Friday 30 December 2016

Many loves, many lives

Just watched Brooklyn (Netflix), a beautiful film about an Irish girl in the '50s who moves to New York. Resonated so strongly within me, the beauty and the fortune and the heartbreak of loving two places (or more), of having more than one home, the longing for the other home(s), the joy of saying hello again and the sadness of saying goodbye. I am a child of two cultures...my babies are children of three...my family of origin, now, of six...

Wednesday 21 December 2016

Back seat driver

Fun car journey this morning.

Toddler (mostly answered by me in the mini breaths between questions): "Why you hitting the brakes? And why now? And why slowing down now? And why are you indicating? And why did that car in front indicate? And why you hitting the brakes again? Mama, don't forget to indicate! Mama, slow down! Mama, go faster! Mama, beep that car, he's in the way! Why you hitting the brakes again?? Go faster, mama! And why didn't he indicate? Beep him, mama!"

Tuesday 20 December 2016

Migraine season again

Two migraines in two days. Out of drugs, so taking the kids' drugs! Getting all bad things out of the way before Xmas. Blinding headache but at least I can see. Dreamed I had a migraine again (and woke up with it) and in my dream I couldn't see properly but had to find every one of my son's (50 odd) toy cars hidden away in an extremely elaborate street scene, winding its way under tables and behind cupboards. A really difficult thing when half your vision is obscured by bright and shiny flashing lights! 😂

Friday 16 December 2016

Falling asleep

I do it because I remember desperately wanting this as a child. And because my kids love it. And because my eldest will tell me his fears and worries as his mind starts to relax and opens up (though it's rare I get the chance to get the big one to sleep these days). And because they cry if I don't and I hate the idea that crying is the last thing they'd do before falling asleep. We're always told not to go to bed angry, and I feel it's the same, for my kids, not going to sleep sad or lonely. I do it because it works very well for us. 💖

Link

Wednesday 14 December 2016

Blessings of the day

Beautiful multistorey roof parking. And so much space. Loving our new double buggy. Gorgeous walk in the park this morning. Fun at little gym with the kids. Cuddles on the sofa. Super helpful and funny toddler helped clear the table, did some dish washing, tidied his toys away and washed and chopped the mushrooms for our fajitas and extras for the freezer. Baby girl helped tidy toys too. Much to be grateful for today. 😍

Thursday 8 December 2016

The week's achievements

Successes of the week: boy had one full dry day (woo hoo!), he loved his gymnastics class and he loved his new nursery; and girlie can now climb a flight of steps, take 4-5 steps alone, make it through from 5.30am to 3pm without a nap and apparently post videos of herself eating kale on Facebook. 😂

Tuesday 6 December 2016

Patchwork children

Interesting article, relevant to all of us made up of different cultures, and relevant to our beautifully rich patchwork children.

(Therapy Today, October 2016)

Thursday 1 December 2016

When babies are quiet...

This is why she was so quiet!

I have decided to just leave her to it, so I can make dinner. Some days, good parenting is staying calm and managing to make food. 😄