Our Christmas Day was rather relaxing. Normally we go to my families house for lunch and then in the late afternoon we go to hubby’s side for dinner. My family decided to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve so that meant we could be at one place on Christmas Day. It was very nice for a change. Also trying to fit two lunches, and a dinner in on one day is not wise and hard to do. I did like the fact that I could just eat one meal and not have to do it again at another house.
The kids and especially the baby were spoilt with gifts this year and as it was Alexander’s first Christmas this was I suppose appropriate. I did find that I was unwrapping all of the babies presents and I found that there were more boxes that were not opened. I checked the name and thought maybe they were for me… no they were for the baby. Oh well.
Before we did go to the relatives house the kids, hubby and I opened our presents. I was very lucky to get a Macbook Air laptop from hubby and the kids. I also got a coffee plunger and coffee. One of the girls decorated a plate for me and it even comes with a stand so that I can display it.
Plate decorated by Lillian. It is also sitting on my new laptop and case. What lovely presents I got this year.
The kids got some LEGO, games, clothes, shoes and some other fun things. Hubby got some replacement Guinness glasses (I smashed the last one by accident. We purchased them when we were in Dublin on our honeymoon), I made sure hubby had Guinness that was cold so he could try out his new pint glasses, he also got some tea cups, and a lovely Santa shirt to celebrate Christmas Day with.
We were very lucky with our lovely presents and Santa also gave some thoughtful gifts. Santa gave me a notepad to help with my blogging in 2017. Thanks so much Santa.
Since I was so lucky to get a laptop I did not mind unwrapping multiple presents for my little boy.
Persian Fetta, Ham, Smoked Salmon and Mango were some of the things that our little boy liked to eat on Christmas Day. Of course our boy likes the expensive items.
Naturally these items are not found at my house. I do love them but have not raced to the shops to procure fancy treats for our little boy to munch on. This is where you say what a bad mother I am due to not having these items for him to eat!
It was great that he was trying new flavours and textures but I’m not sure I can keep up with his expensive tastes.
Mangoes have dominated the fruit shops lately and walking past is a wonderful experience. The smell of mangoes fills the air and makes me want to buy as many as I can and eat them like I did when I was a kid. When I was little I used to be in my swimsuit and take mangoes down to the beach, eat the mango and get it everywhere and then take a swim in the sea. Such a great way to eat a mango and a great excuse for another swim at the beach.
Since there is a huge amount of mangoes I’m sure that I could pick some up for myself and our boy to have. I will have to check out the costs of Persian Fetta and some other items, maybe if I buy a little bit it will not be too expensive.
Has your little one got expensive tastes? What foods did they like that took you by surprise?
What did you eat this Christmas? It was another hot day and the food we ate was mostly cold meats, seafood and salads. Perfect for a hot day.
The girls had fun on the slip and slide and tested out their new camera that can go underwater. It was a long and tiring day. We all slept in on Boxing Day and the baby did not get up till a quarter to 11. So he was very sleepy indeed.
I hope you had a lovely Christmas and Boxing Day.
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Stay tuned for our next giveaway. It it is to help you celebrate the new year. 2017 will be here soon and what better way to celebrate than have a drink. If you are a new mum and breastfeeding you most likely miss out. Don’t fret, my giveaway is here to help you celebrate and you can have one without the worry. Tune in soon to find out more and to enter!
I cannot believe it is Christmas Eve and for that matter will be Christmas tomorrow!
2016 has gone super quick for me. I suppose looking after a new baby and two older kids makes things speed up. I’ve been racing around taking kids to school, picking them up, taking them to after school activities and more!
One other thing that I cannot believe is that my little boy, Alexander is nearly one. Yes he will be having his first birthday soon. He was born on the 7th of January so just a few weeks after Christmas he will have his first birthday party.
Merry Christmas, and I cannot believe that 2016 is nearly over.
Lately I have been thinking about all the wonderful things that have happened in 2016:
Our little boy was born.
We were lucky to survive life with a newborn and no sleep all while looking after our twin girls. Well mostly me and getting everyone to school with me having little to no sleep was indeed a miracle.
The girls did well in school this year and both had important jobs. One was in the SRC (Student Representative Council) and the other was in charge of taking the roll to the office everyday.
Alexander hit all his milestones some earlier than expected and has been wanting to walk ever since he was born. The last few months he has been lounge surfing. He is standing and taking a few steps but that is it at the moment. It won’t be long
Alexander is climbing chairs and anything he can find to climb.
The girls love their baby brother and although we have had a few accidents we were incredibly lucky that everyone was okay. The baby fell and smashed his face on the concrete path and therefore his front teeth all got smashed in and then all his teeth were wobbly. One other incident was when he was only a couple months old he was dropped into the sandpit head first.
It is nice to watch the kids all together when everyone is getting along. Cuddles, kisses and of course giggles.
I have faced very naughty kids lately but they have tried hard and are generally good kids. So I did purchase Christmas presents and now we have many things under the tree. So my annoyance at cancelling Christmas was not something that has happened.
I am now wondering what wonderful things will be in store for us in 2017. Next year is the year of the Rooster and according to reports it looks like a great year for me.
Are you in disbelief about the fact it is Christmas already? Did 2016 fly by fast for you as well?
What do you hope to do in 2017?
I have big plans for the blog and life. Alexander is due to start childcare soon, and this will allow me to get more done. He will only be going a few days per week, I hope he likes it.
Do you take your baby to a playgroup? Does your baby love it?
I have attempted to take our baby boy to the playgroup that is at the twin’s school. I thought that this would be ideal. I am already at the school after dropping off the girls and while there it would be perfect for the baby to play, and it might mean I can get a drink by myself. Well I can hope can’t I.
This playgroup at the kid’s school is lovely, the organisers have toys all laid out and so many things for all different age groups to play with.
I have on several occasions we have gone and I have put the baby down so he can explore. There are so many things that would allow him to have fun and have new experiences. Although he did not enjoy his time and just was a hysterical mess; crying, screaming and grabbing for me. He just wanted mummy and cuddles. Don’t put the baby down was the message.
Baby upset. Not sure why. Could be the fact it is a new environment at playgroup.
There were a few moments where he looked like he was okay. I then told him that I was just getting my coffee and will be back soon. He must have thought I was leaving him and he sped crawled to me and tried to climb up my legs to get into my arms. Oh the poor little boy.
I explained all this to my husband and he asked, “Did you tell him what you were doing and where you were going?”
I responded with, “I told the baby that I was just getting a coffee but I did not tell the baby we were going to playgroup? Do you think he is upset due to not being told where we were going?”
Hubby laughed at me. I thought he was asking whether I explained to the baby exactly where we were going and what we were doing. I did not, although I did tell the baby I was just getting my drink.
This got me thinking… Do you tell your baby where you are going? I try to and although I didn’t that day, I did tell the baby that I was just getting my coffee and would be straight back, although he freaked out about this as well.
