Drama Queen

I've just finished Week 1 of a two week block of casual drama teaching...only taken on because the teacher was called up for HSC Marking at the last minute & the school really wanted a teacher who could take the children for that time - aiming for consistency for them. Eric is allowed to go to Prep full-time, just for these weeks. It's good to be able to support the school, but it's certainly taking it's toll on my body. As much as I'm loving it, I think I'd be hesitant to say yes again...for a while anyway? I'm grateful I don't have to work full-time. Anyway, the talent of some of the students is AMAZING. Year 12 did their HSC yesterday & I saw all the individual performances - they were just so incredible...they could have been professional actresses. Just truly amazing. Well prepared, enthusiastic & beautiful girls. What a joy to be in the audience!

It's reminded me to be prayerful for the staff there as it really is such a HUGE responsibility to teach children. There is so much going on every day, so much to take into account, so many children...TEACHING = the hardest job, but also perhaps one of the most wonderful ones (when a day goes well). 

But after having children & having various health problems over the years I don't think I have the same physical strength to do it with the same energy as I did in my 20s. As I head towards my 40s it's a more gentle focus? I don't know that I could get up dancing with Kindy & running the most energetic music lessons for hours every day, then come home & cook, clean up, wash, pack lunches, keep the uniforms & ironing up to date, pay bills, shop for food etc etc etc. The myth of "having it all" - the career, the family & the fairytale life really is a myth. Something has to give if I were to go back to that - & my body just wouldn't let me. My relationships with the kids would suffer too because I'd be so weary & grumpy ALL the time. 

Having said that, the kids have been so helpful this week. Eric had a Fathers Day morning at Prep today. Poor D came last in every 'father' half of a race, but then Eric would sprint on home & win in the 'Prep' section. That boy is Mr Competitive. Every Dad was there, it made me happy that D was there to share it with Eric. My eyes keep welling up with tears thinking how sick he was...Yesterday Miss Bonnie was asking about the local reactor & we spoke about how D had radiation to kill the cancer. After a while she said "Mummy, can we stop talking about this, it's making me feel teary & sad." She is the sweetest most sensitive girl sometimes. I am so glad that we can talk about what we've been through...

Thousands of things have happened this week. My head spins, & I am grateful that it is Friday. Hooray for the weekend. I'm off to bed...zzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Fathers Day Sunday...How I miss you Dad. You've been gone 14 years now. I hope you would be proud of me. I will never forget what a great Dad you were - a gentleman & a scholar. I wish I could have that one last hug, one last conversation. You were gone so unexpectedly, so quickly, so suddenly...I never got to say Goodbye. I wish you had met your 5th & 6th grandchildren. They would love you so much. They remind me so much of you at times. Your first grandson is so cheeky like you...I love that you kept all your cards from me. I have them still. I wish I'd kept more of yours. I am keeping things from my children now. Happy Fathers Day Dad. Bless you. I love you forever. XXxx

Crafting

Though I feel like death warmed up because it's that-time-or-the-month & someone snuck in last night & stole all my energy, I think I might go to craft group this morning & do some more work on my cross stitch? (Not the pictured one of course...) I should, of course, be tidying up around the house...I'll just see how I go...

Memories...

At our school Year 12 are doing their trials at the moment. After this term they will be finished their schooling & it will just be the HSC left to go...

It only seems like yesterday we were all celebrating our final day of school with a champagne breakfast - Deb, Linda, Melissa, Mandy, Julie, Michelle, Justine & I took the snap...so much joy, lots of fun, laugh till you nearly wet yourself type of days. They were so good. I look at Yr 12 & wonder if they are as happy or carefree as us. Sure, we were stressed too, but there was so much joy to be finishing & moving on & growing up...I look at these friends & I've hardly kept in touch with any of them!! We move in so many different circles now. But those years were so good together...

I wonder what we would have thought if we'd been able to look into the future or what advice we would now give our 17/18 year old selves?

Ahhhh, the 80's. When Seniors at school tell me they're having a dress up party with an 80's theme: flouro, big hair, marble jeans, big earings etc I wonder why? (That was my youth..D said "Oh, that's like a 60's party for us." LOL. That's what we used to do...)

My poor lawn...

I am off to attack my lawn & get those dreadful weeds out. My Dad kept his lawn in such good shape. He'd be horrified at mine! I know I'm a black thumb...but I try...

