That Family

Sometimes, we are that family. You know the one: cheerful, contented kids with pink cheeks and boundless enthusiasm... kids who say cute things in earnest, and make everyone around them smile.
Parents who share a laugh and gaze indulgently at their well-behaved offspring.
Babies who rock placidly in swings, gratifying all who pass with a touching expression of pride and glee.
Little boys who snuggle up together in the back of a cycle cart... innocent spectators of the roadshow that is life.





And other days.
Other days, we are that family.
You know the one: noisy, obnoxious kids who can't sit still in cafés, and annoy every other customer in the place by weaving in between tables and gabbling.
Babies who shriek like demons when not awarded the coverted "centre of attention" role.
Bratty boys who demand costly desserts and sulk (both slyly and loudly) when dissatisfied.
Parents whose haggard faces suggest they have recently been usurped as Heads of Household.
Parents who speak to each other just a tad too snappily.
The family people scowl at: the ones with the badly behaved kids.



What to do on those days?
Shrug, smile, apologise... Send eyewitnesses a coy grimace that tries to convey: they are not always like this. Sometimes, we are the other family - the sweet one - honestly, we are! Don't judge us, please!

We think: sometimes, even nice families have bad days.
This is the horrible truth no-one tells you beforehand: even the good parents can't always control their kids.
We savour the compliments on the good days - each "what lovely boys!" tucked away and cherished.
We learn which cafés to avoid.
We have a glass of wine.
We pedal on.