Yes, I know that the baby does not know what I am saying. He cannot talk and panics when he thinks it looks like I am leaving, although I was coming back.
Maybe it was his teeth?
Maybe it was the fact he was not feeling well?
Could it be the fact that he is not feeling comfortable in the space and was scared?
I ended up leaving due to the fact that Alexander was shaking, crying and just really upset. Small steps I think is best if your baby is not liking something or finding things hard. Also if they are upset best to leave and make them feel secure, calm and comfortable.
So what I thought hubby was saying was if I just told the baby, “We are going to playgroup today” then he would have been happier? I don’t know. I don’t think so. I have been back to the same group and I think our little boy is not feeling comfortable in the space. It could be the size of the room, too many people or something that I will never be able to answer.
It could just take time for him to get used to certain situations. Have you been to places where your baby is not happy or 100% and other places they are super happy? What do you think the issue is? Have you figured it out?
It is National Nutrition Week – 16th of October to 22nd October, and the aim is to increase the amount of veggies and fruits we eat each day.
Did you know?
“Less than 1% of Australian children and teens get enough veggies each day, yet over 1/3 of their daily energy comes from ‘discretionary foods’ such as biscuits, lollies, fast food and sugary drinks.”
The Teeny Tiny Stevies are the National Nutrition Week Ambassadors that are inspiring kids and also to parents.
“Kids Music That Doesn’t Suck” Zoe Foster-Blake
The sisters behind Teeny Tiny Stevies, Byll and Beth started as a fun project but has become very popular with kids and adults alike. The sisters have been playing Australian Folk Festivals since they were teenagers, including Woodford, Port Fairy, and the National Folk Festival in 2016. Oh and also travelling to Canada for the Folk Festival circuit in 2011.
If you wish to catch the Teen Tiny Stevies live here are their dates throughout Australia:
TEENY TINY STEVIES LIVE DATES
Fri Oct 14th – The Little Bookroom, Carlton Vic (10.30am Musical Storytime!)
Fri Oct 21st – National Nutrition Week Event, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne
Sat Oct 22nd – Ararat Primary School, Ararat Vic
Sat Oct 29th – The Lost Lands Festival, Werribee Mansion Vic
Sun Nov 6th – Darebin Music Feast Closing Party, Preston Vic
Fri Nov 11th – The Children’s Bookshop, Sydney NSW (9.45am Musical Storytime!)
Sun Nov 13th – Newtown Festival, Sydney NSW
Dec 27th – Woodford Folk Festival, QLD
So what can you do to add more colour to your plate?
You should aim to “eat a rainbow”. Add different coloured vegetables and fruits to your meals.
The different varieties gives you a good mix of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fibre and phytochemicals.
Another interesting fact:
“The Australian government could save $58 million in health expenditure if only males ate as much vegetables as females.” *Source: http://bit.ly/2dZMJDP
Try for 5
The theme of this years Nutrition Week is to aim to add 5 veggies or fruits to your day. Yes add 5 vegetables of different colours. If you do your body will thank you.
If you consume plenty of fruit and veggies it can help reduce your risk of some cancers, heart disease, stroke and also diabetes.
#TryFor5
Different coloured fruit and veggies ready to eat. Don’t they look yummy!
My aim with the kids is to expose them to more fruits and veggies. They are fussy eaters and it has been a huge challenge. The plan is to have a new food on the plate each night and they have to at least taste it. I hope this goes well… or else I can hide it all again.
What do you do to make sure your kids eat more fruit and veggies?
Today my lovely twins, Julia and Lillian are eight! Yes they are eight years old already! How it has flown by so quickly. I remember when they were little babies and we had just got back from hospital. Although I think back to how small and little the girls were the same is happening with our little baby boy, Alexander. He is now eight months old and in the blink of an eye he will be one! Yes one….. well maybe not the blink of an eye but very soon. It is already September and will very soon be Christmas and then January will be here and also Alexander’s first birthday.
The girls are eight years old today! Yes they were super excited to be turning eight and also up extremely early to open their presents. Mummy was also up very late baking and decorating cupcakes for the kids to celebrate at school on their actual day.
One thing that the girls are happy about is the fact that they share a birthday with the wonderful and talented author Roald Dahl. He would have been celebrating his 100th birthday today. My girls love Dahl’s stories and I loved them as a kid and still do. He has brought joy and laughter to so many. I think my girls feel rather special to have been born on the same day.
So if you are wanting to celebrate Roald Dahl’s birthday here are some events from around the world that you might be able to get to. I must admit that this is not a full list. It might be well worth checking out the local bookshop or library in case they are having an event this weekend or today.
Happy Birthday to everyone that has a birthday today. The kids had a great time opening their presents and were super excited about the fact that they got a new scooter and cannot wait for it to be put together, oh and some of the other pressies were hits also.
More baking for me this week as the girls have a party in the park with their mates from school this Saturday. Let’s just hope that I will be able to get the cake done without staying up till midnight.
Oh and Happy Birthday to my wonderful and amazing little girls! They are such lovely little people and having a twins has been such a joy. I cannot believe you are both eight years old today and cannot wait for more adventures to come. Love and hugs mummy!
Why not try your hand at this celebration snack or treat?
This last week I have been down in the dumps. I should have been really happy and really there is not a lot wrong in my world, well winning the lotto would help, but aside from that all is well really.
I think I was a little out of sorts due to my impending birthday, this birthday was yesterday if you did not see my updates on Instagram and Facebook.
The twins did not want me to leave the house without these badges on…. Yes I walked around for the whole day wearing them. What a good mummy I am!
I have had moments that I have looked in the mirror and thought I was seeing more wrinkles and this of course made me upset. However I was thinking about my good friend that I lost last year, he lost his battle with cancer. He was the same age I was before yesterday when he passed.
My good mate did not get the chance to have more wrinkles or to turn another year older. I spent this week in the lead up to my birthday missing him and getting reminders of him that made me laugh and of course smile. However there were times when I was just in tears due to the fact that he was gone all too soon.
He would not want me to be crying or unhappy. I tried to be happier and to focus on what was great and good about life at the moment. My new baby, my lovely girls, my husband and of course that we are happy and healthy.
While I was trying to solider on and to sort out my feelings about the fact that my good mate was my age when he passed. I felt guilty turning a year older and having a good time about it. I logged into my personal Facebook account to then have an old memory pop up in my news feed. It was of my good friend and me outside our house in the Mountains when we first purchased it.
I know it sounds odd but I think it was the universe telling me he was wishing me Happy Birthday. It could be, you never know…. Well it made me feel better thinking this.
I have decided that although I don’t like getting older I should embrace my wrinkles and the years ahead. I am lucky that I can get wrinkles as my mate would have enjoyed every new one that he was allowed to have if he was still here. He would have enjoyed getting older and loved the fact that he was able to share his life with his mates and family.
