TheMommyBlog

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 Family

I meant to post this on Mother’s Day but somehow the ranting took precedence. This has always been my favorite book to read to the children, not least because they often look at me sideways to see how closely I’m identifying with Mrs. Large. The truth is, I’m identifying a LOT. It usually makes them thoughtful and me wistful. I’m reprinting this without permission but with links in the hopes you will buy it and share it with your little darlings.

Five Minutes’ Peace
by Jill Murphy

The children were having breakfast.
This was not a pleasant sight.

Mrs. Large took a tray from the cupboard. She set it with a teapot, a milk jug, her favorite cup and saucer, a plate of marmalade toast and a leftover cake from yesterday. She stuffed the morning paper into her pocket and sneaked off toward the door.

“Where are you going with that tray, Mom?” asked Laura.
“To the bathroom,” said Mrs Large.
“Why?” asked the other two children.
“Because I want five minutes’ peace from all of you,” said Mrs. Large. “That’s why.”

“Can we come?” asked Lester as they trailed up the stairs behind her.
“No,” said Mrs. Large, “you can’t.”
“What shall we do then?” asked Laura.
“You can play,” said Mrs. Large. “Downstairs. By yourselves. And keep an eye on the baby.”
“I’m not a baby,” muttered the little one.

Mrs. Large ran a deep, hot bath. She emptied half a bottle of bubble bath into the water, plunked on her shower cap and got in. She poured herself a cup of tea and lay back with her eyes closed. It was heaven.

“Can I play you my tune?” asked Lester.
Mrs. Large opened one eye. “Must you?” she asked.
“I’ve been practicing,” said Lester. “You told me to. Can I? Please, just for one minute.”
“Go on then,” sighed Mrs. Large.
So Lester played. He played “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” three and a half times.

In came Laura. “Can I read you a page from my reading book?” she asked.
“No, Laura,” said Ms. Large. “Go on, all of you, off downstairs.”
“You let Lester play his tune,” said Laura. “I heard. You like him better than me. It’s not fair.”
“Oh, don’t be silly, Laura,” said Mrs. Large. “Go on then. Just one page.”
So Laura read. She read four and a half pages of “Little Red Riding Hood.”

In came the little one with a trunkful of toys.
“For you!” he beamed, flinging them all into the bath water.
“Thank you, dear,” said Mrs. Large weakly.

“Can I see the cartoons in the paper?” asked Laura.
“Can I have the cake?” asked Lester.
“Can I get in with you?” asked the little one.
Mrs. Large groaned.

In the end they all got in. The little one was in such a hurry that he forgot to take off his pajamas.

Mrs. Large got out. She dried herself, put on her bathrobe and headed for the door.
“Where are you going now, Mom?” asked Laura.
“To the kitchen,” said Mrs. Large.
“Why?” asked Lester.
“Because I want five minutes’ peace from all of you,” said Mrs. Large. “That’s why.”

And off she went downstairs, where she had three minutes and forty-five seconds of peace before they all came in to join her.