Monday 31 July 2017

Breezy and Nerve Racking

There are advantages to there not being a heat wave and ferocious sunshine in the holidays. I’ve hardly had to use any sun screen at all so far! So I haven’t been worrying about sunburn.

The small hardy souls have braved the sea a few times, but the wind hasn’t seemed to drop for the past week so there are always waves. Sometimes big ones – but they love going out then swimming in with the waves behind them which is something I used to love to do – and still do. But it’s nerve racking watching them.

Brrr - warmer than it looks


I don’t know why, but the sea always seems warmer when it’s rough.

Sunnier but still rough


We went to the Colne Valley Railway. We hadn’t been for several years and I thought with them being older now that they’d be disappointed (they asked to go), but they had a lovely time. We went on a steam day, but they liked riding on the little mini train more than on the steam train.

Colne Valley Railway


We stopped going once there were four as going back and forth over the railway bridge used to be nerve racking with toddlers and buggies. When I saw the bridge, it seemed much smaller than I remembered – it was twice as big in my memory. And now it’s possible to cross the line without going over the bridge – but of course they wanted to go over it! We did cross the line once, but even that I found nerve racking.

The bridge from the mini train


Tomorrow we’re going to the pool so there won’t be any waves to worry about, but slippery pool floors…. Nerve racking. 

I even worry when we go crabbing that one of them might accidentally throw themselves in or scrape their legs on the wall as they climb down to the ledge. How many times did I hurl myself in by mistake? None! Where do I get my daft ideas from? I have no idea.

Crabbing


I’m sure my nerves never used to be so racked when I was a parent of small children and they certainly weren’t when I was a child. I didn’t worry about getting dragged out to sea or slipping over at the pool or falling down the steps of the old railway bridge and they shouldn’t either. That’s my job. 

The hardest thing of all is not letting my racked nerves show and pretending I'm as fearless as they are.

And another thing – I always thought it was nerve wracking, but from Googling, I think it may be nerve racking. As if my nerves aren’t racked enough! 

But I am enjoying the school holidays, doing things I did as a child and as a young mum and reviving memories while making new ones. It's worth a few racked nerves.



18 comments:

  1. What a lovely post. I'm all in favour of exposing children to a bit of danger, because it teaches them risk-assessment. Of course, I can say that now my 'boys' have reached adulthood. It will be a different story, I'm sure, if I ever become a grandma.

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    1. Thank you. Yes, it's very true - it does them good to be exposed to a bit of danger. I tried to sit on the sand and act nonchalant, but in the end I paddled at the water's edge, keeping a close eye and pretending I was there to soak my feet and watch the boats!

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  2. I loved your post, Teresa. I was always terrified when I took the girls to the swimming pool when it was busy as all children with wet hair looked the same to me and I could never keep track of my three. And I was also nervous when we went cycling. The youngest rode a tag-on bike connected to the back of mine, but I imagined it shearing off and me cycling on for miles without realising she was no longer attached! I kept calling out, 'Are you still there?', but sometimes she found it very amusing to not answer me! (She didn't do much of the pedalling either!) xxx

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    1. Oh my goodness, I'd forgotten the joys of cycle riding! What a good idea a tag-on bike is and how funny that your daughter used to go silent on you. It's amazing how our imaginations take over and conjure up all sorts of terrible scenarios! xx

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  3. Lovely to be reminded of all those innocent childhood past-times (many of which I did too). It's when we grow-up we start thinking about the safety aspects!

    Have lots of fun. x

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    1. It's good to be a child and not have those worries isn't it x

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  4. This must be reliving childhood memories for you Teresa. I think I have said before that you live in a lovely part of the country. We always go on holiday to the coast. I wish we had been able to settle there when the children were little. We lived in Pembrokeshire for a few years and it was wonderful.

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    1. I don't think I could live far from the sea, Maggie. Living in Pembrokeshire must have been lovely.

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  5. I have great sympathy, Teresa. Took my granddaughter out yesterday and was tempted to fill out a risk assessment sheet before we went! Somehow the responsibility seems greater when they are a your grandchildren.

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  6. I take a deep breath when my younger grandchildren launch themselves from slide or climbing frame...the girls are the worst! I am sure I was less worried with my own five. Sounds as though you are having a very good school holiday, Teresa :-)

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    1. I'm sure I was far less worried about my own kids too. We were over at Walton with them yesterday - I thought of you while we were there :-)

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  7. Looks like you're having a great time, Teresa. Enjoy the rest of the holidays.

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  8. Sorry I'm late to this post. It's the responsibility isn't it Teresa when it's your grandchildren. And of course we see danger more as we get - er - older! A precious - if nerve (w)racking? - time making more wonderful memories though.

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