So what did I do on my birthday? Well it was a little sad that I had to wait to open presents until the evening but I did keep myself busy. I read with one kid in her classroom, then I went off to a Mother’s Group with the baby, after the Mother’s Group I took myself off to lunch with Alexander and then I got a nice treat – a free cup of coffee. After my coffee I picked up the twins from school and then off home to have them change and pick up a snack and then I dropped them off at art class. While they were at art class I picked up a nice bottle of red wine for dinner plus a birthday cake for me. Hubby picked up Chinese takeaway and all was good aside from being super tired after a big day out.
Do you sometimes feel a little down when you should be happy? Did you have a moment when you remembered something a friend did that made you smile or laugh? Was it a friend or a family member that you have lost or that has moved away that has made you sad?
Picture this. I am up at 3am or so. I’m feeding my baby boy.
While I do this I like to have the television on with the volume on low to maybe muted so that I can have some light in a very darken room, plus it does help while I get the baby back to bed as this can sometimes take hours.
Meghann wants all the perks of maternity leave but without having any kids!
I had not heard of this person and also about her idea of meternity leave…. I have obviously been having too much fun on my magical holiday with my new born baby.
Mummy cuddling her baby.
One point Meghann made was that parents left work on time to go home to their kids. Well she can do this too. Meghann can make a point of leaving on time to go home or to meet with mates after work. She does not have to have kids to do this.
I know that putting in extra hours at the office shows that you are keen and want to do more. However this can also not be helpful to you as you will be stressed out and might burn out due to the extra hours. Maybe the extra hours are the issue… if Meghann left on time she might not want meternity leave?
I was so intrigued and amazed I increased the volume on the television but was very conscious this might delay getting the baby back to sleep. I had to learn more about this weird idea.
Well I have a nasty shock for you Meghann, maternity leave is not an exotic holiday.
It is not a time that you can just do whatever you want, although it would be nice. You are caring for a new little person that relies on you for everything.
The reality is that you are on call 24 hours a day and also 7 days a week. No sick leave, no pay, and no help really. It is just you.
When you bring home your bundle of joy you are most likely still exhausted from childbirth, you are sore and just feeling like shit actually. Although you feel horrible you still love the fact that you had the baby and think it is amazing and also a fabulous experience.
However all the lovely fuzzy feel good stuff cannot erase the whole thought and feeling that you would really like to be left alone and have a HUGE SLEEP ALL ALONE! This to date has not happened yet….I’m still waiting. Maybe I need some meternity leave now to have some time for me. This way I will get this long anticipated and wanted sleep.
I am not sure what Meghann means by perks of maternity leave?
Is it getting up at all hours to feed a baby?
Is it being extremely sleep deprived that you mix up dates and times. In reality you are really like a zombie…. I’m sure you know what I mean.
Maybe getting thrown up on when the kids are sick? I have had this times two.
Oh….. Wait maybe it is the fact that as the mother you are now the primary caregiver and you cannot get anything done without a little person or people following you around.
I do think it is wonderful that I have had three lovely little people and I feel blessed that we could do that. I also do understand that some women don’t want kids and that is fine too.
However to make out that maternity leave is like a glamourous vacation is just not so. How about you try and spend a day or even a week with me and that idea will be crushed in seconds.
Housework
Never getting to finish tasks
Being constantly interrupted
Cleaning
Washing and sorting clothes
Getting kids to school
Caring, feeding and all things baby. I do love my cuddles with our new little person and of course his lovely giggles and smiles.
Dropping kids and picking kids up from school
Taking kids to after school activities all with the baby…. Yes waking him up for everything is annoying but I have no choice
Getting the kids to do their reading, homework and other things for school. Now this is such a drama as they really don’t want to do this. I try and do this all while trying to settle and get a baby to bed, while the older two are having arguments and being loud and annoying
Do you think it sounds like there are fabulous perks yet? The only perk that I can come up with is that I have three little people that make me feel great when sometimes I don’t. They love me and I love them to bits.
I agree that everyone needs me time.
Everyone needs to be able to recharge their battery so to speak. Some downtime, a chance to chill and to refocus and maybe get the creative juices flowing again.
I don’t think that asking for time out to help with study, work or just to have a break is a bad thing. However trying to say that maternity leave is a perk is just wrong.
One place I worked for factored in some time to just be creative in the workday. This creative time allowed the staff member to explore other areas of interest, maybe learn something that would help them in their role or allow them to work on a pet project.
Me time is something that everyone should get. It is hard though when you take care of young children. It also might be hard if you are the carer of a family member. Time out is good for everyone, and also allows you to be a better mummy or carer since you had some time out. Not being able to do something for you and not having the time to do it can get very frustrating.
What do you think of Meghann Foye’s idea of meternity leave? Do you agree that it should be a thing? I personally think that you can have this option it is just called holidays or say study leave. Or maybe it is called something else at your workplace.
I personally think that if you don’t have kids or other pressures you can have as much me time as you want. I do understand people have to work and other commitments, but once you have done that, you can have your time.
Also if you figure out any other perks of maternity leave please send them my way!
I have been daydreaming about being on holiday. Yesterday it was made worse with a Getaway special about a cruise that you can do in France. It looked divine, amazing and just so relaxing.
Although I loved what the Getaway Special were selling me, I was getting rather depressed about the whole thing. I cannot go to France. I have three kids. I don’t have the money and also hubby does not have the time off work! So the longer I watched this show the more annoyed I got. Therefore I turned it off to busy myself with other things, like cleaning the house for my mum to visit (cleaning the bathroom ended up giving my left leg a HUGE bruise and it really hurts!)
I know….the idea of holidaying in France compared to housework and I had to do housework. Oh well, maybe I will be the chick in the commercial one day soon. You will see me swanning around a chic French eatery and looking calm and sooo relaxed. Just you wait!
A Paris Cafe. I can see myself having a bite to eat or just having a relaxing drink and watch the world go by.
I see specials for holidays everywhere; Television advertisements, discount deals to fly around the world that are emailed to me, flyers in the local newspaper for great holiday deals and also when I’m at the shops. I cannot seem to escape the idea of drooling over a holiday. I have been thinking that it is the universe telling me I need to have a break, just chill and have a holiday. I wish the universe could pay for it though.
A European vacation where I’m touring Spain, Italy or France is a great thought. However a Queensland or Fiji adventure would be lovely also. Even a quick getaway up or down the New South Wales Coast or a trip to Melbourne. I’m not fussy.
Another idea is maybe exploring Tuscany.. doesn’t this look amazing!
Actually anywhere at the moment that means that I am looked after, I don’t have to cook or clean is brilliant in my book…oh and if they have a kids club and babysitting is available would be advantageous as well.
Maybe it is the fact that I have had my third child that I am constantly daydreaming about being on holiday and having a break? Or is it due to the fact that kids are now again on school holidays and I wish we were all somewhere with a beach and I had a nice cocktail in my hand.
Yes I would rather be in a warm climate, in my swimmers on the beach and just relaxing. Pity this cannot be at the moment.
