Last Tuesday (26 July), I had one of those really sucky parenting days.
Julie told me that she's not going to get married because she doesn't want to have to discuss things with someone - she just wants to be carefree and single. But then she said she'll adopt a child and the 2 of them will live in a house with all her friends. I felt like a complete failure - what example am I setting for her? Is it really such a bad thing to be ONE with your husband, making decisions and talking about how things will affect your family?
Then a few minutes later, I had Edie telling me that we (Paul and I) can't go to her wedding because she wants to wear a dress with no sleeves. Wow! Really?
Then just a few minutes later still, Edie says to me, "Mom, if you die and dad gets married again, I hope he marries someone like Evangeline (from Nanny McPhee).
How to feel like a winner...
Showing posts with label Julie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Julie. Show all posts
Monday, August 1, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Humble pie...
We were driving to fetch Paul from work yesterday and approached a traffic light where there usually are at least 3 children begging. I didn't have any money on me (literally, not a cent!) and rolled my window up so I wouldn't have to make contact with them because I wasn't in the mood for a guilt-trip as well. One of the young people was walking on crutches and had thick bandages wrapped all around his leg. Now Julie was sitting in the front seat next to me and she'd brought her purse with in the hopes of going to the shops after we'd picked Paul up so she could buy herself some 'gel stickers'. She saw this young guy, felt sorry for him and wanted to give him some money. I asked her if she had any coins on her and she said no and then without thinking, she took the only money she had, a R20-note, out of her purse and gave it to me so I could give it to him. I was moved to tears and was so humbled by the compassion of my beautiful (inside and out) girl. We really do learn so much from them...
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Over protective parents.
So.. while taking the washing down earlier, I got thinking about being a parent and how I have changed with each child.
When Juliette was little, I was a "bit" over protective. I used to hate it when other people held her and very reluctantly gave her to others when they requested holding her. I always felt that it was my duty to keep a close eye on her and know exactly where she was, what she was doing and - if I'd been so bold as to let her out of my sight for a few seconds - who she was with (not to mention what they were doing with / to my precious baby girl) at any given second of the day. [I should also mention that I was very keen to have all my four children - yes, we wanted four from the start - close together, as in about 18 months apart, so that I could get on with it and be all done with having babies by the time I was 30! Haha, what a joke, Julie was born when I was 26!] Julie was very quick with doing everything. She started crawling at 5 months, was standing by herself by 8 months and hit the ground running by 9 months. She was and still is very quick to catch on to things. A very clever little girl with a very sharp tongue and quick mind. Mostly a very responsible kid with a memory like that of an elephant. I kid you not!! Yet, also very defiant (just like her MOTHER!!) ;)
Then when Julie was 2 (!!!) we found out we were going to be parents to another baby. SO, we waited and it all went a lot quicker than the first time, as I'm sure all parents out there can attest to, and I finally got my boy. I knew Jordan was going to be a boy from the first time we went for a scan at 10 weeks. I saw the little blob that was him and just said, "It's my boy!!". [Here I should tell you that previously, I'd only wanted boy children. I was a teenage girl who fought a LOT with my mom hence my desire for the opposite gender in my offspring - to avoid any such thing with a future teenage daughter if mine. Haha again... I am already having arguments about who is right and 'why (she) should always do what I want (her) to do' and she's only 8!!] Nevertheless, Jordy came along, was the sweetest baby around, always so good and quiet. He only started talking in whispers and used to go to bed by himself when he was tired. He's still a good kid. Very obedient and willing to do the right thing purely because it's right. The two of them used to play outside a lot and I'd let them go without nearly as much fuss as I made over Julie when she was Jordy's age. I guess it could be because I knew Julie was with him too and she, being the very protective girl she is, watched over him very carefully. The two of them have a special bond. Unlike the one I have with my older brother, so I am a bit envious of it, actually. BUT at the same time, I'm very grateful that they do have it - it's wonderful to see them love each other and have Julie (still) always watching out for her younger brother. I often wonder how much of a difference their age gap plays in that. They are 2y & 8m apart.
