Tag: happy

Categories
Family

I Need to Laugh More

Lately, I realised that I haven’t laughed in a long long time, well I have had little chuckles and found things funny but not really had a big deep laugh. I figured this out when I was listening to a podcast and couldn’t stop laughing when they mispronounced a few words it just got sillier and sillier and yet I couldn’t stop laughing and was in tears nearly.

Work, life, kids, school, work, after-school activities, weekend activities, and more means that it is constantly go go go! When I do get a chance to relax I either fall in a heap and watch a show or go to bed for some long-anticipated sleep lately I’ve not been sleeping well so then getting horrible headaches…so then days of plodding along and not laughing or smiling that much continues on.

Laughing is not only good for your mental health but also for your physical health. When you laugh, your body releases endorphins, which are natural feel-good chemicals that can help reduce stress, relieve pain, and boost your immune system.

Laughing can also help you relax and reduce tension in your muscles, which can help lower your blood pressure and improve circulation. Additionally, laughing can improve your mood and help you feel more positive and optimistic about life.

While laughing may not make you physically younger, it can certainly make you feel more youthful and energetic. Laughing can help you let go of stress and worries, allowing you to enjoy the present moment and connect with others.

So, if you haven’t been laughing or smiling much lately, it may be time to seek out some sources of humor and joy in your life. Whether it’s watching a funny movie, spending time with friends who make you laugh, or simply practicing laughter exercises, finding ways to laugh and smile more often can have a positive impact on your overall well-being.

Here are some tips on how to laugh more and incorporate more humor into your daily life:

  1. Watch or read something funny: Whether it’s a comedy movie, sitcom, or humorous book, exposing yourself to funny content can help you find humor in everyday situations.
  2. Spend time with funny people: Surround yourself with friends or family members who make you laugh and enjoy their company.
  3. Try laughter yoga: Laughter yoga involves combining breathing exercises with playful, laughter-filled movements, which can help you laugh more and feel more energized. (I honestly had no idea that there was a thing called, Laughter yoga.)
  4. Find humour in everyday situations: Try to find humour in everyday situations, such as a funny mistake or a humorous conversation with a stranger.
  5. Take breaks to do things that make you happy: Engage in activities that bring you joy and laughter, such as playing games, listening to music, or spending time with pets.
  6. Practice gratitude: Focusing on the positive aspects of your life and feeling grateful for what you have can help you cultivate a more positive outlook and a greater sense of joy.

Remember, laughter is contagious, so don’t be afraid to share your joy with others. Making someone else laugh can be just as rewarding as laughing yourself. By incorporating more humor into your life, you can improve your mental and physical well-being and enjoy a more fulfilling life.

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Categories
Family

Ups and Downs of School Holidays

How are you going? Are you surviving the school holidays?  I have had moments when it has all gone to hell and I’ve wanted to run to the hills and not come back for a while.

However, even with the annoyance and angst, I’ve been trying to embrace the holiday spirit and my mantra for this year…be happier.

I’ve been spending more time with the kids and family, hence why I haven’t posted recently. Sorry for the lack of updates.

I have been taking the kids to parks, movies, organising play dates, parties, sleepovers, I got tickets so kids can do some science at the local botanic gardens and much more!

One thing that is doing my head in is the arguments and one-upmanship between the twins.  It is really annoying, exhausting and frustrating to say the least. Are you in the same boat with your kids?

Do you find that a good stiff drink is in order after a tumultuous session with the kids not hearing anything you say? Oh, and when no one answers your questions, even when they are right next to you!

Even with the frustrations that holidays bring it has been relaxing and happy experience. We have spent time with friends and family and also managed to have a sleep in on a few days (So this is a win in my book).

Alexander had his birthday party and is now a three-year-old. He was very happy that his two mates from childcare could come to his party, and it was so adorable to see all three of them play in the park with each other.  Three cute little people taking walks and chatting and playing amongst themselves, they were super busy doing important playthings.

