Motherhood has turned me into a cryer.
Before having children I was what my partner terms, and emotional savant i.e. I lived my emotional state through the medium of film rather than in real-life. I think that this is indicative of a generation which grew up with a television on the background all the time. Obviously generations before that (and now after) either didn't have one or recognised the danger in allowing it to be a main component in our children's lives. Any program or film which contained material pertaining to small children, animals or old people would prompt me to dissolve into a pile of sniffling, snotty tears. I remember a particular Hallmark advert wherein an old blind chap is sitting on a bus with his white cane at his side. As a bunch of school kids got on, one of them handed him a card. The viewer is obviously marvelling at the innocence of the youth in that the man was unable to read his card. He opens the envelope and opens the card and it suddenly plays the happy birthday tune. Every time I saw that ad I would have to leave the room or divert my attention before the end to save myself (and everyone else) from the embarrassment.
Having children hasn't removed this irrational reaction to cheesy tv but what it has done is given me a whole bunch of new instances where the waterworks get the better of me. I have suddenly realised that I am going to be that embarrassing mum who cries every time their kids do something new or well. You know, the one who stands at the gate and gushes over their childs latest accomplishment and can't help but brag over the newest achievement. It is the parent who used to annoy me the most, I wonder if karma has something to do with it?
I find myself marvelling at the most inane little things and although I know this is normal (and quite endearing in itself) it makes me cringe when I think of all the dehydration which awaits me :-).
I guess I should be thankful that I finally have a real live reason to be sentimental - after all, they're all mine (although I suspect hubby had something to do with it to) and they are the best (and cutest) kids ever!
*sniff*
So what is YOUR confession?
A
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
New gadgets rule.
It is that time of the year again where we get to choose the one new gadget which will have to last us for the next 18 months (getting something lets us con ourselves into feeling like we're still hip and cool - of course just by using that term I have publicly humiliated my younger siblings but hey ho, another glass of rose will sort that out). Anyway onto the new gadget, I am posting this from my new phone. Yay I am part of the new generation of geeks. Proper posts resume shortly - after I finish reading my n95 manual.
A
P.s. happy Easter everyone!
A
P.s. happy Easter everyone!
Monday, March 17, 2008
My little Trooper!
We had a lovely week-end with the rats who were both on top form for making us laugh and ensuring we were both completely exhausted at the end of each day. This morning however, Nate crawled over to wake me up and through my bleary view I noticed something odd about him... I switched the light on to find that his right eyed was completely gunged shut and swollen.
The doctor has made the following diagnosis, it could be;
- All part of the cold,
- Something in his eye or
- Conjunctivitis
What ever it is is quite intense because even by her reckoning the level of gunge is alarming so we're at home having some mum/son time and brother dearest has gone to the childminder where he is lapping up some one on one attention too.
I can't feel put out by it because he is such a lovely patient and he continues to amaze me in his ability to remain cheerful no matter how gross his ailment becomes. Granted, he doesn't have to look at his own eye AND he doesn't have to clean it, such is the luxury of being a kid.
A
The doctor has made the following diagnosis, it could be;
- All part of the cold,
- Something in his eye or
- Conjunctivitis
What ever it is is quite intense because even by her reckoning the level of gunge is alarming so we're at home having some mum/son time and brother dearest has gone to the childminder where he is lapping up some one on one attention too.
I can't feel put out by it because he is such a lovely patient and he continues to amaze me in his ability to remain cheerful no matter how gross his ailment becomes. Granted, he doesn't have to look at his own eye AND he doesn't have to clean it, such is the luxury of being a kid.
A
Friday, March 14, 2008
Another week, another week-end...
So tonight marks the end of our lovely party and I must say it has been a smashing one! I have met so many lovely ladies that I am gonna have to negotiate a few extra hours in the day just to keep up :-). Not too much to say so I thought I'd do an overview of my week - feel free to do the same, especially if you're suffering from all the festivities!
