Camaraderie

In the group,
You cease being yourself.
You drink beer.
You gossip and tell anecdotes.
Your style of speaking, pace and content,
Change to match your audience.
Gentle jibes and teasing is accepted as normal conversation.
You give as much as you get.
Despite behaving differently,
You feel comfort in being part of the pack.
Camaraderie.

Bathing Babes

In the tub sat my fairy,
Amongst the soap suds light and airy,
with neither worry, nor 'carey'
Playing with her toys.

Along came her jealous brother,
Worried lest she might soon smother,
the bubbles before he could come over,
To join her in the tub.

His squeals came loud and raucous,
Her shrill shrieks joined the chorus
His intentions were looking grievous.
So I added some more soap

Cross - Country Carnival

All the schools will meet,

Tomorrow at the Country Club.

Voted the best of the districts venues,

The well manicured lawn of fairways and green,

Will meet the small 'joggered' feet of eight to twelve year olds.

Some will run, and run their hearts out. 

Some will walk and chat animatedly,

Some will do a combination of the two.

There will be the victorious,

The disappointed and the disinterested.

And that is just the spectating parents.

Lunches of hot dogs, sausage sandwiches,

And bacon and egg rolls will be consumed.

Washed down with 'poppers',

Or proper coffee from the van.

The day will culminate in the ball games.

Spindly legs attempt to straddle the Tunnel ball.

Small skulls cope with their interaction with a dropped Captain ball.

Trophies dispensed, the athletes retire to the busses,

To return to their respective towns.

Cross-country Carnival over for another year.

Too tired to Dance

Miss five in her oversized school uniform,
Bag almost as big as herself,
Trundles out the school gate.
I hold her hand,
Which emerges from a rolled jumper sleeve,
Also too big.
Happily she climbs into the car,
Chatting continuously of her day,
She attempts to remove her shoe.
She should be concentrating on the seat belt.
I hurry her because we do not have time to spare.
The banter continues.
We are all buckled in and ready to go to dance lessons.
Miss six, the bigger sister and veteran of year one shares her days happenings.
I hear no other sound from Miss five,
Bar the heavy breathing of slumber.
The day has been too big,
Life too full and interesting,
And we are too tired to dance.

Life Ache

Head ache: Pain in the head due to pressure,
Causes include dehydration, blocked sinuses or mental exhaustion.
Tooth ache: Nerve pain felt deep in the gums or jaw of the mouth and may extend to the ear,
Causes include tooth decay, abscess or exposed nerve.
Ear ache: Pain within the inner workings of the ear canal,
Causes include infection of the drum, canal or Eustachian tubes.
Stomach ache: Pain in the digestive tract generally felt in the region of the midriff,
Causes include Gastroenteritis, colic and over eating.
Heart ache: Pain in the chest within the vicinity of the heart,
Causes include unrequited love or strong longing.
Life ache: Pain within the whole body,
Causes include excessive stress and responsibility comparative to,
Insufficient moments of joy.

Running Late

Why is it when you're running late:
Your daughter decides to drag her feet,
Then starts crying and sits down on the wet grass,
On strike.
Then the dog gets out and chases the kids to the bus stop.
You, in your nighty with bare feet must pursue the whole party across the paddock.
The grass wet and icy whipping your bare legs.
With renewed attention the little girl slows her pace and screams louder.
Nothing to do but grab the dog,
And encourage the recalcitrant with threats, should she miss the bus.
Her siblings, save the oldest have gone from sight.
She relents and moves quicker but still wailing.
I return to the house annoyed,
That this has happened,
And that I feel like a callous, insensitive parent.

Small Town Show

You HAVE to go to the show....
No arguments!
To justify the gargantuan effort,
Perpetually put in,
By always the same volunteers.
See the artistic projects,
Collected over the whole year,
By class teachers at the local school.
The Produce, cooking, wool, photography and artistic items.
Enjoy traditional lunch prepared by the Hospital Auxiliary. 
Small daughters on small ponies,
To be led around the show ring,
Marvel at The Great Zamboni,
Comedy Magician.
Visit stands representing all the emergency agencies.
The jumping castles, lolly and weaponry-filled showbags.
Packs of lolly-hyped small boys,
With plastic submachine guns,
Terrorising their sisters.
Over-coiffed and make-upped tweens,
Vying for Miss Showgirl.
(Who don't risk entering, for fear of losing face.)
Smart dressed farmers in moleskins, plaid shirts and hats,
Check out the various species of 'stock',
And the sheep dog trials. 
And after a long and fatiguing day,
You pack up your tired, ratty kids,
Who clasp their ribbons, sashes, rosettes and submachine gun.
Then drive your familial circus;
Car with horse float,
Home.
You can let the feeling of relief wash gently over you,
Because it is over for another year.