I still cannot believe the girls will be entering grade 5 soon, they are getting so grown up and soon primary will be finished for both of them. Only this year and next and then they are off to high school.

Hope you’re having a good break and spending some fun time with family these school holidays.  If you are having painful moments like me, I hope that they don’t last long or you can get a break for a bit.

Coming up next on the blog is are my tales of helping two ten years old’s with their new Harry Potter LEGO sets, it was a long, exhausting, frustrating and at times rewarding experience.  It really ends up as a tale of woe from all sides. I’m sure all mums and dads that have tried to assist a child with LEGO will understand the ups and downs of this fine line you walk between taking over or just helping.

 

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Categories
Family

New Year Strike

Happy New Year! It is rather amazing that it is 2019. A year full of new plans, hopes, dreams and hopefully exciting times.

My word for 2019 is “Happy”

I noticed that the twins were wanting me to be happier last year, they even sat me down and had a chat about how they want me and daddy to be happy.

Celebrating the new year and new possibilities.
Celebrating the new year and new possibilites.

Mind you we have been going through a rather trying time of late. Hubby lost his job a few months before Christmas and due it being a bad time to be job hunting everything has been put on hold until 2019. And my grandmother the girls (GG) died so that was very upsetting and sad too.

I’ve been running around like a headless chicken organising and doing for everyone but not me. So no surprise that I am not the happiest person, oh plus no one helps out. When the mere suggestion of help is said to any child all I get is screams and yelling about how “I don’t want to do that!”, or “It’s not mine, so why should I have to pick it up??”

Geez, I don’t want to do housework either but I do, and nearly 99% of items that I pick up are not mine either!

2019 is going to be a year of change and making things easier on me and teaching the kids that I am not a slave. I am sick of doing for everyone and not getting anything back, and of course, I am intentionally injecting happy into my day, life and family.

The twins spent a week with my mum and step-dad and came home today. They have been short tempered, yelling at me and grunting or getting angry at everything.

One kid decided to ask for my help with one craft activity that she got as a Christmas present from school. She was happy and keen to set it all up and then couldn’t find a key part of the box.

She came to tell me that she couldn’t find it, and I said that I had tidied up their room to welcome them home ( I gave each kid Harry Potter bed sets and had washed them all to have them on the beds for when the girls returned, I tidied their room and sorted out their clothes too – they are all folded in a basket ready to be put away). I told this kid that I originally found the box in the corner of the room shoved at the end of the cupboards so maybe it had fallen out.

To look for this we needed to move things and that was met with screaming and yelling at me. She then yelled at me that it was on the desk and that is where she remembered leaving it. I told her to look at the desk and behind it, in case it had fallen out and was on the floor.

Being happy with friends and family helps with you being happier too, that is unless they don't listen due to being pre-teen kids!
Being happy with friends and family helps with you being happier too, that is unless they don’t listen due to being pre-teen kids!

Her looking skills were the following: staring at the desk and yelling and not moving anything! Did she think that the missing item would just magically appear? It possibly might fly out and announce itself to her.

I, of course, was rather annoyed at the tidy room now becoming messy again and was also interrupted at finally putting fresh sheets on my bed to help out a kid that was yelling at me.

I then explained that I spent a long time getting her room ready and getting all the clothes folded and the room tidy. I know she was unhappy and annoyed she had lost something but I was trying to help her.

No one saw it my way and everyone now thinks that I was being horrible by getting angry at the said child.

My reaction is that I am STRIKE!

No one values anything I do

No one helps

I get yelled at

People can fend for themselves

I don’t get paid or treated nicely, and I am very over the silly and horrible behaviour.

So my word for the year is maybe not great for today, but I am now Happy in my bedroom with a cool drink working on my laptop.

Maybe this is being happy, well for a little bit.

This might allow the family to appreciate everything I do.

