Diary of a Gay Dad. I am a full time dad to five young children.

Okay – I might just be the only father on the planet that did not post a Facebook pic of ‘Fathers Day’ on the day itself. Rather, I have chosen today to reflect on it!

Daddy and Dadda Love You All 💕 💖

A poem each, from Amritsar and Tara:

Daddy and Dadda. You are as cuddly as a teddy bear, as hard working as a builder, as funny as a clown, as cool as a racer, as amazing as a teacher, as incredible as a chef and as good as an author. Love from Amritsar xxxxx

(Come to play with me, come to play with me, please, please play with me. Summer time is hear again, come and play with me)

Dadda, Daddy, you are as tall as a table as smart as a technician, as funny as a clown. Love Tara. X

(You are the best Daddyz in the Wirld)

Do remember the girls are only 6 years old!

Yesterday’s hair plats were difficult to see, so I had to take a photo to show the girls What they looked like. Not enough there for a complete diary entry, so I will sum up the week so far!

I’ve not talked about food of recent, so a few words on that. What springs to mind is Greek Yogurt! Hold on the honey sweetie, Dadda’s home made ‘Strawlime Berry’ Jam did the trick last night. A splash of water and a liberal drizzle, then a simple whirlpool made with a teaspoon and voila, a sweet treat for children and adults alike. Though, for grownups I would rethink the bowls!

I’ll move on to packed lunches. As all parents have to make them – what do you put in yours? Well, I won’t bore you with that old debate, but our children love packed lunches. I guess so as they usually signify a school trip and that is exactly the reason for Tara and Amritsar’s packed lunches today. They are being packed off to visit a country estate, here in ‘The Shires’ with their classmates. Their last school trip fell foul to shoulder straps on their bags that were thin and were uncomfortable to wear. So on this occasion I searched around in the loft and came across some stock from my old ‘Glowbag’ range. I used to make and promote fluorescent and reflective bags, known as Glowbags! It all started with trying to make road safety look cool, at first with bikers, then I considered cyclists and finally children. Well, the girls are armed with super comfy to wear ‘Glowpods’ today in a rather fetching fluorescent green and fluorescent orange. Do tell me what you think?

Sunday afternoon was enjoyed with the neighbours and some fun was had enjoying their ‘Wild Flower Meadow’.

We lost Caleb for a few moments, but he resurfaced on the other side of the Meadow with a smile on his face.

So far this week has flown by. Sunday’s mayhem and frolics behind us. The little ones have been pretty orderly thus far. It’s amazing what the promise of screen time can do to focus our crew. John and I implemented no screen time before midday at the weekend, so that has asserted that we are the ones in control. And on weekdays, Thor and Aaliyah know that they have to wait until Amritsar and Tara are back from school and settled before ‘an hour’ prior to dinner. This seems to be working well.

No incidents to report, rather good news on the potty front. Caleb has been full on potty training since Saturday. Of course there have been a couple of mistakes, but we are persevering. He has to be dry before September and the onslaught of ‘Big School’. He has asked to be back in a nappy after his mistakes, but we have kept to the program. And I know that he is committed to make this happen, just as we are!

Caleb’s new hair do has certainly made him look more grown up – less chaotic. And this is good, as he has to fit in both at home and later on at school. Daddy is still giving him more ‘lappy time’ than is good for him, but is aware that this has to be limited in these coming months to prepare him for the transition to reception year at school. Tomorrow at midday, Sindy and I are going to the ‘Reception Year’ lunch at the school to meet the fellow parents of this years influx. Hoping that goes well. It will be good to see how our little ones mingle with their new classmates. Well, that’s all for now.

Today was such a fun and crazy day. Most of it spent in the garden baking at 170 degrees centigrade. So much to fill you in on really. But now, late in the day, the children asleep and I am sat here after that obligatory glass of wine. I thank a dear friend, Malcolm Young for today’s photograph. It doesn’t exactly describe the way that I feel, but yet I do so admire the reality of the title! I am sure that it was a great read when it was in print, but yesterday’s reality check, for me is certainly today’s irony!!! Can I say when this picture was posted, ‘ I almost wet myself’?

