7 Billion people on the planet and 7 caterpillars (and counting) on our swan plant. Like Earth, it is heaving with fat little fuzzy nibblers, gradually eating the one thing that sustains their existence.
One fat cat jumped ship last week, and humped its way over to a neighbouring hebe. He chewed on his new host for a day then settled down for a lengthy sleep/meditation on the miracles of self transformation. Its never to late to change our footprint, it seems.
Every day the children and I find ourselves out at the plant, checking out for the new caterpillars, looking at the destruction and marvelling at the chrysalis, hanging there glistening with dew drops. Its such a lovely conversation starter - on life and death and benefits of eating your greens.
Big Brother has been oogling the chrysalis, willing the butterfly to burst out. Little brother has been seeing how close he can get to wiping past the plant on his bike. I cannot bring myself to commit caterpillar genocide, to nobly save the strong to continue the species and all that. Little Miss doesn't have the same concerns, she likes to poke 'em. She doesn't mean to hurt them of course, but I hear her out there squealing with delight as she spots them with her pointy finger 'Doh! Doh!'.
Lets hope we get a couple of butterflies to flutter by us, and a few seed pods left at the end of the season of feasting to plant next year. Pity we can't just save a few bits of dirt and grow another planet too.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Mother's Little Habits
One of the joyful mothering habits that I am trying to break at the moment is eating up children's leftovers. It started with my first baby - I happen to really like stewed apple and banana mushed up with avocado.
Now there are 3 plates of scraps at every meal. What a waste! Luckily the boys eat quite well and if you've ever seen our daughter eat, you'd be saying, what scraps? She has a wonderful appetite, and combined with her independent nature she likes to work her way through using spoon, fork or fingers to ingest everything she can lay her hands on.
We are actually looking for something that she will refuse to eat - but we havent yet discovered it - she has happily consumed blue cheese, a mild curry, drunken prunes (marinated in red wine), and artichoke hearts. Lettuce she gives a suck on for a while then tends to discard it with a look of 'whats the point?'.
She keeps a very good eye on the boys meals to check they aren't getting any special tidbits, and usually is watching me like a hawk in the kitchen as I open the fridge. 'Ta?Ta?TA?'
If she eventually does become full, she lets fly - the crusts, the scraps, the porridge and spoon and the plates - all gets the overarm treatment.
Which is why the other day I found myself under the dining table picking up scraps - before I could stop myself I popped that wafer thin slice of cupcake into my mouth, followed by a piece of orange lego !
Yep, its definitely time to break that particular habit.
Now there are 3 plates of scraps at every meal. What a waste! Luckily the boys eat quite well and if you've ever seen our daughter eat, you'd be saying, what scraps? She has a wonderful appetite, and combined with her independent nature she likes to work her way through using spoon, fork or fingers to ingest everything she can lay her hands on.
We are actually looking for something that she will refuse to eat - but we havent yet discovered it - she has happily consumed blue cheese, a mild curry, drunken prunes (marinated in red wine), and artichoke hearts. Lettuce she gives a suck on for a while then tends to discard it with a look of 'whats the point?'.
She keeps a very good eye on the boys meals to check they aren't getting any special tidbits, and usually is watching me like a hawk in the kitchen as I open the fridge. 'Ta?Ta?TA?'
If she eventually does become full, she lets fly - the crusts, the scraps, the porridge and spoon and the plates - all gets the overarm treatment.
Which is why the other day I found myself under the dining table picking up scraps - before I could stop myself I popped that wafer thin slice of cupcake into my mouth, followed by a piece of orange lego !
Yep, its definitely time to break that particular habit.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Happy new year, and happy easter
In case I don't get around to sending Easter greetings, I am adopting the most efficient method and sending out my best wishes now. Those on the Christmas card list may receive the card I wrote in December sometime around April so please backdate any information as pertaining to the 2010 year. As for those who kindly gave us a Congratulations on your new daughter present (Dec 2009), your Thank you note is included in your Christmas card that may or may not,as I said, arrive. In Easter.
So much for all the resolutions. The main resolution I made this year is To Blog. Weekly.
