Hi All!
I have moved to a new blog for now... it has more of the feel I was going for. I hope you'll enjoy reading there as much as you have here. Here's the link to my new blog:
http://mysimplelifedownunder.wordpress.com/
I hope to see you there.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy all done and dusted!
Well colonoscopy and gastroscopy are over and done with now. No polyps were found, thank goodness! Which should mean no cancer. In 2 weeks time I go back to my Dr. for the rest of my results. Fingers crossed everything is healthy and normal. I'm still feeling a little worse for wear (had the tests done yesterday morning), I'm mainly just tired with a bit of a sore throat. I think the gastroscopy has flared up my reflux and that's what's causing the pain. Now to those of you interested in finding out just what is involved with a colonoscopy and gastroscopy, read on.... (warning some may find it a little gross to read)
I started my special diet 3 days before my test. Then the day before I had nothing but clear fluids. (My advice is to eat some chicken broth, drained chicken noodle soup, plain jelly and barley sugar on this day to keep your energy levels up). I was silly and only had jelly which meant by the end of the night I was feeling pretty faint. Also drink plenty of water and other approved fluids such as apple juice (no pulp).
I took my first dose of picoprep at 3pm. This was one sachet of picoprep mixed up in 250ml warm water. The stuff was nowhere near as nasty tasting as what I thought it would be. It tasted like juice with a bit of a salty aftertaste. I spent about 2 hours in a panic crying my eyes out before drinking it when in reality I should've just downed it. It helped to drink the prep through a straw and follow with sips of apple juice. The first lot of diarrhoea wasn't that bad and I started to think "this is pretty easy" but then by the time dose 2 was due, I was glued to the toilet with watery diarrhoea. I attempted the 2nd dose at 6:30pm but only managed to drink about 200ml because I kept running to the loo. It was after the 2nd dose that I started to feel pretty shocking. My heart was racing, I had a bad headache, felt nauseaus, was shaking all over and felt like fainting. Dave said I was probably dehydrated so after demolishing another 6ooml bottle of water I started feeling well enough to take the 3rd dose at 9:30pm. The diarrhoea lasted all night and I still had it at the hospital the following morning, which I was not expecting. So I had very little sleep. Good thing was that I had no cramps and only a little bloating with the picoprep. I also managed to drink about 3.5-4 Litres of fluid throughout the day which helped to keep me hydrated.
At 7:15am yesterday I arrived at the hospital and waited to be checked in. This was the easy part - though I still managed to freak out a little. They did pre-admission checks and then I was taken to my bed where I got undressed and into a robe. The nurses were lovely and did their best to keep me calm. Then the Dr. came and sprayed the back of my throat with this awful tasting local anaesthetic which I had to gargle and then swallow. This was to stop gagging during the gastroscopy. Yes it was awful but I didn't have to put up with it for long before I was put under sedation. They wheeled me to theatre where they laid me on my side, put a bite piece in my mouth to protect my teeth and then bam I was asleep. Next thing I know I was waking up and ready for juice and sandwiches. Overall the prep was the worst part of the experience and now the sore throat from the gastroscopy. The actual procedure was a breeze - I can not recall anything from the moment the sedation kicked in.
And that was my experience. Am I grateful for having it done... ask me in a few days when this feeling in my throat disappears and I will probably say yes. Remember that I am not a medical professional so always follow your Dr.s advice and check anything you read on the internet with a Dr. before following others advice. I hope writing about my experience helps others to get the tests done. Remember prevention is the key to good health and early detection can save your life.
I started my special diet 3 days before my test. Then the day before I had nothing but clear fluids. (My advice is to eat some chicken broth, drained chicken noodle soup, plain jelly and barley sugar on this day to keep your energy levels up). I was silly and only had jelly which meant by the end of the night I was feeling pretty faint. Also drink plenty of water and other approved fluids such as apple juice (no pulp).
I took my first dose of picoprep at 3pm. This was one sachet of picoprep mixed up in 250ml warm water. The stuff was nowhere near as nasty tasting as what I thought it would be. It tasted like juice with a bit of a salty aftertaste. I spent about 2 hours in a panic crying my eyes out before drinking it when in reality I should've just downed it. It helped to drink the prep through a straw and follow with sips of apple juice. The first lot of diarrhoea wasn't that bad and I started to think "this is pretty easy" but then by the time dose 2 was due, I was glued to the toilet with watery diarrhoea. I attempted the 2nd dose at 6:30pm but only managed to drink about 200ml because I kept running to the loo. It was after the 2nd dose that I started to feel pretty shocking. My heart was racing, I had a bad headache, felt nauseaus, was shaking all over and felt like fainting. Dave said I was probably dehydrated so after demolishing another 6ooml bottle of water I started feeling well enough to take the 3rd dose at 9:30pm. The diarrhoea lasted all night and I still had it at the hospital the following morning, which I was not expecting. So I had very little sleep. Good thing was that I had no cramps and only a little bloating with the picoprep. I also managed to drink about 3.5-4 Litres of fluid throughout the day which helped to keep me hydrated.
At 7:15am yesterday I arrived at the hospital and waited to be checked in. This was the easy part - though I still managed to freak out a little. They did pre-admission checks and then I was taken to my bed where I got undressed and into a robe. The nurses were lovely and did their best to keep me calm. Then the Dr. came and sprayed the back of my throat with this awful tasting local anaesthetic which I had to gargle and then swallow. This was to stop gagging during the gastroscopy. Yes it was awful but I didn't have to put up with it for long before I was put under sedation. They wheeled me to theatre where they laid me on my side, put a bite piece in my mouth to protect my teeth and then bam I was asleep. Next thing I know I was waking up and ready for juice and sandwiches. Overall the prep was the worst part of the experience and now the sore throat from the gastroscopy. The actual procedure was a breeze - I can not recall anything from the moment the sedation kicked in.
And that was my experience. Am I grateful for having it done... ask me in a few days when this feeling in my throat disappears and I will probably say yes. Remember that I am not a medical professional so always follow your Dr.s advice and check anything you read on the internet with a Dr. before following others advice. I hope writing about my experience helps others to get the tests done. Remember prevention is the key to good health and early detection can save your life.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Things can only get better...
Things are starting to run a bit more smoothly around here. Maybe my star sign was right when it said my life was getting better and better. I am excited but nervous about Thursday - I'm petrified of doing the tests but I know that once they're over, I will once and for all know what's been going on with my health. Stressing about my health over the years has caused me a lot of worry and prevented me from doing a lot of things, so as much as I don't want to receive a vague diagnosis of IBS, it will certainly be a lot better than being diagnosed with something more sinister.
I also got in an argument with Jesse's father over the weekend but it turned out to be a productive one. I tested the boundaries to see if he would still let me move over East with Jesse. Unfortunately he's changed his mind and is no longer letting me move so as dissapointing as that is to hear at least I have some closure there. I was still hanging onto the hope that I could move but now I know I have a few more years yet here in Perth so I can finally start making my house into a home and concentrating on finishing my degree. I also now know that I will have to fight that little bit harder for Jesse in mediation and possibly court but eventually he will be old enough to decide where he wants to live for himself and then finally I may be free to live where I want to live. In the meantime I'll take each day as it comes.
Now that I know I'll be here for a few more years at least, I am going to put some grand plans into action. My brain is overflowing with ideas for the house and garden and I can't wait to start working on them. I'm going to fence the front yard off and that will become Jesse's play area. It will have a trampoline and a slide, (possibly a cubby house), a built in race track for his little toy cars and a few veggie patches. This will also be the yard the cats play in. Then out the back I'm going to put in a hillshoist, finish the paving, lay new turf, buy myself a chook house and a few chickens, plant fruit trees, passionfruit vines and maybe include a raised garden bed or two. I may also check with a builder about extending the bathroom out a bit so I can finally have a laundry or maybe creating a lean-to out the back so I can do all of my washing there. The back yard will also be where the dog plays. Then inside I'm going to finish tidying up the house and selling all my unwanted stuff on Gumtree, paint and reorganise Jesse's room as well as put shelves in for all of his books, rearrange our bedroom to include more storage and then get onto Dave about finishing the major renovations (redo bathroom, install splashback, kick-boards and exhaust fan in the kitchen, finish the skirts and perhaps put in a sliding door to out the back).
I have also applied for another job at the local supermarket. It's 10 hours a week and I am hoping I get it. It will do wonders for our budget and it will make me feel worthwhile to be earning my own money once again. I have done a huge overhaul of our budget and despite being on a tight income we are doing really well. I'm so proud of my money saving efforts. If I get a job and we stick to my savings plan then in about 3 years time we should have approximately $40,000 saved for a house deposit. Which means Dave and I can finally buy and own a house together. I am aware though that sometimes life gets in the way so I won't be too hard on myself if we fall a little short. I will post up a detailed overview of our budget soon which will hopefully help others to get on the budgeting bandwagon.
Well that's all for now. Hopefully I will post again soon. I'll most likely be glued to the loo on Wednesday; and Thursday I'll be in hospital but I will keep you updated on how everything goes. Wish me luck!
I also got in an argument with Jesse's father over the weekend but it turned out to be a productive one. I tested the boundaries to see if he would still let me move over East with Jesse. Unfortunately he's changed his mind and is no longer letting me move so as dissapointing as that is to hear at least I have some closure there. I was still hanging onto the hope that I could move but now I know I have a few more years yet here in Perth so I can finally start making my house into a home and concentrating on finishing my degree. I also now know that I will have to fight that little bit harder for Jesse in mediation and possibly court but eventually he will be old enough to decide where he wants to live for himself and then finally I may be free to live where I want to live. In the meantime I'll take each day as it comes.
Now that I know I'll be here for a few more years at least, I am going to put some grand plans into action. My brain is overflowing with ideas for the house and garden and I can't wait to start working on them. I'm going to fence the front yard off and that will become Jesse's play area. It will have a trampoline and a slide, (possibly a cubby house), a built in race track for his little toy cars and a few veggie patches. This will also be the yard the cats play in. Then out the back I'm going to put in a hillshoist, finish the paving, lay new turf, buy myself a chook house and a few chickens, plant fruit trees, passionfruit vines and maybe include a raised garden bed or two. I may also check with a builder about extending the bathroom out a bit so I can finally have a laundry or maybe creating a lean-to out the back so I can do all of my washing there. The back yard will also be where the dog plays. Then inside I'm going to finish tidying up the house and selling all my unwanted stuff on Gumtree, paint and reorganise Jesse's room as well as put shelves in for all of his books, rearrange our bedroom to include more storage and then get onto Dave about finishing the major renovations (redo bathroom, install splashback, kick-boards and exhaust fan in the kitchen, finish the skirts and perhaps put in a sliding door to out the back).
