08 September 2012

i'm grateful for . . . 'little changes making a huge impact'

Greetings all,
Spring is a great time to turn-out-your-life & turn-over-new-leaves . . . warmer weather is inspirational, that said, it snowed at the supermarket yesterday!!  I loathe the expression 'busy mum' & 'juggling family' as it sounds like you're too busy for life because of your children or you're on the brink of dropping someone.  If you schedule & make time, you can do everything, truly.  I was a full time working mother back in the 90s with a husband overseas, i did it all for 2 years, everyone was happy . . . cloth nappies, breastfeeding, homemade puree food, exercise . . . . i wanted it, so i dedicated myself to making it happen.  Fast forward 11 years of being a housewife . . . running my family is my full time job & i cherish the opportunity, so i do it with gusto - we make our own pasta, juice, herbs, vegetables, chickens laying eggs & i maintain the house.  Above all, my family comes first no matter how much time they need, which is why i tear around during the day ticking off my chores, errands & exercise so i'm available in the afternoons/ evenings/ weekends.  Having my husband home for these 6 months is making life SO manageable with 4 children, as he cooks the weeknight dinners, yay!!
High school is the business end of parenting, you have to be undistracted & dedicated.  I love the time i'm alone with my daughter, often in the car, to gauge where she's at.  Teenage moods can change like the wind, no warning, we've had smooth sailing, yet are prepared for the outbursts & inexplicable drama sparks.  Over-reacting because i'm too busy, is the worst way to handle them.  I thank her for being so normal & easy, to remember she is loved, it makes such a difference in how much she communicates & responds to my advice.  I couldn't resist this LOVE cushion for at TYPO this week, i told her she can scream, punch or cuddle it, depending on how she feels.  She rolled her eyes, that means "thanks mum, i love you too."
 On the 12 Week Body Transformation programme, the pasta suggested is wholemeal, so i tried my hand at making some - 350gm wholemeal flour & 4 fresh eggs, fantastic results.  I bake with wholemeal flour & we always make our own pasta . . . so why hadn't i combined the two & made wholemeal pasta before??  Delicious!! 
 A lot of my girlfriends are turning 40 & finding hormones & age = diet disaster so they're trying various diet & exercise programmes.  I went into the 12WBT with a calm mindset, i don't feel like i'm denying myself anything, like baking these goodies for my children's recess, i actually feel like i'm feeding my body & soul better with thoughtful nutrition.  I'm ready for this, it's working & i will stick with this mindset approaching my 40s. 
 I would often treat myself with sushi, treat??  Honestly, the calories in one sushi roll are almost an entire meal, i was eating 2 for a snack or lunch on the go??!!  I figure the money i save on sushi, i can treat myself to a pedicure every other month.  I went with OPI Greenwich Village polish, not quite the rich apple green colour i had hoped for, it will be orange in October!!  FYI the pleasure of a relaxing pedicure lasts way longer than a sushi roll!!  The chicks peck at my toes if i don't wear gum boots in the coop.
 My middle daughter would have to be our easiest child, under the radar, perfect school reports/ sports results/ class captain/ beautiful behaviour/ lovely friends/ incredible hair . . . i'm very careful not to be so grateful that i ignore her . . . the invisible child who doesn't cause any grief.  We pair up & do her favourite things together, like braiding her hair.  Sounds so old fashioned but with requests like this swirling hair do, we're braiding for an hour or so.  We talk, we tickle, it's fun & she knows she's special.
Next week i will be grateful for my next two darling children, they both have tonnes of personality!!  For more Gratefuls, check out Village Voices, love Posie

20 comments:

AmeliaMW said...

Spring is the time for freshening up things. And it certainly is for me this year too!
You've made me realise I don't have to overthink the whole spring clean thing. Just get on with it!
LOVE that cushion of yours too! xx

TexWisGirl said...

sweet girl. adorable hair.

ally said...

Oh I have one of those under the radar girls too - finding time alone is tricky but soooo important.
Love those braids - tute please!!!

mel @ loved handmade said...

Your blog is looking great! I would love to have hair like your gorgeous daughter, that looks like one complicated hair do, clever you! Thank goodness for those easy going kids in the middle, though sometimes I find it a little too easy to overlook that one because he's so happily getting on with it all & he truly is something special. You're always an inspirational mama to me..xx

Elisa {With Grace and Eve} said...

Those braids are amazing! I'd like you to do that to my hair too!! :) I love your parenting approach Posie. It really does make such an impact when we give our time and heaxxx Ike you do xxx

Modern Day Mummying said...

WOO HOO fellow 12WBT'er! I love that you're making your own pasta and wholemeal too! Are you just falling in love with the program?! I'm a late comer into it so I'm just wrapping up Week 1 but I think I wiill absolutely try my hand at making my own wholemeal pasta!

I'm including my daughter into food preparation so that she can learn the importance of fine, fresh, yummy and above all HEALTHY foods! My motto atm is a HAPPY MUMMY = a HAPPY SUNNY!

I'm making the Beef and Red Wine Stew right now... Mmmmm... The smell!

And yes please... I agree with Ally up above.. Tute on braids please!

Sophie xo

The Moerks said...

Posie, that is some braid. I am so not showing Miss B. The pressure ;)

Sarah B said...

Fantastic braid! It has been so long since I have plaited my hair. Yes, tutorial please?
xx

Sarah Leonard said...

Wow! So inspiring that you manage to keep everything going regardless. I really admire such determination.

Sarah
http://acatlikecuriosity.blogspot.co.uk/

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

OH ladies, you're freaking me out with the hair tutorial, i could give it a go, deep breaths, stay tuned, love Posie

Kat McNally said...

Wow! That's a lot of creativity you pack into a day. Props to you, mama! Especially loved the LOVE pillow.

leanne can blog said...

This is such a lovely post, you speak so beautifully about your children & family life. Nice.

tahlia @ the parenting files said...

Now this hair style is just gorgeous. I want I want!! x

polkadotpeticoat said...

I love the hair.....Love is in the air!

Tessa White said...

I am so impressed you make your own pasta.. is it hard? I should so try as we eat tonnes and fresh is so much nicer x

Tat @ Mum in search said...

Love that braid! My 3-year-old daughter has just started letting me braid her hair, but there is no way she could sit through something this elaborate yet (and to be honest, I'm not sure if I could pull it off anyway).

Over-reacting definitely doesn't help in any situation. Your daughter is lucky to have a mum like you who can teach her to create her life, not react to it.

Melbourne Girl said...

Gorgeous hair!!! Truly lovely and the braids look amazing

I'll be interested in finding out how the 12 week BT goes Posie. I'm a mess at the moment and keep promising to get active again, but just DON'T.
Lazy I guess. Keep us posted.
Lesley
xx

Seana Smith said...

Such fantastic photos Posie. Totally know where you are coming from with the high school children, you need to be there so much for them, but treading warily and a bit at a distance but not removed. Lovely to read your post. I have never ever made pasta, must try.

Brenda @ 13 Acres said...

you are so inspiring Jennie! i love the positivity you radiate..it's quite infectious! i feel happier after coming here for a visit...and i had no idea sushi was such a calorie blowout! the things you learn! loving your green nails! xx

Maxabella said...

Wow, that's a hair do and a half, Jen!

I always find your writing so comforting - I think your utter confidence in yourself and your choices is really grounding. x