I have written many times before about the Lawrence Offspring and their attempts to remember the right stuff on the right day and do the right things at the right time. In fact I really thought that we had made big progress two mornings ago when I watched Trixie, quite unprompted, turn her bedroom light off on her sleepy way down to breakfast. She had also managed to turn the bathroom light off too.
However my joy was short lived. Edwin, Trixie and I set off for school that morning only for me to ask the kids what after school activities they had and to arrange where and what time to meet. Edwin had orchestra and immediately realised that he had forgotten his violin. We did an about turn at the roundabout and returned to collect his instrument.
This morning as I said farewell to them in the school canteen Edwin let out a short cry of anguished annoyance. "No. I have forgotten my PE kit." With a weary "Good luck with that" I bid him and Trixie farewell. His pain obviously was not that long-lasting as later that morning I walked past the gym and saw him taking full part in the lesson, resplendent in a borrowed lilac t-shirt and ill-fitting shorts. His participation in the lesson didn't appear to be too hampered by his rather unusual garb.
Before setting about my own lunch today I was visited in the Dramaland office by a small, panting, toothless blond Lawrence who was accompanied by her best friend. Disaster had struck as she had forgotten her sandwiches . Ever resourceful Trixie had worked out that she smile a gappy grin and borrow my school ID card, which also contains virtual money for lunches. Off the two dashed moments later, promising to return the card after dining, which they did.
Later, while eating dinner as a family, having not forgotten anything or anyone, Trixie said that she would just have a banana, because she had had rather a large lunch. It turns out that, thanks to Dad's card, she had enjoyed chicken pieces, potatoes and salad washed down with mango juice and a chocolate brownie to follow. Ever the generous sort she had also bought a chocolate brownie for her friend too. The grand total: RM22.50. When I told her that my normal day's lunch spend is RM7.50 a moment of quiet reflection occurred. She agreed that perhaps she had gone too far and agreed a compensation payment of RM10.
Part of me was pleased with her initiative to solve the forgotten sandwiches conundrum and also with her reasoning for buying the extra brownie (her friend had lunch that she didn't really like) and so it was hard to be cross. It was especially difficult as I had managed to forget my carefully prepared lunch too.
PS. Rupert has assured me that will pack his swimming kit tomorrow morning saying "It's alright Daddy. I don't forget stuff like Edwin and Trixie." Watch this space.