Home of Slightly Cracked Dreams

I wonder if anyone is still out there?

Last time I posted I was off for my first day at my final prac. Wow, what a six weeks that was. Things haven’t been quiet on the home front either. Here’s a brief snapshot of the last two and a half months.

1. I have done my final prac, now I’m waiting for confirmation I can graduate. There’s one small assignment to go. I’m hoping to have it knocked over today. I got some great references, made some good friends, and more importantly, great colleagues who are always happy to help.

2. Hubby has changed jobs AGAIN after yet another redundancy. This job at least seems more stable, even if it is a contract position. Thank goodness for federal funding I say.

3. M&M turned 6. She had a family party and was thoroughly spoiled with lots of barbies and Hannah Montana paraphanalia.

4. My wonderful mother-in-law stayed with us for 6 weeks to look after the house while I was on my prac. She did a great job making sure my children got everywhere they needed to be and I could focus on my prac. She’s been gone a week now and I’m still looking for things *evil grin*.

5. M&M & Kiki had their ballet concerts, which required additional rehearsals, costume alterations (thank goodness for mother-in-laws hey?) and multiple makup practices. They were both amazing. M&M still has another lot of concerts in 3 weeks.

6. Kiki had her enrolement interview for Prep next year. She’s all ready to go. I just need to get the uniforms etc. More $$

7. I had the interview for M&M going into year one next year. She is more than ready, which is lovely to hear. Heaps of stuff came out of this interview, possibly enough for a whole post in itself. We shall see.

8. I’ve had several doctors appointments regarding Kiki’s eating and reflux issues. Again, another whole post on it’s own.

9. I had my interview for employment with Education Queensland. The feedback I got was very positive. Hopefully I’ll hear soon from a school that wants to employ me.

10. We surprised a dear friend in Airlie Beach for his 30th, just days after they surprised us with their wonderful baby news. We’re all so excited (not least because my cot and high chair can now go to a good home).

11. We spent a weekend in Toowoomba for another family birthday. There were a great many cousins on Hubby’s side to catch up with and meet.

12. I learnt that my life is crazy, but I love it like that.

So that’s my last few months in summary. What’s been going on in your world?

Over the last 6 weeks our life has been turned upside down again.

Hubby’s job that we moved here for was made redundant, so it was back to the drawing board, although without the safety net we had last time since 4 months is hardly long enough to save up the 3 months of expenses we had last time.

Cue me looking for jobs and going for interviews instead of studying for exams, long, deep and meaningful discussions about the future and what we were going to do. And how to make sure it didn’t happen again.

After much soul searching, Hubby has decided to have a midlife crisis. He has taken a lower paying job, doing what he was doing a few years ago, with a smaller company who is open to the idea of him studying, and working fewer hours (so say working 32 hours a week, and studying at the same time). I gave him permission to have a midlife crisis as long as it didn’t involve a blonde or a sports car. You have to be practical about these things.

Being so close to the university here, he decided to check out their options and see what he could come up with.  Eventually he settled on the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics, which is a 4 year full time degree. At the end of it he can go down the path of being a qualified Nutritionist or Dietitian. Personally I think this is a great option because then he can do our menu plans and I won’t have to think about it LOL.

He is taking his time though, and doing the tertiary preparation program this semester with introductory subjects like computer literacy, bioscience and mathematics to get back into the groove of studying.

As for me, we decided that the time was right for me to (finally) finish my Graduate Diploma of Education that I started in 2002, but which was interrupted by M&M, then Kiki.

I had been investigating the possibility for a while, and all the details were ready for me to send the forms in, which I did, and was given a lot more credit for previous studies than I thought - meaning I only have 3 subjects to do to finish by November. I am taking a semester off my law degree, but plan to go back and pick up at least one subject over Christmas to keep my hand in, and so I don’t drop out completely. My long term goal still is to finish my law degree and work in that field.

What we’re hoping is that by me getting my teaching qualification, and hopefully starting work next year when Kiki starts school we won’t be in this situation again. That I will be able to work and even if Hubby is out of work, my income will be enough to sustain the family.

On the plus side, we had a slight benefit with the payout from Hubby’s old job being for 6 weeks, and him being out of work for 3, so a 3 week head start to rebuilding our decimated emergency fund.

As you can imagine the next semester will be hopefully organised chaos. I’m currently working on the plan for the semester, so hopefully before I start next week I’ll have a plan to attack the semester and get the family through it unscathed.

Plus, you know, we had school holidays in there - and lots of exciting things happened. Stay tuned!

And it wasn’t pretty.

M&M started school today, and surprising everyone, including myself, I didn’t need the tissues I’d carefully stashed in my bag.

We’ve been preparing for weeks. I’ve spent every day in the last week naming, labelling, packing, repacking everything including stationary supplies, spare clothes and lunchbox snacks.

M&M has been beside herself with excitement. The first thing she asks every morning is “Am I going to school today?” and the look on her face when we tell her no is priceless.

I was worried about not being up in time. Living in the next town over from school we have a minimum 20 minute drive, and since I don’t recall the last time I did this trip in “peak hour” (ie peak 5 minutes when everyone from one town drives to the other, and those from that town drive back) I was worried a little about traffic. Then parking.

