I’ve always been a pretty honest person. I’ve never been in trouble ‘wiv da law’ and I was rarely in trouble at school. I’m not suggesting I’ve never broken the rules. Yeah I taped stuff of the telly and didn’t erase it after 28 days (man I’m showing my age) and I found a wallet in my teens and didn’t hand it, or the money it contained, in (I’ve paid for that though having had my wallet, which also contained my birth certificate, taken after I left it on a bus seat). I am not great at lying convincingly, despite working as a professional liar Account Manager for four years. But I have been known to tell the odd white one here and there, often to make things “easier” or to protect someone else’s feelings. However since having Oscar, I’ve found it harder to lie. I’m not talking about the Santa or Tooth Fairy myths we tell our children, but day to day, with my friends, family, myself.
I think it started after I had him. I was so tired, so drained that I could just about manage bare minimum functioning capacity. This included breathing, moving, you know, the basics. Anything else above this in terms of necessity took something of a back seat. I remember in the early weeks, Ben coming home from work one day and telling me about an issue he’d dealt with at work. We’ve always debriefed about our respective days, it was just something we’d done. I turned to him and said, and I quote, “I’m too tired to even pretend I care – you know I would usually but I just can’t do it”. It was harsh and probably hurtful and I am so sorry (now) if this was the case, but it was the truth and I had nothing in me to censor that truth coming out.
As Oscar’s got older, my functioning capacity has slowly returned. I can remember my name now, what day it is, I have regular meals and most importantly decent sleep. But raising a child, basically living for two people (I have to remember to feed, water, change, care for the two of us), means I still don’t really have the capacity or the desire to lie. Having had the bullshit stripped back has made me realise that for the most part I simply can’t be doing with it. I’m not suggesting telling the truth at all costs (er no sorry I don’t think your child is beautiful, I think they have a big head) but I have found myself wanting to be more honest with people and myself.
I can’t be doing with getting involved in mummy politics (not that I have, but I hear its on the horizon from friends with older children), I want to be honest with my blog and don’t want anyone to read it and think my life is perfect or idealised, cos it’s not. I want to spend time with people I actually like and not those I don’t (so if I want to spend time with you it’s because you’re a good egg). I want to continue to lose weight and be honest with myself over how I’m doing, and the outcomes that I choose for myself. I wont go along with plans if they do not feel right for me and my family. I want to take full responsibility for choices I make. For me, for my life.
I know none of this sounds typically British, the stiff upper lippedness everyone goes on about, putting up with shit because that’s what we do. But why is that what we do? Why is it seen as ‘not the done thing’ to be honest with yourself? I have been so tired that I could no longer keep that up. I have seen the other side people, I know what it looks like. And I liked it. I want Oscar to grow up able to express himself, to be honest with himself and those around him. I don’t want him to think the lies are the only way.
I would also very much like it that one day he be so tired he can barely manage to hold his head up and remember who he is, because that will mean he is a new father.
And I promise not to tell him if his child has a big head 😉
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