Tag: moms.

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Too Much On My Mind

I’ve not been well and finding it difficult as I keep on thinking about sleep. My bed keeps wanting me to keep it company and as I’ve had a few days of horrible headaches I totally agree that rest and sleep might be a very good idea.

Aside from not being well, I have nearly a week to organise everything for the twins 11th birthday party. I don’t understand where the time has gone. You would not think they are babies anymore and just looking at them you will see tall kids that are lanky and seem to be getting stretched out – they are in the lanky phase of growth before full set puberty sets in.

Puberty might not have happened but you would think it was due to the moods and craziness that is happening at our place.

Not only have I been trying to keep up with the kids’ events at school, one main one was seeing them dance in the school’s entry into the Wakkarki Dance Competition. All the kids did such an amazing job and it was many hours of practice from the kids plus a very long day and night of the show.  I was very proud to see the kids do such a great uplifting performance and it was a wonderful feel-good story of acceptance and making friends from all different backgrounds.

The performance for Wakkarki was at Riverside Theatre in Parramatta and the kids left school at 10.30am and didn’t get picked up by parents until 9pm that evening. We arrived home well after 11pm and I don’t think they got to bed until after 12am as both kids wanted a shower to remove makeup and thick hairspray from their hair.

This week the twins are having another late night due to both singing at the Opera House with school and Wednesday to Friday last week went to Canberra with the school. Yes, the busyiness hasn’t stopped!

Making lists of what I need to do and getting a coffee at the same time.
Making lists of what I need to do and getting a coffee at the same time.

Last weekend the girls had basketball training, their basketball game and then a birthday party to attend. The next day was Father’s Day and lunch with the family and a hike with daddy. Phew….. plus other things that they get up to after school too!

This is not to mention wrangling a toddler to care and to entertain as well. Oh and being sick too. I was feeling okay and on the mend until the twins got ill a week before they went to Canberra….thank goodness they got better and was able to attend their excursion to the nation’s capital, if they couldn’t go I am sure I wouldn’t hear the end of it, and also as we had paid in full it would have been an expensive non-excursion.

I’ve upped my vitamins, been to the doctor and am now on antibiotics. Not sure that the drugs are needed but over being sick and feeling horrible all the time.

I am going to bed with a million things on my mind. Getting things for the cake, wrapping presents, organising party bags for the twins birthday party, finalising the list of who’s coming, cleaning the house for relatives that will be over soon to celebrate with us, things I wanted to do but can only think about sleep or attempting to keep my eyes open.

In an attempt to stay energised I had two coffees the other day, and I fear this was a horrible mistake. I was still extremely tired but couldn’t go to sleep. I lay in bed thinking of all the things I needed to organise and are yet to do, and yes this stressed me out and still made me not able to sleep.

So now I am not doing two coffees, I have only one in the early hours of the morning. I fight the urge to have another as I know this will cause me to be staring at the ceiling and getting frustrated about my lack of drive due to being zapped of energy due to a cold or the flu… not sure what it is but only know that I hate it and want it to go away and never come back.

Have you had a very busy time? Are you still going through it? Has it coincided with you getting ill? If so how did you manage?

 

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How About Mummy Gets Looked After!

I’m tired.

More like super exhausted,

and while I write this I am drooling about sleep.

Picture of me sleeping...well if I was a cat.
Picture of me sleeping…well if I was a cat.

I’ve been busy looking after everyone, doing everything and taking everyone everywhere.

Oh, and not to mention getting a cold, then the flu and now sick again.

I just want to sit and be looked after for a change; get dinner made by someone else, allow me to sleep in, maybe have others do the housework for a change.

I have been wondering for a while now, when is it my time to be looked after? Why am I the one that does everything?

I am more than a wife and a mother, I have dreams and ideas too, plus I haven’t changed who I am due to having kids. Actually, there have been THREE BIG CHANGES:  I have no money, no time and I’m always tired.

I know that being a mum doesn’t make you less of a person but lately, it feels like you get overlooked on every level.   When you are sick you still have to solider on, when you’ve hurt yourself you have to still do everything too.

Maybe it will be another 20 years before I can finally have a break? I do have young children and one is not even in school yet.

Being always on is tiring not only physically but mentally draining.

Maybe the thoughts about the lack of identity or being at other’s beck and call have surfaced more due to the school holidays…where there has been not a lot of moments to be left alone to hear myself think.

It could be that being a Stay at Home mum to three kids is now my role, however, I would like to be a mogul to my ideas.

Do you find that you’re overlooked due to being a mum? Do you find that things are expected of you and you are never asked? If so, I know how you feel.

I think this is why I’ve been researching drool-worthy holidays. A holiday that will mean mummy will get some much-needed downtime, pampering and an experience that will be fantastic for the whole family (One that means that I don’t have to make beds, cook or clean).

Let me know if you are over giving all to everyone and not getting much back? Having moody pre-teens, of course, doesn’t help.

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Winter is Upon Us and so is Illness

One kid hasn’t been well, the other kid is now telling me she isn’t feeling the best and the youngest is constantly having accidents and hurting himself.

It seems like a horrible joke that everyone wants to be ill at the same time!

