No more trying threes

Tomorrow my son turns 4.  He's sooooo excited about it - he's been inviting people to his party before we had even planned on him having a party!!!
And I'm looking forward to it too.  3 didn't suite him in the early days, but as he's been getting closer he's been growing up in leaps and bounds.  I'm actually really looking forward to having a 4yr old boy in the house.... so I'll keep you posted as to how it goes.
Happy birthday for tomorrow my beautiful boy, and to all those other mums out there who have made it to 4, well done - we all deserve a pat on the back!

Ohhh, aren't they cute

A friend came over today and we were looking back at old photos of her twin babies..... and it was really special to remember how tiny and fragile our children are when they come into the world.  So reliant on us for everything they need.  So unknowing of what adventures they will experience in their lives.  So precious.

I think sometimes as mums it's good to look back at where our kids came from and who we thought they were when they first entered this world - makes the day-to-day strains of fighting about food, toys, getting dressed, baths, etc seem to trivial.

When really, as long as we're loving, caring, feeding, and nurturing our kids they really will grow up every day and become the wonderful people they are supposed to be.

We may help them grow, learn, love, but we can't control it for them.  In the end they must learn to grown on their own - and maybe oneday hold a precious newborn in their own arms and think "what will this life hold?"

Love is.....

Sometimes when you're yelling at your kids, don't you just feel like stopping and giving them a BIG HUG?
I do.
So today I wrote in their diaries:

I love you.
That's all
Love Mum

I hadn't been yelling at them or anything, I just wanted to let them know that while neither of them were home I still though of them with love.

Because I think sometimes we forget to tell them, and our partners, enough.

Welcome home

I've decided mums are funny creatures.  We love "getting out" without the kids, yet we're always thinking of them, talking about them or buying things for them when while we're gone.
And the best thing about not having them with us?  Is when they come home - the smiles they give, the open arms they have, and the wonderful stories about their "adventures" while you've been gone (or they've been gone).
Precious and perfect.

A quiet weekend

Us mums always love our time with our kids (well, ok, maybe not always.... but we wouldn't change being mums for the World), but sometimes it's also realy nice to have a weekend without the hubby and kids.  And that's what I'm having this weekend.  A nice, quiet, "alone-time" weekend.

Mind you, having said that I had a dinner with friends last night, and today I did 2 Zumba classes, watched 2 episodes of my favourite soapy from last week, and enjoyed an early movie and dinner with one of my best friends tonight.  So all in all there hasn't really been much "alone-time", but it's been a really nice, enjoyable time.

Don't get me wrong, after I tidy and unpack the study tomorrow (the last job on my "want to do this weekend" list) I'll be very happy to welcome them home.... but now, having wrapped all my son's b'day presents while watching tv, I'm having a nice time. 

And a happy mum..... well everyone benefits!

So, I hope you've all had a lovely weekend and if you feel like telling me about it - feel free.

Tuning in to kids

Last night I started a new 8 week course called "Tuning in to kids".  It's about emotional intelligence in our kids, so I think it's going to be interesting...... and certainly a "learning" experience for me, as I really don't pay much attention to their emotions - that is unless they're kicking and screaming, which I must say, luckily, isn't too often.

I think it's certainly going to encourage me to address their emotions when they show them, so that will be a good thing, as altough I'm a pretty emotion person myself, I don't really "do" other people's emotions very well.  I mean hey, I can listen to a friend in need, no worries, but as far as my husband and kids and the everyday emotions they show.... everyday..... yeh - not so good at doing that!

So - if you know anything about emotional intelligence, or can give me some handy hints, let me know.... I'd love to hear from you!

Enjoy.

Happy Mothers Day

Mother's Day is a funny celebration... it's when the family try their hardest to make you "relax" and "enjoy" being with them..... but when they try so hard is it actually better?  Or do you just expect great things and then get disappointed when the day isn't "perfect"?

And if it's not an ideal day for you as a "mum" - then you start to question what kind of "mum" you really are on all the other days of the year.

You know what I think?  I think we should just enjoy our families every day and celebrate the luck we have being loved by our husbands and our beautiful children every day.

So - having said that - Happy Mothers Day to all those mums out there - and I hope you all had a wonderful, very special day!

Time

You know what I think a lot of the problem is these days - we don't give our kids time.  They have activities, they have toys, they have friends over...... but when do they get to just play?  And when do we make time to just play with them.  No plans - just a day at home to play.  Their games. Their rules. Their personality.

I took the time to do that today, with my son.  And I haven't laughed so much in a very long time.  I think at one stage we were both crying with laughter.

I think I'll do that tomorrow with my darling girl.  We need to reconnect since school went back.  It's only been a week, but oh how we miss time together after spending 16 days camping with just our family. 

So make time to play.  It's all kids really want, truth be known.

I know why mums are mad....

Yep - I've figured it out..... why all mums feel crazy (well, this one does anyway, and I"m sure I"m not alon).

Try this for an hour....

