I'm grateful for....Being sick

The weather in our part of the world seems to change from Summer to Winter in one week.  We literally have 7 days of so called "Autumn" in which you marvel in the warm days, clear skies and crisp air and then 

WHAM.... 
out come the socks, heaters and Strepsils.  

Every year as the summer sun fades, the winter air brings with it the dreaded "Teacher Flu".  The lost voice, scrtchy throat and thumping sinuses.
This is one of the unfortunate side effects of holding hands with a 5 year old that has probably just blown their nose on it or tying up the shoelaces of someone who has just walked through the toilets. (It truly happens)  However it happens, I am sure it has nothing to do, with the fact that I probably yell talk too much. 

At this point in my life you think I would just, suck it up, take some meds and get over it?

But here lies the problem.  
For the past few years, being pregnant or breastfeeding has meant that I have not been able to take most cold and flu tablets!!!!

So this is where the confessions start....

Little Miss A is fourteen months and still breastfed.

She still wakes 4-5 times a night.
and what do I do? I get up and feed her.
That's right I am a BAD mummy.

I have tried self settling/controlled crying/ignoring the screaming baby, 
but it is just so much easier to get up, feed her and put her back to bed.
We have a few times managed to do it for a whole night, but the following night we fall so easily into bad habits and the wake and feed routine continues.

Until now......

I am a wreck.

I am beyond tired.

I am sick.

I am desperate.

The poor pharmacist who had to face my haggard pleas for something, anything to silence my pounding sinuses.  
So with a little packet of hope firmly in my hands,  I left,  on her advice that I would "simply" take the miracle workers straight after feeding Little Miss A.  
Put the baby to bed.  
Don't feed her again until the morning. 
Repeat.

Sure.  Simple.

So here we go.  Feed.  Tablet.  Bed.  
Like clockwork,  she woke at 10.30pm and cried. 
Doesn't she know that tonight things have to be different?


Well cried really isn't the right word. She screamed.  I lay in bed feeling guilty.  How could I do this.  Ignore her, putting myself first.  I can't feed her, I have just taken the drugs, what was I thinking! Surely the neighbours will call the police?  What if she is hurt, or scared?Then silence.  I looked at the clock.  It had been a whole 4 minutes. 
4 minutes. It felt like 20, at least.  She was asleep. 

12.30am we do it again.  But this time not so loud.  More of a whinge.  But its worse.  Much worse.  It sounds like she is saying Mumma.  I am sure she is calling me.  She knows exactly what she is doing.  Is it possible that a one year old can manipulate their mother? The cry is persistent, unwavering.  After four minutes, I go and stand at her door and.....she stops.  
She is asleep.

I tiptoe back to bed and sleep.  I sleep, like I have not slept in years.  The drugs have kicked in.  But its more than that.  I have a silent satisfaction that I did it.  I let her "self settle" and she did it!!!  

I wake....it is 6.30am. 
WHAT! 6.30am!  This is a miracle!  
I have not had this many hours of uninterrupted sleep in at least 3 years.  
I wake in my own time.  Not because her calls have woken me.

I am up AFTER sunrise.  Considering, how I felt the day before, I feel GREAT!  

I may be sick but I am NOT TIRED!

Without being sick I would not have taken the drugs.  
Without the drugs I wouldn't have had the motivation to "really" ignore her.  
Without trying to teach her to self settle, would I have had just another night of broken sleep.


Four nights later, we barely hear a peep all night.
It may be a fluke.
Tonight may be different.
I am not touching wood, because it doesn't matter.
For these few nights we did it.
She did it.
We know it can happen.

So this week I am grateful for the "Teacher Flu", grateful for being sick, grateful for miracles in small child proof packets, and the hpoe they brought in the form of sleep but most of all, grateful that I finally had the willpower to teach my daughter something she had to learn for herself.

Linking up to

Maxabella Loves

I'm grateful for....Books, the ones made of paper!

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, lived a "Pigeon Pair".

They were noisy, boisterous and active.

But some days there were moments like this

Sharing a story in the warming winter sun.

I have always been an avid reader. 

 Growing up, I would transport myself into the worlds of Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl.  

I know I sound like a broken record, but if my children were to master one skill in their life, it would be to read confidently, fluently, with comprehension and Love IT!

Reading can you link to a world beyond your suburban door.

It opens the doors of knowledge, filling your mind with vocabulary, imaginings and information.

We have books everywhere in our house.  

It was half conscious decision to make sure our children grow up in a "text rich" environment,

 But mostly it was because we truly love books and reading.

Many things this week have made me grateful for the joy I have known through reading books.

Over the past few years, I have noticed a very quick decline in our reliance on books for information.

Now within seconds a google search will turn up images and information from sources all over the world.

The days of project kits, and miniature filing cabinets of library catalogue cards have disappeared into the forest of the world wide web.

I thought it was happening, but I didnt know it had happened until.....

For the first year ever, when I asked my class,

 where we could find information to answer our questions, 

the first three answers were

Computer

Internet

Google

I kid you not, google! These kids are 5 years old!

