Our new place is lovely, the town is so pretty with less commotion from where we used to live. Lots of beautiful greenery and parks for exploring. I miss comforts of home and friends and "city" living - but know this is the right place for us right now.
My children prove to test me more and more each day. I'm tired, I'm cranky and fed up more then I'd like to be or even thought I'd ever be. I've been reading some good books, one in particular - Christlike Parenting. I can see it helping me in the daily grind of it all. 'Be of good cheer' is one lesson that is ringing in my ears at the moment from the book. Clearly our goal is to strive to learn and live as Christ - so all of my parenting challenges will become less of a burden as I keep that focus.
We have now given up TV for the most part for our kids! Can't believe I did it but it had been in my heart and mind to do for a long time. I thought it would be torture to not have it - seriously took about 3 days or less to kick the habit. We still have it there for family movie nights whenever it feels right...i can see a difference in the children wițhout its noise and nonsense. The thought that i was being mean to not let them have it or to not let them see their favourite characters/tv friends did cross my mind. I realised that its just a gimic, a lure and really just a false idea that those things are good for them. Me spending time with them is far better. The boys playing games together and imagining pretend stories is priceless and can't be beaten by a half hour tv show.
The boys don't touch a smart phone or ipad at all st any time of the day. I love that I've been able to maintain that as well.
We listen to lots of music, lots of 'read-along' books and play lots of games. The 2 year old messes up a lot of these games and it more often ends in tears but we're doing it. Our eldest loves memory card games and puzzles.. I'm talking serious puzzles. They are huge. I didn't think he could do them but man do I underestimate him. Probably we all do when we really think about it. There is so much more they could be doing that we just say they're too little. Our eldest is 4 and this morning unloaded the dishwasher and was seriously accurate and fast at it. He sets up 3 different kitchen timers we have when he has 'jobs' to do. They are a favourite motivation of his, those timers.
Anyway, although this all sounds amazing - no tv, puzzles, doing jobs around the house - reality is its hard and trying and draining every single day. I don't find any day cruisy or easy. I struggle. The baby is so much bigger now and needs even more. More food, more attention and having less sleep at nap time. She is delightful and so good to be around - the boys just can't stand that she takes up a lot of my time. It is teaching us all a lesson in patience.
We have had lots of outings and things going on over Christmas - here are some cute photos of it all.
Doing these fun things keeps me sane. Some mothers coping strategy is to stay at home - mine is getting out of those walls. Neither is right or wrong. I find i get lonely so going out makes me feel i have companionship... My eldest is like this too, has always loved being around and amongst people.
happy new year and hats off to mothering!
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