Hubby did ask me what I wanted for Christmas and I told him a relaxing holiday on the beach somewhere. I’m not fussy. Just somewhere other than home. A break is needed. However this was met with I don’t think we can do that. I did say, “You did ask me what I wanted”
I have also fantasied about being at a health retreat all on my own…. Yes a whole holiday just for me! How amazing would that be! My health retreat holiday would consist of the following:
Great healthy food provided
Wonderful drinks provided
Yoga
Swimming
Massages
Facial/Manicure/Pedicures and any other wonderful beauty treatment
I can sleep in on some days
Watch my own television
Do my own thing, not worry about others, and have some time for me!
I have never been to a health retreat so if you have let me know what you got up to. I am only daydreaming about what I could do while there.
This would be me at the health retreat. Yes not actually me but you get the idea. Me relaxing and having a much needed massage!
My down time actually is finally having a hot cup of coffee and a snack and drinking the coffee when it is still hot. Many parents will know the perils of making a hot drink and then drinking it when it is cold or having to chuck it out and start all over again.
Finally getting a hot cup of coffee. Also managed to get some work done too!
Maybe there is a takeaway here:
A weekend away here and there will be just as good. Now to just book them in and get organised. As said it does not matter where I go, just as long as it is a break. Time out for everyone is a good thing. It helps recharge your batteries and makes you have a happier outlook.
Are you bombarded by things that you cannot have right now? Is it the dream holiday? Is it something else that keeps on popping up in your email or in the mail? Let us know.
This became evident the other week when she had a HUGE meltdown getting ready to go to the pool.
Each child was getting ready to go to swimming lessons and then one had a screaming fit.
“Why are you wearing that dress? That is the one I want to wear!”
“I want to be different! I don’t want to look like you!”
Then screamed at the top of her lungs…
“I DON’T WANT TO BE A TWIN, I HATE BEING A TWIN!”
These girls have not argued about their dresses. Maybe it is coming when they are older? Did you find that? The kids were okay until they hit a certain age about what they wear.
The kid who had the meltdown got a nice dress organised and then found that her sister picked the exact same dress to wear.
I then tried to diffuse the situation by saying maybe you could pick another dress.
This was met by, “I picked it first, she needs to pick another one not me!”
Oh shit I thought this is not going well at all.
I then turned to the sister who chose the dress after the other kid had already picked it and asked if she could change her dress. I tried to get her to wear something different.
No of course she did not want to change. She told me that she likes being a twin and wanted to be like her sister.
OH NO! I THOUGHT!
This just made the whole issue much worse.
The kid who was having the meltdown was yelling, screaming, crying and just so upset.
I asked why she was so upset about being a twin. I was trying to find out also what went on that day at school and what could have caused her to be so upset.
I finally found out that all day kids and teachers had mixed this kid up and thought she was her sister. One kid that has been with her since pre-school so now that is five years including this year of schooling and she still does not know who each kid is. I can only imagine how frustrating and annoying this would be.
Hugs and cuddles were had to tell her that I know it is not right to always be mixed up with your sister. I told her that although she looks similar that she is indeed a very different person.
She is an individual and not the same as her sister. I told her that this kid at school should know by now who she is, and that she needs to correct her nicely and just leave it at that.
One kid does have her ears pierced but hair is usually over her ears so most people don’t notice. If people take the time they will realise differences and know who is who. If you don’t spend a lot of time with the girls you might not see it, but I would think teachers and school mates would be able to work it out by now.
Finally there was calm, well it was much calmer with less yelling from one child. So I would say it was an improvement. The kid who was upset decided to accessorise with jewellery to look different and wear different shoes. Phew! Finally we could leave the house to go to the pool.
I know it is a hard thing always having someone that looks like you, dresses like you would be annoying at times. Being you and having your own space is nice.
If you have twins how have you coped when they constantly get mixed up? Did one of your kids have a meltdown like one of mine did? What was the outcome of the meltdown?
Did the kid in question want to dress differently or have their hair a different style to make sure that they are seen as different, especially if they are identical like my girls?
As per my previous post called, “Our latest Family Member”, we had to go to Nepean to have our third child. I did not want to go there due to what happened with the birth of the twins. However we had no choice.
Having birthday cuddles with our latest addition
We were finally at the hospital and due to the stress of the situation hubby parked in the car park. Yes I thought he would drop me off at emergency and go and park the car later. I asked why he did this at the time and he said, “Well, we are going to be here for a while”. Yes true but for someone that is finding it hard to walk due to constant contractions walking across a carpark to emergency to then be told to go to another building was not ideal to say the least!
Once parked hubby told me to get out of the car when I was ready. He had to wait a bit due to a contraction happening just as he opened the door. My legs were like jelly and I found it really hard to move due to the contractions making all my legs, pelvis and back go into spasms and just freeze. It was very painful, and I had to wait until they were over. So if you can imagine me walking then having to stop in the middle of the carpark every 5mins that would give you a picture of what it was like. Maybe a wheelchair from emergency might have been the way to go! This was arranged when I had the twins…. Although I think the race to get to the hospital freaked hubby out and he just lost it with the idea of a wheelchair and just wanted to get us to the hospital.
Once we figured out where we were supposed to be (the birthing suites or rooms) the nurses/midwives knew who we were due to Katoomba Hospital ringing ahead, which saved a lot of fussing about explaining everything.
I was then asked, “Would I like some pain relief?”
My response was YES! OF COURSE I WANT DRUGS TO HELP ME
Someone then said what would I like, and I then said, what do you have????
Yes open to everything and all if it helps make the pain go away!
I was offered morphine (I was told that I needed to use the gas to get the morphine injection. I found it interesting that I was having gas to therefore get another drug. The nurse said the injection can hurt a bit, and she was right. I think someone I mentioned this too said that it is injected into the muscle and that would explain why the nurse wanted me to be on gas to have the injection. I thought it was strange, but it did help a bit) and once that worked it helped a great deal. It certainly took the edge off the pain for a bit. Hubby said that once it started working I looked very out of it. I did not care! Bring on the medicine to make it not hurt as much. I am not a fan of natural birthing that you will feel it all. Even on drugs to take the edge off it hurt, so I can only imagine how horrible it would have been without them.
During this phase of the night I was telling hubby that I did not want to do it anymore, that I just wanted to go home and not be here. I don’t want to do it. Please can we go home I said? He just looked at me and said, “It is a little late for that” I know it was but I was scared and did not want to do what I knew was coming.
Why can’t the husband or partner do the subsequent child? I have visions of saying it is your turn. I then can hold his hand while he pushes out our child. Science has given us so much and maybe it can work on this. I know that men having kids will probably never happen but why can’t the baby come out small via your belly button and grow on the outside. Maybe a good idea???? (Maybe a futuristic idea) Not sure but might save all the bother of pushing a baby out of your bits…. Let me know your thoughts.
