The One Where Parental Guilt Got The Better Of Me!

Approximately 26 hours ago, Andrew and I had a conversation with the kids about Halloween.  About how they would not be going trick or treating.  About how we didn't believe in Halloween.

At precisely 4.05pm today, as I got out of the car after a day at work, I was met excitedly by Chelsea and Cadyn who could not tell me quick enough how their friends' Mum was taking their friend trick or treating, and they were invited, and they really really really wanted to go, and it was life or death, and.....well you get the idea?

As I dragged my tired arse inside, along with Chloe's tired - I've been at creche all day - arse, I repeatedly said we had told them no last night.  In amidst all of the excitement, Chloe miraculously woke up and was all of a sudden raring to go.  I told the kids they'd put me in a really crappy situation, because I would look like a mean Mummy if I said no.  They concurred.....

So at precisely 4.25pm I had three even more excited kids throwing on costumes and their silly sucked in Mum using the green eyeshadow I didn't even know I owned to make them all look "ghoulish".  We then jumped in the car and drove to above mentioned friends' house, and proceeded to paint other kids faces and carve a pumpkin face?!?!

Yes, it was lovely to see the kids so excited and dressed up amusingly.  Yes, it was lovely to see the smiles in their eyes when people opened their doors and actually showed some excitement towards them.  But no, it still is not my thing!

I'm not usually sucked in by the kids - but tonight, they won hands down!

Excitment +

See that masterful Pumpkin Face?!?!?

Tired little Fairy Witch!

Do you suffer from parental guilt?  Do you "like" Halloween??

The God Father.......Minus The Horse's Head

Yesterday was yet another big day in our family's lives....Chelsea played in her second basketball grand final in a row!  Thankfully the result was better than the first - with a super come from behind win in the dying minutes!  Elation all round as parents hugged each other, families hugged eachother and I looked down to see Cadyn crying tears of happiness for his sister.  His Dad, my husband, the coach - was not too far behind him in the tears department.  Never in my life did I ever think I would be part of a ridiculously sporty family - but I am, and I'm very proud!

After the game, we had to wait around for an hour or so for team photos, and whilst I was standing amongst the throngs of people, I spotted a girl I went to high school with.  She was actually the first person I was introduced to on my first day of high school in Melbourne - way back in July 1990!  And her name was Melissa also.  I ended up moving friend groups, but we were always friendly and as the years went by, several things meant we would always seem to see one another.

One of those things was my relationship with my ex-husband.  His best friend was Melissa's brother-in-law.  His best friend would also end up standing up with us at our wedding and was also chosen to be my eldest son's God Father a couple of years later.  I can still remember his wife's conversation with me after he had been asked to take the role in our son's life.  She had said how honoured he was and that he insisted on choosing a gift and writing in the card himself.  His words were chosen carefully and I can recall being touched with how seriously he took the role of God Parent.

I bumped in to him yesterday.  I haven't seen him for a couple of years.  And he hasn't seen him God Son for at least five years.  For some reason, unknown to me, he slipped out of our lives and cut all ties with my ex-husband.  Well, I understand that part - just not why I didn't hear from them?  I have continued to send school photos with Christmas cards, on the off chance that he still cared about his God Son, but after a while got no response, so had just assumed they must have moved.  But no.  They're still at the same address.

We had a lovely chat and I showed him photos of his God Son on my phone, and he couldn't believe how much he had grown up.  I could - because I see him every day.  I wanted to say that to him, I wanted to question why he had dropped the ball as a God Parent, and why I have to explain to Lachlan that he does in fact have a God Father, but I have no idea why he doesn't have a relationship with him.  It makes me sad.  But then I remember he has an awesome God Mother, who has always gone above and beyond - even from another State - to forge a great relationshp with him.

The amount of thought that has gone in to choosing God Parents for our children is huge.  It's not something we took on lightly.  Although they were all baptised, I am not an overly religious human being, but I wanted my kids to have special relationships with another set of adults whom they could always trust and turn to if they ever thought they couldn't come to us.

Chelsea's God Parents are amazing.  They also happen to be mine and Andrew's best friends.  Cadyn's God Parents have moved a few hours away, and in her own words are "hopeless" God Parents.  I have to remind him who they are.  I still send them school photos on the off chance they want them.  And I still dearly love them regardless!!  He also has one of Andrew's brothers' as a third God Parent - which is fabulous, because he always takes the time out to spend some one on one time with him.  And Chloe?  Well thank God we chose another one of Andrew's brothers' to step up to the plate for her!  Chloe's God Mother chose to sever our friendship, and in turn her role as God Mother, a couple of years ago.  They were very, very close and had an amazing bond.  A bond that has now thankfully been formed with her God Father's long term girlfriend.

