The kindness of others....

The phrase "do onto others as you would want them to do to you". I have said this countless times to my girls. I have always tried to live by this. I am a person that will offer time, things or help to anyone. Sometimes this has left me feeling used but its just something I will never change about myself. It's something I want my girls to have too.

So this week I have had 3 very special people offer kindness to us. One was to have my girls for a couple of days where they played, rode horses, collected chicken eggs and just had fun! The 2nd was a gorgeous lady who had each of my 3 youngest girls for a sleepover on three different nights. The 3rd was a lady who has more children than i and took 3 of my little ladies for a picnic for the day, where they swam at the dam, caught yabbies and played most of the day!

These kindness made our week a little less overwhelming and made for a week where the girls have said they had the best time. The girls had some time away from the shop, which means the time they are there, is a little less boring for them. 

I am truly grateful to the simple kindness of people. I am so humbled by people right now and can only think of ways to repay their kindness.

Holidays for the kids

Today is the official start of the school holidays. Time for the kids to relax, play, rest and most of all be kids! The downer on this idea is we own a cafe that becomes even more busy in the holidays, so all of the above becomes a strategic planning exercise of work and play!

The normal transition has started between school and home. Meaning that the girls go through a change to readjust to spending 24/7 with each other. At the moment the fighting is still happening, we should be right by tomorrow as they have been better today. 

Role playing games have been happening all over. I have over heard mums and dads, rock stars, teachers, and super heroes! This part of childhood is something through the generations, technology will never change. It makes me smile hearing these games. 

The juggling act that is our working lives rotates a little with the holidays. Routine becomes relaxed, with late nights and special treats to eat. Some things remain, as in the rushing in the morning to actually get to work before the customers. All in all holidays are great!

So as the next 2 weeks go by, we will endeavour to give the girls a great holiday with camping on the weekends, friends to play with through the week and still work at the same time.

 I know this is the same for a lot of parents. The guilt that we have over things to do with our kids and the fact that you have to work. I still get bouts of this but have tried to rationalised it enough that I can not split myself in half and be the best of both worlds, but I can give each half 100% of my attention when I'm with my kids or doing my job!

It's not perfect but it is working. Bx

My week in review

This week started with a weekend that we achieved lots. My book work is up to date, the lawns were mowed and the yard was spring clean so to speak. We made pancakes and slept in. Even the block got a visit, with some planting of some bird attracting natives! 

Monday came around with grey clouds over head and rain hitting our noses. The rushing begins. The last week of term 3, it's crazy how this year has gone so fast, but I have felt every moment. The girls are in need of a rest but this week seems to have been the least restful of the term. 

We head to Cowra for appointments and rush around to do other errands as well. Tuesday arrives with Marty having the day off to go gun shopping. I know that sentence sounds wrong to me, but I like this interest he has developed. He seems Happy which makes me happy. The shop was busy and by 9pm that night I was exhausted. 

Wednesday, Marty gave me the day off, which I found I went to the shop 4 times and was lonely most of the day, but I thank him for seeing I was tired and giving me a chance to catch my breath. 

That night Marty tells me one and a half hours before hand we are having friends over. Inside I freak, for my house was a mess but for some reason I didn't run around like a crazy person cleaning it. I don't know when I got so relaxed but I'm starting to like her!

My kids were embarrassing. It's like something clicks inside them when people come over and every bad behaviour trait comes out for all to witness. I wish I knew the answer to get this to change! It's frustrating. Grrr

So that brings us to Thursday. Today the rushing began late as we all slept in. The girls are tired, we are tired but I try to stay calm and understanding. The girls leave the house with no tears. Yay. So tonight as they argued with each other over nothing I decided an early night was in order. 7.30pm my house became silent and as I finish this at 9.25pm I believe I will be in la la land within 10 minutes. 

So bring on the holidays with a much needed rest for the girls and a break from normal rush routine. The week is almost over, so lets see what the next brings with it. 

I can let it go now

On Saturday night I blogged about a very negative thing that happened to my family. I never published it, I said to myself I needed Martin to read it as he wasn't home. So it's now Sunday night and you know what I don't want to publish it. 

It brought up feelings I have worked so hard to move on from, which amazed me as to how I handled them. 10 weeks ago I would have been a mess. Crying, sad, broken like an egg that had slipped from a hand and hit the floor!

 So when I got angry I worried that I was going to drop back into the rabbit hole, but I didn't. I vented to Marty, wrote my feelings down and then moved on. I know I hear you saying how grown up of you. I can tell you, the friends in my head were partying like Mardi Gras. 