Why does everyone get sick in winter and nearly at the same time???
Why does everyone get sick in winter and nearly at the same time???

Winter this year was a rude shock. It actually started a week early and was so cold, freezing to be precise. Icy winds, some snow fell but never settled and the heater has been going nonstop. Oh and not to mention the winter woollies are making an appearance – Multiple layers, beanie and scarf.

The kid that wasn’t well had to be taken to the doctor due to a horrible temperature and fever that was getting worse. Initially, I thought that she was over the worst of it but it wasn’t getting better, the doctor then told us that she had an ear infection and needed antibiotics.

This kid that hasn’t been well and not eating a lot and has dropped a few kgs. She is also fighting me on drinking Hydralyte, the reason I want her to drink this is due to the fact her joints are sore and she is finding it hard to walk.   Electrolytes in the Hydralyte help your muscles and therefore will help her feel better when walking, also eating more will help too.

She is eating toast and drinking water, so I hope her food intake will pick up soon. She has no temperatures and seems so much better than a few days ago.

Her attitude is there and she is telling jokes so I know she is on the mend.

Have you noticed that your kids are getting sick now that the cold weather is upon us?

I was going to get us all the flu shot but need to wait until everyone is well to do so.

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What do you want for Mother’s Day?

Sunday is Mother’s Day and of course the kids are super excited to get me something special.

Hubby has been asking me what I would like for Mother’s Day and also the other celebrations in May, this has been my response:

  • A holiday
  • My shed (office space completed)
  • Time alone
  • A massage
  • My shed finished
  • A holiday by myself
  • Jewellery
  • My shed finished
  • A new house???? Yes a big purchase but much needed
  • How about my shed and work space getting finished so that I can use it.
  • You can download my printable Mother’s Day Code here
The Mother's Day Code
The Mother’s Day Code

So you might pick up on a theme with my wish list. I really, really, really want my shed otherwise known as mummy’s office to be finished. Currently been a project since May 2018 and when I think about it, it was meant to be complete for Mother’s Day last year. However, it is not finished and I have no space to do some of my creative projects, so I thought if that was done it would be a great gift and allow me to do more for me and of course the blog.

I did throw in some other expensive ticket items and this was to make the shed option look like the better alternative. Just to let you know that there is not work happening to fix said shed due to working and being super tired when he comes home.

I do have my birthday this month and also our wedding anniversary. We have been married now for 15 years and together for 7 years beforehand (so total together years are: 22), I purchased some rose plants from BigW and keen to learn that the flower for 15 years married is the rose, so this will be a nice addition to the garden.

Due to financial constraints it has been tough and we have not been spending a lot of money on things. Hubby was between jobs late last year and we had to put a lot of things on hold, including the new house being built, which is rather sad due to the fact we so desperately need the space. Knowing that we didn’t have a lot to spend I thought that finishing my shed would be the smartest option as it will make me super happy, allow me to work and hopefully earn more and also move some items out of the house and free up much needed space.

What are you hoping to get for Mother’s Day? Have you dropped hints to everyone about what you really want? Let us know.

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Trust Your Gut

Do you have an idea for something?

Have you told someone your thoughts or plans? Did they like them or think it was terrible and in their words, “SHIT”

Well, I have grand plans for things this year and some have been poohed poohed and made me feel terrible.

I kept on coming back to the same idea and thoughts and then realised, this is my idea, my baby, my creation, my work, my money invested. Not someone else’s.

If you keep on coming back to the same ideas and they will not go away, you owe it to yourself to give it a go.

Trust your instincts, believe in you and keep on going until you achieve what you want. Who knows, you might be hugely successful. You don’t know what will happen if you never try.

Do you find that you have an instinct on what will work and what won’t? Have a feeling about a person, a situation and know what to do. I do and I need to trust my gut more and more.

So for all the mums that have projects and ideas that they wish to achieve, trust your gut, your instinct is good. Believe in you and just achieve your goals with small steps.

Surround yourself with people that understand your vision, support you and motivate you to achieve.

Sign up to online forums, facebook groups and face to face meetups are great. Don’t give up!

The people who are closest I find seem to have more resistance to success and find issues in your ideas. If your idea is super successful I am sure they will be happy and want to share in the glory.

Power on all those with fabulous ideas. Be a powerhouse, be successful, work for a better you, a better outcome for family (More money helps everyone and also a happy mum means a happy house).

Let me know what you are working on and I can help cheer you on and support you. 

 

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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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Doing Just Enough is the New Unicorn Latte

Currently, I’m reading “The Joy of Doing Just Enough – The secret art of being lazy and getting away with it”, By Jennifer McCartney.

Basically, it’s a way to not do too much – Do less and stop worrying about all the other stuff you should have done or might have done.

So in a nutshell, do less shit.

I am a person who does more than they should. Goes the extra mile and of course, take on too much. It’s expected, isn’t it? You are capable, educated and have time so why not? Do what you can for the kids, others, and more.

However, there is a time where you need to say NO. Step back for a bit to focus on you.

I like the idea of re-adjusting your way of thinking to do enough to keep everyone happy and to have more time for you.

Doing too much and being on all the time means that you are unhappy, you get sick more often or your cold/flu never goes away!

