The year that was ... and the year that will be

For those of you who missed the post on the facebook page, my infants have been abandoned for most of this week. This does make it a little hard to write about them. I thought I would write anyway. Just in case you were wondering what has happened to us.

The girls got me a super awesome cookie jar for Christmas. (Amazing op-shop find. I don't think I am supposed to know that, but I think it makes it even cooler).

"Whoo. Whoo. Whoo stole the cookies from the cookie jar?"
(It actually says this).

Despite the fabulousness of a cookie jar that talks and is an owl, I am not keeping cookies in this jar. Instead I am using it as a "Year of Awesomisation" jar (Pixie made me call it that). Basically the idea is that every day you write something-that-made-you-happy/a-nice-memory/something-that-you-are-thankful-for onto a slip of paper and you put it into the jar. At the end of the year you can look back and see all the great things.

So far I have written most days.

Pixie has pointed out very smugly that she did this last year, but no-one else did it with her. She lasted for two days.

Tink keep asking what the "rules" are. She wants to be sure she is doing it correctly.

Buglet grunted. She is happy for us to amuse ourselves, but has no interest in taking part.

You can't blame a girl for trying!

In the spirit of positive reflection, here are 14 things we accomplished in 2014 ....

1. We all survived the 30 insane weeks of me working full time and studying part time with assignments due almost every week.
2. The girls (respectively) survived their last year of lower high school/first year of high school/last year of primary school.
3. I was admitted as a lawyer.
4. I painted my bedroom.
5. I cleaned out my walk-in-robe (this is worthy of it's own mention. I also considered cleaning out under my bed as being its own thing, but I refrained).
6. My pond is finally in, complete with water feature.
7. I was admitted to practice as a lawyer.
8. This blog came into existence (and Kris' Angels).
9. I went on my first real holiday in over 10 years (no children, no Guide stuff, and no work ... well and only 1 facebook message to the office).
10. I became an auntie again ... four times!
11. I recruited three new Guide leaders to my unit.
12. Buglet spent her first year helping to teach at dance.
13. Tink was on the student council.
14. Pixie was a faction captain.

And we survived all the usual life things that happen.

Right ... now on to 2015's challenges!

Happy Friday everyone xxx

Trust me, I am (finally) a lawyer

So dear readers, I have finally done it. I took the long walk down the aisle (?) at the Supreme Court, swore the oath and I was admitted as a lawyer.

Yes, I was nervous. But conveniently the girls provide a distraction from worrying about professionally related things.

They were super excited. Pixie is fascinated by Judge Judy. I came across this facebook update from December last year:
It's not everyday the Governor and Fat Cat sing along with your choir.
It's also not everyday your daughter asks Fat Cat if he is really Judge Judy.
So very proud of the "Guide Choir", and very proud to be one of their leaders.
Not devastated I wasn't easily identifiable as Pixie's mother during the Fat Cat interaction.

Yes. That really happened. She was so sure Judge Judy was going going to be there that Marsh told her that she might be disguised as Fat Cat. I am putting the blame squarely on her for that one.

Judge Judy has also meant that Pixie has been a little bit obsessed with the idea of lawyers and hammers, I quote ....

Pixie: When you are lawyer will you get to hit people with hammers?
Me: Um. No?
Pixie: Well what is the point then?

Oh, I don't know. Being part of the justice system? A career I happen to enjoy? A world with answers? (Ok so not the answers to Pixie's questions, but questions nonetheless).

She was also adamant that she was going to ask the Chief Justice if she "could see his gabble". Fortunately she did not get the opportunity to speak to the Chief Justice, and did not ask anyone else about "gabbles" (gavel for those of you who are still confused).

After all my worrying, Pixie was pretty good. The main awkward moment was when she got all excited about "Mama, we went in the lift with the Big Boss". You may picture this said in a stage whisper. He was only a few metres away but if he heard he did a lovely job of ignoring her.

There was also a hilarious moment when my mum asked where a long term colleague and former boss of mine was. He is on long service leave. Pixie responded with "Is he having a baby?!" I couldn't see her face, but another colleague informed me her face was priceless as she was processing the idea of a man the same age as her grandparents being on maternity leave. I did clarify that the term "leave" meaning being away and the term "maternity" being the baby bit.

