Monday's are what I term to all my friends as being hectic. I guess today has taught me that there's a balance between trying to do stuff with and for your kids and doing too much, ending up driving yourself near bat shit crazy by 4pm.
The usual morning routine happened, which mostly all parents will relate to: demands for specific cereal, taking one mouthful and claiming they wanted something different, feeding jacob, nursing Jacob, cleaning highchair, scraping weetabix from wherever Alexander sat. Then there's remembering to actually feed myself followed by the drama of what pants Rosie will wear, what hair clasp she wants in and how I can get showered without Alexander accidentally injuring Jacob...again. Today's major morning drama was over what they could watch while I was getting showered, as usual Rosie wanted playdoh surprise egg videos on YouTube (not sure if anyone elses kids watch these....they're bloody annoying!!!) and Alexander wanted Tayo the Little Bus on NetFlix. So they got Peppa Pig (my choice, which I decided was neutral viewing ground and surprisingly, it went without an argument). I had my 3 minute "express shower" - how relaxing... I am blind as a bad and having to peer through a water drenched shower to ensure Jacob is still out of harms way from Wreckit Ralph is most relaxing. Anyway, relaxing shower done, hair dried, "mum leggings" on, now to wrestle Jacob into his clothes, which, by the way, I can only liken to having to dress an action man (ridid arms, rigid legs, limbs that don't seem to move as they should!!!). Once I've checked we are all still alive (ha, I jest!!!) it's time to get into the car, pack all our bags (it's like we are moving out, I swear), hats, coats and packed lunches too. I can almost always time that by the end of the road Rosie will be crying about how she "hates nursery" (she only does this on a Monday or Tuesday when they go to private nursery). So we had that usual drama, plus we had the usual drama of who is sitting where in the car. Thankfully Jacob can't join that debate (yet) and so he's eliminated from that drama. Anyway, nursery drop off done. Then off to Fat Club I go with Jacob, which I haven't been to for 3 weeks. Having been a fat bint for those 3 weeks I am given the great news of gaining 3.5lb - woo woo go me. I think I should have been awarded "gainer of the week" and a big fat slap across the face. Plus point was an hour long chat with adults. Before the morning was done I squeezed in our half hour Turtle Tots class at the swimming pool. Any parent knows how much "fun" getting an infant changed and afterwards dried is. We then had an hour to get home, quick bite to eat and then back to get Rosie from nursery to gymnastics which she didn't throw any dramas at for once - woo!!! We did, however, have the drama afterwards of "So as I was so good, do I get a treat?". Does anyone else's child expect a bag of haribos every time they behave like a normal bloody human being!!?! After this...panic sets in, it's time to add the middle child back into the mix. Usually this is okay, as we head home. But being such a sensible mum, I had booked (weeks ago) an opticians appointment for Rosie at 3.30pm. Quite why I felt that going solo on a Monday afternoon in the Kingdom Shopping Centre with 3 tired and whingey children aged 4 and under was a good idea is beyond me. It all started off to good to be true with Jacob and Alexander in the double pram and Rosie walking angelically beside me. However, unbeknownst to me, we had turned up 20 bloody minutes early, so, even after 5 minutes of trying to entertain Rosie and Alexander with different types of specs, we were still way way way too early. I asked when we would be seen to be then eventually told of the appointment time. With time to burn i thought shopkins and a little cake may help to keep them distracted. Alexander chose a chocolate donut which he sat and ate and ended up looking like he had poo over his face and hands - thank god for babywipes. Rosie chose a fairy cake which she ended up throwing on the floor as she just wanted the cheap free ring on the top of it. Then Jacob decided he had had enough of behaving and watching and erupted into a fit of screaming in the waiting area. After asking at 4pm when we would be seen we were eventually taken. Alexander was entertained for the first 5 minutes at the equipment in the room but then had enough. He tried to escape numerous times and was given a sticker from the optician - basically to STFU!!! You could tell the guy was desperate to get us out of his room! Alexander then performed one of his Ussain Bolt specials and raced out the room and down through he shopping centre. Jacob in arms, I performed my rescue attempt and dragged him back to the room. Once it was "all over" we entered the main area again and I honestly felt like I had 1000 eyes piercing into me. Heart racing, palms sweating and the worst feeling of anxiety throughout. Alexander again decided to do his olympic running trick. Rosie reluctantly sat in the buggy and Jacob was left to be carried. At not one point did any staff member ask me if they could help, to take my bag, to push the buggy over to the waiting area so we could get ourselves sorted. I hope that no other mum, dad or carer has to be made