Downtime allows you to recharge your batteries and to fully rest.

I LOVE this list above, not 10 things as it is too much, although 8 is just enough.  Perfect actually. Maybe others might point out no list at all is even more perfect!

Also, the point about anything can be spoons and that Orange Juice can work instead of milk, these made me laugh.

I think everyone is programmed to do so many things that you have so much to do that you will never sleep EVER again!

If did all my to-do list I would never sleep. What about you?

It would be wise to farm out some tasks – like cleaning, cooking and the yard work to free up some time and allow the hubby and I to stress less and to spend more time with family. However, we are not made of money and therefore this is not an option and only a dream at the moment (I am working on some ideas that might be worth a bit of money and you never know….I might be the next successful author – You can only hope right?)

Doing enough for you and others is as Jennifer McCartney says is The New Unicorn Latte.

A Unicorn Latte, in my opinion, is a mystery, not real and therefore might never happen.

However, there could be Unicorn Latte’s out there (Just because we have never seen a unicorn doesn’t mean they are not real) and if this is indeed true, you can embrace whatever you wish this unicorn to be.  You can mould your own Unicorn Latte (Sounds weird but you get the idea).

Creative, driven, passionate and so forth…and of course if you decide that you say no to some people or decide to take breaks for your health/creativity or family then that is perfectly fine.

The magical Unicorn Latte, the unicorn is sparkly due to the high amount of caffeine they constantly consume.
The magical Unicorn Latte, the unicorn is sparkly due to the high amount of caffeine they constantly consume.

This Unicorn Latte can be whoever they wish to be…it is the magical power of being a unicorn that allows you to be super mysterious and all-knowing. I think that the Unicorn Latte needs it’s own superhero theme music and voice. It could be like a guru that you seek knowledge from.

“Sorry I can’t as I just sought guidance from Guru Unicorn Latte and there is too much negative energy and I will have to decline. Thanks anyway”.

The Unicorn Latte could just be a way you would like to act and therefore follow the way of the Unicorn Latte & Teachings and then apply to your life.

I’m sure it is not just me that feels like you are racing everywhere and not getting much done. You have little time for you and what you would really like to achieve and then you wake up and do all the crazy racing around again. Yep, our frantic lives are on repeat.

Jennifer said that lazy people live longer. I was wondering if this was indeed true, and it seems it actually is:

“Laziness works. And the simple way to incorporate its health benefits into your life is simply to take a nap. A study of 23,681 Greek adults in 2007 found that those who took a siesta lived longer.” (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/nov/05/live-long-lazy-britain-oldest-man)

Have you been feeling like you take on too much? I know I have. When I have said no to things it has allowed me to rest at home for a change.

Everyone is scattered thin and it is not just an issue for parents with young children. We work longer, are always on call with our technology and stay up later and then have little to no sleep.

It is a very basic concept, rest, take care of yourself so you can take of others and do what you can in the time you have to get things done. If it is not urgent it can wait.

Now I’m going to bed for a much-needed sleep. I am still unwell and need to rest.

C’mon go to bed if you are still up and look at your schedule and Say NO to people to find more time for you. Less stress is a better outcome for everyone.

Thanks, Jennifer McCartney I’m enjoying your book and seem to be smiling most of my way through it and at times re-reading parts as you have great points on doing less.

AND NOW BED.

 

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Getting Sick is a Constant Battle for Mums

I cannot believe it is nearly November. Yep, the year has nearly ended.  It will soon be Christmas and New Year and then our little boy’s birthday.

It is all happening with super speed. Although the world and the days seem to be magically whisking by I am slowly plodding along. Why do you ask? Well, I have indeed gotten sick yet again.

 

Sick seems to be the constant battle of mums, and indeed me this year.

I now have a cold or possibly the flu! My body hurts and at times throbbing. My head is sore and so is my throat.

Constantly tired and wishing that I could stay in bed. Sleep and rest seem all hard to obtain with a busy house and three kids.

It would be so wonderful to just rest and for others to get everything done. To be able to sleep in and to not be disturbed would be fabulous too!

I’m zapped of energy, needing sleep and just unwell.

Cold and flu tablets don’t seem to be helping.  Maybe more sleep will help?

Do you find that due to being the mum you are always ill?

Do you get whatever the kids bring home from school or childcare? I know I do.

If you are indeed sick like me I hope that you are getting some much-needed rest and family are helping.

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Bring The Drawstring Back!

This is not a new problem but one that has annoyed me for a long time.

How about you????

Is this an issue that makes you angry?

 

I bet it does…. if it annoys you then I want you to get behind my movement to Bring The Drawstring Back!  

As you might have guessed it really frustrates me and makes me very annoyed.

Pants and shorts that look like they have the drawstring cord but it is an illusion.  Yep all fake, nothing works. Cord and string just for show.

In fact, they just have a few bits of cord hanging to allow you to tie in a knot and not an actual bow, and due to no actual drawstring being in the waist of the pants or shorts there is no ability to pull them tighter.

You might not think this is a major issue but it is, especially when you have super skinny kids that have no waists and need everything to be tighten or taken in.

It could be a conspiracy against all people that wish to adjust their pants and not show their bums or undies.