There was no mention of books, libraries, magazines.

These five year olds will not know the joy of reading endless books to select snippets of relevant information, scouring pictures in Encylcopaedieas, to find the perfect one.

No more photocopying or cutting out project kits.

It is simply search, click, print, stick.

This week students, all over Austrlalia participated in our National testing program, NAPLAN.

How will our future class of NAPLAN participants (including my very own Pigeon Pair) be able to complete a test made up of reading printed questions and answering using a pencil to write, when they are so accustomed to using technology to answer their queries?

These children may have never needed to use our ancient historical documents of dictionaries, encyclopaedias and telephone books so how on google earth are they going to know how to put words in alphabetical order?

Write a narrative or a poem?

Will these children even know what these are?

Why read a story or a poem, when you could simply "you tube" a version complete with sound and animations?

I want my children to be able to "compete" in a digital world.

I am grateful for technology (how else would I know the joy of blogging?)

But perhaps our yellow brick road to success could be paved with books and lined with computers?

I want them to experience the thrill of reading AND the awe of technology.

Could I go a day without googling?

Could I show them how to find information without using my laptop?

I will be sure to try and in the meantime,

I am going to wave my magic wand and attempt to find some Encylcopaedias on ebay.

Linking up to

MaxabellaLoves

I'm grateful for....Imagination

It was one of those days.  

Well actually more like one of those nights, days, weeks.  

Little Miss A, the overachiever, has decided to break all 4 molars at once.  

Master O, the keeper of the overactive imagination, woke, with dreams of dragons with tails, ships on the sea and monsters out the windows, yes all in one night!

To make the situation worse I had worked the day before and now with a few hours of broken sleep, I had to back it up with another day at work.  

After a 4 am wake up call, I had actually felt like the day was improving with a peaceful household in which to savour a cup of coffee (Master O was not yet awake)

With the grand arrival of Master O 
(I am not kidding he stands at the bottom of the stairs to yell "Look who's awake, it's someone starting with O!!!), 
little Miss A now gets over excited, 
runs towards him and slips in her slippers (is that why they call them slippers?) 

An ice pack, tears (from both of them) and some cuddles later 
we are now way behind schedule.  

"The Nanny" is arriving at 7.30 and I know have 20 minutes to dress the kids, straighten the house and get myself dressed.  After a mad dash straightening effort (throwing things into cupboards and down the laundry chute)
 I leave the kids in the lounge room for Master O to "entertain" Little Miss A.  

Whilst applying my double layer of caffeine infused under eye concealer 
(in hope that I will not scare my class of children with my haggard witch appearance)  

I hear jumping....

Not just one pair of feet but two!  

Then I hear Master O calling to Miss A
"Don't slip!" 

I run.  

One accident in the morning is enough.  

This is what I find.....

A Master O masterpiece entitled

 "The bouncy road to Mummy's Kingdom"

Well thats the condensed title, 

truthfully it went more like this......

"Ok Mummy, this is a bouncy road.

Go straight down this way towards the pond (bath room)then turn, 

the green step is the lucky one and when you step on it, 

a Fairy (Little Miss A) will give you a wish.

Then go down near the river (the blue sheet) there is a bridge, 

but be careful because there is a naughty troll under there.

Then there is a big mountain, it is slippery 

(hence the call out to Little Miss A, not to slip!)

 because of all the moss,

when you go over it you get to.....

 Mummy's Kingdom (The Master Bedroom)!

His vivid imagination had allowed him to escape our suburban daily rush,

 into a land of magical creatures and mossy mountains.

Oh to have a childs imagination.

For a minute, looking through his eyes, 

I no longer saw the mess as just another thing to worry about in my morning craziness,

 but as a play land of adventurous proportions.

He did not see a haggard mummy,  a disastorous house, or the clock ticking in anticipation of the nanny arriving.  

He saw fairies and ponds and endless possibilities.

This motherhood gig is full of "bouncy roads"  

Sometimes just when I think I am on top of everything, I discover a troll under the bridge.

But then there are those fairies that grant you a wish and time stands still just for a moment, and if I watch my step I may just make it over that mossy mountain and find some much needed sleep in, Mummy's Kingdom.

One can only imagine......

Linking up with

Maxabella Loves

I'm grateful for......Wishes

Two things have happened this week that have made me think about wishes.

On the weekend we went to GoMA (Gallery of Modern Art) as the current exhibition is "21st Century Kids" 
It was amazing!

One of the pieces of interactive modern art was a 
"wish wall"

Many pieces of ribbon, each with a different wish printed on them;

I wish I could fly

I wish I had wings

I wish my drawings came to life

I wish I was a Ballerina travelling the world 

(Miss A chose this one, ok so I chose it for her!)

What did Master O choose?

I wish I had a pet!!!! 

Hint, Hint!

Then on Wednesday, we had Master O's Prep Interview, 

yes thats right interview for starting school in 2012 in APRIL 2011!!

and the dreaded question was asked by the principal...