I have also applied for another job at the local supermarket. It's 10 hours a week and I am hoping I get it. It will do wonders for our budget and it will make me feel worthwhile to be earning my own money once again. I have done a huge overhaul of our budget and despite being on a tight income we are doing really well. I'm so proud of my money saving efforts. If I get a job and we stick to my savings plan then in about 3 years time we should have approximately $40,000 saved for a house deposit. Which means Dave and I can finally buy and own a house together. I am aware though that sometimes life gets in the way so I won't be too hard on myself if we fall a little short. I will post up a detailed overview of our budget soon which will hopefully help others to get on the budgeting bandwagon.
Well that's all for now. Hopefully I will post again soon. I'll most likely be glued to the loo on Wednesday; and Thursday I'll be in hospital but I will keep you updated on how everything goes. Wish me luck!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Taking back control!
Something my psychologist said today really triggered something inside of me. She was talking about control and basically pointing out to me that I am happiest and at my most comfortable when I feel as though I am in control of a situation. And I realised something... it is when I feel out of control in a situation that I start to despise it or become anxious about it. Here are a few examples:
I get angry about Tessa when she misbehaves and I often take my temper out on Dave because he is the one who promised to walk her, train her and bath her as she is just WAY too big and strong for me to handle. My suggestion so far has been to find her a new home but Dave refuses to accept this outcome. So I realised something today when I was out the back sweeping the sand in between the cracks of our newly laid pavers. If I want something done I have to do it myself. I HAVE to take control. We had pavers laid on Monday and Dave was told to sweep the sand in between the pavers as soon as the sand dried. It didn't get done so instead of me nagging Dave about it - I went outside today and did it myself. And the dog behaved around me and came over for a hug and a pat. And I thought - I can do this. I can get on top of things in the backyard and I can train you Tessa!
I am also incredibly anxious about the colonoscopy and gastroscopy as you probably know. Surprise surprise... perhaps it has something to do with how very little control I have over the situation. So you know what? I have to find the things that I can control about the situation. And that is I can follow the correct diet. I can do the bowel preparation. And most importantly as soon as I have the tests done I will once again be in control of my own health. What is more important or gratifying than that?
I also get frustrated when the house becomes untidy or stuff is left laying around. I feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the housework. Instead of sitting around stressing about what needs to be done... I need to quite simply get off my bum and get stuck into it. Less clutter will make me feel more in control. Less clutter also makes the home look and feel more welcoming and it will give me a sense of pride and a feeling of happiness at a job well done.
Lastly I hate hate hate that I have to rely on Dave to financially support me and Jesse. I also hate that we live in HIS house. As much as I appreciate what he does for me and Jesse, I wish more than ever that I could be bringing in some money of my own. Or that the house was in both of our names. I realise I have no control over the latter but I can certainly do something about making some money of my own. Yes I have been searching and applying for jobs but maybe I can try harder. Put myself out there that little bit more. And then bit by bit I can save up enough money to hopefully be able to put a deposit down on a house of my own. That would be taking control of my financial situation once and for all. And it's not like it will be this way forever. I have already put steps in place to make sure that I can always provide for me and my son by pursuing a joint degree at University. This joint degree will give me the qualifications that I need to enjoy a well-paid, long-term career: Teaching. And you never know my writing might take off and then I'll have that to fall back on to as well.
I have learnt a very important lesson today and that is "In life focus only on the things that you can change and not on the things that you can't". There is no point stressing about or giving too much of your time and attention to the things that you can not change. Take control of your own life and tread your own path. Today I feel enlightened and extremely grateful that I have come to this realisation. I hope this helps at least one other person out there to also realise that if something is making you unhappy or anxious, there is something you can do about it. Take control of the situation - live your own life!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Reports are in
Report cards came in and Jesse is doing fantastically. He is excelling in mathematics which is strange because I sucked at it hehe. But I guess he gets that from my father who used to be an accountant and my sister who absolutely nailed intro-calculus in high school. I'm excited to see what he learns next semester now. It is so enjoyable to watch Jesse slowly progess to being able to do all of these amazing things. I'm so proud of my little man. Everybody reading this, give your kids a kiss and praise them on something they have done well today. Love and recognition go a long way in the eyes and hearts of our little ones.
Ok enough stalling, back to cleaning...
Jesse's first day of Pre-Primary.
Ok enough stalling, back to cleaning...
Just a little update
The appointment with Jesse's speech pathologist went really well. I hadn't noticed just how often Jesse stuttered so it was handy to have it pointed out to me during an activity that the speechy did with Jesse. The speech pathologist has designed a program for me to do at home with Jesse and it's pretty easy to follow. I started to implement some of the speechy's suggestions last night but noticed that Jesse didn't really like when his bumpy speech was pointed out to him, even though this is what I was told to do. Hopefully with a little work from the both of us we can get on top of his stutter.
The vet appointment went ok. I was told there wasn't an awful lot I could do that I hadn't already done. Apparently the spot on is working but my poor cats are still crawling with fleas. I keep trying to pull them off but the cats don't appreciate this and start to scratch and bite at me. They will tolerate me brushing them but all that's doing is removing the excess fur and not the fleas. Luckily the pest man is coming tomorrow. I can't wait for the place to be sprayed. As soon as I finish writing this I will have to do a quick tidy up of all the rooms so it's easier for him to spray. Speaking of pets our dog crawled under the temporary fence in our backyard this morning and destroyed everything under the neighbour's back patio. So she isn't in the good books with the neighbours at the moment. If insurance hadn't stuffed us around we could have had our fence fixed over a week and a half ago. Instead they keep delaying paying us out our claim which is only resulting in more damage being caused to each property by the two dogs. Not to mention the cost of putting up the temp fence! Ah insurance gotta love it!
On a totally different note, I'm still spending WAY too much time Googling colonoscopies. I really need to stop that! I am becoming incredibly nervous and I'm trying really hard not to cancel it this time round. I know I need to do it but I am really really not looking forward to doing the bowel preparation. :( This time next week I'll be glued to my toilet seat. Yuck!
Also went ahead and booked the trip to Cairns last night. A holiday should do us all some good and I can hardly wait. It will be so good to visit my hometown again and catch up with family and friends. I also want to see if I can still handle the heat and humidity over there as I am considering a permanent move back to the East coast of Australia sometime in the not-so-distant future. I've picked the hottest time of the year to go - it will also be cyclone season and stinger season. So if I can handle it at its worst then I'm sure I'll be loving it at its best.
That's about all for now. Hopefully once things have settled down a little I can get back to focusing on restoring the balance in my life. My goal has become a little lost in all the problems that have kept cropping up lately. But hey I guess this is what life is all about - still managing to balance one's time appropriately even when the unexpected arises.
The vet appointment went ok. I was told there wasn't an awful lot I could do that I hadn't already done. Apparently the spot on is working but my poor cats are still crawling with fleas. I keep trying to pull them off but the cats don't appreciate this and start to scratch and bite at me. They will tolerate me brushing them but all that's doing is removing the excess fur and not the fleas. Luckily the pest man is coming tomorrow. I can't wait for the place to be sprayed. As soon as I finish writing this I will have to do a quick tidy up of all the rooms so it's easier for him to spray. Speaking of pets our dog crawled under the temporary fence in our backyard this morning and destroyed everything under the neighbour's back patio. So she isn't in the good books with the neighbours at the moment. If insurance hadn't stuffed us around we could have had our fence fixed over a week and a half ago. Instead they keep delaying paying us out our claim which is only resulting in more damage being caused to each property by the two dogs. Not to mention the cost of putting up the temp fence! Ah insurance gotta love it!
On a totally different note, I'm still spending WAY too much time Googling colonoscopies. I really need to stop that! I am becoming incredibly nervous and I'm trying really hard not to cancel it this time round. I know I need to do it but I am really really not looking forward to doing the bowel preparation. :( This time next week I'll be glued to my toilet seat. Yuck!
Also went ahead and booked the trip to Cairns last night. A holiday should do us all some good and I can hardly wait. It will be so good to visit my hometown again and catch up with family and friends. I also want to see if I can still handle the heat and humidity over there as I am considering a permanent move back to the East coast of Australia sometime in the not-so-distant future. I've picked the hottest time of the year to go - it will also be cyclone season and stinger season. So if I can handle it at its worst then I'm sure I'll be loving it at its best.
That's about all for now. Hopefully once things have settled down a little I can get back to focusing on restoring the balance in my life. My goal has become a little lost in all the problems that have kept cropping up lately. But hey I guess this is what life is all about - still managing to balance one's time appropriately even when the unexpected arises.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Busy day ahead
Jesse's speech pathologist met with me this morning and told me that Jesse's stutter is becoming more pronounced so he wants to implement a program that can be used at home to help him with his stutter. So I have to head down to Jesse's school early this afternoon to go over the program with the speech pathologist. Hopefully we can once and for all conquer Jesse's speech difficulties.
Then this morning I have an appointment with the vets. I've rung them in frustration over the flea problem. Despite treating my cats only 2 weeks ago with the spot on flea treatment Chrissy is still crawling with them. So hopefully they can offer her some relief. We're also waiting for a call back from a pest exterminator who can hopefully treat inside and outside our home as soon as possible as our place is jumping with fleas and I'm getting bitten all over!
Then I will have to wash everything!!!!!! And find someone with a dryer who is willing to let me use it so I can get everything dry.
SOOO much to do... I thought I would be spending my winter break reorganising the house and just doing a bit of a general "spring clean" but instead I am dealing with a flea infestation! Sometimes I wonder why all this stuff keeps happening to me. Why nothing ever seems to go my way. And I'm beginning to believe that this year has well and truly been sent to try me! I can't wait for 2012 to be over. I hope 2013 offers much more prosperity.