The twins were tiny from the word go and of course have been small with everything and it is hard to get them anything that fits without getting a smaller size to ensure it actually fits around their waist. However, due to the fact that they are growing, I need the length but the waist size for bigger sizes seem to get enormous and therefore falls off my skinny little people.

When Alexander was born he was 1.2kgs bigger than one of the girls, now this is significant but he is still the same as his sisters.  Being a good size for a newborn hasn’t helped the fact that he is going to be a skinny minny like his sisters.

He has an itty bitty waist and needs to have outfits with an adjustable waist or tighter elastic or at the very least a drawstring that is there and actually works.

I’m sure I’m not the only one that is over the fake drawstring phenomenon.

Why are manufacturers doing this?

From a customer perspective, it is horrible. You buy a pair of pants and they cannot be altered to fit you…. stupid actually!

From the seller’s position, having drawstrings mean more time to make each item and therefore each item will cost more. I’m sure they are still super cheap to make in a Chinese factory and sell for a huge profit.

Personally, I hate having no drawstrings on pants. Especially for kids, and on my PJ”s too! (I seem to have a whole bunch of pajama pants that are just falling off me and yes you guessed it, no drawstring!)

 

I think we should email, phone and tell all stores to put back the drawstring!  Will you stand with me?

 

#bringbackthedrawstring

I did try and create a change.org petition however I couldn’t due to not knowing who to list as the person, organisation, or group that can make a decision about my petition.

Not having drawstrings is an issue that affects many shops and it is not down to one. Therefore this area of the form was left blank and I couldn’t create an online petition.

Note: I have had to change my pajama pants I was wearing during writing this as they are constantly falling down, yes its a look I just don’t want. I could magically fix all pants that do this, but why would you want to? Why can’t I just buy pants that have a usable and working drawstring?

The issue is real and affects millions of people.  Tell the clothing stores you shop at that they need to bring back the drawstring!

 

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Make Dinner Easy with Hello Fresh

Hello Fresh Australia sent us a box to test out.  I’ve never used Hello Fresh, known anyone that has, or had a chance to experience their food… well that was until now.

We were excited to give it a go and see if all the hype and advertisements lived up to reality.  Spoiler alert: Hello Fresh is beyond amazing and more!

Due to Father’s Day, we have been making some fabulous creations all from the help of the Hello Fresh box.

 

I would highly recommend getting a Hello Fresh Box to make dad an amazing, healthy and yummy meal.

It has made me not wonder what will I cook for dinner tonight… as it is already sorted.

 

The box came with everything that you would need to cook any of the meals that are listed on the recipe cards.

Some of the meals that we have had are:

  • Caribbean Chicken & Coconut Rice
  • Nonna’s Beef Taco’s
  • Lamb & Spinach Shepherd’s Pie
  • Chicken & Bacon Pesto Pasta
My little masterchefs helped me make Caribbean Chicken & Coconut Rice. It was so fabulous.
My little masterchefs helped me make Caribbean Chicken & Coconut Rice. It was so fabulous.

You can also get inspired and get recipes via the Hello Fresh App, available at the App Store and on Google Play.

 

I’m a busy mum to three kids, hubby and always racing here and there. Making mealtimes easier is wonderful.

What have I loved about Hello Fresh?

  • Fresh ingredients
  • Easy to follow recipe cards
  • Food packs are in brown paper bags that have matching colours to the recipe cards. The bags fit neatly in the fridge and
  • Nearly 100% recyclable packaging (love the fact that Hello Fresh is focused on looking after the environment)

 

I’ve been super impressed with the quality of Hello Fresh’s food and how simple it is to create gourmet meals for the family, that I have signed up as an affiliate.

Below are the affiliate links for Hello Fresh. I know not everyone is in Australia so I’ve got links to the USA, UK and Canada to help you out.

 

A HUGE thank you to Hello Fresh for sending us a lovely box of yummy meals to test out. We loved it and will be getting another box soon.

Lamb & Spinach Shepherd's Pie with added cheese on top.
Lamb & Spinach Shepherd’s Pie with added cheese on top.

 

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The Struggle to Put On a Nappy

I had an early morning swimming lesson for Alexander and had to get him dressed in his swimmers and swimming nappy.

It all sounds so simple, doesn’t it?

Well, it wasn’t!

Hiding so he doesn't have to get a new nappy or fresh clean clothes.
Hiding so he doesn’t have to get a new nappy or fresh clean clothes.

My first task was to take off his clothes that he was wearing. He didn’t like this at all and fought me.

I finally got his clothes off and then attempted to put on his swimming nappy. I was not liking my chances as the clothes previously was an ordeal.

It was even worse with the swimming nappy. He tossed and turned, threw himself backwards and every time I tried to get a foot in the nappy he moved it out.

Blocked at every turn! I then thought to try and hold one leg in the nappy and try to do the other side, but he wriggled so badly that he then turned over and tried to go back to sleep on the change table.

Geez, I had to get him dressed and take the kids to school. I didn’t need the drama of not wanting to get his swimmers and nappy on.

Alexander did tell me he wanted to go swimming and then said no, but I had already told the swim teacher we were coming and had previously missed two weeks to him being sick.

