Wednesday 16 November 2011

Silly Moments - Learning to Breathe Through Them

I have two children, an 8 year old boy (M1)  (well he turns 8 on Friday) and a 3.5 year old girl (M2).  They are great children, but like most other normal kids this age, sometimes they are just plain silly.

Now, normally "silly" isn't a problem - it's just they both decide to enjoy do most of their silly things at what seems to me the most in-opportune times.

Let me explain.  

Morning routines - you know how it is, everyone needs to have breakfast, get dressed, pack school bags and hubby and I need to at least try and grab two minutes together to discuss the day, dinner, drop off, pick up etc.  Fairly standard stuff.  These 2 minutes, when I am trying to talk to their dad is when they choose to express their silly.  Or when I have asked them to clean their teeth.  Or when they have been asked to get dressed, or pack their bags.  You get the picture.



Ditto for dinner.  I am a really big advocate for sitting down at the table together every night to share a meal (dinner or tea, depending on where you are from).  It is a really big treat for them to eat their dinner in front of the tv.  This is family time and when we all catch up on what he have down through the day.

Somehow the sillies creep in again here - as soon as hubby and I want to talk.

Do you have this problem?


Well, I am trying to learn to breathe through these moments and laugh with them.  They are only young, and the childhood innocence of being silly and living in the moment only lasts so long.  That's what I am telling myself anyway).

I am trying my best to not be grumpy mum - but it is a learning curve.  Yes, I know I could have routine charts (have been there and done that with M1 - and yes it worked well.  Maybe next year I will be organised enough to have this done).  Some mornings/dinners are harder than others.


How do you make it through the sillies??????

Saturday 12 November 2011

Eight Years

What  does eight years mean?
To me - everything.


Eight years I have been blessed to have a beautiful, handsome, smart, irritating, sporty, funny little man in my life. 
He is my son.  And I love him.

Eight years that have changed my life in ways I never thought possible.
Eight years during which I have gone through highs and lows. 
Of loving it and hating it. 
Of wishing I could go back and do it better
Of being sorry I have stuffed it up so often.
But you know what my handsome little man still says to me?

You are the best mum ever!


Well the truth is M1, you have challenged me
and astounded me.
Taken my breath away and left me speechless.

I can not imagine not having you in my life.
You are growing into such an amazing and beautiful boy.

You have your daddy to thank for that too.

You brighten my day and make my heart soar.

I look forward to the rest of our journey together.
Whatever it holds.

Happy 8th Birthday my Handsome Little Man.

I will love you always,

Your super ordinary mum xxxx


Tuesday 8 November 2011

The End of the Happy place Challenge

My last blog on the "30 Day Happy Place Challenge" - thank you to Nathalie at Easy Peasy Kids for suggesting it and inviting us all to be a part of it.

Warning!!!  This post is VERY soppy.  I make no apology for that. 



So what is my final "Happy Moment" 
Soppy as it is, my husband. 
Why - let me count the ways!

****************************

He is always willing to give me a cuddle - even after I have been to the gym
He never (ever) complains about the state of the house - and my lack of ability to get on top of it
He is a wonderful father to our two children
He always makes time to listen and talk to me


We traveled through Italy, France, Scotland, Turkey and Greece together and lived in London - making my dreams come true
He is good at pretending
He keeps me sane 
He introduced me to my BFF
He is my rock and the love of my life
He introduced me to my favourite and original happy place - Mykonos!
My ultimate happy place - Mykonos (Plati Yalos Beach)

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.
For all these reasons, and 1 million more, he is my Happy Moment.  What a great one to end on!

Monday 7 November 2011

Happy Place Challenge - The Final Days

Day 25 and have realised just how much I have come to look forward to this part of my day.  Each day I have found lots of happy moments and it has really helped me shift my mental space into a much healthier place.  Not that I was in a particularly bad place, just my place now is a little better.

The challenge has taught me to value the small moments, to let yourself choose your level of "busy" - even though sometimes you can not control all the factors making you busy, you can control some.  The washing CAN wait (just don't tell anyone you didn't do it!).

I love the fact that some people have come along for the ride and gained some of their own happy moments because of that.

I have learned to love the power of music.
To look at butterflies
Savour my morning cup of coffee
Look forward to morning cuddles from M2
Think that everything has a silver lining - well NEARLY everything.

If you are really forced to, you too can find happy moments, even on the toughest days.


Keep smiling - only 1 day to go I think!

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Happy Place Challenge - Days 23 & 24

Wow, nearly at the end of the challenge.  Some days I have looked back and been spoilt for choice and some days nothing has really jumped out as a particular happy moment, so I  figure the whole day must have just been a good day.

So, with that in mind, what have been my happy moments from over the last two days?

Reading birthday wishes on FB
Talking to my BFF and learning about Lindt Cookies & Cream chocolates! Nom nom nom :) 
Realising that M2 is just as OK with daddy looking after her when she is sick as mummy
Getting to mend a broken fence with a friend - felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders!
Reading all the other happy moments on the Easy Peasy Kids "Happy Place" challenge

There are happy moments everywhere.  You just need to be aware of them.