I wish the same could be said of Julie & Eden's bond... Their age gap is just less than 5 years. And I mean just less. Julie's birthday is on 11 July and Edie's on 11 June so they are literally 4y & 11m apart. Julie is going through her pre-teen stage and Edie is, well... Edie. Before I say anything else, it has to be said that Eden is a very sweet little girl and loves everyone in our family. She's a bit 'pa-vas' at the moment and she worships Julie but she has a little streak in her that drives me insane! She's a true Gemini. She is sweet as candy one minute and then is a real little brat the next. I have found this year, though, that as she's become the 'oldest' at home in the mornings, she has become more willing to budge on some things and she's more responsive to our 'parental suggestions' on how to do things and how to act. She's fiercely independent and definitely likes to have everything her way. I have to watch myself a lot with her because she does well with open communication where I say how and why we do / don't do some things and then after she's thought about it, she thinks it's her idea to do what I've suggested. This isn't fool-proof but it works most of the time. She's also a very intelligent little thing. She catches on to puns and other word games very quickly and enjoys them. My little wild child!
Kael (KALE, in pronunciation) is just a funny little monkey. He loves being the centre of attention, he's such a card and he is almost always smiling. A very happy kid. We weren't planning on having him, per say. We thought we'd done well with 3 kids and were happy to say that was it. However, neither Paul nor I were at all keen to do anything permanent about it. After going through 3 pregnancies, giving birth, breastfeeding all 3 kids (until then) and all else that goes along with it, there was NO way I was going to go and have my insides cut or tied up or lazered out. So, Kael came along. I told Paul he was going to be a dad again on his birthday :) And this is why I love this man so much: He said, 'Awesome!! We'll get by somehow :)'. So each child has brought new challenges to our finances, new adventures that are par for the course with any addition and I have relaxed a bit more.
Kael & Edie go and visit the little girls a few houses down from us in our complex. Julie & Jordan go out and play with their friends in the complex. And I am ever here to make sure they are all ok. I do go and check on them every now and then but having them in pairs or even sometimes all together, I know that they will watch out for each other. OR call me when they are sick of each other... Hahaha :D
The funny thing is that I see the same thing happening with other parents around me. They are super over protective with their first children and as the second (and usually the last in this day) one comes, they are way more relaxed & willing to let their kids do more by themselves. I have often heard people say that they made all their mistakes with their oldest child and I now know that to be true. I feel for Julie because I am harder on her than the others but then I think, she is the one who has to be the example to the others and they will learn a lot from her. Still, I should love and praise her in all her efforts more. She's a great kid!
I love my kids and I love being a mom. I am so grateful for the chance I've had here to step out of myself and be the one they call on (500 million times a day). I don't know how people who don't have kids by choice can ever say they are complete and their lives are fulfilled. How can they when all that they do is self-serving? We are meant to be here, having families, learning that there's more to life and love than just ourselves. It's not always easy, in fact it's the hardest thing I've ever done because it never ends but it's the most worthwhile thing I could ever have done with my life. I'm also so grateful that I have a husband who is my best friend, who supports me in being me and all that comes with that and who is the most wonderful father to our beautiful children.
