I was a geek at school. Let me be honest I was a nerd. I was good at science I wore glasses and was somewhat lax about my personal appearance - hair was a mess most of the time. I had spots for goodness sake. I was teased but not much. Either because my brother beat them up for me or because I gave them a sharp set down.
I grew up. The acne cleared, the puppy fat disappeared due to lots of rowing. I was however still a nerd. I did not drink at parties and did not seek out the dark corners of the sport's field in male company.
One of the girls I went to school with is now an author and writes a column in a national newspaper. She was popular at school, pretty, slim and wasn't acne riddled. She was also not above a bit of heavy petting. In her column she talks about her struggles with bulimia and depression. Apparently this was all going on at the age of 15 and carried on till in her 20's.
I was shocked. I never knew. As far as I knew she had a great life. Her big brother didn't beat up boys who asked his sister to the school disco. She was popular. Apparently she had a great fear of failing and of disappointing others.
I never thought of myself as a happy teenager but looking back maybe I was. I knew who I wanted to be and that whatever happened my parents and brother loved me. I really hope my daughters will grow up to know who they are and that we love them. And that they do not have to go through such insecurity to find themselves.
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
24 February 2009
08 February 2009
Daktacort
Just a quick update. The prescribed cream, Daktacort, seems to be working on the ringworm/eczema. The only problem is it needs to be kept in the fridge. I manage to remember to apply it in the mornings but in the evening I normally forget it. This means one cold walk downstairs to get it out the fridge and then another one to return it. And no, I could not just apply it in the kitchen. Somehow that feels so wrong.
06 February 2009
Ringworm
I have managed to get ringworm. Well, that is to say the GP is not sure it could be eczema. Luckily the pharmaceutical industry has realised that GP's can't always tell the difference. I have therefore been prescribed a cream that should treat both ringworm and eczema.
This is not the first time I have had ringworm. I caught it of a horse when I was younger. Our Tervuren caught it of me. On his nose - his rosette winning best in breed nose. The dog was taken to the vet to see what could be done. The poor thing did not like the gel stuff for his nose. He even tried nip my father as he applied the cream. Most unlike our dog. He was devoted to my dad and never tried this before. So, as the source of infection was my leg, I had to try the gel on my leg - the vet prescribed dog friendly gel, which did not mention if it was child friendly. It stung, it really hurt. Cleared up the ringworm a treat though.
The dog was taken back to the vet's. He was prescribed a new treatment. My parents were asked to please not try out any other dog treatments on their children.
This is not the first time I have had ringworm. I caught it of a horse when I was younger. Our Tervuren caught it of me. On his nose - his rosette winning best in breed nose. The dog was taken to the vet to see what could be done. The poor thing did not like the gel stuff for his nose. He even tried nip my father as he applied the cream. Most unlike our dog. He was devoted to my dad and never tried this before. So, as the source of infection was my leg, I had to try the gel on my leg - the vet prescribed dog friendly gel, which did not mention if it was child friendly. It stung, it really hurt. Cleared up the ringworm a treat though.
The dog was taken back to the vet's. He was prescribed a new treatment. My parents were asked to please not try out any other dog treatments on their children.
05 February 2009
Snow
It snowed. In fact it snowed snowed so much that the primary school and all other schools in our town were shut.
The children didn't mind one bit. They spent the morning building snow cats.
08 August 2008
Off
We are off to Holland for a few days. This was not planned. My in-laws were supposed to come over to the UK but my father-in-law has become ill. He is getting better but a trip to the UK would be a long old haul for him. I am not sure that two active under fives will be helpful for anyone's recovery but it is worth a go.
03 April 2008
24 September 2007
Preparations
Tomorrow is CS's 4th birthday. This means that I will be busy this evening blowing up balloons and wrapping presents. I hope she will like her presents.
I have foolishly agreed to her having a birthday party. We will have potentially 8 girls aged between 2 and 5 years here on Saturday. I must be mad. I can't even think of party games or the rules. My mother is no help. My birthday parties consisted of 5 other girls and cake bought at the patisserie (my mother does not do baking. Gasps of horror of the German mothers in our town "Ach die armen Kleinen." "Wie kann das denn?") copious amounts of sweets and crisps. My mother never organised games, we were herded into the garden and told to amuse ourselves. This wasn't too difficult as the garden was huge and we had swings that were standard issue for a respectable playground. My father would then come home from work to take everyone home (normally via Eis Cafe Venezia). There was usually a fight for who got to sit in the boot of his estate.
I do not remember any negative feedback and nor does my mother. Will this free form arrangement for parties be enough though in the noughties (as in 2007, could call it 00's but that looks ttoo much like loo)? And what if it rains? So I guess I'll have to google party games. I hope the suggestions will be suitable for the under fives.
BTW I will be baking cake and I need to find Nic's recipe for apple pie.
I have foolishly agreed to her having a birthday party. We will have potentially 8 girls aged between 2 and 5 years here on Saturday. I must be mad. I can't even think of party games or the rules. My mother is no help. My birthday parties consisted of 5 other girls and cake bought at the patisserie (my mother does not do baking. Gasps of horror of the German mothers in our town "Ach die armen Kleinen." "Wie kann das denn?") copious amounts of sweets and crisps. My mother never organised games, we were herded into the garden and told to amuse ourselves. This wasn't too difficult as the garden was huge and we had swings that were standard issue for a respectable playground. My father would then come home from work to take everyone home (normally via Eis Cafe Venezia). There was usually a fight for who got to sit in the boot of his estate.
I do not remember any negative feedback and nor does my mother. Will this free form arrangement for parties be enough though in the noughties (as in 2007, could call it 00's but that looks ttoo much like loo)? And what if it rains? So I guess I'll have to google party games. I hope the suggestions will be suitable for the under fives.
BTW I will be baking cake and I need to find Nic's recipe for apple pie.
17 July 2007
Competitive
My brother is competitive. He likes to be the best and he is not good at losing. He would never play me at Trivial Pursuit because I normally beat him. Brother preferred Scrabble, he stood a much better chance of winning that. I call it a cheap victory to beat a dyslexic at Scrabble but never mind.
We both have daughters who are roughly the same age. My niece is 3 weeks younger than my daughter. It was important to my brother right from the start that his daughter should be the better one. Somehow I was not bothered (or so I tell myself). I was not going to compete. Of course brother was not impressed when my child could sit, crawl and walk before his. In the great big scheme both girls are pretty well matched in their development.
It rankles with my brother that my daughters speak two languages. He has decided to rectify this. He is teaching my niece Dutch. My darling niece pointed out to her father that she is English and sees no need to learn the odd language he speaks to Oma. Niece has now upset both her parents as her mother is Scottish (and proud to be so). Neither parent is pleased that their daughter sees herself as English.
We both have daughters who are roughly the same age. My niece is 3 weeks younger than my daughter. It was important to my brother right from the start that his daughter should be the better one. Somehow I was not bothered (or so I tell myself). I was not going to compete. Of course brother was not impressed when my child could sit, crawl and walk before his. In the great big scheme both girls are pretty well matched in their development.
It rankles with my brother that my daughters speak two languages. He has decided to rectify this. He is teaching my niece Dutch. My darling niece pointed out to her father that she is English and sees no need to learn the odd language he speaks to Oma. Niece has now upset both her parents as her mother is Scottish (and proud to be so). Neither parent is pleased that their daughter sees herself as English.
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