Raising a child in the 21st century is not easy. Especially with the constant demands that society place on us. Falling into the entitlement trap can happen so easily. Perhaps you have been oblivious to the fact that you are already in that trap and didn’t see it coming.
As you read the following points listed, think about whether one or even more of these are familiar to you.
Baking is one of the things I love to do when I have time of course. Cupcakes is my favorite thing to bake. It is quick, no fuss and always flop proof. Flop proof in a sense that I never over mix my batter. Besides it being the easiest thing to bake, the end result is always different. Although the recipe and method stays the same, you can decorate it to look different every time. It can also be filled with caramel, fruit and chocolate spread.
I’m only writing about this now as it took me some time to get over the initial shock of what transpired.
A few Saturdays ago we were doing the park run. My husband and youngest daughter did the run and my eldest daughter and I brisked walked.
Not thinking of much, my daughter and I were conversing in general and admiring the dogs on the trail. By this time my husband and youngest daughter were long gone with the runners.
Three-and-a-half kilometers into our walk a guy slapped me on my butt and ran off. Shocked out of my core and so was my daughter.
I let rip and blurted out a couple of swear words.
There is no greater love than that of a mother to her child or children. Now this might sound cheesy and like an old cliché but you do know that the best Mother’s Day gift I received was the day the two of you were born.
With Mother’s Day a couple of days away, I’m sure that you are stressing about what to get me. Or should I say you are hounding your father to come up with a plan and be your financial resource. The latter I don’t mind but this needs to come from the two of you. As I did not birth your father and I am by no means his mother. By the way, he is just as clueless when it comes to knowing exactly what I want.
Being pregnant is a beautiful miracle. Whether planned or not; hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time changes your perspective. People start noticing that glow and you select who you want to share the news with. Immediately the attention shifts to your precious bump. Instinctively your hands touches your stomach at all times as it becomes your pride and joy.
The joys, the cries, the highs, the lows are all part of the wonderful experience of carrying another human being.The three trimesters of pregnancy encompasses so many developmental, physical and emotional changes. The latter two relating to the expectant mom. Your ultimate focus is to keep your unborn baby healthy and alive but you neglect to take care of yourself.
Today is your birthday. I feel truly honoured to wish you on this very special day.
Born under the astrological sign, Taurus of which the zodiac symbol is the bull, it clearly defines your personality. A strong and resilient woman who continues to soldier on to overcome so many obstacles in your life. You stand firm in your believes and values and has taught this to us in word and deed.
We’ve come to the end of yet another month. April was another busy month; scrambling to meet deadlines and to get everything done. In saying that, it was an amazing month filled with lots of holidays which of course constitutes to spending time with family and friends.
Before I get started, let’s just recap why I’ve started this series. I started my first gratitude journal in March. Journaling what I’m grateful for gives me a new perspective on what is important in my life and the things I appreciate and am thankful for.
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. – Melody Beattie
It is time for me to take a moment to step back and reflect on the month that was and the things that I am grateful for. (more…)
It’s about 14h00 on Saturday afternoon as my husband and I walk into the supermarket to get some much needed items. We see a mom with 3 kids as we enter the store. Looking at their size, I’m of the opinion that the kids could be all under the age of 5. With the youngest sitting in the trolley. The mom squats down to the level of the two older ones, indicating to them to behave. Her tone is calm and she looks relaxed.
Whilst in the shop, I spot the mom and her three kids again, this time in the toiletries aisle. The youngest is having a meltdown and the other two is acting out. Kicking each other, shouting and running about. Once again she gathers them and instructs them to behave.
This time she looks a bit flustered but still seems calm. Flustered because of the embarrassment she felt at that particular moment as people started staring and scrutinizing her ability to handle the situation.
I have a confession to make and it wasn’t easy for me to admit this. I am a backseat driver.
Are you shocked by my revelation? Sorry if I disappointed you but it is what it is.
Yip, I’m that annoying passenger.
And, let me just say, I guess I’ve earned this stereotypical name “backseat driver”. Although I find myself mostly in the front passengers seat and not at the back; my reaction and behaviour is the same.
Unless you had a colicky baby, it is something that those parents who have not experienced it won’t understand. An experience that I wish on no parent, especially a first time mom.
Experiencing motherhood for the second time, had to be a breeze. Or so I thought. She was a full term baby, healthy and breastfed. This was completely opposite to our first birthing experience.
Remembering our first experience with colic 8 years ago. When our second daughter, Mika, developed it at 4 weeks old. Crying non-stop from 18h00 – 22h00 at night. Colic was something unforeseen as we didn’t go through it with our first daughter. Creeping up on us out of the blue. It was a predictable scene that played off in front of us every single night.