After all my worry about the Pixie, Tink was the one who got told off for hanging over the balcony, and she was the one who got all excited about "that lawyer who looks like a mad professor". I hope anyone who heard realises that to kids these days being a professor is super cool thanks to Harry Potter.

Overall they were very good, and my colleagues told me how well behaved they were.

I was very well behaved too. I didn't trip or cry or forget how to sign my name or how to talk or drop the Bible or anything like that. So many things to be proud of!

I had a totally amazing day with brunch with my family, and morning tea and after work drinks with my colleagues. I also got some wonderful presents which I was not expecting at all.

From my colleagues.
My boss got the same style necklace when she was admitted.

A champagne (I think it is pink!) coloured pen for signing important legal stuff.

To top it all off the girls had organised a surprise for me when I got home ...

Foot soak + nails done + hand massage + face mask = one lucky Mama

I was very surprised. I knew that they had been planning something because the Pixie had asked me if Apple would be looking after them at all earlier this week and I was also informed that she was "going to discuss finances with Daddy, but you can't ask any questions, Mummy". (Thank you Apple for being the girls' "person", and for always being there to help them).

The fact I am not just their favourite Mum/lawyer, I am their only Mum/lawyer does not need to be mentioned.
 

Then just as I was falling asleep from all the excitement and relaxation, I got a late night delivery ....

Cath shaped book!

The girls are soooooo jealous! The friend who gave it to me has been teasing me for weeks with clues. I had decided that it was a polar bear disguised as a panda disguisd as librarian eating Oreos. A Cath shaped book is even better. She told me I would want to blog about it, and she was right! Expect this picture to appear in other blog posts.

Being a lawyer is awesome so far. I hope all my days are as lovely!

I do have some thing to work on though. Namely the fact that all my children get the words "prosecute" and "execute" mixed up. I would like to point out that these are not interchangeable. Buglet told me off at brunch yesterday for talking about prosecuting people because it freaks her out.

And today I have worked hard at work again. Just in case anyone was wondering.

My weekend plans are consisting of finishing my bedroom renovations. We worked so hard last weekend and I can't wait to be able to post pictures once it is all done! I was also very proud of myself for thinking to not do any painting between Sunday and Thursday so I wasn't being admitted covered in paint. There is a school of thought that says I should be able to paint without covering myself, but I don't subscribe to that. I am just proud of myself for being so grown up and sensible.

When I count my blessings ....

This has felt like the longest week ever.

Yesterday I had to text Tink's soccer coach and say the reason she wasn't at training was partly because I forgot it was Tuesday. I blame Pixie for telling me it was Wednesday. This excuse is a lot flimsier when you realise I was at work, in front of a computer, with emails telling me what day it was, but I am sticking to it.

But I am in the final countdown of my course (3 weeks and 2 days to go), it is mid-year, and I am just tired. I would like to say that as a long-time uni student I am very much used to 13 teaching weeks at most. This 30 week course business is killing me.

Then today, when it I was just over it all, I was reminded in no uncertain terms how wonderful life is:

1. My sister-in-law made her facebook announcement that my beautiful new niece has been born, so I got to tell the world too (and have a cupcake). I messaged my sisters to brag that I have a new niece, and one sister messages back and ....
2. Tells me I have a new nephew too. She acquired a new (foster) son today! How often do you get to announce you're an auntie again twice over on the same day unless it is twins?!
3. I had two cupcakes. I had already had one in celebration of my new niece, so I had to have one in honour of my new nephew too. You can't play favourites.
4. One of my gorgeous friends checked in to see if the girls were well enough for her to have yet. I don't feel guilty about abandoning my babies on people if they offer. (Tink is still sick so I am keeping her, and Buglet hasn't been 100% and wants to go to the movies with a friend tomorrow. Mother-guilt also removed now I don't need her to babysit the Pixie. I try very hard not to exploit the big two).
5. One of the Pixie's God-fathers (aka the abovementioned friend's husband) picked her up so I got to have a coffee with him. Massive bonus because I haven't seen him in ages ...
6. ... and he fixed some random stuff on my computer which have been bugging me.
7. I have a wonderful work place ...
8. ... some clever person invented template letters which has made my life sooooo much easier today.
9. Another wonderful friend has had two job interviews, which makes me so happy.
10. Chocolate.
11. Text messages.
12. Winter nights that were made for pasta and a red wine and snuggly pyjamas (and my awesome new  pyjamas - I don't care that I have mentioned them before. I love them).



