Footwear barometer

Introducing the McCann Footwear Scale - a barometer of how a parent is coping, measured by the child's footwear. The parental state of mind deteriorates the further down the list you go:


Clean, matching socks and shoes that fit (gold star parenting).

Matching socks and shoes that fit (quite pleased with oneself).

Mismatched socks and shoes that fit (no-one will notice!).


Mismatched socks and shoes that fit, but that look really weird or completely inappropriate (like the strange ones brought back from Vietnam with unidentified superhero logo on them).

Mismatched socks and shoes that are too large/small (clown feet, anyone?).

Matching socks, no shoes (ok for car trips where child will not leave vehicle or stroller. Or daycare. Or quick walk down the road. Or when you just can't be bothered.).


Mismatched socks, no shoes (See above. Walk quickly and hope you don't see anyone you know).


Unwashed, mismatched socks. (Shoes have disappeared. Tell people the kid dressed themselves).

One sock. (Best to give up now).

Bare feet.

Staying home!

Today Thus Far

Woken early by baby, after another restless night.

Feel very tired and unable to function.
Have coffee.
Burst into song in kitchen, to bemusement of children.


Me: You're a cheeky monkey, Hamish.
Hamish: I know mum, I know!

Go to park to meet a couple of mums from mothers group.
Feel like failure as parent as I strip H's wet shoes and socks off his feet - he made it into the water on pretext of chasing ducks.
Realise on way home that I am not failure, just only one there with two kids present. Need cloning machine.

Clean some gunge out of the pool, and spot some weird creepy crawlies in the water. On closer inspection, realise pool is teeming with the little buggers. I don't like them - they scuttle along the ground back to the water when I tip them out of the skimmer box.
Ring pool shop to be told I will have to squash the bugs - only way to get rid of them apparently. Oh, and they bite.

Finally get baby to sleep, only to have toddler deliberately open the door, waking him up.
Put toddler in his room while I try to resettle baby.
Give up.
Go to release toddler from confinement. Can't see him in room. Hmmm.
Me: Hamish?
Cupboard: Yes mum?

Drink another coffee. Don't burst into song this time.

Go to shops.
On arrival in carpark, realise baby has thrown up all over top. Is now soaked.
Find old clean baby top in boot - hurrah!
Do shopping.
Buy cupcakes.
Come home.
Eat cake.

Reflect that it's not so much what happens during the day that counts, but how I respond to it, and how I treat my kids whilst feeling fragile, that's important. I guess today isn't all that bad when I look at it that way.

On with the afternoon!

The 'Good News' Lady

I posted a while ago about a lady who stopped me in the street to tell me how much God loved me. I saw her again this morning when I was waiting for a bus, and she once again stopped to share the same news.

It's actually the third time I've encountered her, so this time I asked her if she stopped everyone she met.

She told me that she gets up every morning and goes for a walk and will stop and tell everyone she meets on the walk that God loves them so much, and wants a relationship with them. She said she felt really called to do it, and steps out in faith.

She's very polite and not pushy, although it is a little in your face to hear what she has to say. I find her confronting and a curiosity. I do like her message.

Licenced to Drive!

Yes, I finally have my provisional driving licence! It's been a looooong journey but I've made it. Yay!

Will be a little while before I actually take myself anywhere though because our car has a turbo, and P platers are not allowed to drive modified cars. We can apply for an exemption though so we'll see how that goes.

Doing the test this morning was very stressful, even though I've had plenty of practise around the area I did it in. Luckily I didn't do anything silly and still can't quite believe I've qualified.

It's been around 14 years since I first got my Learners Licence...and I've had the current version since 2004!

Massive thank you to UD for sponsoring my many hours of professional lessons...couldn't have done it without you!

'Important News'

I was given two bits of 'important news' today on my walk to the shops and back.

The first was from the lady serving me at the butchers* - she told me that Michael Jackson had died. It's interesting to see that she considered the news of the death worth passing on to a stranger (although I suppose they are used to making conversation with customers).

The second bit of 'news' came as I was walking home. A lady stopped me in the street and asked if she could tell me something really important. I had a hunch what was coming next: "God really loves you!"

I interrupted her at that point to explain that I had already heard that particular news and was in fact a Christian. She asked if I was a 'born-again' Christian, and I agreed that I was after checked her definition of born again! (Having received God's Holy Spirit).

We then went our separate ways. I've got to say, despite the fact that I suspect her and I would differ on a few theological points, I was impressed by her boldness in proclaiming the good news of God's love.

* Incidentally, it was quite funny at the butchers because I requested a lamb pie, and they thought I asked for lamb's fry! I noticed them bagging up a massive livery looking thing and realised the mistake. We had a bit of a chuckle about it...

Top Day

I had a great day today. It started with only having to get up twice overnight, and getting almost 6 hrs sleep in a row (compared to a maximum of 2 hrs 15 mins last week).

We went to Terrigal for breakfast, something we haven't attempted in months, and it was lovely - we ate at a cafe right near the beach - good coffee, good food, great view. Then we dropping in on Terrigal markets to visit our sister-in-law Nicole, who has a stall there selling very cute baby stuff. We also picked up some pastries that were delicious. I gave Hamish a piggyback ride to the car and he had a great time dribbling on my head.

Then back home to lunch, did a bit of gardening, read the Herald, and relaxed.

And to top it all off, Hamish went to sleep incredibly easily tonight - took about 10 minutes compared to 45 mins last night - dramatic improvement!

I still have a major sleep debt to pay off, but hopefully now I'll have a fighting chance of actually making it happen.

Reptile Park

We went to the reptile park today, it was great! Here's a few photos. Hamish enjoyed himself and was particularly taken with the koalas.

Sunset

We spent a few days this week in Tingha, visiting Adam's pop who is unwell. It was a good trip, (despite the car overheating on the way there). This is a photo I took on the way, not too far from where we were heading.

We saw a fair bit of wildlife on the way, most notably a pair of eagles by the roadside. They were very impressive - would have been at least 60cm tall and with a massive wingspan. I couldn't get a photo, much to my disappointment, but it was pretty special to see them.

A Speedy Trip to the Art Gallery

I went to town yesterday to see some friends, and I thought I'd make a day of it by going to the Art Gallery first to see the Monet exhibition.

Because I had Hamish with me, I rocketed through the exhibition in record time - there were lots of people there and I didn't want him to crack it and make a fuss which he tends to do if the stroller stops moving for more than 30 seconds. So I made my way through the rooms pretty quickly - in fact I think I was in there for less than 10 minutes. At $18 to get in, I reckon that makes it a $2 per minute experience.

It was good - the paintings were nice although not as impressive as I'd expected, I think because they are so familiar owing to their fame. Also they were mostly smaller than I'd expected. I went and had a look at the Australian impressionist stuff which I like more than the European paintings - it felt like I was visiting old friends and it was interesting to compare the two styles.

It was great to go to the art gallery, and more importantly the art gallery shop! I love it - bought some postcards and a magnet and glanced wistfully at all the other stuff that I didn't have the money for, or the means of getting home.

All in all I spent around half an hour there and it was lovely.