I guess the good thing about being so busy is I haven't had much time to think about my upcoming tests... which reminds me I have to confirm my appointment time today. When I get a spare minute I start to think of them again and the nerves kick in. I so can't wait for them to be over and done with. I've also decided to treat myself to a holiday just for getting through this year so when 2nd semester of uni ends I'll be jetting off to Cairns in tropical Far North Queensland! YAY!
Then this morning I have an appointment with the vets. I've rung them in frustration over the flea problem. Despite treating my cats only 2 weeks ago with the spot on flea treatment Chrissy is still crawling with them. So hopefully they can offer her some relief. We're also waiting for a call back from a pest exterminator who can hopefully treat inside and outside our home as soon as possible as our place is jumping with fleas and I'm getting bitten all over!
Then I will have to wash everything!!!!!! And find someone with a dryer who is willing to let me use it so I can get everything dry.
SOOO much to do... I thought I would be spending my winter break reorganising the house and just doing a bit of a general "spring clean" but instead I am dealing with a flea infestation! Sometimes I wonder why all this stuff keeps happening to me. Why nothing ever seems to go my way. And I'm beginning to believe that this year has well and truly been sent to try me! I can't wait for 2012 to be over. I hope 2013 offers much more prosperity.
I guess the good thing about being so busy is I haven't had much time to think about my upcoming tests... which reminds me I have to confirm my appointment time today. When I get a spare minute I start to think of them again and the nerves kick in. I so can't wait for them to be over and done with. I've also decided to treat myself to a holiday just for getting through this year so when 2nd semester of uni ends I'll be jetting off to Cairns in tropical Far North Queensland! YAY!
Monday, July 2, 2012
How do you know what to do?
RE: Pets
I have 1 dog and 3 cats and although I love them to bits they drive me NUTS! I am contemplating rehoming them purely for me and my son's own health and safety. Mentally I feel I can not cope with a whole lot at the moment, we ourselves are being bitten by fleas and lastly my son hasn't been able to go out in the backyard since we got our dog over a year ago. So now I'm in a dilemma. I always thought it was awful when people bought animals and then just got rid of them. I really don't want to be one of those people. But how do I justify the way we live at the moment, where pets seem to get top priority over ourselves? Do I keep them or try and find them new homes? Will someone love them as much as I love them? Is there anyway I can keep them and find a way for it to work? I really don't know what to do at the moment - I have so many questions running through my head (as you can see)! Has anybody else had to part with a beloved pet for the family's sake? Did it all work out in the end?
Without a dog we can once again grow our own vegetables, plant fruit trees, hang the washing outside, have friends over and most importantly Jesse can play out in the backyard again! Without cats there wouldn't be a flea problem, we wouldn't get woken up at all hours of the night from them scratching on the door to be let out, I wouldn't have to vacuum every single day and I would have a spare room again (that's right the cats have their own room)! Life would become a whole lot easier but would the house feel empty without them? What would I do without the pitter patter of tiny paws? Who would be waiting at the door for me when I came home? I wish we lived on a large property so I didn't have to make this choice. If we had a bigger yard (we're on about 400sqm) Tessa would have more room to run around which would lessen her boredom and therefore ease the destructive behaviour. And if we had a slightly bigger house the cats could sleep in the laundry (we don't have a laundry in this house) instead of in the spare bedroom. Which means more room and more sleep for us and then hopefully they could go back to being purely indoor cats. Right now they go outside with my supervision. Oh! What to do... What to do... Suggestions anyone?
(Just uploading their pictures has made me feel guilty for even thinking about getting rid of them. This is going to be a lot harder than I thought.)
Tessa
I have 1 dog and 3 cats and although I love them to bits they drive me NUTS! I am contemplating rehoming them purely for me and my son's own health and safety. Mentally I feel I can not cope with a whole lot at the moment, we ourselves are being bitten by fleas and lastly my son hasn't been able to go out in the backyard since we got our dog over a year ago. So now I'm in a dilemma. I always thought it was awful when people bought animals and then just got rid of them. I really don't want to be one of those people. But how do I justify the way we live at the moment, where pets seem to get top priority over ourselves? Do I keep them or try and find them new homes? Will someone love them as much as I love them? Is there anyway I can keep them and find a way for it to work? I really don't know what to do at the moment - I have so many questions running through my head (as you can see)! Has anybody else had to part with a beloved pet for the family's sake? Did it all work out in the end?
Chrissy
Without a dog we can once again grow our own vegetables, plant fruit trees, hang the washing outside, have friends over and most importantly Jesse can play out in the backyard again! Without cats there wouldn't be a flea problem, we wouldn't get woken up at all hours of the night from them scratching on the door to be let out, I wouldn't have to vacuum every single day and I would have a spare room again (that's right the cats have their own room)! Life would become a whole lot easier but would the house feel empty without them? What would I do without the pitter patter of tiny paws? Who would be waiting at the door for me when I came home? I wish we lived on a large property so I didn't have to make this choice. If we had a bigger yard (we're on about 400sqm) Tessa would have more room to run around which would lessen her boredom and therefore ease the destructive behaviour. And if we had a slightly bigger house the cats could sleep in the laundry (we don't have a laundry in this house) instead of in the spare bedroom. Which means more room and more sleep for us and then hopefully they could go back to being purely indoor cats. Right now they go outside with my supervision. Oh! What to do... What to do... Suggestions anyone?
Crumpet
(Just uploading their pictures has made me feel guilty for even thinking about getting rid of them. This is going to be a lot harder than I thought.)
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Missing in action
Sorry I've been missing in action everybody. I lost my internet and phone for almost a week thanks to a tradesperson accidentally putting a shovel through a cable that contained over 1000 wires thereby cutting off quite a few houses to their internet connection. I'm very glad to be online again! I didn't realise how much I relied on the internet until I lost it. I use it to communicate with friends, write my blog, pay bills, do my banking, search and apply for jobs, and most importantly find out my exam results....
I PASSED!!!!!!! And with High Distinctions in every subject. My Grade Point Average is 4.00 out of 4 which is as high as I can go. I am so proud of myself and so happy that all my hard work has paid off. I am however a little nervous that I may have set the benchmark a little high. I think if I get any lower than a HD from now on I may end up a little disappointed. I just have to remember to do the best that I can and to not push myself too hard. I have to learn to be happy with any mark - so long as I pass, that's the main thing.
Other than that day to day life has been pretty hectic: We have a flea problem at the moment. One of our cats is crawling with them despite being treated for them only 2 weeks ago. I'm at a bit of a loss on what to do, so may have to consult a vet. And I've been trying to work through my large pile of washing but no sooner have I hung it out than Tessa has ripped it off the line and dragged it through the dirt. Stressing like mad about the upcoming colonoscopy and gastroscopy. Trying to get through one more week of school and soccer runs before school holidays begin. And more and more job hunting with very little results. I need a holiday!!!!!! Ok maybe I don't need one but I really really want one! Right now I'll just settle for a nice hot cup of tea...
Night all!
I PASSED!!!!!!! And with High Distinctions in every subject. My Grade Point Average is 4.00 out of 4 which is as high as I can go. I am so proud of myself and so happy that all my hard work has paid off. I am however a little nervous that I may have set the benchmark a little high. I think if I get any lower than a HD from now on I may end up a little disappointed. I just have to remember to do the best that I can and to not push myself too hard. I have to learn to be happy with any mark - so long as I pass, that's the main thing.
Chrissy and Crumpet
Other than that day to day life has been pretty hectic: We have a flea problem at the moment. One of our cats is crawling with them despite being treated for them only 2 weeks ago. I'm at a bit of a loss on what to do, so may have to consult a vet. And I've been trying to work through my large pile of washing but no sooner have I hung it out than Tessa has ripped it off the line and dragged it through the dirt. Stressing like mad about the upcoming colonoscopy and gastroscopy. Trying to get through one more week of school and soccer runs before school holidays begin. And more and more job hunting with very little results. I need a holiday!!!!!! Ok maybe I don't need one but I really really want one! Right now I'll just settle for a nice hot cup of tea...
Night all!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Colonoscopy & Gastroscopy
Well my appointment time for the colonoscopy and gastroscopy I need done came in the mail today. 12th of July it is scheduled for and I am absolutely PETRIFIED!!! Words cannot describe just how scared I am of having this done and I am most definitely not looking forward to the bowel preparation. I suppose I should be grateful that I don't have to wait too much longer to find out what is going on with me. And it's lucky I guess that the appointment is during Jesse's school holidays and my university holidays so I don't need to worry about juggling school runs or uni assignments whilst preparing for the surgery. I just really need to calm down - I'm letting my nerves get the better of me at the moment.
Anyway wish me luck everyone and if anybody else has ever had either procedure done can you please share your experiences with me. I really need some reassurance. Just in case the comments section of my blog is a little too public to discuss such matters (as I imagine it would be), I can be reached at the following email address: sammyleewright@gmail.com
Thank you!
Anyway wish me luck everyone and if anybody else has ever had either procedure done can you please share your experiences with me. I really need some reassurance. Just in case the comments section of my blog is a little too public to discuss such matters (as I imagine it would be), I can be reached at the following email address: sammyleewright@gmail.com
Thank you!
Monday, June 25, 2012
The never-ending mundane pile of housework
I have spent the last few days trying to get the house tidy and more organised... I've washed, hung out, brought in and folded load after load of washing. I've vacuumed, swept, thrown out old newspapers and washed plenty of dishes. I have also changed the sheets on the bed and started to make it in the morning. The difference I feel at night is amazing. I love nothing more than curling up at night in crisp, fresh-smelling sheets and a made bed just looks more comforting and inviting to come home to at night.
I have also been sorting through all of my old baby items that I have been keeping in storage. I am busy scrubbing them down and washing them so that I can list them on Gumtree to sell. It will be nice to have a spare room again instead of the "storage room" it currently is. Just seeing more floor space makes me happy. I am so over mess and clutter. I can't believe I let all the housework pile up for so long! I guess that's what university does to you.. a few other things went SLIP!
