Saturday, November 22, 2008
Love hurts.....
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Please stay safe....
We thought we were in the clear until last night when another storm dropped onto us. It hit around 2am with all the subtlety of a freight train. Vertical rain, vertical trees.
Above is a screenshot of the storm as it came through Brisbane. The hotpink dot is where my family lives. And at last look, there are more storms building this afternoon...
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Saturday Snuggles are the BEST
As I went to go to work this morning, Conor raced to the door and gave me a few kisses on the cheek. He is such a sweetie!
This is a typical Conor photo, those big blue eyes and that even bigger cheeky grin. He is so funny. Today he took me by the hand and we went into the boys bedroom. After leading me into their room he said, "Ta daaaa," with a flourish with his hand. "I made my bed!" Yes you did little man. Just don't do it again cause you are growing up tooooo fast.
He starts Prep next year, Aussie version of preschool, the year before grade 1. He still looks at me and says, "but sewiously Mummy," and I melt. He rarely chucks a tantie and when he does they blow over relatively quickly. Denying him my "friendship" works to clear the blues away and I usually get a "sowwy Mummy." Damn I am going to miss those w's when he gets his speech right.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The End of the Season
We are also entering his equally edible sister, Allabout Analise, the very pretty Pearl, head of the fun Police Titch and Super Muu. A very exciting show is planned thats for sure.
This weekend Noodle and I will attempt, once more, to gain her CCD title. Last trial she entered the ring with the enthusiasm of a toddler for the dentist, dragging her toes. Sod of a dog!
On a plus side, she has managed to teach herself how to enter the weave poles on the off side using an "Around" command followed by a weave command. Very impressive. Fingers crossed!Sunday, November 9, 2008
Froggles are HERE!
After two days our eggs have hatched and we now have lots of tadpoles swimming in a beautiful big glass jar.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
PMT and Growing Up Sane.
There has to be a better way than this ever growing cycle of anger? We had a doozy of a fight the other day which ended in my totally losing it. I found myself screaming right back at her, angry spittle being flung from my lips. And in that one moment of crystal clear insanity, I knew that I hated her.
Don't get me wrong, I love my daughter with all my heart and soul. I can't wait to see her grow into the person I know she is capable of. Her empathy toward other children is deeper than the ocean. She is a calming influence on the smaller children at Vacation care. She cares deeply for her littlest brother Conor. But, in those moments when she has lost all ability to listen to reason, has switched off and has gotten on the "Its-not-fair" carousel, I can't deal with her.
The whole episode left me exhausted, her emotionally shattered and my husband and I completely overwhelmed. As parents, it is our job to bring our kids up safely. Bit hard to do that when you just want them to stop screaming abuse at you. She actually ran through the house screaming, "You hate me, you've always hated me!" (sigh) So, together, T and I sat down and decided how we are going to handle these meltdowns. It came down to one simple fact. We are the parents and she is the child. At ten she is on the cusp of young womanhood but she is still a child and needs structure and direction. The rule is simple but it is ever so hard to enforce. What we say, goes and no arguments will change that.
We had the perfect opportunity to try it the next day when the arguments started from the topic of the previous day. She had to wear her brothers formal shoes as hers were too small. With six weeks left of school, I flatly refused to purchase a new pair when her brothers were the perfect size and almost brand new. "I want my SNEAKERS", began the familiar whine. I faced her and said in my calmest voice,"No, Caitlin." And the arguments began to heat up. She sat outside my door whining in her most annoying pitch. T went to argue with her and I stopped him. "No means No and you don't need to say anything else." It took half an hour but this time there was no throwing and no screaming. Just an acceptance. She gave up because we remained a united front. In that moment I was proud of myself, my husband and, strangely enough, my little spitfire. It may be a small victory but its a start.
Peace reigned for a small period of time...Hallelujah.