Mother's Day

I had planned on running the Mother’s Day Classic, another of those oxymoron Fun Runs, but when asked Elle a couple of weeks back, she was non-committal. (I'm not even sure why I was asking here - she beat me in the recent Run For The Kids - but only by 3 minutes.) Time went on. Earlier this week she asked if I’d signed her up….

I checked the website to see if we could register on the day and it didn’t seem so. I then checked the weather and saw it was 12 degrees and raining. All’s well that ends well, I say!

So I woke up at about 9.15am, ripped into my pressies including a very stylish travel glass complete with a range of gourmet teas, a beautiful bowl of cyclamens and these amazing paintings by George.

Aren't they beautiful!

I then went off to the study to do my own Mother’s Day Classic on the treadmill while Elle prepared brunch. She had actually walked to supermarket yesterday and hidden the various ingredients in the fridge in the shed – and under her bed! But check it out – who needs to go out??

Eleanor's Mother's Day brunch - it was as good as it looks!

Having said that, we then did go out for afternoon yum cha with the cousins – we’ll be guzzling water for the next 3 days!

I know Mother’s Day is all about telling your mum how great she is, but I’m happy to tell anyone who listens how great my kids are.

Happy Mother’s Day everyone.

STOP YELLING!!!

Have you ever found yourself screaming at the kids to stop shouting?? Only to realise you are now shouting?

I had dinner on Friday night with some mums I’ve know for 16 years. We laughed so hard I came home with a sore stomach.

It was reassuring to know that one of them, Julie, has also screamed at her kids so hard her throat has sustained injury. I have gone to work on more than one occasion with a throat that feels like I’ve just swallowed razor blades – not from a savage bacterial infection, but from hysterically yelling at the kids that I’m fed up, have had enough, am at my wits end, etc, etc – you know how it goes. (Don’t you??)

I admit, it is not a lovely start to the day. I’ve also pointed this out to the inciters/victims of my yelling. Maybe if they got up earlier, got themselves more organized, just got going in the morning, we’d all have a better start to the day. It’s exhausting. I’ve even asked them for their suggestions on how to avoid the morning chaos, but to no avail. It’s all promises, but no follow through. And the next morning we’re back to me, standing on the nature-strip and screaming like a banshee “Which part of ‘get in the car’ are you not understanding???!!”

Lord knows what the neighbours think.

So how are the mornings at your place? A relaxed and calm routine of serenity? Give me your tips, please!

Mother's Day

Yes, yes, I’m well late on this one, but I was inspired by my friend, Mother Of A Man-Child and her recent post on the subject.

It started on the Friday night when the youngest, flapping our worn copy of the school cookbook behind her back, yelled ‘Don’t look Mum! This is what you’re getting for Mother’s Day and you’ve already got one.” Hmmm. Surprise blown there.

The Saturday night before, we had people over for dinner and had far too much fun (and okay, perhaps a tad too much wine as well!). As I waved them off in taxis, I glanced at my watch and noticed with surprise it was a quarter to three! So really, all I wanted for Mother’s Day was to stay asleep until it was time to head out for Yum Cha with the in-laws. No such luck. I dragged my sorry arse up to face about 28 residual wine glasses, an unexpectedly mild hangover and some lovely gifts!

From the little one I got – surprise, surprise – a new copy of the school cookbook! (My reaction was suitably convincing.)  From the next one, I got an amazing red shoe – made of chocolate! Check it out.

It really is all chocolate!!!!

And from my gorgeous boy, who knows how much I don’t love driving a van with sliding doors, a picture he painted of my dream vehicle – a Smart Car. What a guy!