Growing Up Too Fast?

Now, don’t get me wrong – we all have to grow up sometime.   Having a said that, a couple of things that have happened recently make me question why some parents do the things they do where their children are concerned.

I am fortunate enough to go to my fair share of gigs.  This has been the case for most of my adult life.  Just lately there seems to be a breed of parent who take their kids to gigs.  I’m not talking about family-themed picnic/gigs in the park type events but rock concerts.  I don’t have any children but I’m sure that if I did, I wouldn’t feel the urge to take them to see the likes of Motorhead, The Cult and The Manic Street Preachers – well, at least not until they’re old enough to drive me there! 

The first time I noticed a little ‘un at a concert was at a Motorhead gig.  The poor lad was about 9, looked bored stiff throughout the entire support act and then actually SLEPT when Lemmy and the lads took to the stage, being carried out by his somewhat bewildered dad at the end of the night.   Similarly, at a Cult gig, a guy had his daughter with him and she looked none too impressed at the thunderous guitars and Ian Astbury’s wailing (which I love, by the way!).   And just this last week at a Manics concert, two kiddies standing near us with their parents – on a school night – looked dead on their feet as James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire made our ears bleed.

It’s not just the volume and lateness but more the interaction between band and fans.  All of the 3 acts mentioned above spattered their sets with their  fair share of bad language  – all in good humour and aimed at an adult crowd, It just makes me feel uneasy at little innocent ears hearing, via a fifty million watt PA system, words which they really needn’t know until a bit later in life. 

I’m also uneasy about how some children are allowed to dress.  Yes, clothing manufacturers are partly to blame, but seeing pretty little girls wearing hot-pants and crop-tops in the summer  is just very, very wrong.    In the States, junior beauty pageants are a multi-million dollar industry – children as young as 5 plastered in make-up, their hair dyed and piled up high, teetering on a catwalk in kitten heels.   It’s just vulgar. 

We all grow up eventually (or so I’m told!)  Just let nature and time take their course.

Exercise Epiphany

So when did THAT happen? 

One minute, there I am sitting in front of the tellybox 7 nights a week slowly getting wider.  Then without prior warning I’m thrust into a world of doing stuff!

Stuff!  Me!  Swimming, weights, walking, Yoga, Zumba, dancing  ….. even hula hooping – and I have to say I absolutely love it and feel so much better for it too.

Of course, the exercise means I can still eat and drink the occasional naughty thing too.  Yes, visualising a large glass of red wine or two really helps you to move through the pool and notch up those feel-good points in the calorie bank:  although, obviously don’t drink the wine in the pool as it would only dilute it, and who wants their wine mixed with chlorine!?!?

Fifteen weeks in and the “eating plan”, combined with the exercise and a healthy dose of Positive Mental Attitude are really working.  20lbs lost, BMI almost acceptable and clothes size reducing - it’s lovely being able to buy High Street clothes now from regular High Street shops.  The charity shops are going to benefit too – the pile of “Big Girl” clothing is ever-increasing:  when there’s a bag full, it’s going ……

I've not paid a penny to any slimming clubs this time round.  I wish I'd done this years ago - I'd have saved a fortune instead of giving it to Weight Watchers / Rosemary Conley / Slimming World (delete as applicable ...!)

If I can do it, anyone can!

PMA all the way!

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