While I was still under the trippy and nice effects of morphine they prepped me for an epidural. Although before this happened I explained my fear of having it again and not working. When having the twins I had one and felt everything but could not move my legs. I was constantly asked by the doctors, nurses and midwives with the twin birth to move my legs but could not. I told them if they wanted them moved they would have to do it. Annoying that they never listened. I was hoping that this birth would be different.
I did not know what to do. I did want the epidural but did not want a repeat of what happened last time. I know that there can be no guarantees but I thought I would give it another go and hope for the best.
The anaesthesiologist listened to my fears and what happened last time as did the midwife. I then decided without a doubt to see if it will be different this time. I was told all the horrible things that could go wrong and the chances of it happening. I was completely freaked out. I still thought it was the way to go.
I had it done and the epidural started working. It was so good that I managed to fall asleep. Yes I slept while still having contractions. Who knew that this was possible? This epidural was completely different from the twin birth, I could not feel anything, I was blissfully unaware of anything for a long time, well until it started to wear off and the baby was pressing on my hip bone and pelvis and I could not get comfortable. I asked for more drugs… however they said that I could not have more and it was time to get the baby out.
The midwife told me that due to the morphine and the position of the baby that its heart rate was dropping and I needed to get it out as soon as I could. I said that I would do my best. She mentioned that we still had time and that it was not in distress yet, but if it went on any longer it could be and then they would want to make an executive decision on how they vacate the baby from my belly. Gosh, NO!
I did not want to have a C-section or have any unnecessary things happen unless it was life threatening, and I do understand if the baby is under distress but I was so close to having it happen naturally.
I tried to push while lying on the bed and sitting up a bit, but it was no good. I could not get comfortable and it was terribly painful due to the baby’s head on my hip and pelvic bone…. Very sore indeed!
It was suggested that I be on my side with a leg up in the air and to help reposition the baby… it did not help with repositioning but it was more comfortable to push from this weird acrobatic position. Not the way I was thinking it would happen and definitely not glam but childbirth is not a glam affair.
I was told to put my chin to my chest, hold my breath while having a leg up in the air all on my side. Yes a strange visual! I then had to hold my breath while working with the contraction and these contractions this time I felt over my belly and also to in my back but now I understand what contractions actually feel like. I found it hard to do all this while holding my breath. I had a terrible time as holding my breath made me want to pass out and I could not let out a sound or a grunt due to losing the momentum to push (energy or something with the breath). The midwife wanted me to do it in lots of threes so that we could get the baby out. Oh god, I found it hard just doing one!
After holding my breath I found that I wanted to throw up and they were concerned and I had a sick bag just in case. It did not happen but I felt nauseous and also had a bit of reflux during the whole process of holding my breath to try and get baby out.
During all of this a doctor came in to see how progress was going. I think the midwife wanted the doctor to check in to make sure that we had a backup plan if baby went into distress and needed help to come out. GOSH, now the doctor was talking about forceps and other things…. I hated the salad servers last time and due to the epidural not working I felt everything…. It was like I was being killed. I did not want that ever again.
The doctor left and then the midwife and nurse were talking about cutting me. WHAT THE???? YOU ARE GOING TO DO WHAT NOW?
They said that it would help the baby come out. I said no PLEASE DON’T CUT ME. I ended up negotiating them to give me more time to get the baby out.
I did not want them to cut me. No please no!
They were very keen to give me an episiotomy but I had no idea that is what they were wanting to do. I just did not want to be hurt even more if not needed.
I was so determined to get this baby out now! Hubby said you need to get the baby out. I got angry and just pushed and pushed and pushed. I was nearly passing out due to holding my breath and my acrobatic poses but I was on a mission.
The midwife yelled, wow we see a head full of black hair! Oh gosh, really this baby is going to have darker hair? I thought it would be like the girls and be bald and blonde, but you never know right. We still did not know if it was a boy/girl that was still a surprise. I however knew once I got told the hair colour that it was a boy, I just had a feeling. Strange but true. Hubby said that it could be a girl, but I just had an inkly at this stage that it was a boy.
I kept on pushing and then baby was out and here in the world. The midwife and nurse said that they should have threatened me with the doctor and episiotomy hours ago.
Alexander and I on his birthday
I was lucky that all went well, I could do it all naturally and that I did not get cut! Yes very lucky indeed. Maybe getting angry was the magic ingredient.
In comparison to the twin birth it was much nicer. We only had the midwife a nurse and hubby and myself in the room. With the twin birth we had 2 doctors for each baby, a humidicrib for the baby and about 30 or so trainee doctors it felt. The room was packed and it was crowded. I did not have any stupid things that happened before happen this time. When was about 5cm dilated and in the birthing suite waiting to have the twins I had two doctors come in to tell me it would be great if I could wait till I was 36-38 weeks….talk about stupid! I also had nurses try to give me medicine I did not need after I had the babies and the list continues. This did not happen with the birth of our third child.
I was very upset to not be able to have our last child at Katoomba Hospital but was grateful that the experience was better and nicer than the last. I must say that pushing a person out of you is hard and tough, but the ladies that helped us for the birth of our son made it a more calmer process. So thanks so much to you all. One thing that was a bit weird was that the midwives that helped me had the same names that I had. The night before the baby was born the midwife on duty had the same first name, then there was shift change and the next midwife had my middle name. It was like I was meant to be there. Odd indeed.
What was the birth like for your second or third children? Did the process and what happened differ from your first child?
Was it more of a calmer experience with the second or third child compared to your first? Let us know.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I will be 38 weeks pregnant. I have never been this pregnant and as you might imagine I am getting annoyed. Annoyed at everything and everyone. Yes sad but true. I did think that the baby would have arrived by now and due to having twins early I am so over it and trying things to evict this little person from my body. However anything I do has not been met with labor starting or even waters breaking so back to waiting and getting bigger and more annoyed as the days progress.
C’mon Baby….. you have been told your days are numbered. You need to vacate my belly!
I have also had strangers put their hands on my belly and tell me what I am having due to the shape of how I’m carrying. This did not happen last time and it has taken me by surprise. I don’t like it and was not sure what to say. I know they all mean well but I just don’t understand why my belly is suddenly everyone’s property? Did that happen to you? Many have told me that I’m having a boy due to the way I’m carrying so should be interesting when we find out.
I saw that Michelle Bridges had her baby on the weekend. I thought we were due around the same time. Maybe she was a week or so ahead. I have no idea. Now I’m thinking that maybe I should have been doing more squats to make this baby come. Since hearing of the birth of Michelle Bridges little boy, I have added more squats into my day just in case. Well you never know right?
Another frustration at the moment is that I have a sore throat that I got from one of the kids. Yes I don’t feel very well on top of being pregnant. It is not that bad, just feeling generally unwell and a head cold, but it does not help as all I want to do is sleep. Annoying really especially in summer. Oh well. I have been taking vitamins, and sucking on lozenges to ease the symptoms and make myself feel better. Teas and juices as well.