I take my own role as God Mother very seriously!  I have three "official" God daughters, one of them interstate, one overseas and one is my niece here in Melbourne.  I also have a number of very special, close to my heart kids whom I would move mountains for!  So it really bothers me when others don't see it as such a special honour and a chance to form a relationship with a little person that can continue for decades.  My own God Mother will always have a special place in my heart and has always been around for me.  And for that - I am eternally grateful.

So - do you believe in God parents?  What does it mean to you?

The Door

I'm sure that tantalising title just made you rush right here to read?  Thought so!

Yep, this door.  Our toilet door.  After living in this house for three and a half months - we finally got our new toilet door hung today!  In the scheme of things, I know it's no big deal.  But we had every single door replaced in this house before we moved in, all except this one.  This very special door was also apparently a huge pain in the ass.  It was measured and ordered multiple times before the correct size was finally delivered.  And then we waited patiently frustratingly another few weeks to have it hung.  Which was Monday just past.  After a couple of hours of banging, drilling and getting high on the smell of putty, the builder came to declare he was finished.  But instead asked us to come and see why - in his words - he is a dickhead.  He'd hung the door on the opposite side of the door jam - and right on finishing hanging and beginning the painting,  discovered it was on THE WRONG SIDE.  Which just happened to cover the light switch......

Fast forward to this morning when it was correctly hung, painted and left in peace for the day.  Joy!

You may remember my post months ago when I announced we had bought our first house?  Well, the last few months have been met with much excitement, frustration, phone calls, money and tradesmen.  And we're nearly there!  We've I've finished decorating a few of the rooms, so thought I would share......

The all important laundry.  Somewhere I spend way too much time.  I just bought those drawer thingies from Ikea to see me through until I decide on what sort of cabinetry I need in there to solve my throwing things around in a tanty......

Kid's bathroom.  Boring but functional!

Chelsea's bedroom!  I love love love her room - and so does she!  I made her rag quilt and am pleased to say she uses it all the time.  I also made her cushion and put together those painful pom poms hanging from her ceiling!

And I covered a cork board for her to use to hang her crap on - but I need to get longer thumb tacs to use!

Terrible lighting = shit photos.  But this is our front lounge room.  The mirror was bought to hang in our bedroom, but was too damn big for where I wanted it.  I'm glad it was because I love it on that wall!  My other favourite thing is the big turquoise cushion - I bought it from Ishka and Andrew is not a fan.  Which makes me love it even more!  You can't see in this photo, but to the right is a gorgeous big bright red floral print canvas!  Yet another of Andrew's favourites.......

I picked this heavy timber sign/hanging up from one of those daily deal email things that pop up - it was $26!!!  It hangs in our back living room - which is currently doubling as my laundromat so did not get featured in tonight's post!

We still have a long way to go.  Next week, we are hoping to get our new driveway done - weather permitting.  The staircase has been sanded and under-coated and is awaiting its gloss (which will take weeks of painstakingly tedious work) and the deck and backyard are yet to be completely sorted.  But all good things come to those who wait - so I'll try and be patient!

And on a completely different note - my Out To Sea Market Night went relatively well last week!  I declared I would donate 10% of the night's sales to Foundation 18 - so I'm chipping in $35!  Doesn't sound like a huge amount, but every little bit helps.  If you're feeling charitable - pop over and chip in a few dollars for their fabulous funding for the kids of Indonesia.

Is your home a work in progress?  Do you have a toilet door?

The Mum You Are

Source

This darling little gem popped up in my newsfeed this morning on Facebook.  My own Mum had shared it.  That was four hours ago, and I'm still thinking about it.

I second guess my mothering every. single. day.  Considering I am about to venture in to my 14th year of mothering, that makes for a lot of second guessing.  I can still remember bringing home my big boofa of a baby all those years ago, and having absolutely no idea what I was doing.  I was 23 years old.  A baby myself.  And this little human being needed me.  And I had no idea what I was doing.

Three more children later, and I still find myself - at times - floundering.  Beating myself up for not being the Mum I think I should be.  Like now.  What I should be doing is sitting on the floor playing some sort of game with my four year old.  I should be doing that every day yes?  But I'm not.  And I don't.  I'm not a game player.

I worry that my kids will only remember the Mum that was cranky.  The bad cop.  Will they remember the good stuff?  I know my kids love me.  The 14 year old told me (via FB when I asked him for some sort of "like, rate, honest" shit that the teenagers do!)..........

"like ur my mum and ur funny tbh ur a pretty kool mum"

So that has to count for something yes?

I'm good at preaching.  I'm a big believer in "each to their own" parenting.  Don't compare yourself, don't worry about what others are doing - when all along - I'm worrying about what I'm doing?  Will the self doubt, as a Mother, ever end?