Speaking of uni... gosh how I miss studying. :( I am so bored at home now. Even with all the work that has to be done around the house, it does nothing to keep my mind occupied. I am longing to bury my nose deep in textbooks again and sit at the computer for hours on end producing one essay after another. I never thought I would enjoy study this much as when I was in high school I couldn't wait to get out! I am wishing now that I'd chosen to do an intensive unit over the winter break. I'll keep that in mind when summer break comes around. I've noticed that I definitely need to keep my mind occupied or else I spend too much time dwelling on all the things in my life that aren't currently how I want them to be. I have also realised that too much free time makes the OCD and depression more noticeable.
Well that's enough for now. My load of washing has finished and it needs to be hung out. And I should probably get on with more cleaning. Not to mention spend some time looking for work. There isn't much out there at the moment which is a pity as we could really do with a little bit of extra income. Has anybody else noticed how scarce jobs are at the moment? Is the economic downturn affecting anybody else? I look forward to hearing from you. :)
I have also been sorting through all of my old baby items that I have been keeping in storage. I am busy scrubbing them down and washing them so that I can list them on Gumtree to sell. It will be nice to have a spare room again instead of the "storage room" it currently is. Just seeing more floor space makes me happy. I am so over mess and clutter. I can't believe I let all the housework pile up for so long! I guess that's what university does to you.. a few other things went SLIP!
Speaking of uni... gosh how I miss studying. :( I am so bored at home now. Even with all the work that has to be done around the house, it does nothing to keep my mind occupied. I am longing to bury my nose deep in textbooks again and sit at the computer for hours on end producing one essay after another. I never thought I would enjoy study this much as when I was in high school I couldn't wait to get out! I am wishing now that I'd chosen to do an intensive unit over the winter break. I'll keep that in mind when summer break comes around. I've noticed that I definitely need to keep my mind occupied or else I spend too much time dwelling on all the things in my life that aren't currently how I want them to be. I have also realised that too much free time makes the OCD and depression more noticeable.
Well that's enough for now. My load of washing has finished and it needs to be hung out. And I should probably get on with more cleaning. Not to mention spend some time looking for work. There isn't much out there at the moment which is a pity as we could really do with a little bit of extra income. Has anybody else noticed how scarce jobs are at the moment? Is the economic downturn affecting anybody else? I look forward to hearing from you. :)
Friday, June 22, 2012
Children: Don't waste time with them.. make time for them!
Since becoming a mother there is one thing that really makes me angry and that is when I see or hear of other young mothers out there truly living up to the teenage parent stereotype: dumping their children on others, taking drugs, smoking and drinking whilst pregnant and after the baby is born, having child after child to different fathers, having children just for the welfare money, or losing children to the DCP (Department of Children Protection) and instead of working hard to get their other children back they keep having more!
I fell pregnant at 17, right at the beginning of year 12. I was 18 when I gave birth to my son. To make matters worse back then I looked like I was about 12; even now at almost 24 years of age people ask me if I'm 17. So you can imagine the stares I got when I had my baby. It was almost as if I could hear people thinking "What is that 12 year old doing pushing a stroller?" Even worse I would have people who would come up to me and actually verbalise what they were thinking such as "You're a bit young to have a baby aren't you?" and "Shouldn't you have waited until you were married?" It got to the point where I was too scared to even go to the supermarket and do the grocery shopping in case I copped more rude comments from complete strangers.
The thing is I never lived up to the teenage parent stereotype. I have never ever dumped my child on anyone - in fact my own mother has only babysat Jesse on about 4 occassions in the whole time since he's been born. I didn't have my first proper drink until I was 21 years old (legal drinking age in Australia is 18). I never smoked or took drugs while I was pregnant. And I wasn't even aware that you received money from the Government for having a child so the baby bonus still sits in my bank account untouched! I chose to have a child so that means I am financially and personally responsible for him: he is my responsibility and nobody else's.
So why am I writing all of this. Well I came across a girl on Facebook who I used to go to school with who had recently had her second child. Her page is open and so I thought I would take a squiz and check out a picture of the new baby... to my utter disgust her page was plastered with comments about getting drunk, coming home at 2am and throwing up all over her bed from drinking so much and being DTF (which I am just now learning means down to f**k - excuse my language). Now didn't she JUST have a baby only 3 weeks ago?? So despite having 2 children to 2 different dads (neither of whom she is still with) she is already dtf with somebody else?? Is that even safe?? And who is looking after her newborn while she is out getting drunk most nights?? I was so disappointed to be reading all of this as I thought since having children she might have settled down a little. Unfortunately not the case. What's worse is she is posting all this online for the whole world to see as her page is not set to private. Now she might be a wonderful hands-on mother to her two children (I wouldn't know) but if she is then she certainly isn't portaying herself very well.
Reading stuff like this not only makes me angry but it also makes me sad. When I first had Jesse my focus and attention was on nothing else except for him. Thoughts of sex and partying never even entered my mind as I sat and stared at my son in amazement for hours on end. I remember holding him and drinking in that beautiful baby breath and watching all the facial expressions he would make as he lay dozing in my arms. I didn't want to miss a moment. Time with him was so precious and I wanted to capture everything. This mother is wasting the perfect opportunity to just spend time bonding with her newborn. Holding him. Feeding him. Cuddling him. Singing to him. Watching him. Children grow up so quickly... enjoy every moment that you can with them because before you know it they'll be off and doing their own things. Don't waste time with them.. make time for them!
I fell pregnant at 17, right at the beginning of year 12. I was 18 when I gave birth to my son. To make matters worse back then I looked like I was about 12; even now at almost 24 years of age people ask me if I'm 17. So you can imagine the stares I got when I had my baby. It was almost as if I could hear people thinking "What is that 12 year old doing pushing a stroller?" Even worse I would have people who would come up to me and actually verbalise what they were thinking such as "You're a bit young to have a baby aren't you?" and "Shouldn't you have waited until you were married?" It got to the point where I was too scared to even go to the supermarket and do the grocery shopping in case I copped more rude comments from complete strangers.
The thing is I never lived up to the teenage parent stereotype. I have never ever dumped my child on anyone - in fact my own mother has only babysat Jesse on about 4 occassions in the whole time since he's been born. I didn't have my first proper drink until I was 21 years old (legal drinking age in Australia is 18). I never smoked or took drugs while I was pregnant. And I wasn't even aware that you received money from the Government for having a child so the baby bonus still sits in my bank account untouched! I chose to have a child so that means I am financially and personally responsible for him: he is my responsibility and nobody else's.
So why am I writing all of this. Well I came across a girl on Facebook who I used to go to school with who had recently had her second child. Her page is open and so I thought I would take a squiz and check out a picture of the new baby... to my utter disgust her page was plastered with comments about getting drunk, coming home at 2am and throwing up all over her bed from drinking so much and being DTF (which I am just now learning means down to f**k - excuse my language). Now didn't she JUST have a baby only 3 weeks ago?? So despite having 2 children to 2 different dads (neither of whom she is still with) she is already dtf with somebody else?? Is that even safe?? And who is looking after her newborn while she is out getting drunk most nights?? I was so disappointed to be reading all of this as I thought since having children she might have settled down a little. Unfortunately not the case. What's worse is she is posting all this online for the whole world to see as her page is not set to private. Now she might be a wonderful hands-on mother to her two children (I wouldn't know) but if she is then she certainly isn't portaying herself very well.
Reading stuff like this not only makes me angry but it also makes me sad. When I first had Jesse my focus and attention was on nothing else except for him. Thoughts of sex and partying never even entered my mind as I sat and stared at my son in amazement for hours on end. I remember holding him and drinking in that beautiful baby breath and watching all the facial expressions he would make as he lay dozing in my arms. I didn't want to miss a moment. Time with him was so precious and I wanted to capture everything. This mother is wasting the perfect opportunity to just spend time bonding with her newborn. Holding him. Feeding him. Cuddling him. Singing to him. Watching him. Children grow up so quickly... enjoy every moment that you can with them because before you know it they'll be off and doing their own things. Don't waste time with them.. make time for them!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Hard work really does pay off..
I went into University today and picked up my last 2 assignments for my Professional Writing unit and turns out I totally nailed them. Two more High Distinctions which means my overall grade for that unit is a High Distinction. I'm so happy with what I have achieved so far and getting results like this just makes my day. It makes all the hard work seem worth it and it motivates me to keep at it and to keep working hard. It just goes to show that hard work really does pay off.
Now I wait in anticipation for my exam results which should be released on the 2nd of July. Bring it on I say!
Now I wait in anticipation for my exam results which should be released on the 2nd of July. Bring it on I say!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
I have all that I NEED and MORE!
I have read a few blog posts recently about WANTING. We all want different things, whether it be a new car, a bigger house, another child or more money and there is nothing wrong with having these wants. In fact it is perfectly normal. The only time when wanting what we can't have becomes dangerous is if we get ourselves into debt to service our wants or we become that envious of others that we can't see all the great things going on in our own lives.
There are a lot of things that I want right now. I want a 4WD, a bigger house, an education, more children, a job, more money and the chance to travel. But I'm not about to get myself into debt so that I can have these things straight away. These are goals and goals take time. And the beauty of having goals is experiencing the journey it takes to reach them and then feeling that sense of accomplishment when you do achieve them. I know that getting a university education takes time but it will all be worth it in the end because I will come away with a degree and a chance to secure a job and earn more money. Then with that new found stability I can save up for the dream car, the bigger house, more children and also reward myself with a holiday or two along the way.
There are also times when I feel envious of what others have. I see people who I went to school with in fantastic jobs earning lots of money, buying their dream homes, travelling all over the world, and getting married and having children. But just because they seem to "have it all" doesn't necessarily mean they're happy. What if the highly paid executive secretly wishes she had a child? What if the person living in their dream home is struggling to make the repayments and with it feeling a lot of stress? What if the person travelling the world feels lonely and wishes they had someone to share the experience with? And what if the young married woman with children really desires to further her education but feels she doesn't have the time to? Unless we are that other person then we don't know what they are feeling. Just because we see what they have and want it, doesn't necessarily mean it is what they wanted or what they are happy with. We need to look at our own lives and be grateful for what we already have. When I become conscious of this I realise there are many things that I have to be grateful for. I have a very loving and understanding partner who supports me all the way, a beautiful well-behaved child who always knows how to put a smile on my face, a roof over my head, food in my fridge, clothes on my back, a wonderful little car, a best friend who goes out of her way to cheer me up, and a family that pulls together when the going gets tough. So what if I want more things... I have all that I NEED and MORE!
