Could she be on the turn?

Anna's resistance to all things 'girlie' seems to be waning and dwindling. As she discovers and explores her identity she is finding herself enjoying a few more 'feminine' games and experiences. This is mainly due to some real quality time playing with her sister this half term and the rain that has kept us inside. Last night, watching a Barbie film with Lucy and even playing with dolls! I do not wish, in any way, to stereotype the girls into 'male' and 'female' behaviour, they are both free to make their own choices about lifestyle, dress sense and the paths they follow. It has just been really interesting watching this slight change in Anna and how much she has enjoyed these kind of games. Normally very forceful in ensuring she plays the boys in their play and enactments, this week she has gone for a few female characters in their Harry Potter game the other day for example. I do have concern for Anna sometimes when I think about it - a little girl wearing boys clothes, choosing to play football, playing with what is traditionally thought of as 'boys' toys and the narrow minded attitudes that she may face in the coming years should she continue on the path. Despite these worries, I have no wish to prevent her being herself and exploring who she will develop into as an adult and laying these foundations down. I don't wish to encourage this because it is 'quirky', only because the way Anna wishes to lead her life and the choices she makes are right for her. I hope this will be the key to her happiness and that is all that I really want. After all she is my Wiggle and she is perfect the way she is.....

The season of ice cream returns!!

After a massive family row, mainly due to excessive child rudeness   - we row a great deal and usually I get the blame! It would be safe to say that there are occasions when the family Hammond can't live with each other and can't live without each other, take your pick on any given day. Having all calmed down, we headed off to sunny Cromer for a day out. We were so fortunate that it appears that Cromer was the only place in Britain with sunshine! This is where Lucy and I discovered the ultimate seaside ice cream, a 'Mr Whippy' dipped in chocolate - oh my god - that has to be the tastiest thing I have ever eaten! Amy and Anna explored the top of the church going all the way to the top of the tower, we built the first sand castle of the year, had the first paddle and Anna made her first naked appearance in public for 2014 - don't ask!. All in all a good day. We are, however, having a real struggle with both the girls and the way they speak to us both, in particular me. It is such a shame as they are capable of so much more and I am not sure as yet why this is happening. Perhaps they are still adjusting to me being at home after all that time away...

I think I have missed out on quite a bit in the last few years....

Having had some time to reflect on my resignation from my job and thinking about what the future holds; one thing I am clear about that for some time I have been detached and to some extent segregated from Amy and the girls through the choices I have made and the career path I took. This is not a state of affairs I want to continue. I have been watching and observing the bond, understanding and connection the three of them have and I have felt a little left out if I am honest. Some of the small things I have noticed in recent days are so indicative of time together and the close nit bond. The way all three of them sing in sync to the CD in the car, the fact I have no idea what the girls like in their packed lunch, their home work is completely alien to me, I don't know the names of all the girls friends and the routines in the house don't include me. It is strange feeling, when you know you have created this detachment, all be it not on purpose. I have so much to learn about my girls and am a disappointed with myself that I have wasted so much time focusing on the wrong things. I wanted to have a career that my family would be proud of and focused all my efforts into this. In truth, it probably did not mean anything to the girls and I would have been much better served by simply spending time with them. I am trying and things are changing and I feel a touch more connected and integrated into the Hammond house, but it does not stop that nagging feeling I made a real mistake over the last few years. Money isn't everything...

Praise indeed!!

After many years of working away from home and long hours I have temporarily called time on my career and resigned from my current post. It all became too much and I have to say I simply wanted to be at home with my family; the balance had gone and all I was doing was working and my time with Amy and the girls was becoming less and less, even at weekends. I am lucky enough to be able to have a bit of a break and simply be a dad and a husband. I will have to go back to work in the coming months and bring in some money but for the time being I am concentrating on being a family man and nothing else. I am relishing every minute of lost time. Or so I thought! For the past four days I have been grafting in the jungle that is our back garden and so impressed with my efforts was Anna when she came back from school that she came out with a real gem. 'Wow dad - you must have really worked your butt off!' Thanks Wiggle - I did indeed!

Outshone in the technical department....

I am not that quick (positively scared out of my wits) on the uptake when it comes to popular or new technology and I can really take some persuading to embrace the new order of things. For example today, I got a new mobile phone and Lucy gave me some real tips on what to get. 'You definitely need to go for an IPhone Daddy rather than a Samsung Galaxy - much better with the internet, games and aps and we can Facetime you! They are so much more solid if you drop them too' Lucy's words are a real indictment of how generations and young people have changed and evolved in recent years. When I was her age, I was scared to even make a call on a landline, let alone do anything else! Simply, I took her up on her advice and bought her recommendation. I see a future career in technology sales coming on here Lucy. I did, however, decline the request to download the 'Moshling village' and 'Minion rush' aps though...

A fart by any other name...

The family Hammond likes a good giggle and nothing makes us titter more than a good trump or a bit of old fashioned British wind related humour! We are quite a windy lot and sadly we do not have a dog to blame anything on. I have to say we trump with pride, much hilarity and it tickles us pink. No more so than Anna, who found the sound of her own wind so funny this evening it nearly induced a problem! She was giggling so much after her shower as she trumped her way into her pyjamas whilst trying to get dressed falling around her room. She stopped laughing and smiled at me simply saying 'good to see you dad and there's your present!' I missed my girls this weekend whilst they were away, well maybe not their mess and their wind! Went to Pensthorpe for the afternoon today and had a lovely walk, bringing up the rear, as I always do; chatting to Lucy about birds, plants and her weekend and holding hands. There will come a day where she will be too grown up and embarrassed to do this with her old dad, so in the meantime I will enjoy it while it lasts... (I have to say we even snuck in a trump and a giggle on the quiet!)