There was also a few other half hashed resolves - No purchasing without premeditation, Wear more dresses (and Peta Mathias says a woman over thirty should NOT leave the house without lipstick), Get all tax returns in on time, and one rash Christmas day decision to only ever drink Moet. Sadly for the champagne/lipstick industry, those have faded like the fizzy from an open bottle of Lindauer.
There is something about a New Year that makes you want to up your game. And read self improvement books. As a very-happy-to-be-at-home-mother, I am resolving to enjoy my blessed life and revel in the chaos and challenge.
(Something about reading self improvement books that make you suddenly start spouting conversation like 'I'm resolving to embrace the now')
Top books read this New Year
You Sexy Mother, by Jodie Hedley-Ward
Don't sweat the small stuff, and its all small stuff, by Richard Carlson
Crucial Confrontations, by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler
Rework - change the way you work forever, by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
and next I'm working myself up for Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki (The byline is very enticing : "what the rich teach their kids about money that the poor and middle class do not")
Meanwhile my babies are delightful and well, not really babies any more.
So much for all the resolutions. The main resolution I made this year is To Blog. Weekly.
There was also a few other half hashed resolves - No purchasing without premeditation, Wear more dresses (and Peta Mathias says a woman over thirty should NOT leave the house without lipstick), Get all tax returns in on time, and one rash Christmas day decision to only ever drink Moet. Sadly for the champagne/lipstick industry, those have faded like the fizzy from an open bottle of Lindauer.
There is something about a New Year that makes you want to up your game. And read self improvement books. As a very-happy-to-be-at-home-mother, I am resolving to enjoy my blessed life and revel in the chaos and challenge.
(Something about reading self improvement books that make you suddenly start spouting conversation like 'I'm resolving to embrace the now')
Top books read this New Year
You Sexy Mother, by Jodie Hedley-Ward
Don't sweat the small stuff, and its all small stuff, by Richard Carlson
Crucial Confrontations, by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler
Rework - change the way you work forever, by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
and next I'm working myself up for Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki (The byline is very enticing : "what the rich teach their kids about money that the poor and middle class do not")
Meanwhile my babies are delightful and well, not really babies any more.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Lots of anecdotes!
The boys were discussing Father Christmas the other day in the car, after the Man in Red had visited Play Centre. Little Brother told Big Brother ' Actually, there are two Father Christmases'
BB 'Yes, actually, there are 2 Father Christmases. I know that. There is a real Father Christmas and a (pre)tend one.'
Me. 'How can you tell?'
BB. 'Because (pause) their eyes are different.'
LB. 'Yeah.'
BB. 'And they have different beards. The pretend Father Christmas has a pretend beard and the real Father Christmas has a real one.'
LB. ' Yeah. I know that.'
We are right in the christmas spirit, with a beautiful Advent calendar, and many discussions on what the real man might bring. BB wants a bakugan toy. LB wants some chocolate money. My money is on new undies.
Big Brother school nativity play was the highlight of last week. He practised the christmas carols for weeks, then was casted - to his absolute delight - as that core Nativity character - the stable bunny.
'I put my hand up , and no-one else wanted to be the bunny!' he told me in disbelief - 'they all wanted to be sheep!'
And what a cute bunny he was in his all-in-one white bunny costume with pink floppy ears and cottontail. He was in character the whole time, his little bunny paws cocked as he sang 'Jesus, our lord and Saber'. (I'm not sure if thats as in sabre tooth tiger, or light saber!)
LB continues to impress me as a true thinking man of the world. While visiting the public swimming pool, I stressed the need to visit the bathrooms before getting into the water. As we got in, 6 hulky teenage boys got out, having being banished from playing rugby in the kiddies pool. ' I hope those boys didn't pee in this pool!' Little Brother told me.
And Little Miss 1 year old - is very pleased with her latest skill - walking. Shes all around the house, investigating the temptations - pulling magnets off the fridge, starting and stopping the dishwasher, unpacking the drawers and cupboards. She has also found the computer mouse and often is found under the desk with the wireless mouse, probably trying to work out how it works.