All Christmas presents are wrapped and many are under the tree (I wanted to make sure it was all done just in case I was in the hospital and having the baby). The kids ones will go under the tree tomorrow due to sticky little fingers and curious minds that might spoil surprises before the day. Do you put the kids presents under the tree before Christmas Eve? Or are you like me you make sure that no one can mess with the presents?
Christmas Presents all done and wrapped. Phew!
On the excitement end we had a family friend do the ring test to see if the baby is a boy/girl. As you know we have not found out the sex. Some people think we know and are just not saying, but we really have no idea and birth will be the only clue as to if the baby is a boy or girl. This test was done at a BBQ with family and friends. The room was quiet and everyone was very curious about the test and the results. From this test it looks like we are having a girl. Not sure but thought that I was having a girl as I felt the same with the twins this pregnancy, however I did think I was having a boy last time and was very wrong, I ended up with two lovely girls.
I have done the Chinese Gender Prediction and they say that we are having a girl also….but you never know it could be a boy. We are not fussed and just hope that the baby is healthy and happy.
I put some clothes in suction bags to keep them in case, and then I could not find them. Very annoying. However I finally found the clothes. I still need to go through the draws as I need to put things in sizes so that it is easier to find. I’m glad the clothes were found as I did not buy much for the baby due to already having clothes that I could not find. So happiness all round with this win!
We are all curious about what the new little baby will be like and when it will decide to be here. My hospital bag has been packed for a while and we are all ready if it happens now. Maybe I should take my hospital bag with me on my travels for Christmas Day? Not sure, but it might be a wise idea. At least I will have it if I need it.
I have also been drinking some Raspberry Leaf Tea to make things easier for birth. I have been doing this for a while now. I suppose it can’t hurt right? The night before my waters broke with the twins I had two cups of this tea and then the next morning at 4am my waters broke (33 weeks pregnant with twins), I was hoping that it might have the same affect with this pregnancy but it has not been the case. Maybe it was just the right time for the other pregnancy and plus having more than one child would have made it happen earlier.
The kids are super excited about Christmas and the baby in their view is taking a back seat. I think due to the baby not being here it is not a reality for the kids yet. Once born I’m sure there will be much more interest. I do understand that for kids Christmas is super exciting and much more interesting at the moment.
The decorated Christmas Tree – Not mine but it looks pretty doesn’t it.
I cannot wait to see their faces when they get their presents. I do love Christmas as much as the kids. I love getting surprises, and getting up early on Christmas Day seems to happen to me as well as the kids.
Were you pregnant over Christmas? Were you concerned that you would have the baby on Christmas Day? If you were pregnant were you super annoyed and frustrated that the baby had not come yet?
I have now reached the half way mark of my third pregnancy. I am amazed at how quick this has gone. Maybe it might have something to do with the fact we did not tell people until I was 12 weeks to start with. Or it could have something to do with being super busy looking after two very active little girls now, so time seems to fly.
18 week scan. Profile of baby number 3. We don’t know if it is a boy or a girl. We are going to have a surprise.
All looked good at the 18 week scan. All bits and pieces were where they should be and the baby looked well. So that was great news. I had the scan done just before I went to Problogger so that made me not stress about things.
I have noticed some differences with having just one baby.
I don’t think I am that big at 20 weeks as I was with the twins.
When pregnant with the twins I had a lot of fluid that made me lose the strength in my hands. Yes I got carpel tunnel when pregnant. I could not do anything and it was very upsetting. This time being pregnant with a singleton I have had no such thing. Could be due to having less fluid as there is only one baby. Maybe this complication might visit me later in pregnancy (I hope not). I was lucky it went away after I had the girls.
Yesterday I got a lot of re-flux that did not start until the last month or so of the twin pregnancy. It could be that I ate too much and needed to have smaller meals, but I just loved my fruit and muesli that I could not help myself. Today I will try and have smaller servings throughout the day to see if this symptom goes away.
I have felt movement very early on but that could just be due to it being my second pregnancy.
I am still feeling nauseous and very tired but have not thrown up. With the twin pregnancy I threw up a lot and felt ill all the time. I still feel ill but maybe that is just the way I cope with the pregnancy symptoms.
Today (20th of August 2015) I’m 20 weeks with baby number 3. I’m at the half way mark if I go to term. If you had premmie twins before and then had a singleton, did you go full term? #pregnant #pregnancy #twins #singleton #20weekstoday #parenting
If you had twins before and then had a singleton, did the the singleton come early, was it on time, or late? Let me know!
After I came back from Problogger I fell in a heap. I thought I was tired due to being pregnant and of course information overload. However it was not, I went to the doctor and found out I have a chest infection. Brilliant I thought, sick and pregnant is not the best combination. I’m on antibiotics and trying to get more sleep.
I have my midwife appointment next week so if I need anything like the flu shot or the whooping cough vaccine I hope that can be done, or I get better before now and next week. Not sure when these things are given, but will ask next week. I’m sure it will all work out.
Do you start to worry when winter approaches? Do the kids get colds and the flu easily? Does it happen more now that they go to school or day care? I have had my fair share of sickness with the twins and being exposed to more germs at school can make things harder for the whole family.
So how do you all remain healthy in cold and flu season?
Make sure you teach your little ones about proper hand hygiene techniques. I’m sure you are already telling your kids to make sure they wash their hands after eating, the toilet and so on. I know I do.
This hand wash is fab as it smells divine and of course gets rid of the nasty germs.
Parents are teaching their children about proper hygiene but it can fall down when they are at school or elsewhere. Do you know if there is a policy to wash hands after eating or playing? I don’t, but will definitely ask now.
The lovely people at Dettol sent me this care pack so we can not get sick this winter. It has helped and with us getting a cold while on our holidays I have used this to ensure we don’t get anymore nasties.
The simplest and cheapest way to make sure you don’t spread germs on your hands is to wash them well with soap.
To help get the message across to little people Dettol have teamed up with Tina Harris, who stars as Lah-Lah from Lah-Lah’s Big Live Band and she has created the below song to help encourage kids to wash hands and to stay healthy this winter.
Dettol has also created a free initiative available to all primary schools in Australia. It has been developed alongside the “NSW Department of Education and Training to provide teachers with a range of curriculum aligned resources to help students stay happy and healthy.” If you wish to recommend that your school take part download the letter and give to your school or email Dettol to be part of the program now.
In my pack from Dettol I have a laminated card. This will be put up in the bathroom once the renovations are complete. It lists all 5 tips to ensure you have really well washed hands.These handy wipes are so great. They help make sure the counter tops and any surface is clean and rid of germs. Dettol Surface Cleanser Wipes are great to keep with you for any emergency.
Have you succumbed to the flu or a cold during winter? Or have you managed to dodge any germs so far? If you have what do you do to remain healthy during winter?
Thanks so much to Dettol for sending me a care package. It has come in very handy.