Random picture from the farm, because going to the farm just makes me happy.
I always come home relaxed and refreshed :)

However I would like to point out that it was a bit neglectful of my sister to wait until I tell her I have a new niece before she tells me I had a new nephew ... and then not give me any details for another couple of hours. Sisters!

Counting my blessings today, and some of them I am counting twice xx

You win some, you lose some

It is school holidays here at the moment. And I am one sad Mama. Not because it is school holidays, but because I am grumpy I am at work when the girls are at home.

My work has a purchased leave scheme, which is amazingly useful when you have school aged children. For a few years I was lucky enough to be able to take off all of the two-week school holidays and half of the Christmas school holidays and be home with the children. Work still has the scheme, but my role has changed to the point where my workload means it is too hard to take that much leave.

I am also super lucky that now the girls are bigger it isn't too hard to find the balance between leaving them at home, having people drop in and visit them for a few hours, and I have some wonderful people in my life who always ask if they can have them during school holidays for part of the time. I am truly blessed to have these people, and to have an amazing flexible work place that has let me develop my career around my family, so please don't for one minute think I am ungrateful. But I am still a sad Mama.

This week I have left for work leaving my babies all snuggled up in bed asleep (ok this might be more jealous then sad).

Sunday night
Buglet: What time are you leaving for work tomorrow?
Me: Between 6 and 6:30.
Buglet: Don't wake me up then.
Tink: Me either.
Pixie: Goodnight-goodmorning-Iloveyou-goodbye!

Then to make it worse, Monday night Buglet politely requested that I didn't text her until I had heard from them as I had woken her up. Humph.

Then when I get home I get to hear about all the fun things they have done, often with with my friends. I  happen to love spending school holidays at home with the girls. No work, no dancing/soccer/Guides and I get to catch up friends and catch up on housework. A change is definitely a good holiday.

There has also been a definite decline in the amount of housework I do now I don't get to spend two weeks out of twelve at home. I am not devastated about that so much, I don't miss the doing housework, but my house may be devastated about how neglected it is.

Admittedly, I am learning to delegate the housework. Yesterday I told the girls that if they cleaned the bathroom, the kitchen and their rooms we would go to Sizzlers for dinner. Definitely worth the bribe. Even the Pixie got right into it and her sisters were very good at making sure I knew exactly how hard she had worked so I could be properly appreciative. No idea why it worked so well this time. It is a bit hit and miss, I am wondering if it is because I told them by text message so they had it in writing? I may have to experiment more.

Tonight I abandoned Buglet and Tink at a church camp for four days. Pixie has gone to spend two nights with her Auntie and Uncle and their babies. She is a bit worried. The youngest is only a few weeks old and the big one is (almost) two. The concern is that they might cry at her and that babies don't like her. This might be something to do with her disdain for small babies because they take all the attention (and I quote, this is usually her big complaint about babies). Personally I think she is going to have a wonderful time. And I think it will be a great chance for her to play with Master 2 without Tink. Tink is beyond amazing with babies and children, I call her the 'Baby Whisper', but it does mean that Pixie hasn't had much experience with them.

I had to laugh though. I came home to this note after abandoning the infants ......

Tink didn't even trust me enough for that. The last thing she told me was that she'd put it in the lounge, on charge, and that she had the only game on it all ready for me. Today's confession: I discovered some-game-I-can't-remember-the-name-of (Farm something?) over the weekend and I am slightly addicted. I am feeling very loved (and I am ignoring the slight feeling of being patronised because I am used to that. Put it this way, they've all had folders on their home screen called "Mum's games" because that is about the only bit I can get to without being confused).

