This is just a check in really.

I’ve always been a keeper of journals but after Bobby arrived that fell by the wayside. Having the blog was an awesome way to gather photographic and written evidence of our life as a little family as it all unfolded. There are a few downsides to blogging but I definitely love capturing moments that I know will make my heart sing in years to come.

While I’m not being quite so prolific on social media, I still plan to keep blogging a bit on here because it just seems a heck of a lot easier than printing photos and writing in a journal (argh that’s sad but true). So I’ll keep sharing the link when I do just in case other people are interested. In the absence of a ‘village’ it can be comforting to read the normal experiences and feelings of a very average person. Hopefully I’m relatable in my ordinariness.

One of the things I find a bit yuck about blogging is that it is, by its very nature, an egocentric thing to do. It’s all about me and my life. Yuck. And I promise you I do not think I am particularly special. Just as I do not think my kids are particularly special (well I definitely do, but I don’t think other people should find them particularly special) and I don’t think the words I say are particularly special. I have no experience other than the daily life I am living. My parenting skills could best be described as ‘one step forwards, two steps back’ and just when I get a bit cocky my son gets a nappy wedgy and expels three days worth of corn. There’s nothing that can peg you back more, honestly.

The thing is though, I can’t go writing about other people because that would be creepy. I don’t want people scared that I’ll take a photo with their kids in it and it’ll end up on social media. And I definitely don’t want my friends thinking they can’t tell me things for fear they’ll feature in a blog. That really would be yuck. So that just leaves me!

So my story at the moment is that with both boys attending daycare one day a week I can offer myself up for a bit of relief teaching, a day or two a week. I had my first day this week and I loved it. I enjoyed it for lots of reasons, not least being the social aspect of talking with other adults! Going back to work is a lot easier when you actually like what you do, so I’m very lucky. The downside is of course the mum guilt that’s associated with leaving your babies. I’m getting better at that though, maybe it’s a ‘second time round’ thing but I’m feeling more and more that in order for me to be a great parent, I need to be a whole person too – work is part of who I am, it makes me happy.

If I were a pie graph, motherhood would take up a huge percentage of my pie, but there needs to be some room for relationships and personal interests too. Otherwise there’d be an important chunk missing and I’d just look like one of those strange little Pakman characters running around. Returning to work is such a personal choice, but regardless I think it’s important for mums to have something of their own. A hobby, a side project, sport, anything that can be your little time out. That’s what blog writing is for me.

Lately, the relentless rain has tested my patience, as I’m sure it has for parents everywhere. Little children need to get out and mothers need for their little children to be out! So yesterday morning, with no suggestion of rain in the sky, we had a glorious walk along the river track. We soaked up the serenity of mossies, squashed snails and a snake phobia that made every bark crackle send my knees to my chest in a Basil Fawlty style bolt. Bloody fun though. Bobby took his well-trodden pink pusher for a walk, nothing in it of course but wonderful for pushing over unsuspecting bugs (valuing all life forms is a work in progress). The pusher was gifted to him with a doll, in a bid to prepare him for Sid’s impending arrival. The doll was promptly discarded but he has retained a love for the $6 pusher from Target, money well spent I tell you.

My current parenting project (I’m joking) is to help Bobby develop his skills in independent play. He is my beautiful little shadow and I just adore him but I feel like he is missing out on the fun that comes from imaginative play on his own. He always wants ‘mum play too’ and will not stay to play once I move on. He’s obviously very young but I’d love to foster a love of creative, independent play so that he doesn’t rely on me (or technology) to keep him entertained. Anyone having a similar experience? I’ll keep you updated with how I get on! He’s changing every day and I cannot get over how much babies and toddlers absorb. The mind boggles.

Sid is just a delight. He’s still basically immobile, bar some enthusiastic flapping (think someone drowning, sans water) but there was some bum-shuffling action happening in the bathroom lastnight so I fear he may adopt the same method of transport as his brother! Whatevs, go your own way Siddy babe!

So that’s where we’re at. Nothing exciting at all but that’s how I like it.

I hope everyone else is well!

Eliza xx