Last Days...

These are the last few days of the school holidays and we are squeezing in a quick trip to the Optometrist followed by some lunch at an old fashioned country restaurant. This bit was Master T's request.

This is the sort of restaurant that makes its own pastries and where the milkshakes are so big they come in a glass full to the brim and a silver milkshake cup on the side, half full.

This is the stuff memories are made of. The restaurant has been there for about 80 years, maybe more, and is well know for miles around.

It has made many memories and is continuing to do so. We took Miss T there after her first day of school. Tradition.

It's nice to have traditions isn't it? I wonder what sort of milkshakes the kids will order? My guess is good old fashioned chocolate and strawberry.

Ciao for now....



just Martha. xxx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Clean Up...

I have been like a woman possessed. Cleaning, tidying, chucking out.... A big BIG BIG spring clean. Nothing is safe. If it hasn't been used or the children have grown out of it....GONE.
Recycled
Given away
Dumped
Not sure why I am being so ruthless. Master T is just about to enter High School so perhaps it is time for his baby stuff to be either put away or recycled. Also, the pest man is coming and I like to have all the corners clean before so they don't need to be disturbed again for a little while.
The Silver Fox has already been to the rubbish tip once and there is another lot of stuff ready for him.
But
This weather is absolutely crazy. Such a land of extremes. We are currently house bound with severe winds and rain. No flooding as yet but our thoughts are with fellow Aussies who are directly in danger. No trips to the tip either for now so this pile will have to stay put for another few days at least.
We are all well here. Miss T is hideously low in iron so that is being addressed. I have the ingredients for another batch of spinach and ricotta filo pastries today. Good day to cook I think as long as we have power.

Here is the current view from my bedroom. Wet, windy, wild and woolly.



Trust all is well with you

Ciao for now



just Martha. Xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Still Waters Run Oh So Deep...

Image

It started with one question. One small ripple in the pond...

And has led to a tidal wave of honesty and the revelation of despair.

This road to teenage-hood has many twists and turns

We had some issues over breaking the contract written regarding Facebook

So I asked a simple question

My question was "we know you have something to tell us so we can discuss it when you are ready"

I thought the answer was going to be something about her continuing to write on FB despite being banned which we knew she was doing

No...................................................................................


What came out of it was a 4 page letter written to us, by my darling daughter, about the depths of despair she sinks in to

The tears flowed as we gently held her discussing her feelings and coming up with a plan. A plan for us all. We reinforced that she doesn't need to be perfect, we love her and that it is okay to have a down day and told her to thank her friends who have supported her through so far. We also did the following:

• Came up with a code word for when she is feeling sad or feeling r-e-a-l-l-y sad
• Bought her some vitamins
• Arranged a visit to the GP
• Arranged some visits to a psychologist
• Arranged hang outs with her friend
• Booked her in to the dentist to check the state of her teeth (for potential eating disorders)

But

• We have still banned her from FB for the time being
• Get her to leave her phone in our room every night from 7.30
• She still needs to do her chores

And

We talk about it. She says she feels like a burden has lifted and she doesn't have to pretend to feel happy now. She also slept 13 hours the night after she told us. She tells us if the day has been "purple" or just "violet".


So far so good


I can tell you that I and the Silver Fox were shocked to say the least. Not that she has low days but that they were so very low. Look this might be a "stage" but I feel very grateful that I asked the question.




Very grateful








Ciao for now...





 

Mrs Unpopular...

Tough times calls for tough measures. Holidays have been spent, FBing, trawling for specials and Minecrafting.

No more


I've hidden the modem...







from ALL members of this family


Makes a girl kind of unpopular...


Too bad. I'm the Mumma







Ciao for now...




 

Quality or Quantity...

Christmas got me thinking. What sort of friend are you? Are you quality or quantity? Do you like some one on one time or for you is the more the merrier?

My house was bursting at Christmas with some local and interstate relatives. We had a great time. All 15 of us.

But

Some of my local relatives stayed and stayed and stayed....

I found myself getting a bit snitchy because I wanted to spend some quality time with everyone in my family but not at the same time. If you know what I mean.

Hardly the spirit of Christmas I know so I did some pondering and thinking and I decided I am a quality time sort of girl. I would rather spend 1 hour with someone that 4 hours with everyone. Look, don't get me wrong, Christmas is a time for family and the day was very enjoyable watching everyone catch up, eat, sharing presents... That's the way it is meant to be.

But

Everyone for 6 days? Not sure.

It is my fault I know as I should have been more specific about times. I just felt that the local relatives would be more aware of precious time spent with those who are only seen twice a year. Apparently not. My immediate family had had a hard year sending Mum to respite and taking the opportunity to snaffle her a permanent bed. My siblings needed to see her settled, see my Dad calm and relaxed and to be comfortable with the decision. It was rather traumatic for us all. We needed to sort clothes, decide on furniture and generally have conversations that needed to be open and unguarded. No such luck. All the guests left on the same afternoon and there was plenty not discussed.

Don't get me wrong. All had a great time and no one felt like they shouldn't be there. I kept my frustrations to myself. But it got me thinking about whether I like to be surrounded by lots of people, or a few. Well, sometimes a lot but I also love some one on one time.

I realized I am the same with friends. I am happy to do the whole group thing but also happy to spend 30 minutes here and there catching up over coffee.

I mostly have friends whom you can catch up with after some time and take up where you left off. No worries. It is important to cherish your friends but to also be aware that life often gets in the way. There is no conspiracy, just that life got busy.

I like to let my friends know I care by dropping in meals when they are sick or making presents for them but I often can't participate in big get togethers due to time and sometimes cost as well. To me that is what a true friend is. Someone who is there when you need them. I like them to be secure in their knowledge about this.


What sort of friend are you?



Ciao for now...