Striking out

There's a teachers' strike in NSW today, which meant I have the sweet Lil-lil home with me today. She's extremely excited at having a day off school, she literally yelled it out when we dropped Goosey off to preschool.

When I asked her what she'd like to do, the decision was easy – lunch at the Japanese restaurant up the road.

As we walked up, we pondered all of life's mysteries that had been bothering her, including why the she had a day off. I explained that the teachers had a disagreement with the government about how the schools were run. She decided that the government was being mean. I explained that people had differing opinions and that it was important to voice your opinion and talk and come up with solutions. My explanations must have bored her because she popped out with : 'Some times I think my toys come to life.' Obviously time to change the subject or perhaps she was suggesting something?

We walked up our main drag and saw lots of friends from school. We sat and chatted and laughed.
It's rare to get time with the big girl, doing stuff, just us (oh and D in the stroller). So, thanks NSW Teachers Union and thanks Barry O'Farrell.

Unco

I've got two left feet at the moment. Do you go through stages where you trip, drop things, run into things more often than normal? At the moment I'm completely unco and not with it.

Yesterday I lost the car keys. Turned the house upside down looking for them. Was running 20 minutes late for school so I just grabbed the spare set and left the back door unlocked. After dropping the kids off I tucked my cold hands deep into my pockets - lo and behold they were there the whole time!

Then you have that thing when you try to get around someone and they go the same way and you end up having a little dance. You get three types of reactions when this happens: the embarrassed person who doesn't want to acknowledge it; the busy angry person who's in a rush; and the person who laughs at the ridiculous tango you're doing.

Then there's the even more embarrassing tango. When you go Iin for a friendly peck on the check and you both go the same way. Then you move and end up planting one right on the lips.

This morning I put Goosey's shoes on the wrong feet. Then I put D in the wrong car seat. I cut my own toast into quarters. I put dirty clothes in the bin and a dirty nappy in the washing basket.

I'm tripping, I'm stuttering, I'm a walking accident!

It's just not working for me!

Tell me I'm not alone and you go through phases like this too?

Jumping in the deep end

I'm not one for safe and secure. I don't want to plod along and watch time pass. Time passes by too quickly and since I've had kids it's on turbo charge. Weeks and months have sped past like seconds.

There are so many variables in life. While you can plot and plan life has a way of changing your perfectly planned course.

Life is scary. Terrifying. To really get the most of out of it, to really live, some times you've just got to close your eyes, take a breath and jump in the deep end. More than likely you'll bob back up to the surface with a smile.

As I tell my kids, don't worry if you make a few mistakes, just try again. You'll get there in the end and it will be worth it.

Do you like jumping in the deep end?

Chilling out

It's a very chilly Sunday morning in old Sydney town today, but I don't mind. It's nice to be able to curl up on the lounge and soak up the heater.

It's almost July, which is just crazy because it was Christmas just five minutes ago. As the year is flying by so quickly, I'm naming July appreciation month. I'm not one to really like winter, it's just those dark months in the middle of the year that always seem to take me by surprise. From right now, I'm going to enjoy the chilly weather.

I'm going to soak up cuddles with babies in fleecy all-in-ones.
I'm going to have chats and giggles with my girls over hot chocolates and babycinos at our local  cafes. I'm going to leave for school earlier and enjoy a leisurely walk in the winter sun and stop and chat to neighbours.
I'm going to catch up with my friends. Have a drink and a laugh in a local pub.
Cook something warm and slow more often.
I'm going to enjoy every minute of my birthday instead of not wanting to make a fuss.
I'm going to eat a bacon and egg roll where the yolk drips down my chin.
I'm going to curl up with the kids and watch a movie and eat popcorn.
I'm going to the movies with Skip. Which is something we NEVER do.
I'm going to make more effort and see friends instead of putting it in the 'too-hard' basket.
I'm going to enjoy lazy mornings during the school holidays.
I'm going to enjoy a leisurely Sunday lunch.
I'm going to make a big pot of soup.
I'm going to visit a country town and breath in fresh cold air until my lungs sting.
I'm going to appreciate this life I've got here with my friends and family.


