i'm grateful for . . . 'weekends with my children'

Greetings all,
A super dedication this weekend to our fabulous children who made me a mummy & my husband a daddy.  Handsome soldier might have missed a dozen wedding anniversaries, but he rarely skips a Father's Day, funny that!!  It's not easy being raised 'military', having a papa who they love (more than me, they tell me, i am judged, daily) living interstate & moving all the time, yet they flourish in every new town we plonk them down in. 

Our gorgeous first born daughter, she struggles in the role of daughter & not being the mother/ leader/ in charge.  Yet for the past fortnight she has been flat, lethargic & ticking every ailment box there is . . . suspected Glandular Fever.  I'm so grateful her blood tests came back negative, must have been one hell of a virus & she actually allowed herself to be the daughter, with me to mother her!!  I loved it!!

 I'll admit, i was worried, she never gets ill & after winning a bunch of academic prizes in her first semester of high school, she had clearly made her mark.  Glandular Fever is that awful, unknown recovery/ relapse nightmare many teens suffer, it's not welcome here.  So tomorrow we'll go for a run, slowly, to build up to the athletics carnival next week. 

 Our middle daughter, she takes herself very seriously in the eyes of others, however, happily plays the goof ball when it suits her, like wearing crocheted headbands, you just have to laugh, on her terms.  She's in the Tournament of the Minds team for Literature & something, i should pay more attention as the taxi driver & costume maker.

 I watched the performances yesterday, she is playing Cameron Diaz & nailed the comedic actress genre.  I love providing a happy, nurturing home for my children, with homecooked meals & handmade goodness, i will watch & cheer them on at sport, any sport, i love it . . . but listening to children play musical instruments or perform in plays, i will admit, it's my downfall category in mother-of-the-year awards. 

 Oh our third girl is plain quirky, ethereal & bohemian.  We met up with her birthday boy cousin at the Canberra Wood Show (carpark) this morning to hand over gifts & balloons, after the Farmer's Market.  This is what she wore to the market & carpark, complete with gum boots.  I can see she'll be the one we'll be waiting on as a teen, what to wear, it's a farmer's market, i know, a Greek dancing ensemble from Country Road.

 She's also doing Tournament of the Minds, Maths & Engineering.  These events are hazardous - about 11p.m. the night before the dress rehearsal, she surprised me with a piece of brown fabric demanding i create a cape for a boy who i don't know (age, size, height) in the dark, & on whinging about this at school, ALL the mums had the same nightmare.

 Our darling only son, i'm trying to curb his role as 'only boy = victim' in the family to one of empowerment, this is challenging as he plays 'annoying little brother' so well, he's just so cheeky, yet irritating to a tween girl, or three.  His room is his haven, he is allowed a little television time at night after homework & reading . . . 

 & the Wii on weekends.  He's so athletic & academic, also prone to take himself too seriously, so this is a great 'mellow time out' for him.  Chatting to my yoga instructor about raising boys last night, she reminded me how they loathe nagging or being hassled, so i often let him be, let him find what he wants to do - read, run, climb, jump, Wii (all activities which can be done on the lounge) & give him space.  I'll save my nagging for his future wife!!  

So here's to our 4 fabulous little buddies, they are so good to me with beautiful, respectful behaviour most of the time, but i know they miss handsome soldier so much, i sometimes hear sobs from their rooms at night, it's heart breaking, i cry very easily & join them.  At least they don't bottle up their emotions, i hope they never internalise & let things manifest.  My psych degree comes in mighty handy, talk it through, only don't give me any "mother issues".  So much of mothering tweens & teens is just to be there, fully available, when they need you.  Daddy is on his way home to Canberra right now, they don't know it, they know he'll be here for dinner on father's day, but i'm just bursting that he's arriving in a few hours.  Got them again!! 

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful men who kept getting us pregnant & more 'Gratefuls' are over at The Beetle Shack today while Maxabella Loves has a little blogcation, basket weaving, learning Spanish & painting her toenails.  We miss you Maxi!!  Love Posie