So I ask you - do you enjoy being the Mum you are?

Sunday Stash Debut

Today I'm doing something NEW and joining in on Sunday Stash at Finding Fifth - which is actually being hosted by my friend Gemma at Pretty Bobbins this week!  Often I forget what I have sitting on my fabric shelves, even though I look at them each and every day - so it was good this afternoon to REALLY look at it and find some goodies, and think about what on earth I am going to do with them.

I bought these Verona prints early this year with the intention of making something lovely for my girls.  Forgot it was there!  I have a bit of a thing for greys....

This is Cocoon by Valori Wells.  I fell in love with it and HAD to have it.  I am yet to find the patterns I want to use to make a little collection of dresses.  It's been on the shelf for quite a few months now.

Serenade by Kate Spain.  These prints were bought with a big order of something, and I needed to top up my package to make the most of shipping!  My youngest daughter LOVES purple, so it was bought for her.  I have no idea what I will do with it yet!

I bought all of the above three from the lovely Jewel over at The Intrepid Thread.  She is a wonderful fabric store, and will bend over backwards to help me out when I'm floundering over fabric choices.  So if you're looking for a fabulous fabric store - head over and tell her I sent you!

I believe these prints are all from the Nest range by Valori Wells.  I bought these from a seller on a Facebook marketplace.  Impulse buy, basically because I LOVE Valori Wells.  All sorts of lengths and widths here, and again, no idea what i will ever do with them!

So there you have it!  A very small section of what is sitting on my shelves.

Do you collect fabric?  And then forget you have it?

Saturday Night Boogie - Kid's Edition

I have been a good cricket wife this evening and spent time down at the club with the husband and kids.  It really does not get any easier.  This will be my 11th season as a "cricket widow" and it still sucks the big one.  Anyway, I'm home now - so what better way to spend the remainder of my Saturday evening than looking up Youtube clips???  That's right - I'm linking up with Little White Dove's Saturday Night Bloggers Boogie!  Tonight is brought to you by - my children.  Yep - the songs that are loved by them......

I'm sorry.  I really am.  Because if you play this you may very well have it stuck in your head for days.  Like Me.  A strange thing happened this week.  Mr Psy (yep, that's his name) was on X Factor here in Australia and I kacked myself through his whole performance.  I could actually see that he didn't take himself too seriously, which appeals to me.  The film clip is even funnier.  My kids love it.

This delightful little fella won X Factor last year.  I love the gap in his teeth.  I have a feeling that one day Chelsea will admit to loving him too - for now she will just say she likes the song!

Chloe LOVES this song!  (So do I ssshhhh).  We were in the car a while back and I asked her who sung this song, and she replied "Maybe".  We went back and forth a bit and then the chorus came on and Chloe yells "See Mum, I told you her name was Maybe"........

One of Chelsea's all time fav's.  This tune was on repeat a couple of years ago, after Chelsea decided she would sing it for her school's version of "Australian Idol".  She knocked it out of the park school!  

And that's all I've got for you right now - basically because all the kids are asleep and I can't ask them for the fifth!!

I hope you're all enjoying your weekend?

This Good Girl is Going BAD

Oh don't worry (Cos I know you were?) I'm just joining Blog Action Day.  Eden Riley wrote a great post today about Bloggers using their Blog for Good.  And it got me thinking - again.  In the past year I would have to say I have donated more, taken part more, and been called to action more.  Is it because I'm getting older?  Because I'm out of the selfish 20's and in to the reflective almost 40's 30's?  Or just because my eyes are opened more to the outside world and what is going on outside my immediate bubble?  Probably all of those and more.  Whatever the reason, I want to help more.  And if that is only by giving money, then that is better than nothing yes?

Soooooo.  Today I have decided I will be donating 10% of all sales I make from my Out To Sea Market Night to Cate Bolt's Foundation 18.  Cate builds orphanages, amongst many other things.   I have donated numerous times to Foundation 18, and mentioned them here on the blog, so I guess you could say it is one of my chosen charities!

Another awesome way of supporting Foundation 18 is by purchasing buttons from Skull Buttonry!  I received my first purchase from them a couple of weeks ago and will now be a regular shopper there too!

With only TWO MORE SLEEPS until my MARKET NIGHT, I need to pick up the pace!  Spread the word!  I would dearly love to be able to sell everything I've made, but am a realistic woman too.  I have fallen in love with this collection of clothing, and am hoping you all have too, and will join me Thursday night for a few $1 give-aways as well as some early Christmas shopping!

You can find the full Market Night Album HERE, but these are a few of my favourites up for grabs on the night....

Thoughts?  Causes?  Buttons?

Hope to see you Thursday night! 

xxx