Today we woke to snow everywhere. Yes we were snowed in. The depth of the snow was about 15cms and 30cms in parts. Very deep for up here. The whole area has been blanketed by white bright snow. As I write this the snow is slowly melting and we are all enjoying a hot cuppa, well the kids are having a hot Milo.
Our snow filled streetThe other end of the street. Covered in snow and it felt like a magical playground today.
School was closed, the roads were closed and we could not go anywhere. Hubby could not get to work and was able to enjoy the snow day with all of us. Most times when it snows he misses out so it is finally nice to the whole family home on this occasion.
Our snowed in letterbox. No mail today!Look at how thick the snow was on my car.
I know this might be cold for most of you but the temperature has just hit 2 degrees so it is slowly getting warmer (well it was when I started writing this post at about 2ish this afternoon). I did see a big black cloud on our walk with the neighbours to the local oval and was told that we might get some rain this afternoon/evening.
The kids and I with their first snowman
I do like the snow but due needing to pick up tiles in Penrith tomorrow having it melt might allow the roads to be reopened and for us to get them. We were lucky and the roads opened up late this afternoon and we managed to pick up the tiles so no need to worry.
After we got home from getting the tiles, Hubby helped the kids build a second snowman. Hope it is there still in the morning.
I must say today was a magical adventure and it was lovely that we could all be here to witness the snow and be involved with it. It was also nice that the kids and hubby were not at school or work and we all had a great day together.
Did it snow at your place? I heard it snowed in Queensland as well. Apparently this is the biggest fall of snow we have had since 1984. Yes, amazing isn’t it!
Hello. I do apologise for not blogging sooner. Here is what has been happening lately.
We had 10 days in Ballarat and Melbourne, flew home to then fall in a heap. Before we left for our holiday hubby got ill with a bad cold. I then got sick with it while away and thought it was gone but have a few things still lurking. All okay but just annoying, and does not help when I feel tired already.
Now I have a lot of laundry to do, and due to kids deciding to wear nearly everything and get it dirty. The pile is not going down. Although I have left the lounge covers to do later as they are not urgent, but make the laundry basket have clothes over flow. Not good really. It all should be organised soon.
Washing and more washing!
On top of making sure that we are all sorted like we were before we left for holiday, we are having renovations start next Monday. They are long waited for and much needed, but trying to race around to move things and create space is just annoying.
We need to move things around so that one room can be worked on and that means moving all furniture and items into one room and that takes a bit of planning.
I know I will love the after effect of the renovation and it will all be worth it but trying to get it all done when you are:
1. Constantly tired
2. Every time I bend over I feel like I’m going to be sick
3. Need to go to the toilet nearly every 5 secs
4. Thirsty and then I need to do point 3 more often
5. Hungry so need to eat, which then leads to the feeling of being sick even more
Is so hard! I suppose it could be worse, I could be 8 months pregnant and doing this. Currently I’m only 15 weeks.
Looking forward to the finished product.
The kids went back to school on Tuesday and they were super excited to see all their mates. Julia was so excited about being a big sister she asked her teacher if she could have some time to tell the class some special news. The teacher had no idea and from what I heard Julia was very proud and beaming when she told everyone about the impending little sister or brother on the way.
We have gone back to our regular routine. School and then after school activities, Karate and Swimming and then home. It has taken it out of me this week, it was so nice to not have to be anywhere or make lunches for kids.
Are you feeling it this week? Have you been more tired due to school going back?
As I write this I am thinking a nap might be nice, but I need to do some work to make it easier for us to move things for the renovations. I do think the bed sounds like a great idea at the moment.
Maybe a cup of tea might help me wake up a bit and then get to it.
How are you coping after holidays and school going back? Let us know.
Monday we started our Ballarat/Melbourne trip. We flew to Melbourne and then hired a car to allow us to drive to Ballarat and then explore the surrounds.
We were surprised that the airport at Sydney was not jammed packed with school holiday travellers. Maybe many were going to a warmer climate compared to visiting a cold Ballarat in Winter. Today was freezing and the wind did not help!
Our trip started of with us planning to be on a beach, somewhere warm and not cold like home is. However this was not to be. I looked at many options as we had already paid for the accommodation component and had certain areas within Australia, New Zealand and Fiji that we could visit. As mentioned all dates for our trip were full in any warm area. Some places were great for us but the kids would be bored out of their brains.
I decided on Ballarat due to the proximity to Melbourne, and the fact that there is a lot to do for families in Ballarat and surrounds.
Pop Up Ice Skating Rink
Our first full day in Ballarat was Tuesday. I had organised tickets to the Pop Up Ice Skating Rink in the main part of Ballarat town centre. The kids were so excited to go skating but that did not last long. I joined them but was concerned about falling over. Julia had a bit of a fall but was all good, however she was upset and in need of cuddles. Both kids then decided that they did not want to skate anymore and would like to try the tobogganing. This was a huge hit and we all had a go.
The Tangled Maze
After our time at Winterlude we decided to go to the Tangled Maze. We all had lunch before we tackled the maze and that was a good move. There were many things to find to answer the questions in the maze and we were there for a while.
The kids racing around The Tangled Maze.One side of the maze. It was all created out of hedges and flowers. It would have taken ages, it also looked very pretty.
The maze really tired out the twins. They had fun, found the answers to the questions that we were given and managed to get out of the maze without having to be saved.
The kids having a fab time running around the Tangled Maze
Kyral Castle
I had no idea that there was a castle in Ballarat! But there is. Kyral Castle has a draw bridge, a moat and of course a dragon.
The kids and I outside Kyral Castle
“In 1972, Keith Ryall began building the castle, which formally opened 2 years later primarily as a tourist attraction but also as an educational, conference and function facility with ‘royal’ accommodation and a wedding chapel.”
The fire performer at Kryal Castle.
There were so many things to do for kids at Kryal Castle.
Here are some of the events from the Kryal website:
The daily program consists of:
10:15 – Roving performers
11:30 – Mounted Skill at Arms
12:00 – The Storyteller – Grab a seat and join The Kryal Storyteller by the fire in the rotunda.
12:30 – Roving performers
1:30 – The Joust of the Flame – In the land of Kryal there is an ancient tradition. In the darkest depths of winter, when the snows fall, the moat turns to ice and people hide away indoors against the fearsome winds from the west, they are visited by a dark and powerful force.
We did do the maze at Kryal Castle but the kids needed to be rescued. They were fine and all worked out well. So if you do the maze with the kids make sure they stay with you.
The dragon at Kryal Castle
If you are ever in Ballarat make sure you visit Kryal Castle. You will have a great family day out.
Stay tuned for more of our holiday adventures.
Hope you are all having a great time these school holidays. What have you been up to so far? Let us know.
The girls have always wanted to have a sleep over at their friends place, however they were either too young or it was never the right time. Now finally 6 and half or well over, they have had their wish granted.
