The clock silently ticks on next to me, the alarm function slowly gathering dust from lack of use in recent years.
Who needs an alarm with three children all ingeniously programmed to wake before the sun.
Next to the clock sits my laptop, the presentation I am due to deliver at 9am to my senior business partners lays formally beside it. My suit hangs ironed within an inch of its polyester cotton life and my shoes shine brightly with polish.
The clock ticks on…
Suddenly I am wrenched from a deep slumber, panic submerging my soul, my eyes aching from the sunlight that is burning in my bedroom like an Olympic torch.
The clock mocks me as it clicks silently from 7.59 to 8.00….
Years of 5am starts flash before me, memories of arguments at 6am about staying in bed ring in my ears.
Irony mocks me in the form of sleeping children who are all still in their beds rest fully sleeping on the one day I needed to get up before seven.
Hurtling into action, I scream a wake up call which shakes the very foundations of our home. From the downstairs the dog begins to bark a fury that assures me not only will the children wake but the whole neighbourhood too.
Stepping from the shower dripping with shower gel still lingering on my rear I pluck a sleeping toddler from her bed and attach her to my breast whilst sweeping a smear of brown shadow across my lid. The effect combined with a smear of red lipstick is Coco Chanel meets Coco the Clown after a night on the vodka.
Switching breasts I shove my toe into tights with such power that it creates a ladder that any fireman would be twitching to climb. I peer in the drawer for a second pair and seeing none I reach for clear nail polish to stop it spreading. All too soon I remember I only own bright primary colours of polish so ‘discreetly’ add a dot of red to my legs. The effect is a ladder any fireman would like to climb with a red blob at the end which screams to the world the ladder starts here.
The older children awake and stumble out of their room in a dazed wonder that the sun has finally won the race. A ray catches them straight in their unsuspecting eyes and they collide into each other momentarily. The screams then begin followed by pinching and shouting. Morning has broken and it has broken in fury.
He who helped create them awakens, its all too loud to bear.
8.16 – I teach my children a new word as I bend for my shoes scattering my presentation everywhere. BB follows behind me collecting papers muttering “s’it s’it” to herself whilst beaming at my mayhem.
I launch downstairs forcing my feet into business shoes, the keys aren’t where they should be; I blame the other adult in the house loudly until I find them in my coat pocket; a truth I hide quietly.
I throw myself out of the house running a hand through my hair, two minutes later I throw myself back in to collect my purse, bag and phone.
I make the meeting, with moments to spare, my ladder is quietly ignored as is the smear of sudocrem that is tastefully decorating my sleeve.
I work all day, the quiet of the office is beautifully deafening.
I fall into bed that evening and before I turn to the bliss of sleep I dust off the alarm and put it to use.
The kids wake up at 5 the next day…
Can you stop being so bloody funny and entertaining? I was meant to go to bed 5 minutes ago and couldn’t drag myself away. If I “do a Jane” and oversleep tomorrow I know who I’m blaming…
Molly and owen?
Hilarious….mainly because I can totally identify with it. My boy always used to lie in on my work days.
Never before!!! honeslty they drive me bonkers
oh dear, always the way……
always x
It truly is sods law that when you need to get up, they don’t! Brilliant writing Jane, at least you can put yoru trials to good use here on the blog. Mich x
thanks mich! all good blog fodder as they say x x x
My kids are the same, I think it is called Sods law?!!!
Great post! xx
or life is an arse!
you make me laugh! lots – I’m laughing at you btw and not with you!!!! x
Most do – you are the only one brave enough to say it out loud
So typical isn’t it? We usually clamber out of the house even with our alarm clock on!
until the most important day….
Brilliant post, very funny, look forward to reading more, am a new blogger so thanks for stopping by too
Hints and tips and good blogs to look at would be great too.
Very welcome – have a look at my blog roll some nice ones there!
Hilarious! Gemma usually sleeps longer on work days when we all need out by 7.30! Arghh.
We joke about why bother with the alarm as never gets a chance to ring this is why!!
Off to check alarm set,night.
Sam
Rediscovered! I lost your bookmark for a while and I’m glad to say I found it again. However, now my sides are splitting from laughing so much I’m not so sure… a bump pulsating from laughter is not a pretty sight!
Lovely to have you back!
Excellent news, I am pleased to hear it’s not just me!
You are not alone!!!!
I need your brood to wake my teenager/I mean toddler up in the mornings!
*narrows eyes*
Oh dear, kids are manufactured to wreak as much mayhem on the adult life as possible – you could almost have predicted it!
only in my life!
This really made my sides ache with laughing….you have a way with words! Love it
any time!
I love this, really made me smile this morning. You do write ever so beautifully you know.
Thanks! Nice thing to hear first thing
you are cursed. fact.
Yup!!! you can be my therapist
my fees are reasonable.
can I pay in gin?
lol think that’s called “sods law” x
very much so!
I’m glad I’m not the only person with nail polish on her tights…
*sniggers*