Parenting 101: no surprises

I have learnt a few things about children, not many I admit, but a few, well a couple.  One of them is that children like to know what's coming, they don't like surprises (well unless they involve presents or cake).  So I am very careful to warn my two about any changes to their routine.  In particular their bedtime routine. So this morning I had this conversation with Eliza (because she is more sensitive to it).

"I'm going to read you your stories a bit earlier tonight darling because I'm going to go running tonight."

"Well ok, but why are you going running?"

"Well because I like it and it's my running club night."

"Can I come to running club? I like running Mummy."


"Not really darling because it will be past your bedtime and anyway it's cold and dark." And you're 4 years old and this is a ridiculous conversation.

"But I can see in the dark Mummy look." She opened her eyes really really wide to demonstrate this skill to me.

"I'm sure you can, but you'll be in bed all warm and asleep."

"No, I want to come to running club!" She really did too.  And you know what? For about 2 seconds the thought crossed my mind.  Until I realised the absurdity of the idea which would surely involve me carrying her for 6 miles.

I did what I normally do in that situation.  I relented. Said I'd think about it but that right now I was off to work so to be a good girl and I'd see her later.

The problem with that approach was that when she saw me tonight she said this.

"Mummy I've thought about it and I'm not tired and I'd like to come to running club with you." She had clearly been thinking about this all day.

"Oh. But look how dark it is?  It's cold too.  Come on show me what you made today." Distraction still works occasionally so I held out some hope.

"Ok, but I do want to go to running club with you."

I realised my mistake.  I'd used the word 'club'.  At pre-school she has nature club on Tuesday's and cookery club on Wednesdays.  Clubs feature quite big in her little life.

"I'll tell you what, we'll have our own special running club on Saturday, okay?"

She thought about it, weighing up the pros and cons.

"Well okay Mummy but I can run faster than you."

Not quite sure when she became so competitive but we agreed that she probably was. Thankfully I got her to bed in time and managed to do my run. Which felt fantastically good.

I then ate a Crunchie and a packet of Skips in quick succession and undid all the good. But it's all credit and debit this exercise thing right?