)

Akelamalu said...

Well a pat on the back was good, but does he praise you for being a good mum?

Sandi McBride said...

You are so funny!
Sandi

Sandi McBride said...

You are so funny!
Sandi

Cath said...

I like that you sent that text. It commends him for what he is (at last?) doing - being a dad. He may have some ground to make up with the kids, but at least he is starting to do it. (Note I did not say "At least he is trying" because, when I was in that sort of scenario, I got to the stage where trying was not good enough. Do it, or don't. Don't "try". I think you are there too.)

Anyway, he has to be given credit for putting his relationship with the kids first. You recognising it is fair. Just take care of yourself and keep that caution with you.

Do you really want Liverpool to win on Saturday? That would make MY boy's day!!!lol

Kitty said...

This week bike rides ... next week a new laptop for you? ;-) x

Georgina said...

Good on you for sending that text! I can see the shake in your hand though as you type Liverpool and WIN in the same sentence. You can get therapy for this you know Jackie. Pud x

Casdok said...

Fantastic to hear. I think its so important for dads to have an input. So i hope he keeps it up.
C hasnt seen his dad for over 10 years. Not that C understnads, but thats not the point!

Suburbia said...

Wow I haven't 'seen' you lately . So glad things are going well.

family affairs said...

I bet he loved getting that text from you x L x

Working Mum said...

Thanks for letting me know - husband says he'd support Liverpool over Utd. I just don't get this football thing!

Kimmie said...

Strange in a huge way I am sure, but lovely that he seems to want to make things better. I hope it continues and the old ways don't show back-ever!

And I am sure that you would get it right away.,,,don't let fear hold you back...virtual cartoon characters, maybe, but not fear.

hugs
Kimmie
mama to 6
one homemade and 5 adopted

blogthatmama said...

Is it too personal a question to ask if he texted back?

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Steps in the right direction, and well done for sending that text. M x

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Steps in the right direction, and well done for sending that text. M x

Jennie said...

whoa how did I get so far behind with you!
:o
Catching up now!