PAVING THE WAY
Written by: By Sheree Hoddinett
Time. Where has it gone? The days turn into weeks and then months and before you know it, years have flown by. Especially with little kids. It all starts with breastfeeding, changing nappies, lack of sleep to start with and that was just the newborn days, which are long behind me! Now I’m dealing with school books, sight words, readers, uniforms and playground fun. And that’s just beginning of the school days, there are many, many years still ahead of me. I often think ahead to full time school life with both my girls in the classroom. It’s really not that far away. It’ll mean double the lunches, double the uniforms and double the “fun”, oh yay! Haha!
It’s funny how there are days where you wish for time to speed up because you’re waiting for a special event or a visitor or something exciting or kids are driving you mental and you’re hanging out for their bedtime, woohoo!! But as they get older and lose some more of their baby looks or ways and you can’t help but wish for time to scale back just a teeny bit. I look at my girls and see how much they have grown and what they now accomplish and miss them as babies. I definitely don’t want to deal with all the other “fun” that comes with it of course. But they do grow up so quickly and you don’t realise until things don’t happen anymore, just how fast time does go. It feels a little bit more precious when you realise it and then the kids drive you crazy, yet again, and you think “yeah I’m good”, haha!
I thought I wanted more kids. But I think now I’m very settled in dealing with the growing up stages and all the changes associated with that. Like crazy attitude for one. Why does a 5-year-old have so much sass, defiance and stubbornness??! Some might say she takes after her mother but I’m not taking the full blame on this one (stubbornness anyone??!!). But seriously, I thought I had years until I’d be copping some serious attitude. Boy (or should I say girl) was I wrong! I get the independence or wanting it anyway because she cracks it if something doesn’t work out for her. But the huffing and puffing, eye rolling, foot stomping, hands on hips and back chatting, they can be next level. Although the best revenge for me is putting a menacing look on my face and taking one step towards her because she drops to the ground so fast thinking she’s up for a smack, when I’m not going to do anything at all. Ahhhhh the joys of parenting, if only every situation resolved that easily. Well, it lasts for about 5 seconds and we’re back to where we started. Ever think “why do I bother?”
They listen to me about maybe 70% of the time, which is not too bad. The other 30% I wonder what planet they’re on. Except if they hear something they want or that will benefit them and suddenly we’re best friends again. But I think that goes for kids of all ages, the percentages probably change significantly the older they get! Don’t worry I’m under no illusion that my kids aren’t going to give me grief as they get older, I’m prepared for the idea. Whether I’m prepared for what comes my way or gets thrown my way, remains to be seen, but that freight train is unstoppable! I know we can’t tar all kids with the same brush, but more often than not growing up tends to follow a certain pattern, just with varying degrees of uncertainty per child.
But whatever they put me through (everything under the sun), I’m still glad they are mine and that they chose me to be their mum. Just don’t ask me to say that after a bad day/night/month or year perhaps! I’ll take their random hugs and acts of kindness anytime because let’s face it, there is nothing better than their little arms wrapping you up and saying “I love you Mummy” or “I’m sorry” or better yet “It’s okay, I’m here Mummy”. Well played master manipulator…I mean kiddo, you get me every time!
Join me on my “lovely” journey of parenting two cheeky monkeys via my own blog at www.shereekim.com. It might be boring (at times) but it’s never dull, that much I can tell you!
By Kylie Kaden (BSSc. Hons.)