I like the idea of hints & tips, sharing ideas on parenting, recipes, good ideas for cheap fun, how to get creative with your kids... because most of all I have learnt one thing this year;
Too many people feel negatively about parenting, and it's time to remind them why they wanted kids in the first place, and help them reconnect to the FUN that is parenting.
Why do so many people COMPLAIN about being parents? we spend so much time trying to get pregnant, love the baby stage, and then as soon as these little humans evolve as toddlers with tantrums or throw food, or kids with attitude, suddenly it seems the arguments start between the parents, "you don't do enough!" "it was your idea to have these kids!" and I really don't get it, and it makes me sad.
Motherhood for me is the best thing I have ever done. It's the thing I'm most proud of. Watching my daughter and my husband interacting is something really special, and I encourage things they can do together - just the two of them. While I still have an element of grief in me over not having another child, the gift of our daughter is magical, and I am forever grateful to have her in our lives.
(Clover (on our holiday a couple of months ago - Vanuatu) weaving on the beach... she lights up my morning and makes me smile.)
Each stage she gets to (she's now 7) I feel a little sad at what has passed.. maybe that's due to only having one child, so you don't get to do the baby stage again, the toddler stage again, the fun play dates and picnics at the beach during the day... but I LOVE being involved in her school, doing canteen duty or going on a class trip. Homework - spelling and home reading, inviting her friends over for afternoon tea and sleepovers, watching movies on a Friday night or baking up a storm. We can now have serious chats about serious things... and her favourite thing when we're on long car rides "tell me a story about when you were little mummy..."
Juggling being a working mother, a wife, a carer, trying to build my business, having a social life, time for family, time for my husband, catching up with friends, finding time to exercise (ha ha!) and time to myself to relax (ha ha ha!) is often a struggle, and I do have to work through the guilt I feel at never being enough, giving enough, doing enough, BUT at the end of the day, ALWAYS making sure I can go to bed knowing I have helped someone, made a difference somehow... even if that's just making sure there's a healthy meal on the table, and a hug and story before bed.
Being a mum sure is a challenging job at times. But it's the biggest gift we can ever receive. The opportunity to bring a child into the world and to teach them and enjoy them so that they grow to be mindful, respectful, thoughtful and confident as they go out and explore the world.
As this year ends and another begins, our children are a bit older (so are we!!), and time is marching on. Do you make the most of the time with your child/ren, and do you tell them how much they are loved and cherished?
Best wishes to you all for a beautiful 2011, and a wonderful festive season.
Kylie xo
"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." Mignon McLaughlin
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