We had to go today and I couldn’t do anything if I wasn’t able to get him dressed.

After a lot of angst, annoyance and huffing and puffing, I finally got him dressed in his swimmers, nappy and shoes and socks. He refused the jumper and by this stage, I was over it.

I know it was freezing today but I had to leave the house and to struggle for the next 30mins to put a jumper on a toddler that he will take off instantly in a few minutes wasn’t worth it.

We were quickly all in the car, I put the heat on and we were off.

The car told me it was 2.5 degrees with the icy symbol. Great, it’s even colder than I thought it was.  I hope Alex would be warm enough and also keep his shoes on until we go to the pool.

It was a saga getting him dressed and organised for swimming but it was similar to get him changed too. We warmed up in the hot shower but it was hard for him to get warm and he was clearly shaking due to being very cold.

I got him dressed as fast as I could but he still did his best to push back! I managed to keep the clothes and nappy bag dry and was lucky to balance it on a chair.

Finally, we were both dressed and ready to drop him at care.

I got home feeling like I had been in battle and it was longer than a few hours. My battle had worn me out and I just wanted to have a rest and recharge before it all starts again.

Kicking, stopping me with his hands and feet and then head-butting. Is a few tools that my active little person is using to get his message across.

I’ve been calming him down by stroking his head, letting him rest and talking, having cuddles and then trying again.

It’s so difficult when your toddler fights you when all you wish to do is to make sure they are warm and don’t freeze or simply change a nappy.

Have you experienced this? What worked for you?

Sometimes it is like my little person is possessed by a demon and is just acting crazy. I know this is not right but it gives you an apt description of who it feels and looks when it is happening.

It’s obviously a tantrum and brought about by frustration. Maybe he decided he didn’t want to go swimming and would like to stay at home. I am not exactly sure, but he was excited to go.

Let us know if you have had these tantrums with your kids?

 

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Family

What The Twins Are Pre-Teens?

In a month my little girls will be turning double digits. Yep, 10!

I suppose they are not little anymore.

I’ve noticed changes in both girls but brushed them off.

My girls are 9, no they cannot be in pre-puberty. NO!  Pre-Teens??? NO WAY!!!!!!

Makeup, hair and more time in the bathroom is happening at my place. Is this the start of being a pre-teen?
Makeup, hair and more time in the bathroom is happening at my place. Is this the start of being a pre-teen?

 

What changes have been happening?

  • Moods – no speaking, yelling and just crying about everything and nothing
  • Interest in doing hair all the time (no one seemed interested before)
  • Body changes
  • Getting taller
  • More independence
  • Also wanting to spend more time with mummy and daddy doing things, and having adventures (without their baby brother)

I looked up all these strange things via Google and other sites confirmed my suspicions. Yes, the twins are indeed in the waiting period before puberty happens.

Well possibly best to call it pre-puberty.

I’ve started having chats with the girls and told them that it is all normal and that it means they are growing up.

I gave each kid a big cuddle and one on one with more of an explanation on what is happening to their bodies.  Not sure if they understood it all but gave the info in a way I hope they could cope with.

Even though the kids are slowly going through these changes they are still kids. Needing advice, help and guidance.  I sometimes look at the twins and think how grown up they are and other times feel like they are still little. I think it is an in-between time for everything.

I must say that boundaries are being tested and mummy has had her fair share of headaches with stubborn girls who wish they were teenagers.

When did you notice that your kids were in pre-puberty? Were your child/children happy about the changes? What did you do to help them?

I’ve seen the book by Kaz Cooke, “Girl Stuff for Girls Aged 8 – 12” and think this might be a good addition. If you got it for your girls did it help?

Do you my dear readers have any recommendations for other books that might help? Let me know.

Better Health Victoria have great guides for parents, and how to help boys and girls during puberty.

 

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Family

School Holidays Have Exhausted Me!

I'm beyond tired and really would love to sleep for a month or two.
I'm beyond tired and really would love to sleep for a month or two.

Tomorrow the twins go back to school. Insert happy dance. Maybe a HUGE boogie-woogie.

Yep, the start of term three is nearly here. I’m so tired due to the last few weeks.

There was always something on and therefore to drive to. If we weren’t driving to places it was days out and fun with other kids and parents too.

I want to sleep like this cat. Wish I could just curl up when I wanted and have a sleep.
I want to sleep like this cat. Wish I could just curl up when I wanted and have a sleep.

Last week had five days out of the house, the week before we had three days out of the house.

Some of the things we did were:

  • Did Science workshops at Mt Tomah Gardens
  • Had playdates with some of the kid’s friends
  • Drove to visit family (they live far away so it took 2.5 hours each way, so 5 hours of driving)
  • Visited the Way Out West Festival (WOW) and then visited a good friend the same day
  • Attended the Robogals STEM workshops at New South Wales University
  • Went swimming and played at an indoor play centre

My plan for the school holidays was to relax and to stay at home more.

I had a vision of just staying in my pj’s and not having to be anywhere or do anything in particular.

One insane thought was to get the house tidier, organised and remove clutter during the holidays. I hear you all laughing at me very loudly and with bad snorting to boot! I, of course, didn’t any tidying done or making the house look more organised.

