“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth”
Kahlil Gibran
This year I am taking part in Living Arrows, a weekly photography project taking photos of my boys week on week, last week was all about getting back to routine. This week? Well this week has been tough.
Say Cheese
We’ve seen the onset of those f*%&!g fours where my eldest has had some vile moments whilst at home with us. It seems that school gets the best of him and we are dealing with the fall out at times, after trying so hard all day he is physically and mentally exhausted. He has used up his quota of being good and is testing every single boundary that is put in front of him. I will say I haven’t reacted well, I’ve done the shouting, the exasperation and the woah-is-me attitude. What I am finding is that the calmer I am, the quicker he calms down. There is less of the shouting on both sides, fewer tears and a more positive attitude. As long as I remember to keep it up, which is difficult – after all I am the grown up he is the four year old. This week, to help a little, we’ve been heading out in the afternoons to blow off steam and run wild, free with abandon.
Sleeping Babies
Now, it’s no secret that my littlest doesn’t sleep. He didn’t sleep well when he was a newborn, naturally. He still didn’t sleep when he was one. I was exhausted when 18 months came by and HE STILL DIDN’T SLEEP. Even now at 20 months old, he doesn’t sleep that well. I can go into him anywhere between 1 and 4 times a night, and we get up early. Earlier than we need to for our very early start at school. All in all, sleep is a luxury in our house.
BUT then naps happen when he looks like this.
All is forgiven.

Obviously very tired so needed a good sleep! SO cute !#LivingArrows
Ah my 4 year old is the same! It’s so hard I just have to try and remember it’s hard for them too in this scary world! But yes when they all sleep they’re all cute haha!
Oh dear! I know this far too well….there are still even moments when i question if they grow out of the behaviour. One question…..you’re an adult? 😉
Park and letting off steam is the best bet. They’re always adorable when they’re asleep! #LivingArrows
We’re having the same with Indie (3) with the start of preschool – she’s just so tired she becomes the devil haha. What a gorgeous sleepy picture, if only they always looked so sweet haha xx
Aww bless him, you’re right he is too cute sleeping, I bet you can forgive anything! Sorry you’ve had a tough week. I’d love to say that my four year old has improved as the year has passed but sadly she’s just got worse. I think it’s mainly tiredness from school.
Nat.x
Author
I’ve heard some bad things about the fives…
My eldest is the same. At pre school he is a bloody angel, does everything he is told and eats everything that is put in front of him. At home its a complete different story! He sure looks super cute when he is sleeping #livingarrows
Honestly, that sleeping photo is just gorgeous! I’ve never managed to get a nice sleeping photo of Max as just the slightest noise sets him off, plus he has to sleep in darkness or it just doesn’t happen. I’m finding the terrible two’s hard going right now, not looking forward to what lies ahead! #livingarrows
Oh my goodness he looks so cute sleeping and those curls! I hear ya with the feisty fours, school definitely get the best of Alice too and we get to Thursday and then she hits a brick wall. It’s tough being the parent x #LivingArrows
They’re lovely photos. Children always look so angelic when they sleep.
We currently have a stroppy nearly 6yo. It always seems to happen just around his birthday, so I’m hoping after that, all will be calmer again.
#livingarrows
‘school get the best of him’ YES! This is us. Our children are horrors in the morning and after school, mainly because they are so damn tired. Love a sleeping baby though – when they are cute, sweet and often asleep they are forgiven everything x
I find getting out and letting them run that excess energy off helps a little. I think they spend so much of their day being ‘good’ in school that when they get home all hell breaks loose, that’s what happens in our house. #livingarrows