However as with all things in life... don't forget the balance. If you're always depriving yourself of things you want because you don't feel you have the money or the time, then make a plan to achieve some of your wants sooner. There is no point always saving up for that holiday and then never taking it. Or scrimping and saving and then never rewarding yourself for all your hard work. This will only make you unhappy. It is OK to reward yourself every now and again. Take that holiday. Buy that dress you've been eyeing off. Just make sure you have planned for it and can afford it - then there is no guilt when the time comes to do it. You can just enjoy it!!
Jesse on the bike he got for Xmas, out the front of our house.
There are a lot of things that I want right now. I want a 4WD, a bigger house, an education, more children, a job, more money and the chance to travel. But I'm not about to get myself into debt so that I can have these things straight away. These are goals and goals take time. And the beauty of having goals is experiencing the journey it takes to reach them and then feeling that sense of accomplishment when you do achieve them. I know that getting a university education takes time but it will all be worth it in the end because I will come away with a degree and a chance to secure a job and earn more money. Then with that new found stability I can save up for the dream car, the bigger house, more children and also reward myself with a holiday or two along the way.
Dave, Tiffany (my sister), my mum and me.
There are also times when I feel envious of what others have. I see people who I went to school with in fantastic jobs earning lots of money, buying their dream homes, travelling all over the world, and getting married and having children. But just because they seem to "have it all" doesn't necessarily mean they're happy. What if the highly paid executive secretly wishes she had a child? What if the person living in their dream home is struggling to make the repayments and with it feeling a lot of stress? What if the person travelling the world feels lonely and wishes they had someone to share the experience with? And what if the young married woman with children really desires to further her education but feels she doesn't have the time to? Unless we are that other person then we don't know what they are feeling. Just because we see what they have and want it, doesn't necessarily mean it is what they wanted or what they are happy with. We need to look at our own lives and be grateful for what we already have. When I become conscious of this I realise there are many things that I have to be grateful for. I have a very loving and understanding partner who supports me all the way, a beautiful well-behaved child who always knows how to put a smile on my face, a roof over my head, food in my fridge, clothes on my back, a wonderful little car, a best friend who goes out of her way to cheer me up, and a family that pulls together when the going gets tough. So what if I want more things... I have all that I NEED and MORE!
My little man with my beautiful Nanna. I love them both dearly.
However as with all things in life... don't forget the balance. If you're always depriving yourself of things you want because you don't feel you have the money or the time, then make a plan to achieve some of your wants sooner. There is no point always saving up for that holiday and then never taking it. Or scrimping and saving and then never rewarding yourself for all your hard work. This will only make you unhappy. It is OK to reward yourself every now and again. Take that holiday. Buy that dress you've been eyeing off. Just make sure you have planned for it and can afford it - then there is no guilt when the time comes to do it. You can just enjoy it!!
On holidays. The view of Melbourne from the top of the MCG.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
When it all becomes TOO MUCH!
Do you ever feel like some days are just too much? Do you ever feel like you're not doing enough? Do you ever feel like giving up? If you've answered yes to any of these questions then you'll understand exactly how I am feeling at the moment. I think it's about time that I shared with you the reason why I am trying to find the balance in my life: It is because I am currently very unhappy with how things are balanced in my life. So unhappy in fact that I have just been diagnosed with depression yet again.
Depression, anxiety and obsessive complusive disorder (OCD) are three problems that I have been dealing with most of my life. They are three dark holes that once I'm in them, I find them very hard to get out of. When I am happy and there isn't much stress in my life then these conditions start to ease and I always feel that maybe they've gone for good this time. And then as soon as that stress starts creeping back into my life... BAM... those three problems are back and in full force!
Things started to take a turn for the worse quite literally at the very beginning of this year. My cat got very ill over Christmas and New Years and due to the amount of days the vets would be shut over this period we decided the best thing to do would be to operate. Over $1,100 later he was given a diagnosis of pancreatitis. Then the fuel tank on my car broke and needed fixing - another $1,200 there. Then my ex, who is also Jesse's father, came back from a 3 month holiday in America and decided he now wanted Jesse EVERY weekend but no other times. I thought this was an unfair arrangement and so we are now in a custody battle - currently in mediation stage. I then started university which meant dropping down to one income which is a struggle because my partner does not earn very much. I then had to drop from a full-time study load of 4 units down to 3 units because I had become so stressed over everything that was going on that I found it difficult to concentrate. Then one night in frustration, as I was cooking dinner, the oven broke on me yet again so I gave it a nice swift kick and as a result broke my toe. I spent the next 6 weeks getting around in pain, wearing a very funny looking shoe. Not long after this I started getting very bad pains on the lower right side of my abdomen. Appendix - I thought. And so off I went to hospital. Turns out not appendicitis but maybe a problem with my bowels. So I am now on the wait list for a colonoscopy and an endoscopy. All of this has become so overwhelming that my OCD and depression have reared their ugly heads again. Which only makes everything seem all the more difficult. Now just getting out of bed in the mornings is a total struggle! I would best describe my depression as always feeling on the verge. On the verge of tears - that is if I'm not already crying.
Depression, anxiety and obsessive complusive disorder (OCD) are three problems that I have been dealing with most of my life. They are three dark holes that once I'm in them, I find them very hard to get out of. When I am happy and there isn't much stress in my life then these conditions start to ease and I always feel that maybe they've gone for good this time. And then as soon as that stress starts creeping back into my life... BAM... those three problems are back and in full force!
Things started to take a turn for the worse quite literally at the very beginning of this year. My cat got very ill over Christmas and New Years and due to the amount of days the vets would be shut over this period we decided the best thing to do would be to operate. Over $1,100 later he was given a diagnosis of pancreatitis. Then the fuel tank on my car broke and needed fixing - another $1,200 there. Then my ex, who is also Jesse's father, came back from a 3 month holiday in America and decided he now wanted Jesse EVERY weekend but no other times. I thought this was an unfair arrangement and so we are now in a custody battle - currently in mediation stage. I then started university which meant dropping down to one income which is a struggle because my partner does not earn very much. I then had to drop from a full-time study load of 4 units down to 3 units because I had become so stressed over everything that was going on that I found it difficult to concentrate. Then one night in frustration, as I was cooking dinner, the oven broke on me yet again so I gave it a nice swift kick and as a result broke my toe. I spent the next 6 weeks getting around in pain, wearing a very funny looking shoe. Not long after this I started getting very bad pains on the lower right side of my abdomen. Appendix - I thought. And so off I went to hospital. Turns out not appendicitis but maybe a problem with my bowels. So I am now on the wait list for a colonoscopy and an endoscopy. All of this has become so overwhelming that my OCD and depression have reared their ugly heads again. Which only makes everything seem all the more difficult. Now just getting out of bed in the mornings is a total struggle! I would best describe my depression as always feeling on the verge. On the verge of tears - that is if I'm not already crying.
Crumpet on the mend. (You can see where his tummy was shaved for the operation)
I was hesitant to share all of this with you. And I feel embarrassed to admit that I am suffering mentally as well as physically at the moment. What if people think I'm a bad mother? What if people think I'm just complaining? What if people think I'm crazy? But I thought to myself today: "What if someone else is going through something similar to what I am?" "What if someone is feeling what I am feeling?" If you are out there and reading this then know that YOU are NOT alone! Being a parent is hard. Being a university student is hard. Being in a custody battle is hard. Struggling with any kind of mental health problem is hard. But you're still here (as am I) and you are doing the best that you can. Give yourself a pat on the back and give yourself credit for everything you have accomplished so far. When you hit a bump in the road, don't give up - push on! It will all be worth it in the end.
The road ahead.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
To defer or not to defer?
I am currently contemplating deferring my University studies so that I can go to TAFE and study cooking. I'd end up with a Certificate III in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery) and I'd then know how to select, prepare and cook foods for my family. I don't know whether or not this is a good idea but it's something I am thinking about doing. If I did this I would probably still do 1 unit at University next semester because it will be the Creative Writing unit that I have been looking forward to for so long. Has anybody else ever been on one path and then decided to switch to another? If so how did it all work out for you?
Well now that I've got that off my chest, we're picking up some more furniture today. We put a deposit down a couple of weeks ago on a second-hand couch we found on Gumtree but we hadn't been able to pick it up due to the stormy weather. Finally the sun is shining here in Perth so furniture can be organised, washing can be hung out to dry and I can give the kitty litter tray a good scrub. We've also got a friend coming over today to give us a quote on fixing our fence. The dogs are having a ball being able to run amok with each other however the neighbours dog isn't used to cats. This means she spends a good part of the day just staring through our back door and barking incessantly at our cats which is starting to get a little tiring. So, I can't wait for our new fence!
Well now that I've got that off my chest, we're picking up some more furniture today. We put a deposit down a couple of weeks ago on a second-hand couch we found on Gumtree but we hadn't been able to pick it up due to the stormy weather. Finally the sun is shining here in Perth so furniture can be organised, washing can be hung out to dry and I can give the kitty litter tray a good scrub. We've also got a friend coming over today to give us a quote on fixing our fence. The dogs are having a ball being able to run amok with each other however the neighbours dog isn't used to cats. This means she spends a good part of the day just staring through our back door and barking incessantly at our cats which is starting to get a little tiring. So, I can't wait for our new fence!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Mayonnaise Jar & Two Wines...
I just received this in a forward email from my mother and I wanted to share it with you. I think it does a beautiful job at explaining how to achieve the perfect balance in life.
Mayonnaise Jar & Two Wines...
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 wines.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full..
The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two wines from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed..
'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car..
The sand is everything else---the small stuff.'
'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Spend time with your children.
Spend time with your parents.
Visit with grandparents.
Take your spouse out to dinner..
Play another 18.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented.
The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'
'The Wine just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of wines with a friend.'
(Author Unknown).
Mayonnaise Jar & Two Wines...
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 wines.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full..
The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two wines from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed..
'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car..
The sand is everything else---the small stuff.'
'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Spend time with your children.
Spend time with your parents.
Visit with grandparents.
Take your spouse out to dinner..
Play another 18.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented.
The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'
'The Wine just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of wines with a friend.'
(Author Unknown).
What can your child do today?