When Juliette was little, I was a "bit" over protective. I used to hate it when other people held her and very reluctantly gave her to others when they requested holding her. I always felt that it was my duty to keep a close eye on her and know exactly where she was, what she was doing and - if I'd been so bold as to let her out of my sight for a few seconds - who she was with (not to mention what they were doing with / to my precious baby girl) at any given second of the day. [I should also mention that I was very keen to have all my four children - yes, we wanted four from the start - close together, as in about 18 months apart, so that I could get on with it and be all done with having babies by the time I was 30! Haha, what a joke, Julie was born when I was 26!] Julie was very quick with doing everything. She started crawling at 5 months, was standing by herself by 8 months and hit the ground running by 9 months. She was and still is very quick to catch on to things. A very clever little girl with a very sharp tongue and quick mind. Mostly a very responsible kid with a memory like that of an elephant. I kid you not!! Yet, also very defiant (just like her MOTHER!!) ;)
Then when Julie was 2 (!!!) we found out we were going to be parents to another baby. SO, we waited and it all went a lot quicker than the first time, as I'm sure all parents out there can attest to, and I finally got my boy. I knew Jordan was going to be a boy from the first time we went for a scan at 10 weeks. I saw the little blob that was him and just said, "It's my boy!!". [Here I should tell you that previously, I'd only wanted boy children. I was a teenage girl who fought a LOT with my mom hence my desire for the opposite gender in my offspring - to avoid any such thing with a future teenage daughter if mine. Haha again... I am already having arguments about who is right and 'why (she) should always do what I want (her) to do' and she's only 8!!] Nevertheless, Jordy came along, was the sweetest baby around, always so good and quiet. He only started talking in whispers and used to go to bed by himself when he was tired. He's still a good kid. Very obedient and willing to do the right thing purely because it's right. The two of them used to play outside a lot and I'd let them go without nearly as much fuss as I made over Julie when she was Jordy's age. I guess it could be because I knew Julie was with him too and she, being the very protective girl she is, watched over him very carefully. The two of them have a special bond. Unlike the one I have with my older brother, so I am a bit envious of it, actually. BUT at the same time, I'm very grateful that they do have it - it's wonderful to see them love each other and have Julie (still) always watching out for her younger brother. I often wonder how much of a difference their age gap plays in that. They are 2y & 8m apart.
I wish the same could be said of Julie & Eden's bond... Their age gap is just less than 5 years. And I mean just less. Julie's birthday is on 11 July and Edie's on 11 June so they are literally 4y & 11m apart. Julie is going through her pre-teen stage and Edie is, well... Edie. Before I say anything else, it has to be said that Eden is a very sweet little girl and loves everyone in our family. She's a bit 'pa-vas' at the moment and she worships Julie but she has a little streak in her that drives me insane! She's a true Gemini. She is sweet as candy one minute and then is a real little brat the next. I have found this year, though, that as she's become the 'oldest' at home in the mornings, she has become more willing to budge on some things and she's more responsive to our 'parental suggestions' on how to do things and how to act. She's fiercely independent and definitely likes to have everything her way. I have to watch myself a lot with her because she does well with open communication where I say how and why we do / don't do some things and then after she's thought about it, she thinks it's her idea to do what I've suggested. This isn't fool-proof but it works most of the time. She's also a very intelligent little thing. She catches on to puns and other word games very quickly and enjoys them. My little wild child!
Kael (KALE, in pronunciation) is just a funny little monkey. He loves being the centre of attention, he's such a card and he is almost always smiling. A very happy kid. We weren't planning on having him, per say. We thought we'd done well with 3 kids and were happy to say that was it. However, neither Paul nor I were at all keen to do anything permanent about it. After going through 3 pregnancies, giving birth, breastfeeding all 3 kids (until then) and all else that goes along with it, there was NO way I was going to go and have my insides cut or tied up or lazered out. So, Kael came along. I told Paul he was going to be a dad again on his birthday :) And this is why I love this man so much: He said, 'Awesome!! We'll get by somehow :)'. So each child has brought new challenges to our finances, new adventures that are par for the course with any addition and I have relaxed a bit more.
Kael & Edie go and visit the little girls a few houses down from us in our complex. Julie & Jordan go out and play with their friends in the complex. And I am ever here to make sure they are all ok. I do go and check on them every now and then but having them in pairs or even sometimes all together, I know that they will watch out for each other. OR call me when they are sick of each other... Hahaha :D
The funny thing is that I see the same thing happening with other parents around me. They are super over protective with their first children and as the second (and usually the last in this day) one comes, they are way more relaxed & willing to let their kids do more by themselves. I have often heard people say that they made all their mistakes with their oldest child and I now know that to be true. I feel for Julie because I am harder on her than the others but then I think, she is the one who has to be the example to the others and they will learn a lot from her. Still, I should love and praise her in all her efforts more. She's a great kid!
I love my kids and I love being a mom. I am so grateful for the chance I've had here to step out of myself and be the one they call on (500 million times a day). I don't know how people who don't have kids by choice can ever say they are complete and their lives are fulfilled. How can they when all that they do is self-serving? We are meant to be here, having families, learning that there's more to life and love than just ourselves. It's not always easy, in fact it's the hardest thing I've ever done because it never ends but it's the most worthwhile thing I could ever have done with my life. I'm also so grateful that I have a husband who is my best friend, who supports me in being me and all that comes with that and who is the most wonderful father to our beautiful children.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
4 generations
Monday, June 28, 2010
8th birthday approaching...
