Playdate

One of the best ways to wear my energetic bunny down is to have a playdate. It's the winning formula of him being entertained and socialising and having fun while I get to sit on my bum and have a cuppa, instead of being down on all fours choo-chooing or playing chasy or singing 'Bob the Builder'. I have three friends who live not far away who have kids of varying ages and we have realised that by getting together regularly, the kids play and run and fight and play all while we get to have a cuppa and something of a conversation (albeit about the kids probably!!) Anyway, here's some of the gang on the couch today having a very short choccie break before running amok once again. Thanks to Andy for letting our kids trash your house! Notice how obedient they all are; when I said - "look at me kids", they all managed to look in completely different directions; including my own child!! That's the fun of it all though, unpredictable and independent. It would be boring if they did exactly what we told them all of the time, wouldn't it?????? Hmmmmmmm, not so sure.
The next photo is just an indulgence. When Tom was first born I used to take a photo of him beside this teddy to monitor his growth against it. It was fun to watch him change and grow in comparison to the teddy. So this photo was just for fun, almost two years down the track, especially because he was in a very 'posing' mood, cuddling the teddy for mamma on cue. We are still enjoying quite mild weather, but the nights are getting cooler as we approach autumn/fall. But still plenty of beach days and warm afternoons for plays in the park left, hopefully for the next eight weeks anyway - while I still can! Best wishes to all, take care........

AFL in Dubai

Australian Rules is the most popular football code in Australia, with soccor (yes, yes I know, the REAL football) and rugby coming next, and I don't know which is more popular these days between those two. It's a winter sport traditionaly, but they have a 'pre-season' competition which starts this week. (Basically a money making venture for advertisers as far as I can see.) Anyway, the first game of the season is being played in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The AFL (Australian Football League) is attempting to expand the awareness of the sport to a more international audience, so there was a game recently played in California at the 'G'day USA' festival for the US audience. I know they also play in Sth Africa and Ireland and I'm sure there is other 'exhibition' matches played in London and other cities around the world. Anyway, I'm not really into the sport, just not my thing, but my nephew plays with the junior league of AFL in Dubai and he is captaining one of the junior teams that are playing at half time of the match in Dubai. I'm really excited about this because it's being televised back here in Aus. so I'm hoping to see him play. This little man lives and breathes AFL so it will be very exciting for him to be playing alongside the 'big boys'. The result of all this is I'm sitting at home on a Saturday night in my pyjamas watching a sport I have no interest in whatsoever, waiting for half time. Hence why I'm blogging at the same time. It's also really funny watching all the players with zinc cream all over their faces (serious protection sunscreen) playing footy. As I said, it's a winter sport, so I'm more used to seeing them in long sleeves playing in the pouring rain, but considering they are in the middle of the desert and the temp is 41 degrees, sun protection is more appropriate - it just doesn't feel right though. They keep showing wide shots of the oval and the turf they are playing on is all green and lovely but just beyond the stadium is desert. Not Arizona kind of desert, but Sahara type desert. All you can see is sand as far as the horizon, aside from some buildings and road. Who knows what they do to keep the grass green and in tact - whatever is it, it would take a lot of water I would imagine. Anyway, take care and good luck Cal - play hard xxxxx........

The Joy is in the Journey

I've been thinking a lot about being a mum recently from all aspects and lucky you who has chosen to read this blog - I'm going to share those thoughts with you.
I've been doing some yoga classes and in the meditation I've spent the time reflecting on choices Jim and I have made and where that has taken us so far in our life. We've gone from being a very fortunate DINK couple (double income, no kids) with successful careers, travelling around the world, going on frequent holidays and socialising lots, to becoming a very fortunate family of one with one on the way. Now we don't go out for dinner, our weekends are spent as family time and our holidays have taken on a whole new flavour usually involiving visiting friends and planned around kid-friendly activities. But as all of you with kids know, this isn't how it is always going to be, eventually our kids will be more independent (or at least be at school and have sleep overs at friends houses) and we will have more time for ourselves again in years to come. Thinking about all of this brought me to the phrase, "the joy is in the journey", and realising there is no end point to parenting! Now, this may sound like a fairly obvious statement, but fully understanding the concept has been something that I've had to get my head around.
There is no, "Phew, I've made it".
I'm the kind of person that loves results, be it finishing baking and decorating a chocolate cake or training and running a race. I like getting in there and getting it done to see the result. No such liberty with parenting, because when are we done? When the kids go off to school ? - I'm not that naive. When they turn 18? Doubt it. When they get married - no way, that's when the fun starts because they have their own life but you still have the benefit of family, as I'm seeing my parents enjoying now. So I've come to realise with parenting there is no final result, as such. There is no finish line, no trophy, no exam result, there is just the journey, and so far I'm really enjoying it (I can hear all of you with older kids right now - I've got a looooooonnnnnngg way to go, I know, I know). So I am learning a new life skill - to enjoy the process without having a peer review, or progress report, as you might get in a career. I realise the feedback is there, it's just more suttle and if you don't realise it for yourself, no one else will, but it's there. And I'm also very aware that I'm very lucky to be able to take on this journey and not have to juggle a career on top of parenting (although that would have it's benefits also, just more tiring). I have time to put effort into my new life skill, learn how to do it well (we hope) and be present for the feedback, which Jim isn't always. Like the other day when Tom not only counted to 10 but continued with eleven, twelve and thirteen (thanks Dora!), and when I was in the laundry this morning and heard my little man walking around the house saying, "Mummyyyyyyyyy, where are yooooouuuuuuuu?" These things mean nothing else to anyone else, but they are my snippets of feedback which make me happy and confirm how lucky I am to be able to take this journey, enjoy this journey and be on this journey for the rest of my life. So I'm a happy mummy who is counting her blessings and maybe it's just the pregnancy hormones at work, but hey, it's always good for us to count our blessings and be aware of what we've got rather than focusing on what we haven't, don't you think?
I know this is way off the mark from the rest of my 'news update' posts, but I've been thinking about it lots and just thought I would put it down on paper - as such.
Hope you are all well and being safe......