So why I have a quiet house, I am going to stop whinging, and be thankful for some guilt-free study time (as well as for all the things listed above). I only have one more assignment to go after this one so I am a little bit excited!

I hope you are all having a wonderful week, and that you are finding rainbows in all this rain.

Cath xx

PS if you were wondering about what happened with Spike, the vet found his owners and he is home safely.

Let's do the time warp again ....

.... and flash back to 11 years ago when I was in hospital, with the effects of the pethidine just wearing off, in awe of my beautiful new baby girl, now known as "Pixie".

One of her middle names is "Joy", because it is my mum's middle name and one of her great-grandmother's names was "Joyce". The girls love hearing the meanings behind their names and when Pixie was about four we were having one of those conversations. Pixie asked what joy meant my response was "happiness, and that was a lovely thing to call a very special baby". Pixie's very serious response was "that is because I was only a baby and you didn't know that I was 'naughtiness' yet". Oops! Parenting fail! I did call her naughtiness a lot.

But that conversation did make me think. While she was called "Joy" for other reasons, she has brought so much joy to my life. Pixie was my surprise package, and she most definitely makes our lives a more joyous place.

Birthdays are a big thing. Buglet's birthday is exactly one month before Pixie's and she is not allowed to make birthday plans until after Buglet's birthday, so that Buglet gets to enjoy the lead-up to her special day. I was in a little bit of trouble on Monday when Pixie asked if I was going to pick them up on Thursday, and I asked why? In my defence, I hadn't forgotten it was her birthday, I was just worried there was something else on I had forgotten. We tend to spread birthday celebrations out, so I don't usually pick them up from school just because it is their birthday. However today I am massively thankful for Apple for picking them up from school and for making Pixie's afternoon special while I was at work. It helps relieve the mother-guilt somewhat. There was even cake. I did not get cake (ok that is not quite true, I did get myself a cupcake at work in celebration of 11 years of Pixie parenting!)

This year Pixie has decided to commemorate her birthday in her own way. Last weekend she spent most of her time amusing herself by making a time capsule to be opened on her 21st birthday. While I think this is a fabulous idea there were lots of arguments about the suitability of materials for making the capsule as she was adamant it needed to be buried outside. Luckily Google came to the rescue and in her hunt to find out how to make a good time capsule, she found a site that said it could be kept inside. The compromise was that we would "bury" it in my walk-in-robe; this would not be as hard as you might think.

Pixie hasn't quite finalised what is going inside the capsule yet, but she has drafted this letter. She told me I could share it with you all, but you have to forget what it says in the next 10 years.

"Today 26-6-2014
So last Thursday I came up with the idea to make a time capsule. I decided I wanted to bury it in the garden, but I couldn't find any containers that would be suitable so I have to just put it in mums wardrobe. Anyway, I asked mum want to put in there and she said I can't put my puppy in a box for 10 years. So today I am going to put special things and little memories inside my box I made. Just to remind future me I am going to list the newest & best songs at the moments: Fancy by Iggy Azalea, Problem by Ariana Grande & Iggy Azalea and Wiggle Wiggle by SnoopDay. The biggest movie (even though I am not allowed to watch it), is 'The Fault in Our Stars'. Sadly biggest trend is jellies which are plastic sandals. Buglet is at the stage she wears heels at ever chance she gets. Tink is at that stage where she is definitely becoming an annoying teenager. It's my last year of primary school and the year 6's of 2014 are the first group of year 6's graduate primary school in year 6. It's Tink's first year of high school and Buglet's last year of lower high school. Yesterday I found out I got into the EaLS program. Anyway, Mum recently started a blog on Facebook called 'Philosophy Minors'. She also just started the 1st chapter of 'Elementals', but by 2024 it will already have been the  #1 best seller in the World. Also at the moment loom bands are the biggest craze. In the capsule there is a rainbow loom band".

Please note: all spelling, grammar and punctuation are as Pixie wrote it! I should also clarify that the puppy discussions was because I suggested she put things in that would remind her about what her favourite things are at the moment; Flip-Flop is her favourite everything. We are going to get a photo of Flip-Flop for it instead.