I vented and let my anger out over the situation but to publish it is to give these negative souls power, which I am no longer willing to let happen. All I will say on the matter is that we are all human beings, we are all not perfect and we all make mistakes. I'm human and I'm far from perfect but I can let the negative go now.

 I'm proud of me, this is huge!!!

The question that should be ask everyday!

Today is "are you ok day?", the concept of this day is amazingly simple. It is something that one should ask others always. Asking others if they are ok is simple to do and it really is gob smacking that most people won't do it. 

I'm a strong believer of being honest about feelings. Good, bad and the ugly ones. So this question is easy for me to ask and now very easy to answer. I am stronger now from almost 5 months ago. I know when I was at my lowest moments, all I wanted and craved was someone to notice and ask if I was ok. A simple act of kindness is worth a million times more than most average people would know. 

So on this day as serving my customers I asked this little question and was greeted  with smiles and looks of "thanks for noticing and acknowledging me and my day". Also on this day I asked myself the same question and had a very clear answer come back. Yes Bec, today your ok! 

Love is all around me....

Last night Marty and I got the privilege to help a friend surprise his beautiful wife for her birthday. His request was simple. A 3 course meal cooked by Marty and to have the shop all to themselves.

So with a few weeks planning it came together last night under a sliver moon. Candles were burning bright and a menu set to impress. To say she was surprised by such a thoughtful gift would be a massive understatement. It filled my belly with butterflies to see love and joy beaming off them. 

I'm a hopeless romantic, I cry when I'm happy, I tear up when I talk about my girls and I love my husband more and more each day. So being able to witness from the outside this made my heart swell and want to giggle like a little girl. 

I think this gift is a true gift. It wasn't down to how much money one spent on the other or what brand of clothing was purchased. It was down to good old fashion romance and this to me is priceless. 

A drive to the big smoke

The sun is shining bright over the beautiful canola covered hills. We have kissed and cuddled and kissed our girls some more and headed off on our night away in the big smoke for some much needed mummy and daddy time. With John Butler playing, we take a deep breath and start to relax. 

As we drive out of our beautiful sleepy country town, our conversation automatically starts to flow. Ideas of new things for work and talk of our much loved sanctuary block. It's amazing what things can be achieved with a little time to talk about them. 

So enjoy this beautiful spring weather people. Make sure to take time to be kind to yourself and the loved ones that surround you, for without them our worlds just aren't as bright or full. 

Bx

Touch wood

This week has brought about a new spirit in me and in my family. The show has come and gone and I survived! I put one foot in front of the other and held my head high. Actually I did better than survive, I grew. This week we have purchased a shed for our block, it's crazy scary but crazy exciting all at the same time.

 Father's Day happened with family and some of the nicest people I think I have ever met. Marty cooked the best lunch and was in his element sharing his passion with people he holds dear! We spent the day at the blocks just relaxing, chatting and eating more than is humanly possible. It was one of the best Sundays we have had this year.

I have noticed a strange sense of calm and less tension between the girls. They seem more settled and a whole lot calmer then the last few months. They are thriving at school which makes me realise after all the drama we made the best choice for them. Miss E is happy and not just for a short moment, she is actually happy. She seems less angry and I think I have been told I love you more in the last weeks than I have in her life! This is a big deal. 

Tuesday was our 13th wedding anniversary and I would say I love Marty more now than I did 13 years ago. He is more than I ever asked for and more than I ever thought was possible. He is the best husband, father and friend I could ever want. 13 isn't known to be a good luck number and this year hasn't exactly been the best for our family or me but I figure if you can come out the other side of the bad luck, that has to show the strength in a relationship and person. 

This weekend Marty and I are heading away for our anniversary. To say I'm looking forward to the getaway would be an understatement but I really, really am. Marty has paid extra for a suite and a special celebration package which includes chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate. So I have said we will go to max brenners for lunch just to make sure we have chocolate overload. 

I'm looking forward to spending non work and kid time with my best of the best friends in the world. Just chatting, seeing M rated movies, sleeping in and shopping without "I'm bored" being heard every 5 minutes. 

So to say I'm touching wood this week probably wouldnt be enough. I don't want to jinks any of my feelings, strengths or changes. I don't want to jinks the change I see in the girls, but I want to acknowledge the change. Acknowledge that I have noticed, that I haven't missed it, that I am willing to see it and build on it to keep making our life the best it can be for us. 

I love my family more than anything in the world. To see good things happening for all of them makes me happy and proud to call them mine. So it goes to show you when your being a better you it has a follow on effect on those that you surround yourself with. 

Here's to the week that was!