The boys have been lovely this week, if very tiring. This toddler phase is a complete conundrum and I suspect that it is a phase created solely to test our patience as parents ;-). Earlier in the week someone posted a link to an article in which it claimed that extensive studies had found that parenting classes, books and techniques all had absolutely no affect on the behaviour which toddlers exhibit. Sadly the source has now disappeared from my memory and my web history so you'll have to just take my word for it and accept that tantrums are normal :-).
In a typically British turn of events, the abnormal weather held pride of place in the topics of conversation and on Tuesday morning I was astonished when I walked outside to complete carnage. The night had brought gale force winds and the slide had been blown right over. Not sure how we'll recover but trauma counselling is being considered for the whole family.
A colleague had an unfortunate run in with a pot handle and flame and was out of commission for the week which meant an unscheduled trip down South for me. My lovely hubby stepped up to the plate as usual and proved yet again that I am the luckiest mama alive cause my man, he be a keeper!
8 hours, 9 podcasts and a tank of diesel later I am home and ready for the week-end.
Tomorrow I am meeting up with another mama (she was born in the UK but spent 25 years in South Africa so we have a fair bit in common). We're taking the children to the local play zone (god bless those people, where would we be without organised play?) and grabbing a cup of coffee sometime in between.
Sorry folks, a senseless and pretty boring post all in all but at least there is one - have a lovely Friday and here's hoping spring arrives wherever you are (sorry Southern Hemisphere, I don't even want to think about Autumn right now).
Ciao
Mama Big
The boys have been lovely this week, if very tiring. This toddler phase is a complete conundrum and I suspect that it is a phase created solely to test our patience as parents ;-). Earlier in the week someone posted a link to an article in which it claimed that extensive studies had found that parenting classes, books and techniques all had absolutely no affect on the behaviour which toddlers exhibit. Sadly the source has now disappeared from my memory and my web history so you'll have to just take my word for it and accept that tantrums are normal :-).
In a typically British turn of events, the abnormal weather held pride of place in the topics of conversation and on Tuesday morning I was astonished when I walked outside to complete carnage. The night had brought gale force winds and the slide had been blown right over. Not sure how we'll recover but trauma counselling is being considered for the whole family.
A colleague had an unfortunate run in with a pot handle and flame and was out of commission for the week which meant an unscheduled trip down South for me. My lovely hubby stepped up to the plate as usual and proved yet again that I am the luckiest mama alive cause my man, he be a keeper!
8 hours, 9 podcasts and a tank of diesel later I am home and ready for the week-end.
Tomorrow I am meeting up with another mama (she was born in the UK but spent 25 years in South Africa so we have a fair bit in common). We're taking the children to the local play zone (god bless those people, where would we be without organised play?) and grabbing a cup of coffee sometime in between.
Sorry folks, a senseless and pretty boring post all in all but at least there is one - have a lovely Friday and here's hoping spring arrives wherever you are (sorry Southern Hemisphere, I don't even want to think about Autumn right now).
Ciao
Mama Big
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Tackle it Tuesday - Preparing for a night away
Tomorrow night I have to be away on business, which means that my darling hubby has the fun task of being mum and dad while I am away. We are a 50/50 split kind of family so we would normally both tackle every night routine. As I won't be there (and will have to deal with my own guilty conscience) I always try to have as much prepared as possible[1].
So the Tackle it Tuesday plan is as follows:
4:50pm Fetch the boys from the child minder and go home
5:45pm Hubby baths the boys while I get their bottles and pj's ready. We each dress one and settle them for the night.
7:00pm(ish) Start dinner and cook enough to last 2 nights - fill 2 containers for dinnertime at the child minder.
7:30pm Look for outfits for both boys to span both days - hubby is perfectly capable of doing this but I try and make it as easy as I can
The rest of the night will be dedicated to eating, reading, tv and sleep :-)
Not very adventurous I know but it is how this Tuesday should pan out. Wednesday on the other hand will bring a 5 hour drive, a night in a hotel followed by an hour and a half worth of meeting on Thursday and another 5 hour drive back home Joy!.