I really don’t know how this headdress found its way into the house, let alone onto Caleb’s head. Oh dear, life can be very confusing at the age of 3, almost 4.

A fun day visiting a friend for lunch. Thea was a great host, 9 children catered for, plus 3 adults. Salmon with honey – a great choice of protein, new potatoes and broccoli. We all had a great time. Thank you so much! A real shame that the chocolate fountain didn’t work out, but maybe a blessing in disguise on reflection.

A night out at the Woodspeen restaurant in woodspeen to boot, I feel a little bloated at this point, just as well it’s time for bed.

Looking forward to the weekend!

It has been a quiet few days. No really – it has. Summing it up, there has been no all encompassing change of direction from our usual ‘organised chaos’, rather a little less stress from the little ones. Thor has been better behaved, though there is still the occasional steam, whistling from his kettle. He earned his iPad (Kindle 7) for 3 days of good behaviour, due to, let’s say, a marked change in his outbursts. Of course they still exist, but overall, he has behaved better. He is much more articulate and he certainly has shown within these last 6 months Overall, that he wants to be good. Just like Aaliyah, there is a significant amount of hope, that he ascends into the mantle of being a big boy (for Aaliyah girl) and being able to start ‘Big School’ in three months time. We have of course considered Caleb’s situation. It is difficult, but if you look on the surface, he is trying so very hard. His diction is certainly getting better, though his ability to articulate at the dinner table, without slouching or dropping more than he consumes! Well, we are still in two minds…

Aaliyah is definitely ready for ‘Big School’ – Mrs Snodgrass will be disappointed that her school for naughty children, will miss out on Aaliyah’s attendance, as will Mr Strickland from ‘Baby Camp’. Please keep your fingers crossed in these coming summer months. I really want them to all start this new and exciting chapter together.

P.S. remember that Mrs Snodgrass and Mr Strickland are fictional characters!

That’s all for now – thank you for reading.

I think you’ll agree that Caleb’s new haircut has somewhat transformed him. He seems very happy with his ‘New Look’. In fact, all of the children had a hair transformation today, but none looked as radical as Caleb’s. I’m thinking a crew cut next time – maybe a flat top!

You might remember in earlier blogs, the drama that surrounds roast meals in our house. They were never easy and most of the time we went without any dessert, due to the sheer amount left on the children’s plates. Thor loves Yorkshire puddings sometimes and hates them at others. Aaliyah’s plate is usually untouched. And Caleb tends to wear his meal opposed to actually eating it. On the other hand, our oldest two, Tara and Amritsar, absolutely love a roast dinner. Both wanting seconds and even thirds. The shoulder of lamb went down well. They both enjoyed the flavour and are quite aware that lamb was today’s source of protein. Aaliyah however started to question ‘what – lamb, this is baby lamb’! Oh dear, we may have a veggie vegan in later years as she scrutinises her meat options often. Now, all of our children eat well and love chicken and pork. We don’t often eat lamb, but it was good to have the ‘where does our food come from debate’. Did I say that Aaliyah refused to eat anything on her plate? Thor ate his own body weight in roast potatoes, but very little else.

We will perceive of course with roast meals on high days and holidays, I am sure that things will get easier with time!

Dadda’s ‘Design and Make’ today was an up cycle of the recycle with Tara and I. We talked about ‘Stuff’ and we decided to go with cubes and trains! We learnt new scissor skills and the art of making templates. Firstly I corrected Tara’s rather shoddy cutting by saying that we always cut away from ourselves. Something you’d have thought, would have been on the agenda at school. But when I saw Tara cutting a circle by twisting the scissors in all directions. I soon put her straight (we turn the paper and not the scissors) and we got going on cutting six squares for each cube, using the first square that we cut, as a template. Tara got colouring and I showed her how to assemble the cubes. Lots of sticky tape later – voila! Job well done.

