Behind the glitz and glamour

So last weekend was a bit of a mix and match weekend.

Thursday night I took the girls to see Midsummer Night's Dream.  It was performed at a high school and it was brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed it. They used a hexagonal stage so they were performing to five different angles which gave an extra depth from an audience point of view as well as making the performance very intimate, but I imagine made it a little harder from an actor's point of view.

I love cupcakes!

Plus they were serving high tea style food. I had a cupcake. I do love cupcakes.

Then Pixie was sick Friday. Pixie only gets sick once or twice a year, but when she does she is grumpy, tantrumy, miserable and needs lots of cuddles. I managed to work from home for half a day, but I admit the extra sleeping time for me because "I need you to cuddle me and I will cuddle my puppy" was a lovely bonus. You have to find a silver lining even to sickaling babies.

Friday night and Saturday I took Tink camping. I was helping to QM (cook) at a Guide leader training camp. (Apple very nicely kept the other two, even the sickaling one).

I love camping. The stillness, the time-out, the running away from technology, the campfire - it all soothes my soul.

Sitting around a campfire is one of my favourite places to be.

Luckily there was some soul soothing.

Sunday was a showcase performance for dancing. In case you are wondering, our dance school used the term 'showcase' rather than concert because it was a short concert, no costumes, and was a chance for the dancers to show friends and family what they have learnt in term one this year.

(The "no costume" bit was the important part of that last sentence that I would like you to remember for later).

Dance hair. Note the different colours? Much easier to tell them apart now.

I was helping back stage. By "helping" I mean I was in charge of lining everyone up to get on stage, checking shoes, attempting to keep them quiet, bossing around the lovely adult dancers who were helping me and the other mum helper, and dealing with random small children who may or may not know their own name.

No costumes meant less adults needed backstage just in case you were wondering where everyone else was; it was great that most of the parents were able to watch this concert.

In case anyone else finds themselves in this position, I thought I would give you some helpful tips:

1. Take an emergency kit (ie bandaids, needle and thread, bobby pins, hair ties).
2. Learn to sew so you can use the needle and thread for emergency costume repairs (or find out who backstage can sew).
3. Take needle and thread out of your bag after the concert (otherwise you may prick yourself and bleed everywhere at an inopportune moment).
4. Hair ties are amazingly useful for shortening leotard straps to avoid "flashing".
5. Small children may not know their own name.
6. Small children may not know what class they are in or who they are in that class with.
7. It is highly likely most of the small children will not know the name of the song.
8. After making realisations 5 to 6 you will be cursing the lack of costumes. When they are dressed the same they are easy to match (like dominos).
9. It is helpful to have street cred when working with small children ("Guess what?! I am Miss Buglet's mummy" works wonders for me).
10. Find the one small child who actually will talk to you and knows people's names to be your sidekick. Chances are they will be right.
11. It is possible to organise large numbers of children while carrying a crying toddler on your hip. 
12. Be confident when you give directions. Children smell fear and indecision.
13. Know your dance teacher so you know what goes. I know I can tell kids "I promise your hair/shoes/costume/makeup will be ok, the main thing is to smile and have fun", because I know that is the ethos of the school.
14. Take a pen. Make notes.
15. Double check the list before so you know what is going on.
16. Check to see how sound proof the room is. This time I hadn't realised how little soundproofing was between the room we were in and the audience.
17. Clapping a rhythm is a good way to silence the room (if you haven't seen this done, basically you clap a rhythm and they clap it back. Lots of teachers use it, we don't use it a Guides because we have a not-so-secret be quiet signal).
18. Glitter is awesome, but check your commitments for the next week before applying liberally. 
19. Enjoy the moment to be part of the team. These sort of events don't happen without all the cast and crew. 

Job done for another few months! Now back to cruisey dance nights of knitting, reading and writing.

Disclaimer:

• It is doubtful I am qualified to give parenting advice, there is still time for me to stuff up.
• I am not qualified to give dance advice, or theatre advice of any type.
• I am not qualified to give professional advice.
• I am not even allowed to give legal advice without supervision.

