#olleespaz

Just one of those days - So it’s been a long couple of days with #1 being sick with who knows what and me fighting a losing battle to keep him from burning up. Then #2, in his infinite wisdom, chooses to use #1 water bottle. “Insert facepalm here.” So now on day 3 of what is quite possibly the longest week of my entire life, I’m endeavoring to reason with the 2 most unreasonable little humans on the planet. Currently #3 is asleep, and has yet to be infected in spite of his consistent efforts to do so by getting his grabby little hands and drooly mouth kisses on LITERALLY every surface and item. This is a new type of hell. And I’m torn.... will a glass of wine make this situation better? Or worse? At this stage it’s anyone’s guess. But at the end of the day, in this moment, I don’t really give a fuck. Cheers kids - mummy’s having some special medicine too! #olleespaz #sundaynotfundayanymore #toosickforschool #sickkids #notanotherbloodyviralinfection #backtothedoctors #nosleep #longestweekendever #facepalm #kids #parenting #mumlife #justoneofthosedays #towineornottowine https://www.instagram.com/p/BnxhvxgB3zm/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1aoscuybo6g8c

Another Sleepy Saturday - Once again we have reached the weekend. The weather is average and last night was hard with #3 deciding he did not require sleep. Hubby got up early and went to work and my day began after a hideously long night. I read that Megan Gale and Turia Pitt can turn their days around by altering their mindsets. Instead of ‘I have to get up and entertain my kids’, I ‘get’ to get up and entertain my kids. It didn’t help. It seems like I am the only one in the house who appreciates sleep. Probably because I get the least of everybody. So here I am, grateful for the overcast humid day (nope) and the opportunity to take the kidlets out to burn some energy so they don’t drive me completely mad. And because I’m so well rested it stands to reason that I can snap on a baby carrier, wrangle a toddler into a pram and negotiate with a 4 year old and white furry terrorist. Insert face palm here. Well, one foot in front of the other and we’re on our way. Which is a mindset that better suits ME, my life and my kids. One foot in front of the other. And that’s how I made it through the morning. One step at a time. Before getting home to Nana who had come to visit with giant chocolate bunnies at the ready. So now the kidlets are hopped up on sugar and my bed is taunting me. So grateful for Disney movies and hubby having a half day. And one foot in front of the other imma show that bed who is boss... and hubby can take the afternoon shift. Tapping out. #gimmesomesleep #awakeallnight #sleepysaturdaymorning #whatisasleepin #onefootinfrontoftheother #mumistired #thanksheapsnana #yawn #olleespaz

I have Mum friends. And I have Real friends. I’m not really at the stage where my Mum friends have crossed over to the other category. I guess you get Mum friends because of your children. Real friends usually have been around since before kids. So it stands to reason that as your kids grow and change some of these people will move in and out of you life. My kids go through friends like changing underwear. A few stay but on any given day they’re friends with one and arguing with another. My eldest is 4. And next year is school. And all the kids my kid was friends with are going away. All their paths are going in new directions, like ours. And with them go my Mum friends. I mean, I like them and all, but after weeks and then months apart... the kids will be different people. So next year brings new Mum friends for me. I’m a bit apprehensive. Always having to find a smile and extra energy to be friends with my kids friends parents. I’m pretty damn likable (self proclaimed) and I just find it exhausting doing this dance over and over. Hopefully we get to keep a few from the very beginning. So then - surely? - at some point, those ones can cross over into Real friends. The type of friend that you can just do wine and pizza with on a Wednesday night because you both had a shit day and need an unwind. Where the kids can be around each other easily and it’s not weird. Where nothing is forced. Where there is no judgement if the house is a mess or my kid wees on a fence. But I have hope. Parenting is challenging. I completely overlooked the amount of growth I still have to do as a person and parent. When you become an adult you’re like ‘Sweet, I made it. I’m here. I’ve arrived. I know who I am’. And then you have kids and it’s like you’re back to square one, just figuring it out. But Mum friends, or Real friends, some days just having some empathy and understanding is all you need to push forward. So I’m glad I have both. No matter how tiring. Or how temporary.

I-Spy: Where I grew up there wasn’t much of interest. Your typical country town, but surrounded by vineyards. Far from the big city you have to make do with what you have, and we had one of these. A spy base. It was just what all the kids called it, like our little town was a secret headquarters for some superhero or villain. As I’ve gotten older I have never really let go of the spy-base theory, it’s always been plausible. Google says they are weather ‘monitoring’ towers. I tell my kids every time we drive past that it’s a spy base. Because that’s how I remember them. #mylegacy #spybases #notagolfball #drivingwithkids #olleespaz

As far as I’m concerned I have some pretty awesome neighbours. The religious ones with lots of kids. The empty-nesters working full time who leave water out for my cats, who have all but moved into their patio area to escape our kids. The dog lovers over the road. All of which I can borrow an egg or some flour from. And you can be absolutely certain you lucked out with your neighbours when the rubbish bag rips on the way to the bin, spewing nappies and food and all things nasty. And your neighbour is prepared to point and laugh at you, while you dry wrench cleaning it up!