Nope, it did not happen. I did try and the twins room got a big tidy up, bags of clothes and toys were given away, many other bags ended up in the bin and more room was created. However, this cleaning of one room took two days, required constant supervision and reminding the kids of what they were doing. Oh, the energy really was zapped from my being.

You might think after losing hours of my life in a feral cave of mess that finally managed to be tidy after over 48 hours it would be brilliant now.

Well, I kid you not it is like we never touched it. It is a huge mess yet again.

I'm beyond tired and really would love to sleep for a month or two.
I’m beyond tired and really would love to sleep for a month or two.

I am so tired, my cells are aching, and my body is throbbing.

I could close my eyes and sleep for a month. I know that school going back is great but more running around will happen.

School drop offs, pick ups, after school activities, getting kids to do homework and more.

Kids get holidays, but mummy rarely does. Actually, I don’t get any holidays! I need one now to recharge from our hectic few weeks.

Did you have relaxing school holidays? I close my eyes and dream a relaxing holiday…possibly Fiji, Europe, Bali, Thailand? Who knows.

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Family

The fight for the Blankets!

The fight is real! Yes, making sure that you can have sheets and blankets on you in bed is a real issue. Especially when the hubby sleeps on top of them.
The fight is real! Yes, making sure that you can have sheets and blankets on you in bed is a real issue. Especially when the hubby sleeps on top of them.

It is the age-old fight.

Picture this, you are cold and reach over to grab the blanket and sheets, but can’t.

The reason you cannot put the warmth of the blankets and sheets over you is due to hubby sleeping on top of the sheets and blanket.

And as you might have guessed, due to the hubby be sound asleep I cannot get any blankets!!!!!

The fight is real! Yes, making sure that you can have sheets and blankets on you in bed is a real issue. Especially when the hubby sleeps on top of them.
The fight is real! Yes, making sure that you can have sheets and blankets on you in bed is a real issue. Especially when the hubby sleeps on top of them.

I have tried and tried but it is hard when the blankets are trapped under someone’s body.

This happens a lot and even more when I have to get up for Alexander during the night.

Do you find that your partner is a blanket hogger?

Hubby does tell me that I do the same but I am deciding that this is not true.

What do you have to resort to so that you can be warm in your own bed?

I have ended up getting other blankets just for me.   This way they cannot be slept on!

Let me know how you cope with a partner that sleeps on top of the sheets and blankets.

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Family

Minion Appreciation Day is Everyday!

Alexander is obsessed.

Actually obsessed is putting it mildly.

What is another word that would mean highly obsessed?

I am not sure there is one… but if there was, it would be perfect for my little boy’s insane love for the Minions.

The Minions are Alexander's favourite film and characters at the moment.
The Minions are Alexander’s favourite film and characters at the moment.

He is extremely obsessed with the Minions! More like to an insane level.

One day Alexander wanted to see the Minions movie. I got the movie and put it on for my boy. He couldn’t stop grinning and he was so happy.

Now it is the film we all must watch. A film that is on constant repeat.

He grabs the remote otherwise known as the Mot and says, “Minions Mumma, sit down Mumma!” I have now lost count of how many times I have seen this film.

A screenshot of the Minions being silly.
A screenshot of the Minions being silly.

Due to seeing the Minions film for what feels like a million and one times, I have decided to introduce the other Despicable Me films.

Alexander was not a fan at first. The minions took too long to show up in the Despicable Me film. Mummy had to fast forward to the bits where the minions were as my little boy was screaming “Minions Mumma!”

On a recent trip to the shops, I saw all these Minions Party decorations. Thank goodness Alexander was at childcare at the time. I do think we need to organise a Minions party for him next year, well that is if he is still so obsessed!
On a recent trip to the shops, I saw all these Minions Party decorations. Thank goodness Alexander was at childcare at the time. I do think we need to organise a Minions party for him next year, well that is if he is still so obsessed!

The twins are so over the minion fascination and really don’t want to watch the film at all. This, of course, means one little boy gets so upset and has tantrums to ensure he can watch his favourite film.

Alexander is loving his little Minions figurine.
Alexander is loving his little Minions figurine.

Do your kids have a film or show that they watch 100% of the time? If they don’t watch it will it cause a meltdown?

Have you tried to get your super obsessed child to watch something else? Did it end well?

Or did you end up watching your child’s favourite show due to the complaining?

The girls were super obsessed with Yo Gabba Gabba. They were fans of Muno and Foofa. So as you can imagine this show was also on constant repeat too!

To make things a little easier for me I tried to introduce some other shows to the kids.

I had Fawlty Towers available and put an episode or two. The twins loved it and kept on asking me to put on the angry man that jumps up and down. OH good, finally something else other than a kid show and cartoons.

When the twins, hubby and I went away to the Gold Coast in 2013 we were at a winery. There was a play area with an old phone. One kid was pretending to be Sybil Fawlty and the other was Basil Fawlty.

One was on the phone just saying, Oh I know. Oh, I know….. then she said… Basil! Basil!

