Perfectly Imperfect Family-Work Balance...

Joining in the party at Picklebums and sharing a part of my perfectly imperfect life, today...

Today was, officially, the first day of the Spring holidays, and in true Melbourne fashion, it just wasn't sunny, nor shiny, nor warm outside. Dave had a training session to go to, so that left me with four children who were about ready to sell each other into child slavery by 8.30am.

Today, we spent many, many hours doing this...

While I ignored this...

And this...

The former involved enough yelling, accusations of cheating, and demonstrative refereeing from The Mother Figure, to send The Father Figure scuttling off to the supermarket almost a soon as he got home from his training session. Also, I'm sure I saw an insulation van pull up outside our neighbour's place. Peaceful and picture perfect it was not (the photo at the top was taken after the fact because I couldn't pick up my camera during the day for fear of having it knocked out of my hands by flailing outbursts of "He's HAD HIS TURN", and "THOSE AREN'T the RULES, MUUUUUUM!:, but at 6pm, each one of us is still breathing, and no ambulances have needed to be called, so I'm filing this day under "Perfect - imperfectly so",

Comments

Mummy McTavish said…

Hi, I've popped on over from the imperfect party. Sometimes the fact that no ambulances have been called is enough to make the day a complete success, isn't it? Happy Imperfection :-)

8:33 pm

Sif said…

Thank you :). Holidays can be loooong when the weather isn't co-operating and four boys bounce around the house like so many baby calves... We haven't had a hospital run in several months, so all is looking good for now!

12:18 am

jeanie said…

I am in awe - four boys on a wet holi-day and no blood spilt? Close to perfect I would say.

9:32 am

katef said…

AH the joys... sounds just like our house which is why I totally refuse to play board games of any kind with my children... ever.

4:00 pm

12 Things Happy People Do Differently - a self-reflection...

A few days ago a Facebook friend posted the above poster on her wall. I believe she got these points from this blog which she enjoys reading, and the bloggers on the Marc and Angel Hack Life blog derived their discussion of these points from this book, available on Amazon - you're welcome! I have to admit, I haven't read the blog or the book I've just mentioned but wanted my readers to have access to the sources of the poster for their own reflective purposes.
The New Year will be upon us in but a few days and I thought this a great opportunity to do a little personal assessment on how I'm playing the happy game. I'm often not very happy at all - I don't need to be happy all the time, let me just say that up front - I personally believe that life is a balancing act and those who seek euphoria often will also often feel desolation because in all things there must be balance. The great riches of the few on this planet come at the personal cost of the many as is …

The symbolism of elephants...

Just recently I've been seeing and noticing elephants everywhere!

A few weeks ago I saw the Samsung Elephant Ad, and watching that led me to watching a video with an elephant painting (seriously, you have to watch it to believe it!).

Then last night the boys told me they were having a free dress day at school to raise money for 'Mali the Elephant' - who turned out to be a paper maché statue which the children will paint and then show around the council before it comes back to the school to stand outside the performing arts room.

Then this morning I followed a link from Twitter to Toushka Lee's blog and read this post about an elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka.

This morning the Grumpy Old Man did another driving test and unfortunately didn't pass. We've booked his next test and are looking forward to that now. About ten minutes before he walked in the door I saw this poster on Facebook...

At the time, I didn't know if the Grumpy Old Man had been successful or …

Alone... And Stuff...

Do you ever just need to be alone?

As the boys are growing up, we have more times when the house is quiet. The youngest will be asleep. One will be reading, one will be playing on his computer with headphones on, one will be painting and there is stillness.

Sometimes, even that is not enough.

Sometimes I crave being alone, with no possibility of someone suddenly realising they have to tell me something important or ask me a question or even just crash about in the kitchen.

Sometimes I crave S P A C E, lots and lots of space, being able to walk from room to room without encountering another soul.

This is how I felt when I woke up this morning, so instead of getting ready for work, I decided to stay home. Get up, but not go anywhere, no hear the sound of my own voice, or anyone else's.

I think this might just be part of getting older. After a lifetime of chasing after other people and trying not to be alone, my mind and body is full of thoughts, experiences, feelings, and busy-ness …

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