Mum's Word

So my day today comprised of...

Buying clothes for the youngest member of our family - this sudden change of weather has simply thrown a spanner in the works

Being home in time to receive new mattress - yippee

Buying shoes for me - that was the best part of the day

Organising dinner - root vegetables and beef in red wine sauce in the slow cooker

Organising afternoon tea - homemade Anzac biscuits

And just for the hell of it - baking cheese twists

Helping Child No. 1 with her painting

Helping Child No. 2 with his transport diorama

Helping Child No. 3 with his transport diorama too; and build a track; and make chocolate milk; and supply him with food.

Helping Child No. 4 with everything because he's still a baby.

Kissing Mr M hello when he came in through the door.

Washing dishes

Stripping Child No. 3's bed - exciting stuff I know.

Making a couple of phonecalls to drum up some work.

What else.... school drop off and pick up.

Disciplinary action where necessary; words of wisdom all the time.

Menu planning and grocery shopping.

And somewhere in all of that, have a cup of tea.

Without a doubt, I have forgotten a thousand things.

BEDLAM!

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Posted By: Mrs M - Category: Social Comment

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LAST SUNDAY I MADE A MEMORY

February 10th 2010 03:35

It’s not often you realize that you are about to make a memory. It’s hard to know what ‘memories’ will be retained which will just fade into the vortex of forgotten land.

Last Sunday I took my 8 year old daughter, Jordan, to see Mama Mia the musical. It was her first musical. She and I have been singing ABBA songs on our Playstation and have watched the movie several million times over. It was only right and just that we see the musical together.

As we were walking through the masses of people she gripped my hand tightly. Her eyes quickly darted from one thing to the next trying to take in all that she could see. All these people, all the lights, the music wafting in from the speakers and we were only in the foyer. It was all a bit la-di-da.

Once inside the theatre Jordan was taking in as much as she could. How high are we? Where’s the orchestra? How big is the stage? Who is operating the lights? Where are the speakers? Where are the microphones? What’s backstage?

I don’t know all the answers to all her questions. I let her in on the secret of going to theatre; forget the details just let the whole thing envelop you.

The lights went down, the music began and the lights were dancing across the audience before setting firmly on the stage.

“I have a dream…” the character Sophie opened; the musical had begun.

I saw the stage production of Mama Mia years ago so this time I spent more time watching Jordan watching the show.

At times it seemed like her senses would overload but it was a joy to watch her enjoying the show. It felt like a privilege to be the one to introduce her to the world of musicals.

For the past few days I have been trying to work out why this meant more to me than other times I have introduced her to something new. She likes watching netball; she listens to The Beatles, Elvis and Bon Jovi; and likes playing music. These are all things I love to do and it’s fantastic that she likes it too. It’s something the whole family can do together and I absolutely adore that.

But why the musical? I don’t know. I don’t know why this felt more special than the rest. It just does.

Whatever the reason, I won’t fight it. Jordan has already asked to go to another musical and this give me enormous satisfaction.

It is a curious and bizarre thing to know at the exact moment that history is occurring and a lifelong memory is being made. Even though we will remember this day for different reasons, Jordan and I will now forever be able to say, “Remember Mama Mia?”

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Posted By: Mrs M - Category: Children

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WATCHING CRICKET = FAMILY BONDING

January 4th 2010 23:51

Mr M hates the cricket. He doesn’t get it.

“It’s boring. Nothing happens. What game takes 5 days to play?” Ummm…. Cricket!

Cricket in Australia is somewhat of a national tradition. Most Australians will tell you that Boxing Day is for eating Christmas leftovers, the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race and the Boxing Day Test Match.

It’s when we lounge around recovering from Christmas Day festivities and just let it all sink in.

I also put it to you that cricket (like Christmas) can bring families together. Admittedly test match cricket takes a long time. And there usually is a considerable amount of time between wickets. (unless you’re watching the most recent test match in Sydney that is…)

I digress.

With 5 days of cricket, 8 hours a day, that’s a lot of time a family can spend together watching a game “where hardly anything happens”. And if hardly anything happens then that leaves a lot of time for conversation and family bonding.

So Mr M, how about we gather the kids, park ourselves in front of the telly and have a good ol’ chat then eh?

C’mon Aussie, c’mon, c’mon.

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Posted By: Mrs M - Category: Social Comment

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I AM THE PROUD OWNER OF A LARGE FAMILY

December 24th 2009 01:50

I don’t know what that means; large family. Other than the literal meaning of
of more than average size, quantity, degree, etc.; exceeding that which is common to a kind or class; big; great:

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A CHILD ARRIVED JUST THE OTHER DAY

November 8th 2009 00:33

A child arrived just the other day, came into the world in the usual way….

Harry Chapman, Cats in the Cradle

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Posted By: Mrs M - Category: Children

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CHILD REARING THROUGH POPULAR CULTURE

September 29th 2009 11:47

Cat Stevens' Father & Son son lyrics

From the moment I could talk, I was ordered to listen
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FATHER'S DAY

September 2nd 2009 01:10

This Sunday is Father's Day here in Australia. The day we give the dad's of this world a pat on the back and say "You know what? You're alright."

Mr M is a good dad. It's nice knowing that I chose a good man to have a family with. But what makes him a good man? It's not that he's flawless. He's not. Neither am I. It's the fact that Mr M doesn't hide or deny his flaws or limitations; he recognises them, addresses them

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DISAPPOINTMENT - A NECESSARY EVIL?

July 8th 2009 02:38

How do you handle disappointment? Do you embrace it? Do you ignore? Do you distract yourself from it? Do you use it to empower you?

The thing about disappointment is that it is 100% guaranteed to come knocking at your door several times over

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AM I REALLY BEING UNGREEN?

May 24th 2009 09:13

About a month ago I announced to the family and friends that Mr M and I are expecting Baby No. 4.

Congratulations and delight abound I was feeling pretty good. Until I read the following article

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150

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