What do you love doing in winter?

Trip the light fantastic

It's good being me. I have a bunch of lovely friends, who are not just nice people but ridiculously talented too. Actually I'm now starting to wonder why they are my friends, they're really starting to show me up with all their talent and success! That's OK, I'm happy to ride their coat tails.

One of my closest and oldest friends (and also Goosey's godmother) is a wonderful artist. It's not just me that thinks so either, she's been a finalist in the Brett Whitely Art Prize a couple of times, she's had many galleries show and sell her work. She has a wonderful way with colour (I can hear her laughing at me now, because I have very little knowledge about art).

Michele Morcos is having a solo exhibition that opens this weekend. I urge you to go and visit and check it out. If you see Michele there, go and say hello, she likes a natter. Tell her I sent you. She probably won't give you anything, but she might buy me a coffee.

Trip the light fantastic
Breathing Colours
446 Darling St
Balmain


Until July 7. Opening 4pm, June 23. 

www.breathingcolours.com or visit Michele's blog www.tinytrappings.com

Huh?

One of the things I love most about blogging is keeping a journal or scrapbook, if you like, of my kids' childhoods. I'm not the kind of person who would keep an actual scrapbook, but online I can do.

My kids come out with some beauties some times and I love sharing them here.

Here are a few recent ones.

Me: Are you sure, Lil?
Lil: Yep, 100 centimetres, Mum.

Goosey was sobbing her eyes out and I sat down next her. "What's wrong, little one?"
Goosey: "It's just Lil gets to spend much more time with Jesus, than I do."

Goosey: "Mum, one day you and dad and Grandma and Nanny will all die. But not Uncle Luke, he'll never die."

Lil: "You don't remember because it was a really long, long, long time ago. I was only 4." [She's five now'].

Goosey: "I don't like tuna. I only like fish."

Goosey: "What are those dents in your head?"
Me: "Wrinkles."
Goosey: "It's not fair. I want dents in my head too."

Our local wetlands when the girls tell me the 'dragons' live. 

My parenting philosophy

Recently I've heard a lot about 'philosophies', more specifically parenting philosophies. I've heard some fascinating ones, some whacky ones and some just plan weird. I'm not going to bash anyone's philosophy, I admire parents who put so much thought and study into how they parent their kids.

Forget free-range, attachment, authoritarian, whatever, my own personal parenting philosophy at the moment is called "survival". Having three young kids who all have their needs is full-on. There's little sleep, a lot of hair pulling and many deep breaths. My house is filthy and messy, the floors are sticky. There are piles of clean and dirty washing. My kids don't eat as healthy as I'd like and some times watch too much TV. I'm often nagging. The baby can be found sucking on a dirty sneaker. There are plenty of things I'd like to change and do differently, but often it's just about getting through the day as best you can.

If we get through the day without any major injuries; the kids are clothed, fed and vaguely washed; if I haven't had to yell too much; we laugh a little; have a hug; we get a few hours sleeps, well that's winning. Believe me, there are days when all this doesn't happen, a lot of days.

There are days when this does happen and then Lil-lil tells me about how she stood up for a friend who'd been picked on at school or Goosey tells me about how she shared her special toy with someone at preschool or I hear them tell their little brother how much they love him. That's a super-winning day. Because despite all my many flaws as a mother, we (Skip and I) must be doing something right to have three such lovely kids.

Each day I try to remember that this will all one day just be a chaotic memory. They will be able to do more for themselves, want me to do less for them, would be horrified at the thought of curling up next to me to sleep. So in the middle of the night when I've rocked D back to sleep for the millionth time and I see him sleeping peacefully, I try and push the frustration aside and soak in a little of his baby goodness. When Lil-lil has left a pile of paperscraps, playdough and textas making a creation, I try and focus on her creation and not the mess she's made. When Goosey, stands there hand on hip, defiant, pushing me to the edge, I'll hope that she keeps just a little of her feistiness as she gets older, because it will take her far.


Do you have a philosophy? One that works?