An older lady came up to me and asked if the kids were fans of Fawlty Towers. I explained that I got sick of watching kid shows and put it on to break up the viewing and annoyance I was facing due to seeing the same shows all the time.

Fawlty Towers doesn’t have bad words, no one swears, there is just a lot of slapstick and fun. There is some innuendo but if you don’t get it,  and are too young it is not that bad.

Maybe Alexander would love Fawlty Towers too? I did start the twins at an older age, so I think it might have to wait.

What show or shows are you watching on repeat currently?

 

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Family

Frustration and Tantrums

Simple things lately have been a problem.

Taking dirty clothes off a toddler to hopefully replace with new and fresh ones.

Getting said toddler dressed in new clothes to leave the house.

Putting a jumper/jacket on the toddler is also a nightmare that ends in him screaming and carrying on.

Not to mention trying to give him a bath or shower.  This is a real issue too!

My little boy does the same actions. He looks tired, cries and makes sure that you are looking at how sad he is.
My little boy does the same actions. He looks tired, cries and makes sure that you are looking at how sad he is.

I must say that all the things I have been trying to do are good. Keeping Alexander clean and tidy, making sure he is in clean clothes, and making sure that he gets a wash every now and then.

You might think from his crazy reaction to me being a caring mum that I am torturing him.  Screaming at the top of his lungs I am sure might make the neighbours think something horrible is indeed happening, but it could just be me trying to put pants and shoes on a child to enable me to leave the house.

Now that the weather is cooler it is essential that everyone has jumpers and jackets on.

You might think that it would be obvious to a child that it is cold and therefore a warm jumper would be a good idea. Well, you are wrong!

Alexander has fought and fought so much that it is next to impossible to put a jumper or jacket on him.

I managed to put what I could on him and then decided I couldn’t lose another hour of my life trying to get the jumper on him.

Some days I’ve just given up. A little bit of dirt on clothes is not the end of the world.

A toddler will only get dirtier so what is the big deal. I just need to pick my battles.

If it is important for him to look good then, of course, fresh clothes is essential, however, if we are just playing in the garden or the park and it is a fight to get him changed I am not bothering so much.

Now I suppose all the other mums out there will think I am doing him a disservice and I should make sure he is washed and in clean everything at all times. Well, I cannot do this and have tried, but according to the world of a two-year-old boy, this is torture and therefore only happens when he lets me.

Do you face this guilt about clothes, baths and more? How crusty has your child gotten before you have succumbed and made them take a bath? I think my little boy did a week without a bath but I did manage to get him washed with a face washer on his face, feet and hands.

Alexander hates the wind and lately, it has been super icy.

If it is extremely windy he shouts at the wind, “NO WIND STOP!”

I have told him that no matter what you say to the wind you cannot control it. I really wish you could just tell the wind to stop and it would.

When Alexander is loud and being naughty I tell him to be quiet and try and use a whisper voice to show him. He then raises his voice to a new booming level and screams, NOOO! MUMMA!” , then has the hide to scream at the top of his lungs, “SHSSHHHHH MUMMA!!!!!!”

I’ve also realised that when he gets a bit naughty and loud he is hungry. It must be his blood sugar level dropping and his personality just changes. Once he has a bit of food he is happier and just so much better behaved.

I had to be somewhere the other day and thank goodness I packed a few mandarins in the bag. Without this quick snack, he would have screamed the place down, and this was a nice quiet government department.

If Alexander is tired, hungry or bored he can throw the biggest tantrum. He is also scratching and hitting his sisters and hubby and me when he acts up.

I do know that part of it is frustration that he cannot do certain things and sometimes get left out when the twins have their friends over.

One technique that I do with the kids is getting down at their level and try and remain calm.

It is a hard task when the kid in question is having a full on fit but I do my best. Sometimes my little boy is so exhausted I just get him ready for a nap even when he really is fighting it. He goes to bed quite quickly if he is this tired.

Sometimes the horrible tantrums and fits of annoyance are down to the fact that I will not let him take a much-loved truck or car to childcare. (He lost some the other day and was so upset about it I have decided no more toys from home leave with him when he is at care).

I’ve tried giving him only two choices for clothes but that has not worked out very well. It seems to work best when his favourite red shirt and pants that have characters on the knees are clean and ready to be worn. Aside from this, he suffers me putting inferior items on him.

The twins did not have such temper tantrums and only got interested in the colours of the clothes and were perfectly happy to be dressed as long as it was either purple or pink.  They each had their favourite colours.

I suppose Alexander is doing the same with preferring red shirts and pants, however, I don’t have a lot of red items. Maybe this needs to be fixed? I need to purchase more red clothes.

Alexander is wanting to do more things on his own and being more independent, it is a pity that some things are a little tricky to do and therefore I still need to help him with. For example, he wants to walk across a busy street on his own (I, of course, carry him as he likes to run everywhere), feed himself even though he makes a huge mess and much more.

One thing that is very different from the girls is the fact that he yells, screams and makes so much noise. At times I think he is hurt or not happy but most of the time he is happy and playing.   Different personality is one thing I need to remind myself of,  and being a boy might be part of it too.

Do you struggle to get your toddler dressed, bathed and in a car?

Do they fight you? Is your child having more meltdowns lately?