A
[1] I was SO tempted to use the word pre-prepared but surely that is unnecessary? Isn't one pre enough?
Monday, March 10, 2008
A brief moment in time
My lovely sister-in-law took these back in November and my lovely new friends have shown me a great way to show them off..
For your viewing pleasure!
For your viewing pleasure!
Late as ever but here after all!
As is becoming a bit of a pattern, I am late to the party and thus likely to have some serious catching up to do. I am surrounded by beautiful woman on their 10th glasses of champagne who have already kicked off their shoes and hitched up their skirts to dance on tables. If you have NO idea what I am talking about, look to the right of this post and you'll see a HUGE pink button. It is that time you see, the Ultimate Blog Party 2008!
My understanding of it is that we get to make some friends, act a little crazy and just generally shake the winter cobwebs from our little corners of the blogging world. Brought to you by two marvellous woman - Janice and Susan of 5minutesformum fame, if you haven't done so already please check them out cause they're the type of woman everyone should have in their lives, bubbly, vivacious and oh so inspiring.
In line with the rules of the party I have to produce a kind of intro post so here goes and maybe one of you will decide to come to the party even later and make me look good :-)
I am Amy, mother to identical twin boys and wife to a wonderful (if slightly geeky) husband. Equally I am a fairly competent employee and a good friend - although to be fair I am a little thin on the IRL friend front these days which is as much to do with a busy life as it is to do with a little bit of commitment phobia.
I moved from sunny South Africa to the shores of the UK almost 5 years ago for what was supposed to be an extended working holiday, 6 months into the journey I met my lovely husband and the rest as they say is history.
We endured an exhausting pregnancy, twin to twin transfer syndrome, premature births, c-sections, post-natal depression and clinical depression but we have come out the other side smelling like roses (although to be fair sometimes those roses smell like poo-poo as the Black Eyed Peas will testify).
I love my life, tolerate my job and am convinced that one day soon I'll win the lottery which will mean that I, along with all my extended family (well certain invited family members only) can settle down to a life of simple luxuries like gardening and carpentry. Preferably from a big farm, with multiple houses, horses and great views.
I don't blog often enough but I try to do it when I can and I am always on the look out for lovely friends in the computer so those of you who do pop in occasionally, please come to the party and let me know when you have.
Love & stuff always,
Your blog host.
My understanding of it is that we get to make some friends, act a little crazy and just generally shake the winter cobwebs from our little corners of the blogging world. Brought to you by two marvellous woman - Janice and Susan of 5minutesformum fame, if you haven't done so already please check them out cause they're the type of woman everyone should have in their lives, bubbly, vivacious and oh so inspiring.
In line with the rules of the party I have to produce a kind of intro post so here goes and maybe one of you will decide to come to the party even later and make me look good :-)
I am Amy, mother to identical twin boys and wife to a wonderful (if slightly geeky) husband. Equally I am a fairly competent employee and a good friend - although to be fair I am a little thin on the IRL friend front these days which is as much to do with a busy life as it is to do with a little bit of commitment phobia.
I moved from sunny South Africa to the shores of the UK almost 5 years ago for what was supposed to be an extended working holiday, 6 months into the journey I met my lovely husband and the rest as they say is history.
We endured an exhausting pregnancy, twin to twin transfer syndrome, premature births, c-sections, post-natal depression and clinical depression but we have come out the other side smelling like roses (although to be fair sometimes those roses smell like poo-poo as the Black Eyed Peas will testify).
I love my life, tolerate my job and am convinced that one day soon I'll win the lottery which will mean that I, along with all my extended family (well certain invited family members only) can settle down to a life of simple luxuries like gardening and carpentry. Preferably from a big farm, with multiple houses, horses and great views.
I don't blog often enough but I try to do it when I can and I am always on the look out for lovely friends in the computer so those of you who do pop in occasionally, please come to the party and let me know when you have.
Love & stuff always,
Your blog host.
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