Recently I've been thinking about more things that Jesse could do around the house and for himself. Because we are very tight on money (we live off one income that is below the average wage) we can't buy Jesse toys unless it's for his birthday or Christmas. Unfortunately when Jesse goes to his Dad's house he often gets spoilt by toys and given everything he wants by his father and his paternal grandparents. This makes parenting a little more difficult for me and Dave because Jesse expects that when he wants something he will get it. We've had to talk to him about not having as much money as Daddy or his Nan & Grandad and that if he wants a toy he will have to do jobs around the house for money and that way he can save up for the toy himself. Jesse really liked the idea and I'm hoping to make a chart soon with simple chores on it so he knows what is expected of him. So far we pay him 20c per job. Do your children have a chore chart? Do they get paid for helping around the house?
Jesse also learnt how to wash his own hair for the first time last night. Jesse hates getting water in his eyes and putting his head under water so shampooing his hair is usually a nightmare but I thought it was about time he learnt to do it for himself. I squeezed the shampoo onto his head and placed his hand where the shampoo was. I then showed him how to scrub his head to make lots of bubbles and I did all this while holding up a mirror in front of him. He thoroughly enjoyed doing it for himself and he got a kick out of seeing all the bubbles he could make in his hair. Despite still needing a little bit of help I think by age 6 he'll be easily doing it on his own. This simple act had a flow on effect and once he got out of the shower he wanted to do everything for himself, including drying himself, brushing and styling his hair and putting on a long pair of socks (he can usually only manage ankle socks).
I think as parents we sometimes don't expect enough of our kids and we still do a lot for them that they are probably capable of doing for themselves. In my case this occurs for two reasons: 1. He's my only child and so he's still my baby to me and 2. Sometimes I am just not aware of what Jesse can do for himself because I'm so used to doing it for him automatically. From now on I am going to pay a lot more attention to Jesse's broadening skills and independence. This is something I can nurture in him so that hopefully by adulthood he will be more than capable of caring for himself and running a household. What do your children do for themselves and how do they help around the house?
Jesse also learnt how to wash his own hair for the first time last night. Jesse hates getting water in his eyes and putting his head under water so shampooing his hair is usually a nightmare but I thought it was about time he learnt to do it for himself. I squeezed the shampoo onto his head and placed his hand where the shampoo was. I then showed him how to scrub his head to make lots of bubbles and I did all this while holding up a mirror in front of him. He thoroughly enjoyed doing it for himself and he got a kick out of seeing all the bubbles he could make in his hair. Despite still needing a little bit of help I think by age 6 he'll be easily doing it on his own. This simple act had a flow on effect and once he got out of the shower he wanted to do everything for himself, including drying himself, brushing and styling his hair and putting on a long pair of socks (he can usually only manage ankle socks).
I think as parents we sometimes don't expect enough of our kids and we still do a lot for them that they are probably capable of doing for themselves. In my case this occurs for two reasons: 1. He's my only child and so he's still my baby to me and 2. Sometimes I am just not aware of what Jesse can do for himself because I'm so used to doing it for him automatically. From now on I am going to pay a lot more attention to Jesse's broadening skills and independence. This is something I can nurture in him so that hopefully by adulthood he will be more than capable of caring for himself and running a household. What do your children do for themselves and how do they help around the house?
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Healthy food and how to cook?
I just got back from helping out in Jesse's pre-primary class. It felt so good to finally have the time to be able to go and lend a hand as Jesse had been constantly asking me when it was my turn to come and help out at his school. I know I have made him happy by being there for him today and in turn that makes me very happy.
On a different note, it was shocking to see what was in some of these kids' lunchboxes!! Giant bags of Twisties, roll-ups, 2-3 muesli bars, chocolates and the list goes on. I even overheard one of the teacher assistant's saying to the other that one student in her class had a lunchbox that only contained chocolate and chocolate biscuits - no fruit and no sandwich. Ever!
I often felt guilty about what I put in Jesse's lunchbox because it didn't contain a lot of variety. Each day he gets a vegemite sandwich on wholemeal grain bread, a banana or an apple, a muesli bar and sometimes sultanas. After seeing what some other children are given for lunch I no longer feel so bad. I wish Jesse was interested in eating healthier foods (like carrot and celery sticks and different types of fruit) but at least he is eating quite healthy when compared to other children his age.
Another area where I cop a lot of criticism (mainly from my mum) is what I feed Jesse for dinner. We eat a lot of easy-to-throw-together meals such as scrambled eggs, porridge with banana, toasted sandwiches, spaghetti bolognaise and fish fingers with vegetables; however I never ever ever give Jesse any fast food - so no McDonald's, no KFC, no Hungry Jack's and so on. This is because I used to eat take-away quite often until I became very very ill with food poisoning after a meal from McDonald's and so I vowed never to feed it to myself or my son ever again. For moral support Dave no longer eats it either. Now I know I should be cooking more balanced meals (meat and veg) but due to so many bad experiences with food in the past I've become a little bit paranoid about what I cook for my family. I don't want to make any of us sick. Does anybody else ever have this concern? Can you trust what your local supermarket sells you?
On top of this I was never really taught how to cook. I mean I know how to boil an egg and do mashed potatoes and so on but most of what I know now I taught myself. When I helped mum in the kitchen it was usually just to chop vegetables, stir something or keep an eye on the stove so nothing burned. But I can not recall being taught how to cook a meal from start to finish. Having never learnt these skills I have also missed out on the sensory experiences that come with learning to cook, so I don't know what fresh produce is supposed to look like, smell like or even feel like. And this is where I become a little panicky because I don't want to accidentally cook a meal for my family only to have not realised that the meat was contaminated with salmonella. Maybe I'm overthinking things. Maybe I should just get over it and on with it. But all I want is the best for my family and that includes being considerate about what they put into their mouths. How did you all learn to cook? Did you grow up being taught or did you have to teach yourself when you moved out of home?
I am currently reading Life Skills for Kids by Christine M. Field and she mentions the following on page 85 in Chapter 3:
On a different note, it was shocking to see what was in some of these kids' lunchboxes!! Giant bags of Twisties, roll-ups, 2-3 muesli bars, chocolates and the list goes on. I even overheard one of the teacher assistant's saying to the other that one student in her class had a lunchbox that only contained chocolate and chocolate biscuits - no fruit and no sandwich. Ever!
I often felt guilty about what I put in Jesse's lunchbox because it didn't contain a lot of variety. Each day he gets a vegemite sandwich on wholemeal grain bread, a banana or an apple, a muesli bar and sometimes sultanas. After seeing what some other children are given for lunch I no longer feel so bad. I wish Jesse was interested in eating healthier foods (like carrot and celery sticks and different types of fruit) but at least he is eating quite healthy when compared to other children his age.
Another area where I cop a lot of criticism (mainly from my mum) is what I feed Jesse for dinner. We eat a lot of easy-to-throw-together meals such as scrambled eggs, porridge with banana, toasted sandwiches, spaghetti bolognaise and fish fingers with vegetables; however I never ever ever give Jesse any fast food - so no McDonald's, no KFC, no Hungry Jack's and so on. This is because I used to eat take-away quite often until I became very very ill with food poisoning after a meal from McDonald's and so I vowed never to feed it to myself or my son ever again. For moral support Dave no longer eats it either. Now I know I should be cooking more balanced meals (meat and veg) but due to so many bad experiences with food in the past I've become a little bit paranoid about what I cook for my family. I don't want to make any of us sick. Does anybody else ever have this concern? Can you trust what your local supermarket sells you?
On top of this I was never really taught how to cook. I mean I know how to boil an egg and do mashed potatoes and so on but most of what I know now I taught myself. When I helped mum in the kitchen it was usually just to chop vegetables, stir something or keep an eye on the stove so nothing burned. But I can not recall being taught how to cook a meal from start to finish. Having never learnt these skills I have also missed out on the sensory experiences that come with learning to cook, so I don't know what fresh produce is supposed to look like, smell like or even feel like. And this is where I become a little panicky because I don't want to accidentally cook a meal for my family only to have not realised that the meat was contaminated with salmonella. Maybe I'm overthinking things. Maybe I should just get over it and on with it. But all I want is the best for my family and that includes being considerate about what they put into their mouths. How did you all learn to cook? Did you grow up being taught or did you have to teach yourself when you moved out of home?
I am currently reading Life Skills for Kids by Christine M. Field and she mentions the following on page 85 in Chapter 3:
My mother wanted "something better" for me than she had experienced. In the climate of the late sixties and seventies, that translated into a liberation from the drudgery of domestic life; the young women of my generation were meant for greater things. So, while reveling in academia, I learned no domestic skills. At age nineteen in an early, ill-advised marriage, I barely handled laundry, opened a lot of cans for meals, and had a less-than-clean household.Christine goes on to say that eventually she learned these skills after her marriage ended and she had the time and the freedom to work on these things at home alone. Unfortunately for me I have never really had that time. I first left home when I was 16 (although not for long) and then officially moved out at age 18 with a newborn baby. I was really thrown into domestic life but with no transferable skills that I could put into practice. And so now I sit here, aged 23 still without a clue on how to do things properly. I realise now that I have no choice but to teach myself the skills of domestic life - it's just a shame because I am a kinaesthetic learner so unless I can physically watch someone performing a task while I do it at the same time I am really going to struggle to learn anything. If you too have had to teach yourself, what helped you to learn? Does anybody have any advice they can share with me? Thank you in advance.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
The Aftermath
Well we survived the storm. It was nowhere near as bad as what we were told to expect... or at least I didn't think it was. But as you can see we did lose our back fence. That came crashing down when the winds first started. Luckily we'd brought our dog Tessa inside just before it started or our neigbours might have found themselves with a new pet - like they did this morning.
My partner Dave went over to visit the neighbours this morning to discuss the fence situation and they were nice enough to say that our dog could be let loose, they didn't mind if she ended up in their back garden as their dog had use of the house and the front garden. So Dave came home and let Tessa loose from her lead and within minutes she was roaming around the neighbour's back garden and very quickly discovered their open back door. "Yay a chance to introduce myself to the neighbours", she thought. So in she went, jumping up at the neighbours and peeing with excitement all through their house as she chased their little staffy. I bet they're now wishing they never said we could let her loose. So one horse lead later and she's now tied up to our back patio to hopefully minimise anymore friendly encounters. Plus the neighbours have washing on the line and little do they know Tessa likes to help bring the washing in.
