Skip to main content

Day 57

Looking back at a post from August last year, I was reminded of my own suggestion to Lose the Manual and just make the most of these formative years with our young family. I say this on the back of only just getting Ethan to sleep – how’s that for a BEDtime success but a bedTIME fail?

Turns out, as much as we Moms take whatever nap time we can get, if the nap goes into the 5pm time zone, we’re going to pay for it later!

As I lay there between my talkative five-year old and my restless two-year old, playing (reluctant) bed time Twister, I started to get anxious about when they would eventually give in to some sleep. Plus, the cooler nights now also make for a chilly bed time operation because the covers keep getting kicked off the side of the bed in all of the folly.

Earlier tonight (but still late enough to be bedtime), I walked in on Jorja spreading out a blanket on the floor – in airy arm, picnic laying movements. To her, the blanket on the floor would make for the perfect chill spot where she could enjoy some last minute TV viewing and a spot of tea. To me, she was gathering and spreading dust and leaves that only reminded me of my lack of housecleaning over the past weekend. And it was late. And she had seen this Disney show before. And she really didn’t need tea. Her fun was my fury. Her adventure was my anger.

That can’t be right.

And so – by sheer coincidence of wanting to see what was happening in our lives a year ago today – I came across the reminder to focus less on what the assumed family growing manual suggests and make the most of where we find ourselves right now. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A home-made birthday

Due to the fact that we celebrated Jorja's birthday with the Weber and Wilcox families in the UK last year - over a few days and in various styles - we were a bit out of practice. In fact, if Jorja had not brought it to my attention with just two weeks to spare, I must confess that I would not have expected it to arrive for another few more weeks! But Moms could never let that seem to be the case, so we got cracking on 5th birthday celebration arrangements... On the night before, I set out every baking ingredient, apparatus and accessory that I could find and hoped that we would make it work! Aunty Robyn and Aunty Ilana arrived just in time to help us bake off the first round of vanilla cake pops and cookies with sprinkles. At this point, there was no turning back, our kitchen was already in a state of bake! The biscuit batch baked beautifully (and bountifully) and Jorja was well pleased with her assisted effort. As she head to bed on the eve of her birthday, I popped the...

The week that has been...

"Life as we see it", right? My time so far at the cycle tour office is reminding me of just how demanding life in this age can be - a time seeking instant solution and gratification: We want it now! We won't wait! This is what makes a relaxing, easy going activity seem so rewarding! We've always been fortunate enough to cook with pleasure - obviously more for mine! And since returning from BA, we've also found great enjoyment from leisurely strolls in the neighbourhood or at Sea Point promenade. Take time for this! Here's what we've been a part of this past week: We were encouraged to see a group of students from Bishops come out (even in the rain) and join with the FBC team in painting a mural on the school's new diningroom and kitchen wall. For news and updates visit: http://www.fbcschool.org.za/ We joined over 15 000 walkers in a quest to feed the hungry children in the Western Cape, by participaing in the Blisters for Bread walk on Sunday. We tackl...

Day 5

P-J left early this morning to help offload the hay bales into storage and then came back to fetch us (giving me time to blog!). When we got to the farm, I realised that my Tomi Takkies were not designed for farm fashion... and that pretty much determined my day. I was on indoor duty - filling water bottles, changing nappies, supervising indoor play ... and enjoying the air-conditioning in the 34 degree heat. What a perfect day for a fashion faux pas! Before being labeled a City Snob, let me just say that I was part of the team that moved the sheep to their new pasture (although I did not help with separating the cows and the sheep, or erecting what P-J called Insta-fence in the blazing heat, prior to the migration). The new fence was opened up and the rest of us worked our way up from the bottom of the field saying "Come girls, move up. Come on" and hoped the flock would follow suit. We met Tutu (after Ethan insisted my sheep, my sheep ) and the boys showed Ethan ho...