I must say that it feels like a fight to get anything done.

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Family

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Mother’s Day is drawing near and if you are yet to purchase a gift for mum, my list might give you a helping hand.

 

  • Lush is one of my favourite shops. The soap and products are fun, smell amazing and are a great treat.
    There are limited edition bath bombs, soap, massage bars and gift boxes. Pop in and pick up a fun and awesome smelling gift for mum.

The Chamomile lawn soap looks so soothing.

“Harmonious lathers of lavender and chamomile blue oils soothe skin as lavender absolute calms minds, leaving you standing tall.”

Limited edition Chamomile lawn soap from LUSH
Limited edition Chamomile lawn soap from LUSH

You can also get gift boxes for mum too!

Grab a LUSH Gift Box for mum
Grab a LUSH Gift Box for mum

 

Note: I’m an affiliate for Masterclass. If you purchase a class I will get a commission.  I became an affiliate after I bought a course myself and loved it. It is a great way to do a course in your own time.

You can also purchase an all-access pass that will allow mum to do any course.

 

  • Paudhã Healing – Natural oils and creams

    I’ve been testing out Paudhã Healing’s Rosehip oil and sandalwood creams. They are divine and smell amazing!

    The creams are so good for my skin and the rosehip oil makes my face feel soft and smooth.

    Give mum a natural product from the Blue Mountains today.

    “So why Paudhã? What does it mean? Well, Paudhã (pronounced pow-da), simply means ‘plant’ in Hindi and plant healing is what we are all about. Our products contain a variety of plants, with medicinal benefits that have been recognized and used by our ancestors for generations.

    We are proud to say that each of our products is lovingly handmade in the Blue Mountains, using locally sourced and Australia Certified Organic (ACO) ingredients where available, harnessing the natural energy that surrounds us. We have also been accredited as a cruelty-free skincare company by Choose Cruelty-Free Australia.”

  • Fed Up Mumma – Stylish Clothes for Mumma’s
    I have fallen in love with this online shop. They sell stylish pajamas that really could be everyday wear.

    15% Off for new customers! Stylish PJ’s, Jackets & Shoes for Mummas.

    Discount Code: FACEBOOK15

    The code can be applied at checkout.

  • Event Cinemas E-Tickets
    Buy mum an e-ticket and email her today or print it out to take her to the movies. You can purchase a gold pass experience and more. Check out the different packages that are on offer.
Having fun at the movies. Get an e-voucher to get your gift today.
Having fun at the movies. Get an e-voucher to get your gift today.

 

  • Rashays Casual Dining
    Rashays is a great family restaurant and they have tasty food. Book today to take mum for lunch, breakfast, brunch or dinner on Mother’s Day. You might even get a Mother’s Day coffee cup just for mum if you book in time.Rashays have locations in the ACT and NSW. Check their website to find your closest location.

    See the Mother’s Day menu now

 

I hope this list helps with your gift buying.

 

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School

First School Camp

The twins have their first school camp this week.

In fact, camp starts tomorrow.

We have to be at the school at 7.45am to ensure that they don’t miss the bus.  This means a super early morning for all three kids and mummy.

Last night I helped the kids pack their camp bags. The only thing that we don’t have done is their lunch for day 1 and a sun hat that they will take with them on the bus.

Camp bags are packed. All done and ready for the girl's first school camp.
Camp bags are packed. All done and ready for the girl’s first school camp.

I’m pleased that I finally got two bags packed, and we are not doing it the night before!

It was a trying experience.

First, the girl’s room needed to be tidied up. The floor was a huge mess and we couldn’t sort anything out. Picture kids standing on things, clothes and toys and then piling a bag and more on top. How would we know what is coming and what isn’t!

Hours later and much discussion about not mucking around and cleaning up, we were finally done with the cleaning the girl’s room. It wasn’t perfect but just enough to allow us to get organised.

Mummy needed a stiff drink by this stage and some painkillers but had to hang in there until the job was complete.

Now the packing started.

Geez, you would have thought this part would have been easy. No, it wasn’t. I was getting yelled at by the kids about what they have to pack and what they cannot.

One thing that the twins did not want to take was their wet weather jacket. This jacket has a hood and will also keep them warm if they are sitting around a campfire at night time.

Don’t tell them but I have secretly added the jacket in their bags.

They will be thankful as it is going to get cold this week and the kids are camping. What would they do if they needed a jacket, and were stuck without it?

Roasting marshmallows on a campfire. Maybe the kids will do this while camping.
Roasting marshmallows on a campfire. Maybe the kids will do this while camping.

As you might have guessed the twins are so excited to be going away with their mates from school. Three days away having fun, and not doing school work!

The girls heard about how fun it was from their mates last year, and have desperately wanted to go. This camp is only for grade four so therefore as soon as the kids started grade four this year their first thought and comment was, “We can go to camp this year mummy!”

Have your kids gone camping with school?  Did they have fun? Was it hell packing before they left? It was a nightmare here but thankful it is all done now… Phew is what I am saying and glad that I have survived this stressful experience.

It will also be a break for mummy having the twins at camp.

No kids to take to school and pick up, and also no after-school activities for the week. What a fab break for me!

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