Pixie requested that I post one whole paragraph about her, I think I have that covered!

And now I am going to go to bed. Pixie has just told me that I read the first chapter of her new book "right now" so we can discuss it in the morning, apparently she has questions, and I want to cuddle my not-so-little-baby while she still lets me.

It's too late Mummy ...

For those of you who read my last post about Pixie's career plans, tonight's post is on Buglet's progression of career goals.

When they tiny my favourite bit is that their plans always included being a mum and a Guide leader as well. In my good moments it is massively reassuring that they want to follow in my footsteps; in my bad moments I worried that this was the only way they thought they would see enough of me! These days they are much more articulate about being happy with my parenting/work/life balance.

My first recollection of Buglet's and job plans was when she was in year 1. They did a series of activities on all the different activities, and every day she came home with things: nurses bag, police officers badge, you know the things. Attempting to be a good parent I was telling her she could be anything she wanted when she grew up, and to prove my point I told her that I was going to be a pirate when I grew up. Buglet looked at me very sadly and said "It's too late for you to be a pirate Mummy. You're already grown up, but you can dress up and pretend to be one if you like". Seriously squashed by the child.

A pirate costume is still one of my favourite dress-ups though, and it is what I wore to a friend's 30th party a couple of years ago when the theme was "what you want to be when you grow up". Pirate costumes are much more fun than lawyer costumes.

Being supportive and making Mummy a parrot to go with her pirate costume :)

For ages Buglet's plan was to learn to be a life guard and that was going to be her job while she was going through uni learning to be a vet. On weekends she was going to teach dance. I love that there is not only goals, there are steps in place of what she was going to do when you are getting to those goals. They do say that a goal is a dream with a date, and think that same concept applies to dreams with a plan.

Late last year I had the revelation that these conversations with Buglet were suddenly real. Not just maybe ... one day ... you can do whatever you want conversations, but actual real conversations that are at the point where she is about to make big decisions. I have already blogged about freaking out over her selecting subjects for upper school. Me, not her; she is ok!

Today I met with her teachers at school and freaked out again. Her social studies teacher (now called "society and environment" just to show I am up with the change in terminology) made me feel better when I was stressing about not pushing her into history just because it is my subject. Massively thankful for comment that I had my head screwed on right, and thankful that this teacher could see through the panic to appreciate that my concern is to support them make their own decisions and not to push them in a direction that I think they should be taking. My parents are very good role models for this, so I am thankful for them too.

Recently she has been thinking about teaching (dance and/or primary school and/or English and/or maths), or physiotherapy, or dance therapy ... I guess only time will tell. Now just to calm down, relax, and remind myself that it will all work out and that there are lots of different pathways to get where you want to go. These are all things I tell other people, now I just need to remind myself.

When a Minion takes on a Mouse

Just a short post to reflect on how lucky I am to work in such a family friendly environment. I wouldn't have accomplished half the things I have in the last few years if I didn't have an employer and colleagues who support the importance of family, and education for that matter.

I am also very lucky they like my children. When the girls rock up at work everyone seems happy to see them. This is a bonus as they do tend to come in with the grace and impact of a small tornado.

In particular I like that my colleagues are often waiting to hear what the story is behind the half of the conversation they can here. (Waves at any colleagues reading this! If these conversations and/or my children drive you nuts please feel free to email and tell me. I wouldn't blame you, I promise).

The Pixie in particular has a special relationship with my team's Minion. We call her the Minion because I rocked up to work all excited after seeing 'Despicable Me' with the brilliant idea that we needed a Minion to do things like photocopying and filing and running around. My lovely colleague very gently pointed out that she was the Minion, and the name stuck.

At Christmas, the Pixie named her Boss Minion. I feel this is particularly apt as she keeps our team in line!

You Boss Minion - Assistant minions Pixe, Tink and Buglet - Mum (not minion like Gru)

The girls came in to help decorate our part of the office for the office Christmas decorating competition. I am not special enough to be a minion. I am "like Gru".

