Comfort....

Frustrating when kids can't sleep. Comforting to know Mum's hugs usually help!

Things they've learnt...

Whilst the kids are always in the middle of learning something, some things seem like such a hurdle that they will never be conquered. I needed to remember that they do eventually manage to master those skills.

Of course there is the usual milestones that are such achievements- smiling, walking, talking. But I've also been thinking back on all the other less momentous, yet still important, things they've learnt.

•to eat yoghurt without wearing most of it
•to dress themselves
•to close their eyes whilst getting shampoo rinsed out
•getting their arms into the straps of the car seat
•getting their own drinks out of the fridge (though still not closing the door!)

Remembering these might give me that extra boost of patience I need to deal with the next set of skills!

An art book...

Megan loves all things crafy. We have loads of pictures, glue-ings, paintings that we had previously not know what to do with. Now with her wardrobe display area, we dont have to change things around so often.

I made a scrapbook of the kids' first crafty attempts- annotated with whatever was exciting about it. Though I haven't kept them up as much as I had hoped, and Alex is SOOOOO not crafty that there is almost nothing to put in his!

But still, what to do with all those other pictures? What about the good ones that are actually cute to look at? I've kept most of them (and there's lots!) just in case...of something...but dont know what.

One friends suggested that I take photos of them and make a photo book as a Christmas present for the kids. Not a bad idea, so I've started taking photos...again...just in case!

I guess this is what it could look like.

If I am organised enough, I'll give it a go this year. Might just hold onto the pictures though...just until I'm sure I can throw them away!

Where to draw the 'party' line...?

Megan has been invited to loads of birthday parties lately. Some from cousins and friends, but mostly from kids from her daycare centre. Hubby and I are in different camps about them. He thinks she should go to them all. I don't.

It's not that I don't want her to attend the parties, it's just that I don't have the first clue about who the birthday boy/girl is! Megan will talk about just 1 or 2 kids, so we assume that they are her good friends. However these BFF's are not the kids inviting her to parties. I've specifically asked about the party kids, hoping to elicit a response like, "Yeah we played together all day today". Instead I get, "Yeah she's in my room".

Not only do I not know the kids, but have no idea about the families, the homes or party expectations. Do we stay? Do we go? How do I make small talk with a mum or dad I have never met and will probably never meet again? Am I putting my own social anxieties into a situation that doesn't need it?

Megan's birthday is coming up and we hadn't even considered inviting friends from creche. When there are loads of cousins, mother's group kids and kids of friends, there isn't enough room to think any further. But what if these birthday boys and girls don't have all the kids around that we do. What if creche friends are the only friends they have?

Megan isn't quite old enough to notice if she doesn't go to these parties. But is it fair to her to skip over them? How much will they talk about it at creche and she will miss out?

Where do I draw the PARTY line???/

The score this week.....

The score this week... Temper tantrums- 57 Painful headaches-4 Parents in Tasmania on camp-1 Request for dad to make it better-lost count! Glasses of wine- only 2 (quite proud of that!) TGIF!!!