Monday 30 January 2012

Cathartic Crying and the ramblings of a mad woman

Well the kids are back at school today. Master Four had his first day at preschool and I had my first official day off in lots (and lots) of years. I was delirious and giddy with all the projects I planned to accomplish today and all the R&R I would get as well. Well, I got to the end of the day missing them all (it is too hard to go from all four every day to none). I didn't cry when Master Four shooed me away this morning, but I couldn't stop cuddling them all when they got home.

Monster Mum made an appearance though. Always lurking in the background ready to be the banshee when a child steps out of line. God I hate that banshee.


And rather than being well rested after a peaceful day I am exhausted. Utterly. Is it a build up of the school holidays? Things were getting hairy towards the end. My tolerance was wearing thin and I didn't (and still don't) know how to combat it. Rainy days took their toll. The next rainy day I am having a bonfire to burn all those "what to do on a rainy day" books - we have done it all ten times over.

And it's too hard to strive to be the perfect mum. I felt this on a recent trip to the museum. Taking a lunch break after one exhibition and getting ready for the next some of us had reached our limit. I packed lunches and it seems Master 8 must have had enough of this type of gastronomical adventure and wanted to buy something, but the selection was dismal and so he wanted to go to McDonalds after the excursion (not in the plan and very rarely is). Belligerence set in (both his and dare I admit it mine) and I felt like a horrible mum as the beautiful mother sat next to us with her metal lunchboxes packed with fruit, and vegetables and two darling children that did not complain.

Strawberries, alfalfa, beans.

Then tonight I read a book to Master Four we got at the library recently. I never noticed the title (and he doesn't read) until tonight. It is titled "Mad at Mommy". Really? Not sure I feel bad enough already, want to get that foot and grind in those grains of guilt.

So as one does on nights like this, I go myself a-blogging, and came across some other mums who experience the same feelings and some sad stories along the way. And then I balled my eyes out.

A good cry is what one needs from time to time. I think I still have more left in me that would probably go well with a bowl of icecream but I will try and resist the urge (for the icecream not the cry).

Tomorrow I think I will work on banishing banshee mum.

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Photo a Day Challenge: Days 7 thru to 10

So I have missed a few days blogging my "Photo a Day Challenge" and will take this opportunity to catch up.

Firstly, Miss 5 is now Miss 6, so it's been party central at Toffeeapple Manor. Master 3 will soon be Master 4 (they are ten days apart in birth dates) so we had some combined singing and cakes too. So it looked a bit like this:






Lots of fun, dancing and presents.

And now to the job at hand. The "Photo a Day Challenge"

Day 7: Favourite
I realised that at the moment I don't have a favourite anything. No favourite tv show, no favourite food, no favourite colour (it used to be red, but I like tangerine and cornflower blue too). But I am favourite-ing the kids new trampoline. Each time I have a jump Master 4 stands outside and yells that mums and dads aren't allowed, and then he joins me but laughs so much at me he can't stand up to jump.





Day 8: Your Sky



Day 9: Daily Routine
Really? Well here it is:


Breakfast


I'm a mean mum and get my kids to do some schoolwork during the school holidays before the day begins.


Unload and reload the dishwasher


The washing


Make beds


Photograph children for blog

Then I make some serious decisions. This:


or this:




Day 10: Childhood
When I was little I didn't eat much. I remember clearly my mother taking me to the doctors because I just didn't eat. I remember never feeling hungry or having a large appetite (boy, how times have changed!) One thing I could not do without was a chocolate milkshake and a tall glass of ribena.

Miss 6 loves her chocolate milk too. Her daily chocolate milks reminded me if my childhood fetish. It had to be made a specific way too or else I wouldn't drink it (spoilt? obsessive compulsive? difficult? temperamental?) The ribena had to be made first with the syrup then the water. The chocolate milk next with the chocolate syrup first and then the milk. If ever my older sister was required to make it she would deliberately make it different and then I would go bananas and refuse to drink it. I am much nicer now - I promise.



So there you have it. All caught up now.

Saturday 7 January 2012

Photo a Day Challenge: Day 6

Makes me smile.

My kids on New Years Day after a sleepover at the grandparents.


Bedhead and sleepy-heads.

Friday 6 January 2012

Photo a Day Challenge: Day 5

Something I wore.


A denim skirt. My mum made it. Ain't she clever.

It's very comfortable and perfect for a day trip to the city with the kids. We took the train into town and walked to the Sydney Observatory. We got a little lost and walked around in one big circle. I didn't tell the kids and hoped they didn't notice. On the way home I just told them I knew of a short cut and that's why we got back to the train station quickly.

I used to know the city so well. I s'pose that's what the 'burbs do to ya.

Magi

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Photo a Day Challenge: Day 4

The Letterbox.

Well...this one is quite embarrassing.

We live in a regular house, in a regular suburb with regular stuff filling it. Nice - pretty even.

But not our letterbox.

Loe and behold:


We moved in nearly four years ago and this is one of the things we never updated. It is on the "to-do list", it just has never been done.

It is surviving on one hinge (mind the finger in the shot - we'll call it creative licence):



A reminder of the blog that started it all - visit Fat Mum Slim.

Magi

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Photo a Day Challenge: Day 3

Something I adore.

The kids (obviously).

If this was yesterday's topic I quite possibly could have put up a pic of a box of chocolates or a cheesecake.

Today at the park:

We went out for some yummy fruit smoothies and followed it with a play at the park.

Happy Sunny Day.

Magi

Monday 2 January 2012

Photo a day Challenge: Day 2

Breakfast.
Well by the time I remembered that today's photo was to be of breakfast I had already eaten it. It was only Weetbix so you're not missing out on much. I took a photo of my morning tea instead. Cut up apple and almonds.

As of today I am trying to change a few of my bad eating habits. Namely sugar. I threw out any left over Christmas goodies (including half a box of chocolates...I know, I know, the travesty...). I'm trying...but I really love sugar. No baking for a while either :(


Sunday 1 January 2012