Boss Minion's last day at work was on Friday. She is off to have wonderful adventures at Disney World. That is right Disney World. Normal people would find this exciting. Not the Pixie.

Me: GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! Boss Minion got a job at Disney World.
Pixie: But she won't be your Minion anymore.
Me: She got a job at Disney World.
Pixie: But that means she won't be your Minion anymore!
Me: But she got a job at Disney World!

The Pixie is the only person in the universe who things being my Minion is more amazing then working at Disney World.

When Pixie comes to visit me at work she always leaves her Boss Minion notes. About six months after the news she conceded enough to leave a note to the effect of "I am going to miss you, but I suppose you will have good time at Disneyland". Very gracious of her really!

Pixie made the goodbye card for her Boss Minion from the Entourage and me. Pixie's message wished her well and hoped she found lots of new minion friends.

Goodbye and good luck, Boss Minion! We will miss you. Our loss is Disney World's gain. Thank you for leaving me in safe hands at work .... I hope you warned her about the Pixie xxx

Happiness is the little things

I think this is especially important when you are stupidly busy.

You have to take the moments to appreciate the little things when they happen. As they say, in the end it is the little things that are really the big things (or something like that).

As I type I am enjoying a cupcake. Instant happiness.

I was given a car-warming present this week. I would like to introduce "Sir Hilton of the Paris Yaris":

He sits in my car guarding my Guide Hall keys and preventing me from putting junk there. More importantly he just makes me happy.

Yesterday was full of dramas. (If you missed the post and are interested ... click here!). But even amongst the insane stress levels I have had from every aspect of my life in the last fortnight, and really it has been one of those times where my work/personal/parenting/Guiding/study lives have all collided, there have been some magical moments.

In my adventuring with the girls in the late afternoon, we went via the carwash. Keeping Paris the Yaris in good condition is a number one family priority.

While we were sitting there Pixie decided to help me unstress.

"Sit still Mama, and pretend you're in a day spa. Look! You have Twisties and facebook".

Pixie shoves Twisties at me*.

"Look see that sign that says 'message box'. We are going to pretend it says 'massage box'. It's ok if I don't have my seatbelt in the carwash isn't Mama?"

Without waiting for a reply she proceeds to undo her seatbelt and starts massaging my shoulders.

"Now close your eyes and pretend you can hear the sound of waves at the beach. You are sitting on the beach".

Sound of the carwash changes.

"Oh listen a storm! Mama I don't like this bit. Are you still stresseled? Does that feel good?"

*Yes these were the same Twisties I had bribed her with earlier. Those Twisties really were the gift that kept on giving! Thank you Twistie Fairy.

Lesson of the week. You have to find your time-outs when and where you can get them, and remember happiness comes at the most unexpected times.

*Disclaimer*: This post was in no way sponsered by the Twistie company, but if they decide to donate Twisties to me I shall not refuse!

Wishing you all a day full of happiness and if you can't have sunshine, make sure you find your rainbow xx

A day of glorious ordinariness: Part 1 of my weekend.

I have had an amazing weekend! Amazing enough, that I am going share it with you in all it's glorious ordinariness.

I know I have said this in earlier blog posts, the weekend began on Friday with picking up the new car, and going to the movies.

On Saturday I woke up a little confused because there was a baby crying. We do not have a baby, nor were we babysitting. Turns out Pixie had turned the tv on a some point. This is a relief, I would hate to think I would forget we had a baby in the house.

Buglet then came in and woke me up properly with scrambled eggs on toast. Parenting tip of the day: Have at least one child who loves to cook! This is much easier if you let them cook. This is also much easier if you are seriously undomesticated and can handle the stress of children left in the kitchen.

Saturday was full of mother stuff. I went to dancing. I drove the girls to dancing. I walked the dog. I did stuff around the house (not that you can tell *sigh*). Pixie and I went shopping for presents for the Buglet's birthday. We ate cupcakes as a special "just us" thing. I love cupcakes, birthdays, and spending time with my babies. I do not love shopping, or housework.