Saturday morning was like every other, although I managed to have a sleep in. It was rather a relaxing way to start the day. I got up, got kids breakfast and for myself as well. I then went to do some work on the computer and of course checked my mobile to make sure there was nothing urgent I had to deal with.
Kids playing and having fun
I then noticed that one of the kids mates mums had texted me asking if it would be okay if they slept over that night. I told hubby. He then asked if she knew what she was getting herself into. I said I was not sure but I thought she would have some idea. Both hubby and I thought that this was a brilliant idea, it would give all kids involved some time together and us a much needed break. Very nice of this lovely lady to offer and to look after two extra kids for most of the weekend.
We got kids organised with their overnight bag, pillows, and teddies. I also made sure to include some food that I knew they would eat and to help out since there were two extra bodies to feed.
Kids got dropped at their friends after 2.3opm and we had the night to ourselves. How amazing! How weird, and unheard of. What should we do?
First things first…. we made a booking at one of our favourite restaurants and after dinner we went to the movies to watch a film. Yes a show for adults with another adult. Fancy living at its best! And how relaxing it was. One relaxing thing about dinner was that we just ate our food. No getting upset at someone playing with their food and not eating. It was just us and we ate what we were given. It does get super exhausting to have to be at someone to eat what is on their plate, and especially when you pay a fortune for meals when you go out.
Sunday the kids got picked up at about 1.00pm and they were so happy that they had their first sleep over. They felt so grown up. What big girls they are. Since they had a party weekend with their mate the girls were super tired on Sunday. We tried to make sure they had an early night although they wanted to stay up longer. Due to school the next day, staying up all hours would not be a wise move. I can imagine the teacher wondering what we got up to if kids were falling asleep. Thank goodness this did not happen.
When I picked up the kids I gave this lovely mummy a present. A nice bottle of red wine as a BIG Thank you and to let us know when we can return the favour.
How old were your kids when they went to their first sleep over with a friend? The girls have had sleepovers with family but this is the first one with a friend from school.
If you have organised a sleep over what games and activities did you have on offer? As I might be having an extra kid over soon I need to be prepared to keep the little ones entertained.
Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Branson went on to say that unless you have a job that requires you to fly a plane or the like, you probably can do your job remotely. He even went on to say, “Companies that forbid the practice, such as Yahoo, put pressure on families and limit opportunities for women, according to the Virgin Group founder.”
Brilliant. Yes you have hit the nail on the head! Many women myself included are highly skilled and educated. They wish to give back but due to family commitments it makes things difficult. Working from home is ideal. You don’t have travel. You can focus on the tasks at hand and of course get more done. There are so much on offer now to make telecommuting easy for all. There is Skype, Google Docs, Dropbox and more. Why not hang onto your best assets and knowledgeable employees that want to work and will go above and beyond.
Happy that she has a work from home job.
If you find that one or a few staff members are not pulling their weight. Well you give warnings and then you make the decision to either let them go or forfeit the telecommute option.
I for one would give 120% to be able to work remotely in a good job with great pay. (I have noted that lately some work from home roles are underpaying for what they expect you to do. One full time role was a management role and expected 40+ hours a week, conference calls overseas via Skype and to manage maybe 100+ websites. This they were paying at least 60K less than the going rate for this position. Not sure if it was the company or the fact that since you are working from home they have undervalued everything. The work is still the same, the job is still the same so therefore the pay should be the same as well. What do you think? I do accept that you don’t need to travel anywhere for your role and that is a bonus but why should you get short changed?)
Employers are doing themselves a disservice. Brain drain is a big issue. It does not have to be simply mothers or fathers wishing for a more flexible family friendly lifestyle. If you don’t treat people well, they walk. Loosing staff that know all your processes is tough. It takes a long while before you can train new staff to know what the former staff knew inside and out. This is a cost to the business in knowledge and also to money. You need to retrain and rehire.
Many employers offer you the world and then don’t deliver. They promise flexible work and telecommuting options, however whenever you seek to use this option there are myriad of excuses for why it cannot be applied to you and your role. You have not been here long enough was what I always got told, and another amazing one, we need you here to manage things.
One place I worked for I was there five years and I lived the furthest away. A day here or there would have been amazing, but no it was not to be. The girl who lived less than 30 mins away was always working from home. You would have thought three years somewhere and putting in extra hours and working on projects that were successful would have qualified. No it did not.
I wonder what the magical number is that qualifies you to work from home from a corporate or organisations point of view. Is it what value you can give them? Or more like is it seen as a perk and not a value to the business?
In February 2013, Marissa Mayer, Yahoo’s Chief Executive put a stop to employees working from home. She believes that working side by side is better and more helpful for business and staff members. I do understand that interaction is nice and having catch ups is always something to look forward to. This can still happen if you have a fortnightly or monthly catch-up with say a team that is working from home and see how everyone is going. Maybe on these times you get everyone to come into the office to touch base and have a day in the office, although the rest of the work is from home. Now there’s an idea. What do you think?
Marissa Mayer is not the only one that has adopted this notion of side by side working. In the Sydney Morning Herald article it also mentioned that Patrick Pichette who used to work at Google as the Chief Financial Officer has also the belief that working side by side is more productive. How did Pichette work somewhere where they encouraged working remotely with “Google Apps” to allow employees to work from home to now saying that working side by side is more productive? In the article Pichette says the following:
“”The surprising question we get is: ‘How many people telecommute at Google?’ ” Mr Pichette said at a talk in Sydney on Monday. “And our answer is: ‘As few as possible’.
“It’s somewhat counterintuitive. People think, ‘Well, because you’re at Google you can work from anywhere.’ Yes, you can work from anywhere, but many just commute to offices . . . Working from the office is really important.”
Coffee and tools to work from home. Off to get a lot done!
I do understand that brainstorming and bouncing ideas off people does help a great deal, however quiet time to reflect and think is needed also. Maybe it could be a bit of both, some days in the office and some days working from home?
It is 2015 and more kids are tech savvy and will be wanting flexibility when they enter the workforce. I want it now and I’m not considered a kid. Why are we still that rigid when it comes to having staff work from home? As long as the job is getting done that is the main thing.
From the businesses point of view it is a cost saving if staff don’t have come to the office and have a permanent desk, phone and computer. They don’t need to provide this if you have a remote role (I know some places might give you a phone or laptop but that is rare). All they need to do is to maybe have a hot desk when you come in for team meetings and catch ups with your manager or team. Easy really. I just don’t see why it is so hard, especially in this age of technology and options.
I believe companies that don’t offer work from home and flexible options will not attract the right people in the future. We are moving to a work environment where you don’t have to be in an office. You could be on a beach or in your house with your pj’s on. As long as you are hitting your KPI’s the rest does not matter. For major corporates to not look beyond an office job is silly in my book, there are a lot of people with excellent skills that can do a great job from a home office, they just need a chance to show you they can.
What are your thoughts? Have you tried to work from home? Were you successful? Do you have a job that is a telecommute role? If so please share how it works for you.
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