Invisible Parenting

There are things no one sees me do. They are not secret. They are not hidden. Small things. Unimportant-seeming things. They go unnoticed. That is, unnoticed until they are not done. I think of them as invisible parenting.

They are things like:

Keeping an eye on minor ailments (rashes, itches, tummy pains) and changes in behaviour (wetting pants, tiredness) to see whether they are something or nothing.

Shaking the sand out of the children's shoes after they've been playing in the kindergarten sand pit.

Keeping the swimming things together in one bag and keeping that bag in the same place, always.

Picking up stray shoes, clothes, toys, spoons, jigsaw pieces from various places around the house and putting them back where they belong.

Subconsciously doing an inventory of the contents of the fridge and presses so that I know if we have milk, ketchup, yogurts, fruit or other snacks before they get asked for.

Knowing the nappy and wipe stock levels at any time but especially on Saturdays since on Sundays all shops here are closed.

Planning breakfast and packed lunches in my mind before I go to bed.

Putting away clothes for the holidays weeks before we go.

Checking schoolbags for spilt drinks, melted sweets or notes from teachers.

Checking the school and kindergarten lost & found baskets for missing gloves, scarves, PE shorts and odd socks.

Writing appointments into the kitchen calendar and turning the page each month.

I'm sure I am not the only mother to perform acts of invisible parenting. Do you?