cantankerous
having a difficult and contrary disposition
Synonyms: crotchety, ornery
stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate
If you were to look up me up in the dictionary during almost any time of the day the definition would read: docile, harmless, slightly dotty, on occasion uncontrollably giggly. Easily confused.
If, however, you were to look me up in the same dictionary early morning (and by early I mean any time before coffee (BC)) the definition would read entirely differently. It would go something like this: Cantankerous, having a difficult and contrary disposition, crotchety, ornery, on occasion known to be stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate. Yes basically I am a text-book case.
And there is a reason. No, not an excuse. A reason. It is called home school.
Surely I am not the only homeschooling mum to get a tinsy bit carried away with my school planning? There must be others out there who are excited by weird historical facts like animals being put on trial and often being sentenced to death in the middle ages; or disgusted at our very own heritage of slavery dealing and the rejection of aboriginals of Australia back when we British ‘founded Australia’. Tell me I am not alone in my impatience to teach the children tidbits of fascinating knowledge I have just taught myself in the course of school planning? Or in my anticipation, which forbids sleep, of the bacteria growing from the sink versus the toilet…honestly, life is waaay too interesting to waste sleeping.
For years I didn’t sleep and happily mulled away hours each night cogitating on everything I would be sharing with the children the next day. Thing is, I now sleep (after 40 years of excruciating but productive insomnia). And sleep makes me grumpy in the morning. There I said it. Hello, I am Claire and I am cantankerous (but only BC). Coffee has an extraordinary effect, because it brings to mind all the aforementioned nightly excitement which then comes tumbling out over the course of the day, making me a much better home schooling mummy than I would be if I had no caffeine based mood enhancer.
My son now counter attacks the cantankerous-ness by making me a coffee. He wanders into my room, wafting about the glorious scents of freshly ground, freshly made coffee. I wake up, am instantly handed a coffee and am grunted at. I grunt incoherently back. He leaves, fully cognisant of our short interlude. My son, you see, has been blessed with the same mind. He is slightly ornery in the morning and requires a freshly brewed coffee to make all right in his world. We understand each other. And our morning conversations have become a ritual I enjoy. Okay, conversations is stretching it slightly. In fact enjoy is stretching it slightly. Let’s just say that I am grateful for a son who brings me coffee each morning so that I do not need to be cantankerous. At least not with any witnesses.
I am the opposite of you. I am a morning person who becomes cantankerous at night if I don’t get into bed. I turn into a cantankerous old toad at around 11 pm. I am glad you have a son to bring you coffee.
Blessings, Dawn
I’d love to be the other way round, because Gary is up at 5 am so we operate from opposite time tables!
Oh yeah. Strange facts are my favourite thing (after coffee, that is). Cantankerous is definitely the BC word. Loving this series, Claire!
Thank you Erin 🙂 I’m enjoying writing them!
I’m the same way without my morning cup of tea. I know shocking for a savage colonial.
Lol!
Oh, you are not alone. How sweet that your son is making you coffee. I’m not a morning person and even coffee doesn’t really help — just have to start things a little later 🙂
I think my son brings me one because he knows it is the only way he will be allowed to use my almost sacred coffee making!!
This made me laugh. I rather need my morning cup of tea before I make much sense.
I hear you….!
I’m a morning cup of coffee homeschooling mom too!
🙂
I’m not a morning person and sadly not a coffee person either. I’m generally cranky until I have a shower. It’s getting up to shower that’s the problem. My family avoids me if possible before the shower. If only it could be as simple as a coffee – but really what do people see in it?
Gasp!!! How can you even ask that????!! 😉
I’m not a coffee person, but I’m also not a morning person. I’m a night owl, and it just takes me time to get going. The older two know to play quietly while I get it together in the mornings…just waiting for the toddler and baby to take a hint! 😉
Yes, our youngest two have issues with the definition of early. Between 5 and 6 is considered a reasonable time to be noisy….
I am also in need of coffee in the mornings. I’d prefer to start the day off slowly but I have two eager beavers who urge me to get going the minute I’ve had my first sip of coffee. It is a struggle.
It definitely gets easier as they get older. It is our seven year old who is bright eyed and bushy tailed the moment she wakes up!
I’m not a morning person. My oldest has learned not to approach me BC, and has even taught his homeschooling brothers, “Our teacher likes apples, but if you really want to kiss up, bring her coffee!”
Lol! There is nothing like it, is there?
Coffee…BLAH! I guess this is one area we will never agree upon, friend.:)) It always smells so good and tastes so yucky! I’ll stick with my Texas sweeeeet tea!
I’ve never tasted sweet tea so I will have to bow to your greater knowledge!
Have you ever thought of trying your coffee as sweet as your iced tea?
I can relate. I used to tell the people that worked for me “no bad news before coffee.” One unfortunate individual found out why that rule exists. It never happened again!
LOL! Yes, I’m waaay more approachable after coffee!