Tessa. Our very cheeky Rottweiler x Labrador.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
It's time to batten down the hatches!
Today is going to be another quiet day spent at home. We've had wild stormy weather here in Perth the last few days with a severe weather warning set for tonight. On Sunday I awoke to a loud bang, only to find that our power was off and a powerline had come down on our street. It wasn't long before the winds picked up and branches were flying off trees into our cars - thankfully they were too small to do any damage. We were also lucky enough to get power back within the hour, although our street was cordoned off for the rest of the day and night as live powerlines lay across the road.
When I dropped Jesse off at school yesterday I was able to see the extent of the damage caused by Sunday's storm. Fences had blown off, a large tree had crashed through a neighbours roof, more powerlines were down and numerous trees had been uprooted. This comes not long after a tornado hit just north of us. I wasn't even aware that we got tornadoes here in Perth.
Now I sit here waiting nervously to go and pick up my son from school as the rain and wind lash against my windows. In Queensland, where I lived for the best part of my childhood, if a cyclone was expected, school was called off and everyone stayed at home preparing their houses for what was to come. Here in Western Australia nobody really seems to know what to do. We had wind speeds on Sunday that were typical of a category 2 cyclone and it is expected that tonight's storm will be much worse with strong winds and heavy hail predicted. I hope it doesn't hit until both my son and partner are home safe from both school and work. I stocked up on some basics down at the shops today in case we lose power and water. I really hope we don't. It would be a pain to lose all of the food in our fridge and freezer. Hopefully the power stays on long enough for me to get dinner cooked tonight.
Storms like this make me wonder if all the predictions that were made about Global Warming are really starting to come true. Are we, through our actions, causing this havoc? It gets me thinking about what I can do to reduce my carbon footprint. I really should get the compost up and running again and get back to growing my own herbs and vegetables. I have become really slack around the house since starting University and I'm not proud of that. Once this weather settles down I really need to get back into the swing of things when it comes to running the house and garden. Everyone benefits from it - families and the environment.
Just out of curiosity has anybody else noticed how unpredictable the weather has become lately? What do you do in your homes and gardens that help the environment? I hope to start taking some pictures soon to accompany my blog - I might start by photographing the damage caused by the next storm. Wish us luck here in Perth!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Technology - A help or a hindrance?
My issue today is with technology and how it is increasingly creeping in on "family time". It's said that all new technologies are invented before we have a need or use for them and then eventually they become integrated into our day to day lives so that we can't remember how we used to get by without them.
One of the units I completed first semester was on technology and the impacts that these new technologies are having on today's society. The main focus was on the Internet, mobile phones, video/computer games and social networking sites. I decided to do the unit because I was interested in what all these new technologies were doing to individuals and families. And the outlook wasn't good. People are becoming increasingly addicted to these new technologies and even experience withdrawal symptoms if they go without them for too long. Is this what we want for our children? For them to grow up addicted to technology?
Now don't get me wrong I'm not completely opposed to technology... I'm laying here in bed typing this on my laptop with my mobile phone plugged in on charge next to me. And I'm not suggesting we go without these new advances in technology. What I am suggesting is once again: Finding The Balance. Like with everything else in life, our interactions with technologies should be balanced alongside our other daily activities.
My partner and I went out for dinner on the weekend and it was the first time we'd been out for a meal together in months... maybe even a year. It was set to be an enjoyable night as I no longer had assignment deadlines looming over my head. And so as we sit down at the table I settle in for a lovely conversation and what does my partner do? You guessed it... pulls out his phone and starts playing with it. "Ahem" I say. "Give me a minute" is the reply I receive. As I look around I notice at every table at least one person is on their mobile phone, even if there is only two of them. How sad is it that people no longer know how to enjoy a quiet meal together without the interruptions of mobile phones?
I was discussing this above incident with my best friend over the phone today and she has many of the same concerns that I do surrounding these new technologies. She has been without a mobile phone for about a year now and I commend her on that. It just goes to prove it's not a necessity. I tried to go without my mobile phone once (mainly because I had to thanks to my iphone deciding it didn't want to work anymore) but I failed miserably without it. I had difficulties finding a landline to use in an emergency and when I did come across the odd payphone on campus I had no change to use it. So I went back to an old basic brick phone and I sure do notice the difference. I didn't realise how dependent I had become on my iphone for entertainment and to fill in times of waiting. For the first few weeks of using the new phone I kept grabbing it so surf the net, check my emails, check the news, go on Gumtree, etc. when I realised it wasn't an iphone and I could no longer do any of those things. I could call or text and that was it. Now I rarely have my phone on me unless I think I will need to make a call. And I'm not continuously engrossed by it because there is nothing I can really do with it. I feel so much happier for it too, it has actually freed up time in my day. My iphone came back from repair last week and I haven't even taken it out of its box yet. I think when I do it will be to photograph it so I can list it up for sale. I now know I don't need that much in a mobile phone - if it can make and receive calls and texts then I'm happy.
Well that's enough ranting about technology, my aim here is not to sound like a luddite. It is to encourage you all to think about how you use technology in your day to day lives and how your children use it? Are these technologies a help or a hindrance to your families? If you're feeling they are the latter then how might you go about decreasing your time spent with these technologies? I suggested to my partner tonight having a "no power night" once a week where everything goes off and we sit and do something together by candlelight. Perhaps have a conversation or play a boardgame. He agreed to the idea so I'm looking forward to restoring some of the balance back in our relationship. More quality time, less time spent glued to a screen (whatever size it might be).
Ok I'm off to hopefully squeeze in a bit of light reading before I go to sleep. I've borrowed out Little Women by Louisa May Alcott from the library and I'm excited to get started on it. I have not read it before but I know it's considered a classic. I have University to thank for broadening my ideas on what constitutes a good read. And mostly I am happy that while on winter break I can read for pleasure rather than because I have to.
Night all!
One of the units I completed first semester was on technology and the impacts that these new technologies are having on today's society. The main focus was on the Internet, mobile phones, video/computer games and social networking sites. I decided to do the unit because I was interested in what all these new technologies were doing to individuals and families. And the outlook wasn't good. People are becoming increasingly addicted to these new technologies and even experience withdrawal symptoms if they go without them for too long. Is this what we want for our children? For them to grow up addicted to technology?
Now don't get me wrong I'm not completely opposed to technology... I'm laying here in bed typing this on my laptop with my mobile phone plugged in on charge next to me. And I'm not suggesting we go without these new advances in technology. What I am suggesting is once again: Finding The Balance. Like with everything else in life, our interactions with technologies should be balanced alongside our other daily activities.
My partner and I went out for dinner on the weekend and it was the first time we'd been out for a meal together in months... maybe even a year. It was set to be an enjoyable night as I no longer had assignment deadlines looming over my head. And so as we sit down at the table I settle in for a lovely conversation and what does my partner do? You guessed it... pulls out his phone and starts playing with it. "Ahem" I say. "Give me a minute" is the reply I receive. As I look around I notice at every table at least one person is on their mobile phone, even if there is only two of them. How sad is it that people no longer know how to enjoy a quiet meal together without the interruptions of mobile phones?
I was discussing this above incident with my best friend over the phone today and she has many of the same concerns that I do surrounding these new technologies. She has been without a mobile phone for about a year now and I commend her on that. It just goes to prove it's not a necessity. I tried to go without my mobile phone once (mainly because I had to thanks to my iphone deciding it didn't want to work anymore) but I failed miserably without it. I had difficulties finding a landline to use in an emergency and when I did come across the odd payphone on campus I had no change to use it. So I went back to an old basic brick phone and I sure do notice the difference. I didn't realise how dependent I had become on my iphone for entertainment and to fill in times of waiting. For the first few weeks of using the new phone I kept grabbing it so surf the net, check my emails, check the news, go on Gumtree, etc. when I realised it wasn't an iphone and I could no longer do any of those things. I could call or text and that was it. Now I rarely have my phone on me unless I think I will need to make a call. And I'm not continuously engrossed by it because there is nothing I can really do with it. I feel so much happier for it too, it has actually freed up time in my day. My iphone came back from repair last week and I haven't even taken it out of its box yet. I think when I do it will be to photograph it so I can list it up for sale. I now know I don't need that much in a mobile phone - if it can make and receive calls and texts then I'm happy.
Well that's enough ranting about technology, my aim here is not to sound like a luddite. It is to encourage you all to think about how you use technology in your day to day lives and how your children use it? Are these technologies a help or a hindrance to your families? If you're feeling they are the latter then how might you go about decreasing your time spent with these technologies? I suggested to my partner tonight having a "no power night" once a week where everything goes off and we sit and do something together by candlelight. Perhaps have a conversation or play a boardgame. He agreed to the idea so I'm looking forward to restoring some of the balance back in our relationship. More quality time, less time spent glued to a screen (whatever size it might be).
Ok I'm off to hopefully squeeze in a bit of light reading before I go to sleep. I've borrowed out Little Women by Louisa May Alcott from the library and I'm excited to get started on it. I have not read it before but I know it's considered a classic. I have University to thank for broadening my ideas on what constitutes a good read. And mostly I am happy that while on winter break I can read for pleasure rather than because I have to.
Night all!
Friday, June 8, 2012
The rise of the "Supermum"
We've all heard of the term "Supermum" but what does the word actually imply? Well usually the term "Supermum" is used to describe a woman juggling career, motherhood, housework, the child's out-of-school commitments and maybe even study. I think the key word here is juggling. Even with all great juggling acts there comes a time when the balls will eventually drop. There is no balance in juggling - it's all up in the air.
A little while ago I posted on a homemaking blog asking how to achieve the balance between study, being a parent, looking for work and being a homemaker. I was pretty much told that I wasn't a homemaker as I didn't spend a lot of time cooking and cleaning due to my study commitments which I thought was fair enough. However I also received a few comments that made my blood boil. And I'm sure you've heard them too. They're stories that go something like this "I know a mother who works full-time, studies part time, still manages to cook and clean and helps out at the school once a week." Notice how it's always "I know someone". It's never "I manage to do this..."