For some time now the worry of Mrs Snodgrass’s ‘Naughty School’ has not quite been enough when it comes to behaving like a baby. Something that all of our little ones do on a fairly regular basis. Neither Mrs Snodgrass or Bettina are cut out to deal with small children who act like babies! You know, when a 3 or 4 year old is still constantly sucking on fingers or thumbs. Caleb, bless him is still finding his vocabulary, so in an attempt to get him to articulate a bit more – to try the extra distance, we have instilled yet another threat. The worry of spending the summer at ‘Baby Camp’ has proved a winner, asserting correctional incentives. Baby camp is run by the fictional ‘Mr Strickland’. His camp is one for little boys and girls who like to act like babies (on a fairly regular basis). His dormitories are stacked high with cots that are 5 in number long and five in number high. These walls of cribs are essentially walls of bars and behind these said bars are ‘Baby Camps’ inmates, young children who like to act like babies! All that can be heard in Mr Strickland’s dorms are baby cries and the sound of goo goo gaa gaa. Now nobody wants to spend the summer at ‘Baby Camp’, so just the mention of his name is enough to stop any babylike behaviour in our house, at least for a while…

Great picture Thor, but truth be told, he is saying ‘Dadda, my finger hurts, my finger hurts’. Though I am now reminiscing about his very bad behaviour at preschool yesterday. He lunged out at one of the teachers with his fist. Very, very naughty, I think you’ll agree. Today however, I think he made his amends. He was a bit silly at lunchtime, not eating his corned beef sandwich and throwing it at Remus to make a quick meal if it – but overall today he has been a real superstar. So much as to me making a deal with him. Like Aaliyah, he has been promised his very own iPad (fire tablet).

As you may recall, Aaliyah is now a model student. All down to being good for 7 days and being given a Kindle Fire 7 tablet like her sisters. I held back on the offer to Thor a number of times now as I believe he can not be a good boy for 7 hours , let alone 7 days. Well, I gave him a handicap and said to him ‘If you can be good for 3 days, you will get the tablet’. He was very good tonight, but will he fall foul to his naughtiness in the morning? I will keep you updated…

You might be aware that the only ones who do not sleep on the dogs bed in our house are the dogs! Yes, Remus and Gracie can always be found on the sofas – so much so, that it is generally me that snuggles up on the dogs bed in the evening, post the children’s bed time and the children enjoy the enlarged cushion in the daytime hours. John is staying in London tonight and once I said to Remus and Gracie ‘no John tonight, just Andi, Remus and Gracie’, they completely understand that it is only us here tonight. There is suddenly no whining, waiting for Johns arrival, they know that it’s just them and me. Well tonight they decided that they needed to be close – for twenty minutes they nuzzled and walked around in circles, trying to get settled on that said ‘dogs bed’, with me sprawled out ‘akimbo’. Very unusual behaviour, as they love the sofa so much. Well, there I was, lying in the middle of the dogs bed and both nudged for space to the rear and front of my relaxed slumber. The result was me, finally getting up as there is only so much space on the said cushion and here we conclude their somewhat strange behaviour and I now sit in the sofa whilst the dogs are chilled in front of the television on the dogs bed. Oh, our hounds are always surprising me, even after 10 very long and engrossed years of cohabitation. Remus and Gracie, they certainly broke the mold when you were both created in nature’s expression… Remus is now looking up with a look of contentment – he really is quite unique.

The girls and I did a fleeting visit to London to meet Daddy at work today and we saw an old friend for dinner earlier this evening. Only a quick  diary entry tonight, but we will be a little more settled in a day or so. Another busy day planned for tomorrow – whoosh. And guess how colourful our London bound train to Paddington was? I just love it. Go for it GWR.

Destination ‘Fun’ and a day out in the Cotswolds. I really had no idea that this part of Gloucestershire was so beautiful. Lunch was a nightmare however with Thor and Caleb getting rowdy in the restaurant. I really hate the way some people happily look on with distain when they see children behaving badly. They have this look that just exudes ‘bad parent’. It’s always the people without children I’ve noticed. Those with little ones know the struggle you’re up against. It makes me smile when you get the very occasional supportive nod from a person who obviously knows what you are up against.

The day progresses and we drive on to the next ‘moment’ or pleasant distraction…

After seven days of searching, MiMi is finally unearthed. Thor is besides himself and very proud to be the one that found him. Well, he was the one to have lost him after all. And guess where Thor’s intrepid bear was hiding all of this time? He was just discovered hiding in the piano stool. Well all is back as it should be. One very happy little boy and his most favourite bear ever.