"Morning darling - you have an hour till School, so you need to get dressed, finish your spelling list, read your home reader to me, and eat breakfast so daddy can get you to dancing on time"

Please eat.  Please get dressed.  Please finish your homework.  And where's your reader?

Ok, you really need to finish your b'fast - you've had half an hour - it's only 2 pieces of toast, after all...... then finish homework and get dressed...... I don't think you want to go to School in your PJs.  You can read your book to daddy in the car.

Right, b'fast is over.  That's it, bad luck.  You've had long enough.  Homework now please.

Now, get dressed or do your homework.  I don't care which, just choose one.  NOW!

That's it, you're going to School in your PJs.  Put whatever homework you've done into your School bag you can explain why it's not done to your teacher.

GET DRESSED - You've got 7 mins till Daddy leaves.... and if you want to go to dancing at School you need to go with Daddy, as I'm not taking you.

HAIR. IT'S FRIDAY - WHERE'S YOUR LIBRARY BOOK?  GET IN THE CAR!

STOP SCREAMING - I don't have time to be gentle with your hair - you left it too late I can't play silly games or you go to School with a mop on your head!  STAND STILL!

Right - Get in the car! Go.  Just go."


And that was this morning in our house....... ARGH!!!  It's not even 8am!

Let's hope your morning was calmer than mine!

I love it.  You feel like this, and a councilor says "if you don't like harping, then just don't do it.  Just don't harp and if they go to School in their PJs with messy hair and no homework, so be it.  Bet they won't do it again!"
Easier said than done, I'm afraid!  But food for thought.

So proud

You know when you have one of those days when you watch your kids try their best, and although they don't win (in this case their 100m race at their athletics carnival), you are just so proud of them for trying their best that you want to BURST?

Well, watching my daughter running in your race today made me feel that way!  And you know what - I'll tell her I'm so proud of her; I'll tell her what a great job she did; I'll tell her it was great to see how hard she tried..... and she'll feel great - but never really know just how proud I am!  Yeh, yeh mum, whatever....

So I thought I'd let all of you know.  I couldn't have been a prouder mum today, and although there were no ribbons awarded - she won the heart of the audience, she got the biggest cheer, and her little legs ran at 100 miles an hour down that sports track! 

Well done my darling Girl - I love you!

Sweet memories

It's funny how when you're a parent you realise how little your parents knew about being parents, as you yourself really know nothing.... but you do your best and hope that it's enough.

In March I went to an INXS concert in Canberra.  As those who know me would know - I have loved INXS for as long as any of us can remember, and they were just as brilliant this time, minus Michael, as they were 25yrs ago when I screamed and sang my way through my first concert of theirs!

But this time I was OLD.  Mind you..... I didn't act like it!  It was great - I felt 16 again.... only my neck, back and ears hurt a lot more the next day than they did the first time!!!  D'oh.

Anyway, why am I writing about INXS on a Mums blogg?  Well, it just made me feel great - to really let go, and I realised how "stayed" I have become. 

As a mum you feel like you always have to "behave", so you set a good example.... but you know what - sometimes it really is fun to just "be".  In my "day-to-day-mum-life" I behave around School mums, I behave around in-laws, I behave around my kids, I at work....... so it was really nice to just "be".

Although I went to the concert with a really close friend, she was in a back brace, so enjoyed the concert in her own, calm way..... but I couldn't resist.  There were only a few thousand people there so I shot straight down the front, 2 rows from the stage, front and centre!  It was perfect, and an opportunity I couldn't resist!  And of course my friend understood - gotta luv her!!!

Anyway - it meant that I was there, virtually alone, so I could just "be".  Just be me.  I sang. I jumped around like a crazy person. I screamed. And I sang some more!  At one point I got hot, took off my top (with another one underneath......), and even thought about throwing it up onto the stage!!!  (But didn't, cause I like that particular top - and hey, what were they going to do with it anyway.....)....

The point is - I felt FREE!  No rules, no restrictions, no "must behave", just free to be silly, have fun and enjoy the night!!!  And I did.

So - to all those mums that are feeling "confined" and "restricted"......
Think of me and BE FREE!!!

Let's start chatting

Hi other mums.... and those that have a mum or want to be a mum.....
This is the first blog I've done, but I bought a book the other day about things that you'd really like to know as a mum but no-one ever told you..... and it got me thinking..... what would I like my daughter to know about being a mum that no-one ever told me?    So, here goes.... and I'd love to hear your comments on this too.....

When you become a mum you change.  Your outlook on life totally changes - not just your priorities, but your strength, your self-belief, your relationships with friends and family..... everything.

Yeh, people tell you things will change.... but you don't believe them.  It's like when you get married.  People tell you to enjoy and relax on your wedding day because it goes by too fast, but until it's over you can't believe just how quickly that "passes" comment really is!

Anyway - just a thought.... how things change - your relationships with your partner, your parents, your life-long friends..... it all changes.  And you know what - although you're the common element in the equation - it's not just you that changes.... it's all those around you too.

Good luck with it.....