Another chilly day in River Town
We had such a lovely time last week that I hoped we could create again this Sunday as the court-mandated time would give us 2 extra hours! Enough to go from rushing in the afternoon to chillaxing, maybe getting a snack from a park side cafe and people-watch.
Aware that our day could be cancelled last minute, I made backup plans as it’s also marathon day and Julian is running it, he was the friend who gave you the Baby Shark toy you love so much! A few friends organised to go and cheer him on.
I wish things were better and your mum would be more cooperative so we could’ve gone together. It’s such a lovely atmosphere. We’ve been just the once which is something at least.
Cuts to our day
On Friday your mum had fired the warning shot and informed me you had had a vaccine which could mean you become unwell. When your mum sends these messages it rarely results in nothing so I expected cancellation and again powerless to say or do much to regain our time.
On Saturday she told me you were off colour so our time would be cut back to 10 to 4. No flexibility just our time cut. It’s so frustrating that our tiny bit of time barely survives and each minute is another I’ll never get back. Your childhood is slipping from my fingers as your time as a baby did.
Our day
I arrived ready with ideas and plans for our time together. You took a bit of time to get ready to head off with me, I patiently waited and avoided saying anything significant to minimise the chances of your mum being nasty once again. Once you were ready, perhaps triggered by the cold drizzle, we went into the shopping centre. You were cheery when we came across colourful novelty pens a bit like a sea urchin but rubbery and soft that made us laugh.
From my 10-5 plan I had researched other kids parks we could check out and just north there was one with a lovely boat and wooden equipment. I thought it would make a nice change and we headed there. It was brilliant albeit very quiet. It seemed most people were at church.
For lunch we went to a French restaurant where the staff were amazing. We were treated like royalty and the waitress thought you were the cutest. You had lots to eat and some other diners even came to tell me how sweet we were together. It warmed my heart. Moments like those might look effortless but I put so much thought and planning into making our time as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Still working on that smile, almost perfect
A small milestone to note is that you did a wee at a loo outside home, at the restaurant, for the first time. Very grown up! I’m very proud of my big girl.
Flower picking
After lunch I wanted to get you to nap but spring’s presents everywhere were too tempting for you not to explore so we went around some pretty backstreets where you picked and sniffed at the flowerbeds with your green fingers. We also tried to get into a church’s garden, or graveyard, where it was bursting with life but it seemed closed. I think we’ll try again another time.
Let’s not tell the residents you picked their flowers!
Eventually you napped after I suggested it was a very long walk to the park. You tried to show me how you could walk quicker but I said it would still be too far. Almost seconds after tucking you in you nodded off leaning forwards so I had to shuffle your posture to a more appropriate position. As promised, I’d timed the walk so you could wake up near the park and with almost laser precision you woke up beside the coffee shop next to the park.
Trying to make the most out the rest of our time together
Upon awakening I asked you if you’d had a nice sleep to which you replied with a drunken smile. I’m pleased I got you to sleep, hopefully it will contribute towards a good afternoon for you and lots of dinner. I ordered you a babychino and took us around the corner to the kids park.
I tried really hard to get these basic things done within our time but even when things go perfectly smoothly there was still only 25 minutes or so available. It was a shame that there was only enough time for a nappy change, a few segments from the easy peelers I brought from the Big City and a walk back with some flower picking.
You seem to understand that because your mum doesn’t let me have you for more time, so we can’t do all the things we want. With time you’ll understand how painful it is to end our day outside in the cold rather than at home, in bed with snugs and kisses.
For our last moment I picked you up and gave you kisses while telling you how much I love you. I could see your mum’s bike and felt that at the least I’d given you a nice goodbye preempting that she would be full of inconvenience if I dared to linger once we arrived for the handover.
Those lost 2 hours are hard to reconcile.
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