I would recommend finding more reliable sources for any advice of any nature.

Bubble wrapped babies

I am the sort of mother who believes children should be allowed to ride bikes, climb trees, eat dirt, experiment in the kitchen, play on trampolines, and explore the bush. I am vocal in my belief that I am bringing up confident, self-respecting, independent, happy women who contribute to society, not spineless, whingy jellyfish (No disrespect to jellyfish intended. I don't know any personally and I am sure that there are lots of non-whingy jellyfish. I also acknowledge that spines are not necessary for a jellyfishy way of life).

I am thinking about changing this philosophy. 

My children keep getting broken. I keep taking them to the hospital thinking it is nothing and turns out it is something.

In 2012, our dance teacher banned the girls from going to my parents' place after a cracked tailbone and a badly injured knee occurred at her place badly affecting Buglet's dancing. (Hey, there are lots of kids it happens. Not Mum's fault. I am not sure if the teacher was joking.)
Result: Dance Concert 2012 Buglet danced with a broken tail bone.

The next year this was the result of a slip in the kitchen (no running, nothing dramatic, just a fall).
Result: Dance Concert 2013 Buglet didn't dance, but helped backstage instead.

Broken Buglet - 2013

Ankle injuries were the big problem last year, mostly stemming from an accident at a camp in 2013.
Result: Dance Concert 2014 Buglet danced but did the pointe routines in demi.

Sidenote: I should also say here how proud I am of Buglet. She does all the right things when she is injured to prevent further issues, and she has made some pretty grown up decisions about dancing because of it.

This last week has been full of issues.

Pixie crying: Mama!!! I've burnt myself?

Me: How?

Pixie: I sat on hair-straighteners!

Me: How badly? 

Pixie: I don't know. It's on my butt, and I can't see my butt.

Me: Can you ask Buglet to look?

Pixie: Nooooooooo. I don't want anyone seeing my butt!

Me: Do you want me to come home?

Pixie: Nooooooo.

Me: Do you want Apple?

Pixie: Noooooo!

Me: Have a shower and then have a nap.

She did send a picture, but the picture is clearly not blog appropriate. It is the top of her thigh, rather than her actual bottom, and it is healing nicely after a few days of angst. Am I an awful parent because I was trying very hard to not laugh while she was on the phone? It was a very sad injury, but she was just so cute when I was dealing with her!

Over the Australia Day weekend Buglet and Tink went to camp. Late Saturday night I got a phone call saying that they were taking Buglet to hospital with chest pains and breathing problems. It was muscular, and she is ok. My feelings were bruised though, apparently a hoodie and denim shorts are not appropriate for hospitals if you want medical staff to recognise you as the child's mother. Buglet says its my own fault. I am pretty sure putting on the first clothes you see in those sorts of circumstances is appropriate. We agreed to disagree.

I pick up the girls from camp.

This is Tink's first status update: First thing I do when I get home from camp is accidentally punch Pixie in the face giving her a blood nose! Whoops sorry Pixie".

This is mine: "Happiness is having all my babies home again ... And all unbroken (Buglet was fine the rest of camp) ... Until Tink accidentally gave the Pixie a blood nose when she was woken up suddenly ... 'Cos nothing is ever boring aroudn here!". I think those quotes sum it up pretty nicely. The blood nose reoccurred at the fireworks that night just to liven up the night of the First Aid Officers.

So back to thinking that bubble wrapping babies is a great plan. It's not too late to change my parenting philosophy is it?

Disclaimer:

• It is doubtful I am qualified to give parenting advice, there is still time for me to stuff up.
• I am not even allowed to give legal advice without supervision.

I would recommend finding more reliable sources for any advice of any nature.


'It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.' ~ Ann Landers

Faith, Love, and Chocolate

It was a big weekend for us! And one of those weekends which made me desperately want to clutch for any of those precious moments where the Entourage are still my babies, and not young adults functioning in their own lives.

