Surviving the School Holidays

The school holidays started well. At 8am on the first Monday I was still under my doona, enjoying a peaceful lie-in. I took a deep breath and thought about how little I was going to do – no getting up to the alarm, no making lunches, no remembering to wash the uniforms. Bliss.

Then I heard the bickering start. “You can’t have that. It’s mine!” “I can have it. You have to share!” I didn’t get up; I just kept listening, hoping the situation would be resolved without my interference. Then the seven year old stormed in, followed closely by her little brother. I opened my eyes. “Mum, I was using the pillow to make a cubby…” “But it’s my pillow and I want to use it to make my cubby.”