What do you wish or want for your child's education?

so I thought.......

To learn with enthusiasm, use his initiative, follow his passions and 

leap in to life

To stay healthy and active, to exercise his body and mind

To be given the opportunity to explore, imagine and inquire

To develop a sense of awe and wonder 

and to use his senses,

to touch, taste and smell

To communicate confidently and

to speak up for what he believes in, without fear of judgement.

To choose his own path instead of following others

to maintain the balance between

 school and home

friends and family

study and play

To face every obstacle as a challenge armed with the persistence to conquer it

and the resilience to shrug off the setbacks 

To feel the joy and pride of success.

Today I am grateful that all these wishes for my child are beginning to come true

What more could a mother wish for.......

Linking up to

"Maxabella Loves"

I'm grateful for......Happiness

It's School Holidays!!!  

My term weary body has already gone into chill out mode and we have had the most beautifully relaxing rainy day!  

My mind has escaped from the classroom and is now reflecting on the last week.

So today I am grateful for.... happiness.

I have been completing Seven Cherubs Happiness Project in which each day you write a one sentence reflection of what has made you happy so....

Monday

Happiness is....trying something new and capturing it on camera. 
Pictures here

(Master O tried our first radish from the garden and the look on his face is priceless)

Tuesday

Happiness is...watching Master O be mesmerised by his Kindy Teacher as she reads a story, he can sit and listen so intently to her every word. 

(If only he would do that for his Mother!)

Wednesday

Happiness is...little hands pulling on my jeans as she potters around following me as I do the housework.

Thursday

Happiness is...hilarious five year old comments in the classroom that place the teacher in such hysterics she has to leave the room and then looking at their faces and realising they have no idea what is soooo funny! 

Here is the funny comment.....

Teacher: This afternoon someone special will be "hopping" into the classroom to leave something special for your easter baskets.

Student: I think it's a man!

Teacher: No it's not a man. It is someone very large, white and fluffy

Student: (With a very straight face) Is it Lady Gaga?

I kid you not...out of the mouths of babes...

Friday

Happiness is...not rushing off to work, staying in my pyjamas and creating lego cities. (although sometimes I do this at work too, create lego cities that is!)

Happiness is...laughing, learning, simple moments, little hands and time with my little ones.

What has made you happy this week?

Linking up to

"Maxabella Loves"

I am grateful for...air travel

Up in the air I fly, zoom, zoom a zoomer zoom zoom. 

 I don't think there has been in a year in my life when I have not boarded a plane.  

My Mother, like me, raised her young family away from her own extended family.

Lucky for her my father was in the Air Force, which meant lots of free flights!

Before you start imagining a jet setting family, holidaying in exotic places, let me explain.

Air Force travel was in the back of a "Herc" Hercules aircraft, with no air conditioning, in with the cargo, flip down seats and jet style seat belts. 

Always our flights were to North Queensland to see family.

 As children we LOVED it!  It was noisy, hot and very exciting!

We had little lunch packs in plastic containers, Inspector Gadget invisible ink books and each other.

There was no booking flights online at a time convenient for you.  No forward planning. Mum would simply be told at a moments notice that there was room on a flight and off we would go.  

Because of the lack of notice she was always by herself as Dad would have to work.  

I am positive it was a stressful experience for her.   Loading us all into the plane often heavily pregnant.  In fact I do remember one emergency landing after Mum with the two of us and heavily pregnant was feeling very sick.  

But she endured it all for the same reason I do today.  

To see your family.

There is nothing like an airport greeting.  

The looking out the window inspecting every passenger as they disembark, comparing similarities in appearance to your loved one.  

That one has hair like her? no too short.  

She has a shirt like that...no wrong again. 

Or walking down that corridor trying to glimpse through the crowd, to view who is waiting for you.

Then there is all the embracing hug awaiting you.  

The cheerful almost excitingly shrieking hello's.

You are there.  

The thousands of kilometres separating you have been miraculously turned into a matter of minutes.  

Little Miss A took her first flight at 3 months and Master O at 4 months.  

They have both been fantastic fliers and generally sleep the whole way. 

(I am grateful for that too!)

 Now you can book your flight online for an absolute fraction of the price of 10years ago (I still remember saving $500 for a one way ticket to Brisbane in 1997!) It is safe, comfortable and still exciting as always.  The invisible ink books have been replaced by portable dvd players and ipods.

But the end product hasn't changed.  The excitement still builds as we take our seats and listen to the safety announcements. It won't be long now until we see our family.

We still peer out to see who is waiting for us, except now Master O runs down the corridor swerving amongst the passengers like a dodgem car.

We still wait at the airport very impatiently for our visitors to arrive, faces against the windows and leaving little handprints on the class.

The hugs are even tighter now, amidst threats of engine failure and terrorism we are relieved when we are safe on the ground.

But we are grateful.  Grateful to see our family.  Grateful for a safe flight.

Grateful for the miracle of air flight...turning kilometres into minutes...into treasured time with family far away.

Linking up to

Maxabella Loves