I’ve told Hubby and the twins that I’m not cooking, cleaning or doing laundry. If someone wants something they need to sort it out themselves.

I wonder how long it will be before I get the “I’m Sorry Mummy!” “Please help me with this, or cook me this or do that”

How is your first day of 2019 going?

Oh, by the way, Alexander hurt himself and needed mummy so I had to deal with that and then magically the other child found the missing item that was lost. A very sorry kid still wanted me to help her with her project and I thought it would be nice.

The twins cooked their own dinner, although there were moments and a major injury (not with food or the stove but due to someone hurting their head on a cabinet).

Now kids are in bed and I can finally return to my work and some much needed quiet time.

I do hope that your first day of the year was better than mine, although there were some nice moments but some annoying ones too.

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Categories
5 years and beyond

Birthday Eve Thoughts

Wising myself a very happy birthday
Wising myself a very happy birthday

Tomorrow is my birthday and yes I will officially be another year older. Since today is birthday eve it has been a time of reflection. I am a bit sad about some things that I hoped to have done or completed and other things I am very happy with. So what are they?

Things I am pleased with:

  • The twins are very happy with school and doing very well.
  • Due to the kids being at school it gives me more time to get things done. Very nice indeed, and makes for a much calmer and happier mummy.
  • Happy that family are well and happy.

Things that I am not too pleased with:

  • I wanted to be fitter, slimmer and more slinky.
  • Have our house plans finalized.
  • Get the new looking blog launched.
  • Wanted to spend more time on the blog and develop more sections. It will happen, just taking longer than expected.
  • Work on my eBook.
  • Make more money… yes that is the constant want isn’t it.  I’m sure that is on everyone’s list!
    (be nice to help more to the household and maybe use the cash for a much needed holiday)

The things on my not pleased list can be fixed and I am working to improve them. I feel energized to create a to do list of things I wish to achieve and cross off each one when complete. I now feel more of a fire in my belly to get more done and to have a very productive rest of 2014.  Do you take stock mid year? I am due to my birthday, but maybe a half yearly stock take for your goals is a good idea? What are your thoughts? (You heard it here first!)

Do you weigh up things around your birthday? I do. I compare what I was hoping to achieve to what actually happened and get a bit upset. However life does happen so you have to excuse yourself a bit for stopping to enjoy things as well. You cannot work till you drop, some do it but it is not sustainable.

On the whole I have it very good and I hope it gets better and grander in the future. I can hope can’t I! Dreams fuel my passions, and they can only make things better. Well I think so!

I have a big box to unwrap tomorrow for my birthday and I am keen to find out what is in it! The twins went out with hubby yesterday and they have been very tight lipped so they have finally learnt and understood how to keep a secret.

One thing that they have said in unison is….

“We don’t know anything about what is inside the box!” “We have no idea mummy!” Then they giggle with faces in their hands and run away! Little funny kids they are.

 

My birthday presents. Waiting for me to open them! I cannot wait. Wonder what they are?
My birthday presents. Waiting for me to open them! I cannot wait. Wonder what they are?

I will let you know what is inside the big box tomorrow. However I have to unwrap it in the evening due to hubby working and kids at school. It is going to kill me to wait. Staring at it on the dining room table all day! Just painful and horrible torture!

Birthday time is also a reminder for me to get my checkup at the doctor, skin cancer specialist and any other tests, oh a pap test and so on! I like to make sure that I get it done when I remember it. I know not a very good thing to do at your birthday, but you remember the date. It does not have to be on your birthday just close to it. Book in for a check up. Make sure all is tip top with you!

Categories
3 years and beyond Pre-School

Happy Little Vegemite

I am very pleased to report that my first assignment for this semester gained a high distinction, and as a bonus I have gotten an extra on my overall grade. I have also been asked to present my assignment to the class. I am thrilled and just so happy. Now need to get organised and do well on the group assignment and exam. This is a great start.

