model misbehaviour

if the truman show were the tess show i would be:

a) pleased to be within such close proximity to ed harris

and

b) slightly quizzical, but pleased that after suffering at the six hands of the enfants terribles yesterday, that today they were quirky, endearing, and redeeming. i might even list the surprising things they had done.

well, jasper fell out of bed last night at 4am and didn't fall back asleep, does that count? and they taught themselves a new song, "charlie charlie bum bum bum" how about that? should my heart be melting? am i the malfunctioning one here?

apparently the blow to jasper's forehead was bad enough for

a) people to endlessly comment "what happened to HIM?" all today and

b) for the him in question to stay awake half the night wailing in distress and checking himself like a first year med student that after his tragic fall he could still clap his hands and sing (he could).

and today was an interesting day, because sela and carys were meant to be helping a friend out modelling some of her clothes for her catalogue. they were not getting paid, i had not submitted their names to be considered, i was asked as a favour along with some others. jasper wasn't necessary, but as the photo shoot was two hours before gymnastics and SALLY!!!! i dragged jasper along. this meant all the kids were short changed on their naps which after yesterday and last night, they were in desperate need of.

we got to the location, and the assistant brought out outfits for sela and carys. they wanted them in very similar outfits. unfortunately, sela wanted to wear the blue chanel type coat that had been earmarked for carys, due to carys' eye colour, and that was enough to cause la belle sela to burst into floods of tears. the wine coloured jacket she wore was too large.

the tears stopped when two ballerina/princess dresses were pulled out. one cream coloured, the other a deep red. i let sela have first choice and she selected the cream. told me "i like this pretty dress". the girls changed, and we adjusted the backs with clips (carys' dress was wayyy too big in the bodice, sela's wayy too big in the waist) and ignored jasper's pleas to wear, "pitty dresses".

and then we waited. for an hour while some other very cute kids took their shots.

the kids got really restless and we made umpteen trips to the loo. the waiting was not easy.

and finally it was our turn. the lights were hot, the girls were restless, and they were not in the mood for smiling, or, i learned, swinging their pretty dresses. seriously. sela lay down on the floor and said, "no". shortly after, carys followed.

recognising a crisis, i pulled out a lolly and told the photog we had maybe five more minutes and to get the shots...hurry.

at some point, someone had asked if jasper would be willing to model. jasper with the lump in the middle of his forehead? sure, why not. he was pushed into a velvet doublet sized for an 18 month old, and had to wait around. and suddenly, he raced out to his sisters, and began twirling around like they refused to. the photog was enchanted. we finished with the girls quickly, and then it was jasper's turn.

jasper.

jasper, who found his mark quickly. all we had to say to him was, "go back to your tape", and he would. jasper who jumped, smiled, flirted, lowered his lashes, grinned, pursed, (picked his nose as well, if im being totally truthful) and cajoled in and out of three 18 month outfits. he was dead charming. amazingly so.

jasper and i stayed longer than the girls did, and finally i insisted that we leave because gymnastics was about to start. he loved it.

modelling. jasper. maybe.

before today, i would have thought that sela would have been our tiny tinned ham. i guess not. i was asked if i wanted jasper to do more work, and i said i wasn't sure. truth is, i'm not. he seemed to enjoy it. that's what counts.

did i enjoy it? not while sela and carys were being evil? not one bit. but parts of it were fun. watching them have fun was fun. wondering if they would be able to photoshop out the bruise on jasper's forehead was fun.

it just struck me....are my kids acting like this because they think they're going to be the next naomi campbell???

Comments

[maggs]

Tess: There is nothing wrong with bribing kids w/ candy. I SWORE I’d NEVER do that. I caved.

[Auntie Pammie]

Tess, didnt you predict that JJ would be the one who would take to modelling???
I am sorry to hear about the girls not participating.. cannot wait to see the pics
xo

[joeinvegas]

It should pay good money - put it away for college. Take it now while people are saying yes and the kids are saying yes (well, the one is, the others might after naps). Maybe they will get rich and famous and then I can say 'I remember when'

[Lori in YK]

Glad to hear that things were at least slightly better since the "nap" episode! I believe it to be normal for all aspiring models to have tantrums now and again...or at least it might be nice to have something to blame it on. LOL!!