And yes, I’m anally over-organised, why do you ask?

So it was no surprise to me that after a 4:30am wake up call from Miss Moo I was unable to sleep. Not only was I excited that trying to sleep would have been futile, I would have been so worried about sleeping through my alarms that any sleep I did get would have been restless and useless.

I needn’t have worried, M&M emerged from her bedroom at 6:30am and ate breakfast without complaint (a rarity in these parts), though I think it was just because she was so eager to put her uniform on and I wouldn’t let her eat breakfast in it.

Hey, I only have one set of uniforms so far.

Despite having to wake Kiki & Miss Moo (who are usually the early risers) at 7:20, we were ready to go at 7:50am - 10 minutes before my scheduled leaving time, which would still have allowed 25 minutes for mishaps along the way. The classroom opens at 8:15, and we can drop off anytime from 8:15 - 8:45 when the bell goes.

We had plenty of time for a barrage of photos for Mummy’s brag book.

So we left just on 8am. And as I drove, feeling my heart swell with pride watching M&M in the backseat talking to Kiki, I realised that this was going to be the next 17 years of my life. School, sport, swimming, music, exercise books, text books, P&C meetings, parent helper mornings, show and tell finding, homework, lunches, uniforms.

That was when I nearly cried. 17 years is a long time. Especially when I can’t even remember 17 years ago.

Although that thought cheered me up. At least I won’t remember this feeling of dread in 17 years when I wave Miss Moo off to year 12 and she rolls her eyes and throws her bag over one shoulder and hides her face so no one knows I’m her mother.

I remember when my step-mother finally graduated her last child from high school. After 28 years of at least one child at school.

Hell, I’m 28 years old! That’s an awful lot of back to school shopping, lunch making and everything else that goes along with it all. Though she is a teacher, so I guess she was paid to spend a lot of time at school.

By the time we arrived at the school I was ready. Ready to start this 17 year journey. And as M&M ignored me and ran to the reading or dressup or block or whatever corner it is this week, I knew she was as well.

So, M&M, here’s to the next 13 years of your schooling. May we both survive to tell the stories!

Which isn’t technically true as we had been twice before, but it was the first official visit, where the kids found out the classes, class rooms, teachers and other exciting tidbits.

I’ve never seen M&M quite so excited. To be fair she’s been asking when she can start school for the last two years. Thanks to the change in starting age she had to wait an extra year, and it’s been tough.

So it was with much excitement we set off for a morning school visit. I had planned on leaving Kiki behind, but she wanted to see too (we don’t call her “Kiki Me Too” for nothing), so I loaded all 3 of them up and timed the 22 minute drive to her school.

M&M had a wonderful time (so did Kiki and Miss Moo come to think of it). She has all the kids from her daycare in her class, as well as some friends from ballet and a couple of kids whose parents I know, but she hasn’t had much to do with the kids before now.

Her teacher is young and enthusiastic (and the daughter of our real estate agent). She has a full-time teacher aide in a class of 23 students.

Each day they have year 7 helpers for things like crafts and playground time.

I think I’m looking forward to school more than she is. Which is saying something because I haven’t seen a kid so excited about school since, well, me.

It was also a lovely opportunity to meet some other parents and car pool’s are already being discussed, as the only buses from our area are p-12 buses, and there aint no way my 5 year old is getting on a bus with 14 and 15 year olds.

In the 2.5 hours we were there, they had a story, updated the calendar, made a mask and did some painting, as well as dress ups before breaking for fruit time and spending some time out in the playground.

I cannot get over how wonderful her teachers are.

Bring on 2009!

Dads4kids.org.au is an initiative of the Fatherhood Foundation which aims to build an online community of father’s in Australia.

You may have seen the ads with Matthew Hayden about a competition to identify and solve the greatest problem facing kids today.

Father’s play such an important role in our kids (and our) lives, I think it’s great that father’s out there are trying to do something about the problems facing their kids. So often mother’s take on so much responsibility for our kids that we can unintentionally leave father’s out of the equation, parenting is a partnership!

Encouraging father’s to be more involved and pro-active in raising our kids can only be of benefit.

I honestly cannot believe it is that time already. For starters I still feel like I’m only 21, let alone 27 with my oldest starting school next year. It’s enough to make me want to put my name down at a mental health facility aged care facility already.

But that time has come. I had picked out a couple of wonderful schools for M&M next year in Brisbane, depending on where we ended up living. But since it looks like she’ll be going to school here, I’ve had to basically start from scratch. So, here are the choices:

1. Christian College. Private school, relatively new (went to year 12 for the first time in 2006). Cost: approx $6000/year fees + uniforms, books etc. 2 minutes drive. Potentially walking distance in a pinch.
2. Local State School. A little older. Much cheaper: approx $250 fees + uniforms, books, excursions etc. 5 minutes drive. Not walking distance. Not much parking, although across the road from the shopping centre.
3. Catholic School. Diocese run Catholic School. Cost: $1700/year for one child, approximately $2000/year for three children + extra’s. 15 minute drive (20km) each way. No school bus.