Now, today is going to be taken up with tiding as the house needs to be ship shape. We are having friends come and babysit the girls on the weekend, so that we can go to a good friend’s birthday. Really looking forward to seeing our good mate, and having some time out. However it is going to be hectic until then, a lot to do. One other positive of having the house tidy is that it is ready for next week and if it stays in a reasonable state, I might have more time for other things next week.

I got up early to have breakfast, do some stretches, and get organised. It was nice to have a head start on the day and to do some things without any distractions. Do you find it is easier to be up earlier than kids or the husband/partner? It is nice to have some quiet time, I rather enjoy it.

Now off to get kids up, but first will get breakfast arranged before the little bodies make it to the table. What are you up this fine autumn day? I will be busy sorting the house out and cannot wait to make a start on it. Keen to find out how the kids will enjoy their day at school after the school holidays. Send in your comments. Remember to vote for us for Best Australian Blog.

Categories
3 years and beyond Potty Training Pre-School

Social butterflies

Saturday the 25th was a big day; the girls had two parties to attend:

1. A birthday party for a boy at pre-school.

2. A goodbye party for their mate Mia, who is living to live in Germany.

The girls were very excited and I realised that the centre of the universe is going to be Blackheath or at least close to it for a while. Both parties were in Blackheath and as the girls had now started school in Blackheath this is probably going to be more frequent. That is fine with us, however it was just strange that the two events were on the same day. We are never that busy really and both parties were for the girls not us, us parents were just the transport.

It was sad that their good friend Mia was leaving and it was nice that she came along to the birthday party as well. All the kids go to the same pre-school.  The girls had an excellent time at the birthday party, they loved decorating their cupcakes and playing games with the other children. We filled out Mia’s friendship book and hope that we get a letter from her soon.

After the birthday party we all went to get some lunch, ended up getting fish and chips and going to our land to have a picnic. So that was impressive. After we went home had a quick rest, and then off to the next party. The girls made a necklace and bracelet for Mia. It had her name and theirs on the necklace with hearts and the bracelet had just Mia’s name.  Very cute and they were very proud to show Mia their handy work.

We stayed for a while at the goodbye party; however the girls were so tired, ended up falling over to often and getting upset. Happens a lot when they are tired, both the girls did not want to go, but we had to they were exhausted. So we said our goodbyes and made our way home. Gave them some dinner, and milk, and off to bed. We did not hear any noise out of their room after we put them to bed, very tired indeed.

The girls were very good and managed to have the whole day out without nappies and had no accidents, aside from rest time.

Today we went to kids kingdom and the girls for the first time went there without nappies. Lillian told me she needed to go to the toilet and I took her. She was great and very grown up. I asked Julia if she needed to go, she said no. After the kids played, we went off to Woolies at Leura to get some shopping. We were at the checkout waiting to pay and Julia said, “I need to go to the toilet mummy”, I rushed to the end of the shops, and the toilet had a queue. I then went to the other toilet and there was a queue there as well. I asked Julia if she could hang on. She said, “Yes mummy”. I was hoping that she could and we would not have an accident. The lady in front of me offered for us to go first, I thanked her as it was very nice of her to offer. Julia was good, and hung on until we got to the toilet. Clever girl, and then we washed hands and headed off to find daddy and get the shopping to the car.

I am very impressed with the girls and not wearing nappies anymore. I think they understand that they need to hold on and have the ability to do so more now.  I am just an impressed mummy at such a wonderful thing, maybe the end of nappies soon?

Daddy, the girls and I danced to music, they played with their doctors kit (ended up taking the doctors kit to bed, plus a teapot, in case they need to make some tea), and then they were off to bed.

Lunches are made for school tomorrow and have a house to get cleaner or at least tidier tomorrow as well. What have your social butterflies been up to? Is school filling your social calendar with parties? I think that we will have more functions to go to, which is good. Hopefully we will expand our network and meet more people.