Then off to get a new Music Book for Miss Bonnie for piano lessons. D is off to get his bike serviced. 

I'll try to stay away from Etsy & eBay this weekend. 

Tomorrow D is playing in the church band - only the second time in years. I'm on the prayer roster so am looking forward to planning that later today...

Here's to a lovely weekend. Hope it warms up...

Hippity Hooray it's...

FRIDAY. How I love Fridays!!

There will be no cooking for Mum, uniforms in the wash & ironed & put away for the weekend. Friday night SYTYCD & Footy, baths & snuggly jammies.

My bones are starting to thaw out at Spring quickly approaches! HOORAY!

And wonderful news: D's check up at the hospital yesterday went really really well. His bone marrow is making some good stuff. Despite the ongoing issues - which seem extremely frustrating for us - for the Drs, he is never "as bad" as some others & they want to keep him off drugs (immune suppressants & steroids) as much as possible. I never expect a negative report, but my throat felt very tight - a physical reaction to the fact that he was back there being tested perhaps. Though in my mind I didn't think I was worried, my physical body was. 

And D was able to bump into our lovely friend Geraldine who has just had sweet baby Matilda, & now has to prepare for her own BMT! I want to pray for her & her family so much...when I feel like complaining about life I don't have to look far before I feel ashamed of my lack of appreciation for the thousands of blessings around me!

Great Family Weekend

...involving coffee, shopping, exercise, handball games where even Mum got to be "King" for a few rounds, church, the weekend paper, art, lunch out together, mud & shaving cream pies, laundry, inspiring shows, reading, cuddles & much much laughter. How I love weekends like that.  

Little Fish...

The kids went to swimming lessons this afternoon. Bon's first since D got cancer, & Eric's first ever. I was so proud of them both! One of the teachers commented on Bonnie's lovely long swimming arms...she's been telling me all night that she thinks she could be a great swimmer. Talk about blossoming under praise! 

We found some swimming on TV after tea & she asked me if I'd come & cheer for her if she became an Olympic swimmer. (I'd be there with a heart about to burst with pride waving banners & jumping around the stand going beserk!!??) 

Then she said "Even if I came last Mum, you'd still be proud wouldn't you?!"

Absolutely my precious little girl! (She's up for another Merit Award this week too...sweetheart!)

I thought Eric would jump in before the teacher could hold him & drown he was so super keen. 

He is brave - & they are lovely kids. 

Poor Eric was shopping with me yesterday & decided he'd like to sit in a Wiggles car while I got some cash out of a teller machine. Next thing a girl came up to him & was screaming in his face "GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!" My jaw dropped open & I looked for the mum who mumbled a mild "Don't say that pet." Eric was so gracious. He looked to me for the OK to keep sitting there so I gave him a wink & said "You can stay there if you'd like" but after a few minutes of being screeched at he sweetly said "You can have a turn now" & hopped out. There are so pretty wild children out there, & some pretty wild parents...

Feeling very proud of the kids tonight. They really help me keep putting one foot in front of the other sometimes...

Off to do some reading with a cuppa I think...zzzzzz...

Bittersweet last day of school holidays...

The kids are enjoying their last taste of holidays for a while as school goes back tomorrow. They are watching Charlie & the Chocolate Factory with Depp - a favourite! I wouldn't mind drinking some liquid chocolate from that river to give me some sugary energy! Actually there are probably lots of things in the chocolate factory that I'd like to try...what about an everlasting gobstopper?

I'm off to do something mundane & boring - like hang the washing, or clean the mess around this computer as my desk has moved into Bon's room...which means of course everything that was in it needs a new home. That's what I have to do today. 

Miss Social Butterfly has been invited to a swimming birthday party this afternoon which scares me considerably as she can't really swim, AND we don't have a pressie OR money in our shopping account until Wednesday when we're paid again...sigh...

Anyhoo...I want to enjoy this "last day" before the routines of the morning change. No more wandering into the kitchen at 9am for a cuppa. Uniform & shirt ironing, homework helping, picking up, shopping, waiting for the casual work phone call, ravenous children at afternoon tea time, early dinners, early baths, assignments, playdates...

P.S. There are lots of happy kookaburras around our house today. They never cease to make me smile!