Veg Growing, anger management, fatherhood

[JimmerG]

I've just read through this and its a bit schmaltzy - apologies!!

So you know how you have trays of seedlings dotted around the house - well my eldest daughter - 4 years old, really wanted to help move the trays outside into the sun.

Like a good father I entrusted her with my little green babies - she picked up my tray of 30 prized tomato plants - and poor little thing, she tripped over a baby chair and my seedlings flew through the air in slow motion and crashed ALL over the floor - my world fell apart, the sky fell in...

Now, on the inside for a few seconds - I'm a raging furnace of fury, building up to explode into a tirade of expletives. But dear little daughter was so upset by the whole thing, my apoplexy completley dissolved - I found myself telling her - "They needed potting on anyway" and most were unharmed.

We then had a proper little father/daughter potting on session - and she really enjoyed it - and now checks on 'our' little tomatoes everyday.

So from distaster came good, and a wee lesson in what's REALLY important.
And if you let your children carry seed trays make sure you've cleared a path for them - they can't see where they're going!!

J

[Flummery]

You sound like the perfect Dad! Well done on turning the situation round.

[SarzWix]

Oh bless you, and her. Been there a couple of times on the allotment, had to bite down the anger, but then the devastation on their face wipes it all away. My 8 year old daughter is my best helper these days, she understands tons of gardening terms and now recognises a lot of weeds, and the difference between them and most veg seedlings

[shirlthegirl43]

Oops! Well done for not exploding. Mine are too old to want to help much but they are big enough to cart heavy bags of compost for me when I can persuade them to!

[Victoria26]

Smaltzy or not.

I'm still smiling!

Well done you! x

[janeyo]

That's lovely - my son is always devasted when he does something 'wrong' but we can generally always put it right, even if they are a bit wonky after!

[JimmerG]

I reckon if you've got little kiddies - you just have to accept you'll have to plant a few more of everything to make up for the inevitable 'accidents'!

Constantly shouting at them to keep off the veg patches will soon turn them off gardening for ever. I need to keep them on my side otherwise I'd never get out to the allotment. So I'm going to create a little lawned area round the shed, get them a mini table and chair set, and give them a little patch of their own to grow what they like - HOPEFULLY this will keep them away from my crops!!

Its nice on our allotments - the whole area is fenced so I can let roam without worrying about them disappearing - they've made a few friends with the other children there, and we've got lovely flat tarmac haulingways where my 4 year old has learnt to ride her bike.

Its proper halcyon days sort of stuff! Can't imagine life without it now....

J

[GardeningMike]

Brilliant management...!

I reckon if you've got little kiddies - you just have to accept you'll have to plant a few more of everything to make up for the inevitable 'accidents'!

Constantly shouting at them to keep off the veg patches will soon turn them off gardening for ever. I need to keep them on my side otherwise I'd never get out to the allotment. So I'm going to create a little lawned area round the shed, get them a mini table and chair set, and give them a little patch of their own to grow what they like - HOPEFULLY this will keep them away from my crops!!

Its proper halcyon days sort of stuff! Can't imagine life without it now....

J

From one Dad of little people to another... you sound very patient and well done for this as well as being so inclusive of your little ones - i try hard not to turn gardening into MY OWN PROJECT so with our small patio garden I offer pots to the littl'uns to manage - I find my 5 yr old son however has a short attention span when it comes to follow plant growth/watering from one day to the next...

[FionaH]

You sound a lovely dad JimmerG.

[maytreefrannie]

A great story from a great dad.

[JimmerG]

Thankyou all for your kind words - parenting is a hell of a roller coaster ride sometimes.... took a bit of a dip this morning - Mrs G and I were kept up all night with a snivelling 5 month old, then I had a row with 4 year old about putting a dressing gown on!

Why do we get so worked up about these things?!

It makes the peace and tranquillity of an allotment that much more important - even the children seen to chill out when they're there.

J

(Tomatoes still look healthy BTW)

[Glutton4...]

MUCH easier to not have kids LOL!

[FionaH]

Why do we get so worked up about these things?!

)

Wait till they are 16, I didnt know it was possible to love and feel merderous at the same time

[JimmerG]

MUCH easier to not have kids LOL!

I often look at the couples we know who don't have children, and marvel at the incredible free time and spare income they seem to have... and indeed their immaculate houses, gardens, allotments!

Still, wouldn't swap my 3 little darlings for anything in the world.... especially once they've got the hang of weeding!

[JimmerG]

Wait till they are 16, I didnt know it was possible to love and feel merderous at the same time

FionaH,

I am DREADING this to be honest - at the moment the children hail me as somesort of hero, one day this will come crashing down round my ears, and I'll be the loser who can't give them enough money for clothes and makeup, and won't let them stay out long enough with their skanky, good for nothing, jobless boyfriends.

Eldest daughter has me round her little finger now - Lord only knows what she going to be like in 10 year's time.

The allotment where we shared so many happy days will become my escape, my haven from the teenagers from hell. SURELY teens wouldn't be seen DEAD on an allotment - would they?

J