These days are so busy I don't know where the time goes. But I wouldnt change a minute for all the presents in the real santa's sack. Merry Christmas, and thanks for sharing this year and these sporadic blogs with me.
BB 'Yes, actually, there are 2 Father Christmases. I know that. There is a real Father Christmas and a (pre)tend one.'
Me. 'How can you tell?'
BB. 'Because (pause) their eyes are different.'
LB. 'Yeah.'
BB. 'And they have different beards. The pretend Father Christmas has a pretend beard and the real Father Christmas has a real one.'
LB. ' Yeah. I know that.'
We are right in the christmas spirit, with a beautiful Advent calendar, and many discussions on what the real man might bring. BB wants a bakugan toy. LB wants some chocolate money. My money is on new undies.
Big Brother school nativity play was the highlight of last week. He practised the christmas carols for weeks, then was casted - to his absolute delight - as that core Nativity character - the stable bunny.
'I put my hand up , and no-one else wanted to be the bunny!' he told me in disbelief - 'they all wanted to be sheep!'
And what a cute bunny he was in his all-in-one white bunny costume with pink floppy ears and cottontail. He was in character the whole time, his little bunny paws cocked as he sang 'Jesus, our lord and Saber'. (I'm not sure if thats as in sabre tooth tiger, or light saber!)
LB continues to impress me as a true thinking man of the world. While visiting the public swimming pool, I stressed the need to visit the bathrooms before getting into the water. As we got in, 6 hulky teenage boys got out, having being banished from playing rugby in the kiddies pool. ' I hope those boys didn't pee in this pool!' Little Brother told me.
And Little Miss 1 year old - is very pleased with her latest skill - walking. Shes all around the house, investigating the temptations - pulling magnets off the fridge, starting and stopping the dishwasher, unpacking the drawers and cupboards. She has also found the computer mouse and often is found under the desk with the wireless mouse, probably trying to work out how it works.
These days are so busy I don't know where the time goes. But I wouldnt change a minute for all the presents in the real santa's sack. Merry Christmas, and thanks for sharing this year and these sporadic blogs with me.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Mother of the Week
I got a polite note in Big brothers lunch box last week - 'He is eating all or most of his lunch at morning tea time. Perhaps he needs more for Lunch' How embarrasing!! Sending my child to school with not enough food. But then I checked the lunch box which was crammed, as suspected, with crusts. So we had a little chat about crusts and now he has food for morning tea and food for lunch. Yesterday he reported 'I ate all my crusts today, Mum!'
'Great' I said.
'And I ate all my sandwiches too!'
'Really great' I replied.
Little Brother wasn't quite so easy to convince. I heard him mutter from the back seat 'I'd like to see your lunchbox'.
Oh, the joys of summer uniform. Big Brother didnt need to bring home most of his winter uniform as he's conveniently lost most of it somewhere. He jumped into his short sleeved shirts and shorts happily, but the sandals have been a trial.
First I took him shopping 'for a good pair to last' and baulked at the $100 price tag.
Then we were given a pair 5th hand which sadly decided to break on the first day. I traced his foot and took it to the big red shed for a bargain fix. I grew up with hand-me-downs that always had a bit of room for growth, but I over estimated. He could fit both feet into one. So I returned and exhanged for a smaller size. But still no joy. After he tried them on and flapped around in them a bit he solemnly suggested 'Perhaps we could get some the SAME size as my foot?'
Good idea. Wished I'd thought of it.
Little brother has started planning his birthday cake. Only 7 months to go but it's obviously been on his mind. Yesterday driving he said 'Mum - can I have a Crayfish on my cake? A Dead one.' BB said -' You really want a dead crayfish on your birthday cake?'
LB -thinking, thinking - ' Yeah, I want a crayfish thats a candle on my cake. A dead one.'
'Great' I said.
'And I ate all my sandwiches too!'
'Really great' I replied.
Little Brother wasn't quite so easy to convince. I heard him mutter from the back seat 'I'd like to see your lunchbox'.
Oh, the joys of summer uniform. Big Brother didnt need to bring home most of his winter uniform as he's conveniently lost most of it somewhere. He jumped into his short sleeved shirts and shorts happily, but the sandals have been a trial.
