Okay Snow, We're Ready For You.

My littlest boy turns five tomorrow. Eight days before Christmas. It's a busy time of year for me.

He was due at the beginning of December, but - completely in keeping with the character he has displayed since! - refused to arrive until the 17th.

Last year, on his fourth birthday, it snowed. It snowed a lot. I got to wake him up to tell him, 'Good morning, it's your birthday, it's the last day of school, and it snowed!' which was pretty awesome. It was the first birthday he really remembers, the downside of which is that he is now fully expecting snow in the morning. It snows on his birthday. That is what happens.

So come on, universe - don't let my baby down!

(Although if the worst should happen and we wake to a dim, wet, grey morning, a lovely mum from school slipped something into my hand earlier... A can of Instant Snow. 'Just in case,' she said with a smile.)

Ghoulies and Beasties and Monsters.

Oh my! Talking to my 7 year old son about my experience with being afraid of the dark as a child has resulted in two things:

1. He seems to have shrugged off his passing darkness-related anxiety. (yay!)

2. Venturing outside alone at night now causes me to abruptly recall why I was afraid of the dark as a child. (less than yay!)

There is no way to look cool while scurrying back to your house to avoid completely imaginary ghoulies/beasties/monsters. Trust me.

All I can hope for now is that the neighbours weren't watching.