Monday, June 25, 2012

Our Own Royal Protocol

The Queen has established the new Order of Precedence to take into account the new Duchess in the family. You can read about it here in The Telegraph. Apparently, within the family, there are those who are disgruntled when the rules are adjusted and those who are, on occasion, inconvenienced.

I only read about this because a friend posted it on facebook today. He was quite upset about it. There was a rather angry rant about stupid and arcaic rules, there wouldn't be a Royal Family without support of the proletariat, blah blah blah, rant rant... And then others chipped in with how silly it all is, etc... etc...

In reply to both of the above, I would like to tell you about the strict pecking order and some of the family rules and rituals that apply in our house. After all, if it's all right for the Royals to publish theirs it's all right for me to publish mine.

 1. DD has to *brush* her teeth first, before I give them a once over. There is no compromise on this and all hell to pay if it is not adhered to.

2. Before leaving her at Nursery I have to pick DD up and give her a kiss and a cuddle. Then she has to give me me a kiss and a cuddle. Following this, with her still in my arms, I have to say, "I love you, I love you, I love you." Then she has to say it. Then she goes down and has to run to the balcony so that we can say 'goodbye' when I get outside. It sounds complicated but these rituals do eventually become second nature.

3. I am never allowed to sit on DD's chair at the table. Never. End of.

4. The flannel that DD uses to cover her eyes when I rinse the shampoo off her hair, has to be folded in a particular way. This conforms to the ancient practice, first observed when she was quite small. No deviations are tollerated.

5. A kiss and a cuddle in bed in the morning are mandetory. If I'm up first I am sometimes commanded to lie down again for the purpose of the above.

6. DD must throw her bath toys into the bath by herself. Mummies must not interfere.

7. Cutlery must be chosen from the drawer by the user.

8. Bottles with drinking nozzles in the cap that can be clicked open and shut, take precedence over simple flat caps. DD gets first choice, always.

So there you have it. We are equally as tied up in our own rituals as the Royals. Funnily enough, no one seems to be as emotionally charged by ours as they are by the Queen's. What silly rules and rituals does your family follow? Apparently it's the season to reveal all.

*All pictures are from Google images.

17 comments:

  1. Brilliant! I love this post! Rule No.1 is also the same in our house too. I am adament they won't ever have a filling (unlike moi!!)... :D

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    1. I wonder if the Queen likes to brush her own before her lady-in-waiting is allowed to give them a once over?

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  2. Aw thats lovely!!!! Livign in the English countryside - we must kiss ( Dd and I) when we go through a kissing gate - she must go through first and then she puckers for a kiss. Only then is the servant and dedicated follower that is Mater allowed to pass!

    I also adhere to the morning cuddle routine and must re join the horizontal world again if I am vertical.

    Leggins must be worn with everything including dresses, skirts, shorts etc and trousers are a major no no! Modesty to be protected at all times during the climbing of trees, climbing frames, trampolining etc and the colour barr those for school must be chosen by she who must be obeyed ( in this instance)! ;-) Her choice re the wearing of leggins constantly!!!

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    1. I am trying to introduce the concept of wearing leggings under a skirt but DD will have non of it. So meanwhile half the playground equipment is for boys only (or girls in trousers) until it gets cooler at around 5pm.

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  3. We have tons of rituals! Some are really odd perhaps but others are just long term things that have become a habit.

    CJ x

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    1. I once read somewhere that where there are no rituals people invent new ones. I think it's human nature. What I don't think is that the Royal family's rituals are any more important than anyone elses.

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  4. This was great. Little A has loads of rituals - teddies have to be in a certain order ... the way the table is set ... I could go on and on .... great post.

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    1. My theory is that the Royal Family are really just overgrown toddlers who need their routines for security. The only difference is that hopefully our toddlers will grow out of it.

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  5. I love your musings. 1 and 3, I can totally relate. I know we have more but my mind is still caught in the whirlwind of the day :)

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    1. That's the nature of rituals C. You don't have to think about it after a while - you just do it.

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  6. I am too busy laughing to think of a funny comment.

    Well said that woman.

    This is brilliant - love it!

    You are too funny maam.

    Liska xx

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    1. Thank you Ma'am, - they call the Queen that too don't you know :).

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  7. In our house, bedtimes are done by daddy and follow as such: I kiss daddy, Oliver (the monkey) and then The Boy, but he gets four kisses. Then he demands more kisses. Then at the door we declare, "Ni'night love you, sleep tight, see you morning!".

    Every night!

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    1. Aaw. These rituals are so important. And there are probably historical reasons why Oliver the Monkey gets his kiss first but The Boy gets four kisses. I love Ni'night.

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  8. Can we not have a rule to banish the lot of them - up the revolution?! No, okay well us peasants all have rules - yours are far nicer I suspect than any royal could dish out love Che xx

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    1. I'm happy to live and let live. If I met the Queen I'd wouldn't even mind giving her a curtsy, if that's what she wants. I have another friend who likes everyone to take of their shoes when they enter her house. Same differenc and no skin off my nose.

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