First I took him shopping 'for a good pair to last' and baulked at the $100 price tag.
Then we were given a pair 5th hand which sadly decided to break on the first day. I traced his foot and took it to the big red shed for a bargain fix. I grew up with hand-me-downs that always had a bit of room for growth, but I over estimated. He could fit both feet into one. So I returned and exhanged for a smaller size. But still no joy. After he tried them on and flapped around in them a bit he solemnly suggested 'Perhaps we could get some the SAME size as my foot?'
Good idea. Wished I'd thought of it.
Little brother has started planning his birthday cake. Only 7 months to go but it's obviously been on his mind. Yesterday driving he said 'Mum - can I have a Crayfish on my cake? A Dead one.' BB said -' You really want a dead crayfish on your birthday cake?'
LB -thinking, thinking - ' Yeah, I want a crayfish thats a candle on my cake. A dead one.'
Hello November
I admit it, Blog, I've been avoiding you.
Don't take it personally , though, you are too closely related to Email, whom I am also avoiding. (You are actually much cooler than Email to hang out with, but don't tell her. She'd have a complete Spam)
It's just being around Email means being constantly reminded of what I have yet to do (and I don't need a computer to do that, all I need to do is open my eyes inside my house).
And as for Facebook, he just reminds me of all the people I should be in contact with.
I wonder in 5 or 20 years time what our kids will be doing while avoiding what they should be doing?
Don't take it personally , though, you are too closely related to Email, whom I am also avoiding. (You are actually much cooler than Email to hang out with, but don't tell her. She'd have a complete Spam)
It's just being around Email means being constantly reminded of what I have yet to do (and I don't need a computer to do that, all I need to do is open my eyes inside my house).
And as for Facebook, he just reminds me of all the people I should be in contact with.
I wonder in 5 or 20 years time what our kids will be doing while avoiding what they should be doing?
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Life is a Drama
As the school term draws to a close, a few details of Big Brothers school life are starting to dribble down. Its production week next week, and they are doing Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp.
We asked who he was in the show.
'I'm a fruit seller'
'And do you have any lines?'
Pause. Pained look of concentration. Inspiration hits:
'CARPETS, CARPETS, COME AND GET YOUR CARPETS'
'So you are a fruit seller?' I asked a little confused
Pause.
'No, those are Hamish's lines!'
I can't wait to see him on stage. I hope he remembers what he's selling and doing, but one thing is for sure, it will be hilarious.
Meanwhile baby girl is pulling herself up to stand at the furniture. She is also standing independently for a couple of seconds (until she realises how clever she is). I have forgotten how fast this 6 months goes - from a baby in arms, to sitting, then crawling, standing and soon, running away from me. She is less a baby and more one of the kids everyday. The other day the boys raced off into their room and closed the door, not realising she was following at stop quadripedal speed. As the door closed she let rip with a howl that nearly flattened the house. I opened the door and Flick, off went the noise and into the room she trip-tropped. She will not be ignored or left behind. She has truely claimed her place in this family and it will not be at the bottom of the pecking order.
We asked who he was in the show.
'I'm a fruit seller'
'And do you have any lines?'
Pause. Pained look of concentration. Inspiration hits:
'CARPETS, CARPETS, COME AND GET YOUR CARPETS'
'So you are a fruit seller?' I asked a little confused
Pause.
'No, those are Hamish's lines!'
I can't wait to see him on stage. I hope he remembers what he's selling and doing, but one thing is for sure, it will be hilarious.
Meanwhile baby girl is pulling herself up to stand at the furniture. She is also standing independently for a couple of seconds (until she realises how clever she is). I have forgotten how fast this 6 months goes - from a baby in arms, to sitting, then crawling, standing and soon, running away from me. She is less a baby and more one of the kids everyday. The other day the boys raced off into their room and closed the door, not realising she was following at stop quadripedal speed. As the door closed she let rip with a howl that nearly flattened the house. I opened the door and Flick, off went the noise and into the room she trip-tropped. She will not be ignored or left behind. She has truely claimed her place in this family and it will not be at the bottom of the pecking order.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)