Another thing I love is children with the same tastes in books and movies as me! We got Buglet all three of the books in the Divergent series. It was the movie we saw Friday night and us there "big girls" all loved it. I promise it really was a present for Buglet, but Tink and I will enjoy it too, and most probably Pixie when she is old enough to read it.

I slept most of the afternoon. Being woken up by a dog jumping on you and a child singing: "Hands in the air, rock-a-bye a bear, Mama's now asleep, shh, shh, shh", is not particularly pleasant (and a little counter-productive because I was not asleep by the end of it). However snuggles and cuddles and "I lovells you Mama" are the things that make life wonderful.

I spent some time sorting through old paper work last night. I found a box from approximately ten years ago. It was filled with baby stuff of Pixies, notes from my Honours thesis, Guide stuff from when I was chairing a state committee, pictures from Tink's daycare days, and Buglet's first letters to me.

"Dear Mummy, I hope you have a lovely time at Guide House". I am assuming the pictures are of them waving goodbye to me! The girls spent a lot of their baby and toddler years at Guide House.

Lots of lovely memories, and I got some stuff sorted out that I have been meaning to do for ages. Added bonus is it was stuff I could do while watching a dvd with my babies, and got to share these memories with them too.

Today I am thankful for the precious moments I spend with my children, and for lovely day care staff and teachers who put dates on pictures.

Oh Mama! Did I tell you about my refugee?

For those of you who missed the facebook post, it went like this:

I don't normally drive the girls to school. This is possibly the reason why. I  had  been attempting to get information out of the Pixie about her school disco.

Me *sigh*: Oh Pixie.
Pixie: You always say "sigh, oh Pixie"! Why is it never, "sigh, oh Buglet", or "sigh, oh Tink", it is always "sigh, oh Pixie"
*continues on like this for a while.
Buglet: Sush Pixie.
Pixie: Mama! That's what she says... to me on the bus too! Even when I am not being naughty, but I am just talking and telling her about stuff and or just talking.
Me: Talking or waffling?
Pixie: Just waffling. I don't really make much sense.
Me *sigh*: Oh, Pixie.
Pixie: Mama! You said it again *pauses mid-rant* Oooh! I didn't tell you about my refugee!
Me: You have a refugee?!

 

First things first. I did manage to eventually find out about the disco. The Pixie went and it may be her last primary school disco (sad mama moment) and a wonderful time, ate too much fairy floss, and wore something entirely unsuitable for cold rainy weather. I have a horrible feeling I may be saying similar things about her well into her twenties. In my defence, I  told her to pack suitable clothes and the friend's mum who had her after school and dropped her at the disco tried to make her borrow a jacket. [In case you were wondering what the rest of us were doing, I took the big two to the movies to see an un-Pixie suitable movie and it was great! The movie, not the no Pixie bit].

Parenting tip of the day: Sometimes you just need to let them make their own mistakes (tell yourself this if for no other reason than to stop a tiny part of mother guilt).

  

Ok, second point. I would like say that upon further investigation, Pixie does not have her own personal refugee nor is she in the process of acquiring one. Their school had someone from the Red Cross come in and tell them about refugees and the horrors of war.

 

"My refugee" actually meant a refugee who came in to tell the school about his experience. Pixie recounted the reasons why he left and the dangers he faced and about his time in a detention centre in Australia. She told me in no uncertain terms that "there is no such thing as illegal immigrants"(in terms of refugees) when I was very clumsily trying to find out if he was a "boat person" (very proud mama moment).

 

Pixie told me about the game they played. They had to list just six things to take, and just five people they could take with them on eleven separate pieces of card. Then bit by bit stuff got lost or damaged or had to be left behind.

 

"Mama, I took you and Daddy and Buglet and Tink and FlipFlop and Misty [the rabbit], but then I got to a border and I only had four passports so I had to leave FlipFlop and Misty behind. It was only a game but I was so sad".

 

Today I am thankful for my daughters' compassion, I am thankful for the refugee who took his time to share his story, I am thankful for the Red Cross and other humanitarian organisations, and I am very thankful that my girls attend(ed) a school that goes the extra step to teach my children about things that will make the world a better place.