There is another public school down the road from the catholic school, but I’m not seriously considering driving 15 minutes each way every day for a public school when (as far as I know) the one 5 minutes drive away is perfectly respectable.

I haven’t heard anything bad about any of the schools, so I guess it’s just time to make inquires at the various schools and see what happens. While M&M is a fairly easy going child, who I think will do well in any school with her enthusiasm, I do need to think about Kiki, who I think would benefit from military school a more structured environment. Also as M&M will be one of the oldest in her class, and is already learning to write and read (very slowly) I want to make sure the schools are willing to cater for that, since Prep is “play-based”.

So, I guess I’d better get moving on this one. The first two schools would be ideal travel wise. I mean a 30min round trip twice a day would get old pretty fast.  On the other hand I’m already making that trip 4 - 6 times a week anyway, so how different would it really be?

It was time.

I could feel it.

The questions. Oh my the questions. That. Wouldn’t. Go. Away.

“Can I have some money Mum?”
“Why does she have some and I don’t?”
“I want *insert donut/toy/ice cream/lolly of choice here*”

So I caved.

And assigned pocket money. They’re too young to have a real concept of money, so I kept it simple.

“M&M, how old are you?”

“4″

“Here’s 4 coins” (I gave her 4 x 50c pieces)

“Kiki, how old are you?”

“3″

“Here’s 3 coins” (I gave her 3 x 50c pieces).

“Now, here’s the rules. Each Saturday I will give you 4, or 3 coins. You each must put one coin in this bag as savings. I will keep them in my desk until we have enough to bank. With your other coins, you can spend them on donuts, lollies, or whatever. Or you can save it all for a big toy. OR you can save another coin or two, and leave one for spending on lollies at swimming.” Swimming is about the only place they can buy a lolly for 10c each these days.

Kids often surprise us don’t they? M&M put two more coins in her savings bag, and has kept one coin. Kiki “me too” put another coin in her savings bag, and has kept one to spend. We went through their room and found two small coin purses, which live in my handbag with each of their “spending money” in it (they are little after all, we can’t have them losing it all the time - plus at their age I will get to approve all purchases).

I know they don’t get the concept of money, and how much things are worth, but perhaps they do have some good foundations for money practices building already. I mean, of the $3.50 I dished out today, they’ve decided to save $2.50. It won’t be long before they’re ruling the world. Next step - donations and charity.

Pocket money isn’t as scary as I thought.

I alluded last month to a situation that had thrown into doubt our move to The Big Smoke. Well, it’s now been finalised, and I can share with you the frustrating change of plans.

Early last month, Hubby mentioned that a complementary company he deals with through his job had expressed interest in offering him a job. Being very pregnant I ignored this warning sign, and foolishly presumed that it wouldn’t be anything that would interest us.

However, when the official letter came, it left both of us in shock. The job they were offering was a management position, and the pay reflected that. In fact it equated to a 33% increase to what Hubby is currently earning. More than that, the job includes such perks as a car, phone and laptop, but most importantly it’s the career move he’s been wanting to make and working towards for some time.

Which really was the deciding factor. Due to the cost of living here (ie high!) financially we’re not THAT much better off at the end of the day. But the long term payoffs are worth it. Part of the move to The Big Smoke was to further things in this direction, but it was looking like another 18 months before it would come to fruition.

SO, it looks like we’re staying around. Hubby signed the contract last week, and handed in his resignation. We’ve found a small house to rent (pictures to come) and are moving in next week. It’s sad that I’m not going to be moving closer to my family and friends at this stage, but I’m hopeful that a couple of years experience will help Hubby find a similar job in The Big Smoke that we can move to eventually.

And I guess I’d better get used to torrential rain and flooding.

Saturday morning was the first of what I suspsect will become a regular and long term event for our household.  Our first ever dancing lessons.

Being so close in age, we struggle with letting M&M do something while Kiki misses out. M&M could have started ballet a year ago, but because Kiki was not old enough, we held back. I’m not sure if we did the right thing, but I can’t imagine trying to keep a 2 year old happy while her big sister gets to try all these new things. And they’re such good friends that I can imagine some real resentment developing.

Anyway, Saturday was the first lesson. And if you want to see cute, find a “tots” ballet lesson to watch. 12 little 3 and 4 year old girls in varying degrees of fairy costumes, ballet costumes and dance pants prancing around the floor. I can’t remember laughing so hard in ages.

Both the girls seemed to really enjoy it, M&M more so than Kiki, although I think Kiki is taking the whole “ballet” thing a bit more seriously than M&M. I will say this though, 30 minutes of jumping and dancing around certainly wears them out we had a nice quiet afternoon here. Kiki even had a sleep (unheard of!).

While this is just a start, I hope they continue with dance in some form or another. I did Calisthenics as a child, and then ballroom dancing as a teenager, which, incidentally, is where I met my Hubby. And the best part (from Mummy’s perspective) is that these classes are all “just for fun” and run through the PCYC - so $5 a lesson is a great bargain for me. Especially when I pay more than 4 times that a week for swimming lessons.

What else needs to be said??? She’s just perfect!