Julie has been begging us for ages to let her have her ears pierced and I have always said that our girls could choose when they got to 8 because my parents had it done to me when I was 3 years old and it was quite a shock (I vomited all over my aunt - LOL!). And despite all Julie's begging earlier in the year, I stuck to my guns and finally the time came. We said she can do it before her birthday so her ears aren't sore and so the 'trauma' of it doesn't spoil the happiness of the birthday so we went in on Saturday and had it done.
Now it's not like when I had my ears pierced (in fact I think it may just have been the place we went to that made it so different) nevertheless, we went in, she chose her earrings and then they did it. Here's where it becomes a bit of a shock to me: in stead of a 'gun' which shoots the earrings in, quite quickly and less painfully, this one was like a stapler! It was literally like the woman took a stapler and pushed the earrings through my little girl's ears - with all the technological advances, you'd think they could come out with something even less primitive, not regress!! I was so proud of her because she was SO brave. She didn't even wince or pull away once. She did say that it was sore and not what she expected but she didn't cry or complain any more than that. I am truly SO proud of her - my big little girl!! She's a champion of note.
Now it's not like when I had my ears pierced (in fact I think it may just have been the place we went to that made it so different) nevertheless, we went in, she chose her earrings and then they did it. Here's where it becomes a bit of a shock to me: in stead of a 'gun' which shoots the earrings in, quite quickly and less painfully, this one was like a stapler! It was literally like the woman took a stapler and pushed the earrings through my little girl's ears - with all the technological advances, you'd think they could come out with something even less primitive, not regress!! I was so proud of her because she was SO brave. She didn't even wince or pull away once. She did say that it was sore and not what she expected but she didn't cry or complain any more than that. I am truly SO proud of her - my big little girl!! She's a champion of note.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Kids quip(s) of the day...
So yesterday, Julie comes walking down the stairs, hair in hand and says, "Mom, I want to cut my hair - there's a whole bunch at the back here that I don't need."
Her hair was standing up a bit from the way she slept and she didn't like it :)
Her hair was standing up a bit from the way she slept and she didn't like it :)
Friday, April 16, 2010
Kids quip(s) of the day...
Yesterday, after feeling tired from running around after the kids all day and making paper flowers with them, I sat down to rest for a few minutes and Julie explained to Edie, "When Moms & Dads have been working all day, they need to rest because their bodies get tired from working all the time..." Makes it sound as though we are ANCIENT!!!! LOL!!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Having fun playing doctor.
Kids quip(s) of the day...
Julie used to tell us, when we said 'Love you', "Wuvee too" :)
When we first moved up to Jo'burg, we stayed in the same building as my mom. This was from when Julie was 19 months old until Jordy was 6 weeks old and Mom moved closer to her work. Whenever mom came home from work, Jules would run up to her door, or walk home with her and all she would say was, "Lips". Now, you have to know my mom to fully understand what this meant... Mom LOVES her lipstick and (sometimes) wears rather bright colours. Julie, being a little girl, just loved this and so all she wanted from her Granny was "Lips"... :)
When we first moved up to Jo'burg, we stayed in the same building as my mom. This was from when Julie was 19 months old until Jordy was 6 weeks old and Mom moved closer to her work. Whenever mom came home from work, Jules would run up to her door, or walk home with her and all she would say was, "Lips". Now, you have to know my mom to fully understand what this meant... Mom LOVES her lipstick and (sometimes) wears rather bright colours. Julie, being a little girl, just loved this and so all she wanted from her Granny was "Lips"... :)
Monday, April 5, 2010
Kids quip(s) of the day...
Julie - (I just loved this!) This year, when Paul takes her to school in the mornings, their route takes them past the Randburg Magistrate Court and Paul's been telling her about it -> what goes on there, why we have it etc. So this morning, on the way to see my mom (Family Day of Easter weekend) she asked us if we were going past "The Majesty's Court" :D :D
Friday, April 2, 2010
Kids' quip(s) of the day...
