Sensory overload...

Recently the munchkins were invited to a party at St Barnabus church hall in the middle of the village. I love it when both of my poppets are invited to the same party. Sweet little Freya pines so if she is not invited to join her burly brother and his exuberant chums, and darling Max just loves all of Freya's super little chums with their fairy wings and Barbie dolls. My darlings so hate to be separated.

Lennon was celebrating his fifth birthday, it has been rather difficult for the little chums to stay in touch of late as they do not attend the same school. Lennon attends the super Village infants school, and is always busy every evening after school with Kumon Maths, Kumon English, piano lessons, swimming, rugby or yoga and so never free for a play date. Geoff and Dawn encourage darling Lennon to be a busy little bee.

When James and I collected our babies from the party they were really disappointed with the vegan treats on offer at the party, and subsequently with the booty from their party bags - no sugary treats at all. I was grateful that they saved their complaints for the car. I so hate to offend anyone. Dawn is a super conscientious mother, this mum never ever 'goes to Iceland' I can assure you. If it is not fresh, organic and delivered in a recyclable box to her door, Lennon does not get to eat it.

The munchkins received a cd each of 'sing the times tables' in their party bags. I laughed; "Super, one for the car, and one for the house, although four and five is perhaps a little young for these.". James immediately tossed one of them into the boot (the CD's not the poppets!). "Dulwichmum overdrive," he sneered. "These children should be allowed to have some fun. Why doesn't anyone give them a tape of Jackanory..."

Both munchkins began quarrelling over half a box of raisins they had found on the back seat, they had only been in Dawn and Geoff's presence for one and a half hours and already they were suffering from malnutrition. It was all beginning to go horribly wrong until I popped the new CD into the music system. 'Diddle dee dee' nursery tunes filled the car and immediately distracted the munchkins from their acts of violence and destruction. Soon the jolly singers began to recite the multiplication. The poppets were initially bobbing about merrily to the music and then went incredibly quiet almost immediately as the words to the songs began.

James started laughing out loud, "I am looking in the mirror he said, look in the back of the car," he insisted. The two darlings were sitting eyes glazed, having given up already trying to keep up with the calculations on their fingers, and then so overloaded, their little computer hard drives had crashed, and they fell asleep - well "passed out in a frenzied sensory overload" would probably be a more accurate description.

Oh how James and I laughed. This CD has been constantly played at home ever since. We are hooked, and the children hypnotised. Peace has returned to Alleyn Road! I really love my good friend Dawn, how very clever she is!