Responsibility of Mothers

What are we mothers that bring up children who self immolate? These are our people and our children, surrounded by our brothers, sisters, cousins, spouses and parents. We nurtured the suicide bombers. We are to blame, and those closest to the bombers must be most to blame.

Family commitments

I have loads of work this week and study too, but have had to devote time to the family. Son’s school had a big production of Grease and he was much committed to it. Consequently, he was out late rehearsing and then for the real thing. Of course, I had to stay up for him, so he and I didn’t get to bed till 1 o’clock a couple of nights.

Granny came to see what her grandson was so proud of. One morning, at 5, I got up to sort out the smoke alarm that was beeping because it needed recharging. Granny was already up, looking to sort it out for me, though I don’t know where she’d have found the ladder she was looking for, let alone go up it. I fixed the problem by switching on the light that charged the alarm and went back to bed, but didn’t sleep too well.

You’d have thought I could work once the holidays started and I didn’t have to worry about their school, but holidays are always more demanding of my time. So far I’ve taken daughter and Scottish friend to the BMW mini factory, which they thoroughly enjoyed, admiring the robots and the beautifully finished cars. I’ve chauffeured son to a party and daughter to a guitar lesson in High Wycombe (the train is not running because of a collapsed tunnel). Oh, and I’ve fetched Scottish friend to and from Luton airport.

Next week

• Family duty requires my presence at a loved nonagenarian auntie’s for a day.
• Son is requesting a lift to Oxford and I still have to finish two or three days work.
• I have three days work to do.
• and a day's study.