Last night I was remembering some of the names the kids have called us (variations of Mom & Dad).
Julie used to say I was Mommyette and Paul was Daddyette (like she is Juliette) :)
Jordy used to say Mommya and Daddya – and the reason this is so interesting to me is that Mark & Tania’s son, our nephew and our kids’ cousin, Warren, used to call Tania Mommya. He and Jordy are 6 years apart so Jordy wasn’t around when Warren used to say this...
Edie said Mommymia and Daddymia (after watching Mamma Mia at one of Julie’s friend’s houses a couple of times) :)
And... to top it all off, Kael has now (as of this week) started calling Paul, Dadda! Yay, he’s really starting to communicate with words – it’s so cool!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Kids' quip(s) of the day...
When Julie was younger, she used to say 'balilla essence' :) What reminded me of this was when Jordy said almost the same thing tonight- 'banilla essence'. I LOVE my children!!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Long weekend (Monday) at the church's Hartebeespoort grounds...
Ag, my little gogga!
My beauty :) Darn I love this girl!
No, the water's not cold, Mom...
Edie definitely loves her Daddy.
Paul and the kids in the water – they just can’t get enough of it! I wonder if it's possible to love your family more than I currently love mine?
They had such fun. It’s a really great spot and I’m so glad we went out for the day.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Jordy's actual birthday
All the pics from Jord's birthday from opening presents to the big swim and 'ice cream cake' with Smarties sprinkled over the top.
My boys! Jordy really loved his birthday - it's so awesome to see the huge grins on his face in all the pics :D
The birthday boy himself!!
Edie and Paul having a good swim (Paul's wearing Julie's goggles!)
Kael almost slipped through the ring but Paul was there to catch him. (And in case anyone is wondering, these pics were taken with my phone so that's why K looks like a cone-head - it often distorts the subject when there's movement)
My first water baby... If she could, she'd live in the water - she should have been a mermaid!
Where has Dad gone?!
Ah, the breakfast we don't usually have... He'd been asking for these for ages so he got some for his birthday :)
Edie enjoyed the water too!
Check the look on his face - he just LOVES the water - just like the rest of them.
This birthday was all about transformers and we found some really cool 'cheaper' ones from our local Checkers. A third of the regular price and they are pretty cool too. He really wanted this army truck one so he was STOKED when he saw it.
Me & my birthday boy.
And of course, what's a 5 year old's birthday without Ben10?!
Dad & a very happy Jordy.
More Transformers - these were actually the McDonalds Happy Meal toys in Feb so I managed to get 3 of the 4.
Edie is going through a Dora the Explorer stage so we got her a DVD as her present (gotta love eBucks!)
The 4 of them getting ready to open prezzies!!
My boys! Jordy really loved his birthday - it's so awesome to see the huge grins on his face in all the pics :D
The birthday boy himself!!
Edie and Paul having a good swim (Paul's wearing Julie's goggles!)
Kael almost slipped through the ring but Paul was there to catch him. (And in case anyone is wondering, these pics were taken with my phone so that's why K looks like a cone-head - it often distorts the subject when there's movement)
My first water baby... If she could, she'd live in the water - she should have been a mermaid!
Where has Dad gone?!
Ah, the breakfast we don't usually have... He'd been asking for these for ages so he got some for his birthday :)
Edie enjoyed the water too!
Check the look on his face - he just LOVES the water - just like the rest of them.
This birthday was all about transformers and we found some really cool 'cheaper' ones from our local Checkers. A third of the regular price and they are pretty cool too. He really wanted this army truck one so he was STOKED when he saw it.
Me & my birthday boy.
And of course, what's a 5 year old's birthday without Ben10?!
Dad & a very happy Jordy.
More Transformers - these were actually the McDonalds Happy Meal toys in Feb so I managed to get 3 of the 4.
Edie is going through a Dora the Explorer stage so we got her a DVD as her present (gotta love eBucks!)
The 4 of them getting ready to open prezzies!!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Having fun on the swing w/ Julie.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Luke & Taryn's Wedding
Jordy was laughing at the fact that the dog (behind them) was licking the plate...
My very gorgeous man!
Just a few pics from their wedding...
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