On Friday, Miss Tink turned 14. She is so grown up now that it is unbelievable. In the last 12 months she has lost the last of her baby features, and has grown into a stunning young lady. She has also taken to high school like she was born to be there, being on the student council and organising events.



Turtle cupcakes for Tink!

A couple of weeks ago I got a text from the school saying she wasn't in class. I messaged back saying that as it was a free dress day I imagined she was somewhere doing something for that. I was right.

Friday was also the day the Pixie returned from camp. The Pixie is my youngest, so I have sent my babies on camps, both through school and Guides, lots of times. Even though I was mentally prepared for it, that moment when they come home just that little bit more mature than when they went away still takes my breath away.



A little bit older

I am not exactly sure how the Pixie's camp experience actually went. Most of the other kids had gastro. Pixie was one of the lucky few who escaped. The ones who were well enough did all the activities, but all Pixie has told me about is all the vomit stories in great detail. I have no intention of sharing those stories.

I was all set to hear all about camp on the car trip home; to give her some time in the spotlight before we got home to celebrate Tink's birthday.

The Pixie told me that car trips are for sleeping and napped the whole way home.

She woke up in time to drive down our road ....
Pixie: Oh. Is the father one here?
Me: Looks like it.
Pixie: Why?
Me: Um it is Tink's birthday, and he usually has you on the Fridays he is home*.
Pixie: Oooh!!! My puppy! I can see my puppy! I missed my puppy. She is my favourite!

She then had a tantrum because we were going out for a house family dinner for Tink's birthday, and she was very tired after camp.

Yep, my Pixie is still my Pixie and not all grown up yet.

Dance rehearsals took all day Saturday. Once again Tink and organisational abilities took my breath away. She filled in for someone who was absent side of stage, while still dancing, and keeping me informed what song was being performed. (I am in charge of the quick change room). I am predicting big things for Tink if she keeps going like this! (No pressure though, baby-girl. Mummy just wants you to be happy). 


Tink and the Pixie have been doing hair for dance concerts for the last 3 years.
I am still in charge of make-up.
 And glittering people. I love glittering people.

Rehearsal day was marred by a hurt foot, and a trip to Emergency. Tink is ok. Very relieved with her Singapore soccer trip coming up in a few years. Buglet is determined not to be hurt this year. Two years ago she danced on a cracked tail bone, and last year she didn't dance because she'd just come out of a moon boot after a fractured foot. The Pixie says she is the best child because she doesn't get broken. I think this is mostly because she is so bendy.

On Sunday, Buglet and Tink were confirmed as adult members of the Lutheran Church. I am so proud of them. They looked so grown up (I will ask them if I can share pictures). It is yet another big stepping stones to them being grown-ups and responsible for their own lives.

I also got lots of baby cuddles from my youngest two nephews (and be shouted at by Pie, and hang out with my eldest niece and nephew). Definite bonus to family occasions. It was nice to have that reminder that even as my girls get big, we are part of a massive family and that is important too.

Finally, today Buglet is sitting year 10 exams. She politely requested that I take her younger sisters out last night so she could study. Grown up! I tell you, they are too grown up!

The amount of squabbling yesterday afternoon and this morning reminded me they are not adults yet though. Part of me is now waiting for the squabbling to stop. Part of me is a little bit glad that I still have a few years left. Part of me wanted to throw things at them.

So faith and love have been covered. The chocolate part is for me! Mamas who are preparing for empty nests need chocolate.

When your children politely ask if you are going to get another dog to keep you company when they move out, you also know you need to start making plans! If you interested in finding out what I am planning for my post-high-school-children life .... please check out Kris' Angels.


*PS in defence of DB (see what a lovely ex-wife I am): I haven't seen him in ages, but he does always come around for the girls' birthdays unless he is away and he normally has them the Friday nights he is home. He also did all the cooking for the girls' confirmation lunch. The Pixie was just being a grouch.