Why do posts need titles anyway?

As this is going to be a brain dump of random thoughts and stuff, I really wonder how a word or two can possibly sum things up as well as be related.

I struggled yesterday. It seems that there is a real difficulty when one has the job of 'mother'. Attempts at carrying out all that is required can often be thwarted by others, leaving one with a feeling of failure despite all her best efforts. I pondered this when I couldn't get the ham hock I wanted (seems everyone wanted to make ham and pea soup on this wild and windy weekend), nor the gluten free bread. It seemed so disappointing to me, that after leaving an upset baby at home to fulfill the needs of the pantry I couldn't manage it. Fail.

Then trying to deal with housebound children in the form of one sassy, relentless, teasing five year old, a crying, whining three year old, and a 'won't have anyone but mama' post new tooth 9.5 mo old. Fail.

Of course, there is only so much I can do about my children's personalities, choices, temperaments on any given day. But as 'mother', I do feel somehow responsibility for the chaos or the calm that can ensue. I don't actually know how to let that attachment go, but I suspect I'd better do it sooner rather than later, as it wreaks havoc with my general mental health.

So enough of the philosophising. This is what a reaction to the varicella jab I had on Tuesday looks like! (Somehow I manage to have no immunity, and having been recently exposed to chicken pox, I felt I'd do what I can to avoid getting it myself). It was SORE, and ITCHY. I'm still not a big fan of routine vaccinations to be honest - but I'm a big scaredy cat and really don't want to get the chicken pox as an adult.



PS: The bird saga contined throughout the week. I captured the bird as I feared for its welfare, took it to a store so they would look after it and subsequently had bird advocates begging me to pick up the bird as it would only be sold by the store without an attempt to find the owner. In the end a well known animal rescue identity picked up the bird and will house it while searching for its rightful owner. It was a wee bit stressful, but added some spice to my otherwise boring life. It is a lovely bird, and we will be offered to keep it if the owner is not found - but I suspect someone will come forward as these birds are very valuable and must surely be missed.

Birdstrike!

Today I was going to bore you with exclaimations that I am nobodys short order cook and that I am going hardcore on three squares plus two snacks a day despite my middle childs predisposition to grazing and whining many many times daily "I'm hungry"...then, fortunately, something more interesting happened.

This fellow (or lass, I can't be sure), banged into our front window whilst we were having dinner. There are certainly many lorikeets and other native birds in our area - but this is not a native according to it's looks. I took several photos and posted online, and received some tweets (how ironic) about his possible origin. Given that the bird came to the window when I put my hand to it, gives a pretty clear indication that this a pet.



Unfortunately with dusk and small folks bedtime looming (not to mention I don't own a cage or bird handling skills) there was nought to be done about it this evening. And after a little while grazing on our camelia buds he went away.

If he returns tomorrow I'll consider calling a local vet or the RSPCA. His poor owner must be beside themselves (but then to be honest, I'm not a big fan of caged birds...he obviousy wanted to FLY!)

Grow up already!

No, I don't mean the kids. I think I'd freeze time in their case! I just wish that *I* would grow up. That I would do the things that are good for me - the things that would make daily life flow a little better. The things that swirl around in my head that I mean to do when I get some time.

I've let go of a lot of things since having kids (tidy house anyone?) but I fear maybe I've let go a bit too much. Eventually things need to be taken care of (don't they?) Definitely I will need to get more organised when the big boy goes to school next year (already fearing the extra paperwork on that one, not to mention the reading, homework, and requisite clean uniforms).

Doesn't it seem to you that everyone else is more organised? Home life here can be so chaotic that my daughters hair doesn't get brushed unless she visits grandmas (fortunately once a week, so it *does* get done) and I rely on the kids to tell me how many days they've worn the same shirt. Whenever I go out, all the other kids seem to be colour matched, with brushed hair...not little ragamuffins like mine.

Do you feel sometimes like you're still 19 and wonder how you got here? Got to the land of responsibility of mortgage, bills, dinners and keeping children alive?

The other day I was at my mums and looking at some old photos of her and me when I was about five. It struck me that I am already 10 years older than she was in those photos (She had me at 21)! Suffice to say it all seemed very odd indeed...to be looking at my 26 year old mother's face and wondering how I got to be a whole decade older than that person who was always a grown up to me...

And the winner is...

Tania could you drop me an email with your postal addy to stitchsista73ATgmailDOTcom and I'll send the markers along to you. Plan to make lots more in the coming weeks too.

Neko in the Garden

Bear with me - I've probably overdone it a bit, but I couldn't pick just one!! (and doesn't everyone love to stickybeak at photos??)







PS: Kids are fast asleep, but I'll have them draw a name for the giveaway in the morning!

Stitch Marker Giveaway

If you would like me to send you this set of stitch markers, leave me a comment before 8pm EST Good Friday and I will have one of the small folk randomly select a name (hopefully yours!) out of a hat (actually it probably won't be hat, maybe a cup, or a bowl...you get the idea)

Things I could be doing...

...if I didn't waste my time procrastinating at the 'puter

- knitting
- making some stitch markers or jewelry (how do you spell that anyway?)
- reading my stash of library books somewhere other than in bed
- hanging some washing on the horse (nah not doing that!)
- studying (really *should* be doing this as I've committed myself mentally to finishing course I started last year)
- myriad things involving paperwork, food preparation, or anything that would basically make my tomorrow easier when trying to leave the house with children

Honestly I don't know if there's any hope for me kicking this procrastination thing. I'm 36 already...if I haven't figured out how to break the habit by now is it even possible?

PS: And why is it if I go and do any one of those things after finally motivating myself to get out of this chair, the small one will wake up needing a re-settle?

It's just a cold

I hate being sick!

But I especially hate it when the kids are sick.

Infact I'm sure I can speak for most parents who would rather be sick than watch their children suffer.

Being sick at the same time as your kids though makes it a special kind of terrible. Firstly, you have the symptoms also, so are acutely aware of how crap they must feel. And second, you aren't really in a great way to care for them. Aaaaah it sucks!

Illness be gone (and please don't get the other two kiddies).

And she's off!

Cars and whimsies

I'm sure I've mentioned that my just 3yo spends many hours each day with her pens and pencils at the dining room table.

Pumping out all sorts of masterpieces you see. I love the ability of children to focus so intently on that which interests them...three of these pictures as you may have observed are of cars - there were many more to choose from.

As for the last picture I can't be sure - but I do recall some disappointment, my dear girl so young telling me her picture wasn't any good. I'm not at all sure where this idea comes from, but I think it's at least part of the frustration of not being able to draw things exactly as they are.

But I love these pictures so much. And I wonder where her absolute devotion to pen and paper will take her.

I got wise

Finally, after moving the wee one away from the cats dish multiple times (and scooping cat food out of the wee ones mouth), I cottoned on; it's not so much that she doesn't want to eat - but moreso she doesn't want to eat like a human being...

Fair enough.