Comments like that annoy me because they make me feel pressured as a mother. They also make me feel like I'm not doing enough - like I should be doing more. And then I start wondering where do these mothers actually get the time to do all of this? Am I just disorganised? So I've broken it down a little to see if it's possible. Full time work in WA is classified as working 38 hours plus per week. For each unit of study you do at University, you are meant to allow 10 hours of work on it per week. So say you do 2 units (I do 3) that's 20 hours per week. Now if you're working full time during the week I don't see how one can help out at the school but lets say it's possible - that's at least 2 hours there. Now cooking and cleaning - lets allow at least 1.5 hours each day for that. There are 168 hours in a week. If you allow yourself to sleep for 8 hours each night (which isn't always possible but it is recommended) you're left with 112 hours. Minus all of the above and you are left with less than 40 hours per week and that time is still split between dropping off and picking kids up from school, driving to and from work, driving to and from child's other commitments (such as sport) - then staying there and watching them for at least a couple of hours, doing the grocery shopping, getting the kids showered and ready for bed, making lunches, walking the dog, etc. etc. etc. You get my drift right? That doesn't leave a lot of time left over for you!
Yes some mothers, and even fathers, may actually do all of the above. But do they do each job well? Yes dinner is on the table - but is it fast food or a good home-cooked meal from scratch? Yes they might clean (I know some parents who hire a cleaner for this) but is it done on a regular basis? Yes they might study but are they achieving the marks they are capable of? There are a lot of questions to ask of the "Supermum". And the most important one of all is Are you happy?? Do you get any downtime - do you ever get to unwind with your feet up, a cuppa in one hand and an interesting book in the other? By the way if there are "Supermums" out there reading this please feel free to butt in and tell me how you balance it all. That's what I'm here to learn!
Now I understand the insurmountable amount of pressure mums are faced with today. There used to be a time, back in my grandmother's day and even my mother's day, when the woman stayed home and the man went to work. The woman managed the home and raised the kids, making do with what was on hand. The man was the breadwinner - he went to work each day and brought home the bacon. In today's society it is very difficult to live off one wage, especially if you are a low-income earner, and so there is pressure for the woman to return to work not long after having her kids so that they can afford to keep a roof over their heads. Then in this economic climate it is very difficult to find a job - or at least I'm finding it difficult - when you don't have any skills or qualifications as all your resume reads is: Mother. So then there is the pressure to return to study and further your education so that maybe then you can secure some work. On top of that we have become a society of want want want. What we have is never enough. We always want more and more costs money. You've heard the saying "keeping up with the Joneses" - well once you reach the Joneses, you'll probably see the Smiths live a lot better than the Joneses and so the cycle begins.
Now what I want to do today is redefine what it means to be a "Supermum". I think a "Supermum" is any mum who manages to wake up each day and face whatever challenges parenthood throws at them - whether it be settling a colicky baby, toilet training a toddler, looking after a sick child, sitting on the floor playing game after game with your kids even when you're bored stiff, or trying to get some work done around the house with a mini-me clung to your legs. If this sounds like you - then you ARE a SUPER MUM!! You don't need to juggle a million things to claim that title, so long as you do a super job of being there for your kids, then you have the position nailed!
A little while ago I posted on a homemaking blog asking how to achieve the balance between study, being a parent, looking for work and being a homemaker. I was pretty much told that I wasn't a homemaker as I didn't spend a lot of time cooking and cleaning due to my study commitments which I thought was fair enough. However I also received a few comments that made my blood boil. And I'm sure you've heard them too. They're stories that go something like this "I know a mother who works full-time, studies part time, still manages to cook and clean and helps out at the school once a week." Notice how it's always "I know someone". It's never "I manage to do this..."
Comments like that annoy me because they make me feel pressured as a mother. They also make me feel like I'm not doing enough - like I should be doing more. And then I start wondering where do these mothers actually get the time to do all of this? Am I just disorganised? So I've broken it down a little to see if it's possible. Full time work in WA is classified as working 38 hours plus per week. For each unit of study you do at University, you are meant to allow 10 hours of work on it per week. So say you do 2 units (I do 3) that's 20 hours per week. Now if you're working full time during the week I don't see how one can help out at the school but lets say it's possible - that's at least 2 hours there. Now cooking and cleaning - lets allow at least 1.5 hours each day for that. There are 168 hours in a week. If you allow yourself to sleep for 8 hours each night (which isn't always possible but it is recommended) you're left with 112 hours. Minus all of the above and you are left with less than 40 hours per week and that time is still split between dropping off and picking kids up from school, driving to and from work, driving to and from child's other commitments (such as sport) - then staying there and watching them for at least a couple of hours, doing the grocery shopping, getting the kids showered and ready for bed, making lunches, walking the dog, etc. etc. etc. You get my drift right? That doesn't leave a lot of time left over for you!
Yes some mothers, and even fathers, may actually do all of the above. But do they do each job well? Yes dinner is on the table - but is it fast food or a good home-cooked meal from scratch? Yes they might clean (I know some parents who hire a cleaner for this) but is it done on a regular basis? Yes they might study but are they achieving the marks they are capable of? There are a lot of questions to ask of the "Supermum". And the most important one of all is Are you happy?? Do you get any downtime - do you ever get to unwind with your feet up, a cuppa in one hand and an interesting book in the other? By the way if there are "Supermums" out there reading this please feel free to butt in and tell me how you balance it all. That's what I'm here to learn!
Now I understand the insurmountable amount of pressure mums are faced with today. There used to be a time, back in my grandmother's day and even my mother's day, when the woman stayed home and the man went to work. The woman managed the home and raised the kids, making do with what was on hand. The man was the breadwinner - he went to work each day and brought home the bacon. In today's society it is very difficult to live off one wage, especially if you are a low-income earner, and so there is pressure for the woman to return to work not long after having her kids so that they can afford to keep a roof over their heads. Then in this economic climate it is very difficult to find a job - or at least I'm finding it difficult - when you don't have any skills or qualifications as all your resume reads is: Mother. So then there is the pressure to return to study and further your education so that maybe then you can secure some work. On top of that we have become a society of want want want. What we have is never enough. We always want more and more costs money. You've heard the saying "keeping up with the Joneses" - well once you reach the Joneses, you'll probably see the Smiths live a lot better than the Joneses and so the cycle begins.
Now what I want to do today is redefine what it means to be a "Supermum". I think a "Supermum" is any mum who manages to wake up each day and face whatever challenges parenthood throws at them - whether it be settling a colicky baby, toilet training a toddler, looking after a sick child, sitting on the floor playing game after game with your kids even when you're bored stiff, or trying to get some work done around the house with a mini-me clung to your legs. If this sounds like you - then you ARE a SUPER MUM!! You don't need to juggle a million things to claim that title, so long as you do a super job of being there for your kids, then you have the position nailed!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Winter break officially starts today
Well my first day of winter break officially starts today. The weather has finally turned here and there is now a chill in the air. It's time for blankets, ugg boots, flannelette sheets and hot cups of tea! I've just finished my morning cuppa having dropped my son Jesse off at school, all rugged up in his trackpants and a nice warm jumper. Now I'm about to head off and look at an old fashioned children's school desk that I found on Gumtree. It's one of the wooden ones with the lift up lids and the tray underneath. I hope it looks as good as it does in the picture. I bought one last night (another find on Gumtree) that had been painted orange and black. Jesse loved it but I'm seeking one where the wood has been left untouched. I'm in the process of renovating Jesse's room so I'm adding more furniture, more storage and it's going to be painted blue. I'll keep you updated on the process and I'll take a few pictures along the way.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Semester 1 - done and dusted!
Well today I had my final exam for my first semester of Uni. This one was for my education unit and dare I say it was a little trickier than the one I had yesterday for my foundation unit. Now I have a two month winter break and I don't know quite what to do with myself. I've become so used to spending each night chained to my desk, reading books, making notes, smashing out assignments and all round just studying like crazy that now this semester is all over and done with, I'm feeling a little bit lost. So what to do...? Start a blog!
You see I love to write. Well I love to read and write and so University has been a perfect fit for me so far. I'm currently doing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing but I have my fingers crossed that I will be accepted into a Bachelor of Education degree next semester so that I can work towards my goal of becoming a secondary English teacher.
It hasn't been all roses for me so far though. My first semester was fraught with challenges - not all of it University related. I wasn't sure I was even going to make it through the first few weeks let alone the whole semester. So I'm pretty chuffed about how far I've come already. And I've actually done well - snapping up some pretty great marks along the way. But boy do I miss spending quality time with my son. And let's not even go there with the state of my house (I think I stopped doing housework the minute I started University). And so the struggle begins: finding the balance between study, work, being a parent and running a home.
My balance at the moment is far from ideal and this break is sure going to come in handy to get things in order, so that by the time second semester rolls around, things will be running smoothly - or at least that's the plan! Starting tomorrow I'm going to draw up some plans and write a list for what needs to get done so I can see where to start.
If you are anything like me, feeling slightly overwhelmed by everything life is throwing your way, then join me on this journey. Through University. Through parenthood. Through work. And let's all work together to create the optimal balance in each and every one of our lives. We all strive for it - so now let's achieve it!
You see I love to write. Well I love to read and write and so University has been a perfect fit for me so far. I'm currently doing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing but I have my fingers crossed that I will be accepted into a Bachelor of Education degree next semester so that I can work towards my goal of becoming a secondary English teacher.
It hasn't been all roses for me so far though. My first semester was fraught with challenges - not all of it University related. I wasn't sure I was even going to make it through the first few weeks let alone the whole semester. So I'm pretty chuffed about how far I've come already. And I've actually done well - snapping up some pretty great marks along the way. But boy do I miss spending quality time with my son. And let's not even go there with the state of my house (I think I stopped doing housework the minute I started University). And so the struggle begins: finding the balance between study, work, being a parent and running a home.
My balance at the moment is far from ideal and this break is sure going to come in handy to get things in order, so that by the time second semester rolls around, things will be running smoothly - or at least that's the plan! Starting tomorrow I'm going to draw up some plans and write a list for what needs to get done so I can see where to start.
If you are anything like me, feeling slightly overwhelmed by everything life is throwing your way, then join me on this journey. Through University. Through parenthood. Through work. And let's all work together to create the optimal balance in each and every one of our lives. We all strive for it - so now let's achieve it!
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