to feel the way I did today. Kids are kids and I know they're mine but for goodness sake - have some compassion for another human being who could do with a little helping hand! Upon leaving, Alexander did the classic "lying on the floor, arms and legs stretched out and body weighed down" trick in the middle of the shopping centre. Out of nowhere our lovely minister appeared and actually saved the day, with a few kind words Alexander and Rosie sat good as gold in the buggy. She did offer to walk us to the car but I did the usual mum thing of "no we are okay, thank you so much for offering", eyes stinging with embarrassment and feeling stupid at the looks of pity from passers by. When we got home, Alexander decided to strip naked, colour himself in blue with felt tip pens and to not eat his dinner (standard). Rosie did eat hers and didn't get naked, but she then proceeded to crumble her scone she was given as a treat all over the living room sofa and floor. And now they're all sleeping and I've kissed them all goodnight and squeezed them so hard because in the end, they're my little people and by god they're complex creatures but I would die for them. Today's lessons learned: eating two pizzas in a week will make you a fat cow, it's not a good idea to visit a shopping centre with 3 tired children at 4pm, people can really suck and blue pen is hard to wash off your skin. My job of being a solicitor is hard, but being a mum is, hands down, a hundred times harder. Kids are an unknown species! To any other parent who has had a day like mine today, or recently - I salute you! xoxoxoxox
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Post referendum debate this evening, I wanted to post a thought I had following the closing statements from Mr Darling and Mr Salmond- My mind was drawn to a scenario of an employee- disgruntled and fed up at work, fed up that they don't believe they are treated correctly by their big bosses, that their pay, conditions and rewards are disproportionate to what they contribute and how they perform. Instead of being praised and rewarded, their situation worsens and their family suffers due to cutbacks and bosses giving the 'good rewards' and bonuses to their 'buddies'. Said disgruntled employee finds a possible better opportunity of employment elsewhere, with the hope that they can reap the benefits of change and allow them to shape a better and hopefully more prosperous future for themselves. Notice handed in...and then the employer suddenly whacks a counter offer on the table, with promises they now want to try and offer.. Why has it taken for the employee to threaten to leave this situation, for the employer to offer said promises? Why do they not appreciate and respect the employee during their time of service... Why, oh why, oh why does it take the threat of possible independence for Scotland from the UK for Better Together/Westminster to start throwing promises of 'powers' and 'we will do this and that for you' if you stay with the UK. What do WE (Scotland) have as a country that they so want to keep? It's obvious that Scotland has always been treated differently to the rUK- but now they risk the possibility of us vacating our employment as their toy in the north, they start to make empty promises. Sorry Westminster, it's a YES from me, I hereby give you my notice and would like to resign. Ok, I know a lot of people are getting fed up with referendum posts and articles and photographs being shared. I can see how it can be annoying, especially when you come on here to share photos of friends, babies and your days/nights out... However, there is no doubt that this referendum is engaging voters and those who may have never voted in politics more than anything has ever done before possibly in any of out lifetimes. I wanted to share a bit about why I, personally, am taking a leap of faith to hopefully meet the angel we may one day know - Independence. Having been a no voter since well before Eck and his pals announced the referendum date, I openly now admit that I was doing so on mainly an uninformed basis- why? Ok, I'll admit it, because I am not a fan of the SNP and because I do not particularly 'like' Alex Salmond. I've never voted for the SNP in my life, nor could I see myself actually doing so post-referendum. So what does this tell you about me/the referendum?... *it's not about the SNP or Alex Salmond, or Nicola Sturgeon for that matter* - it's about the people of Scotland, having the opportunity to shape the future of our country and to be given the chance to create a fairer, more equal, prosperous and generous society and to give hope to the thousands and thousands of youngsters growing up in Scotland today. I look at the articles published by the Better Together campaign each day, and I continually ask- why, if we are such a burden (Apparently!) to the rest of the UK, do they want us to stay? Why do they want to keep us as part of the UK? The figures are there for all to see, we pay in 9.9% and get back 9.3% (based on 11/12 figures). May well be best adding that Boris Johnson (quite possibly our next PM) has openly come out and stated that he would cut back on the % given back to scotland for our pocket money. Quite possibly down to around 8%. This, coupled with the fact that UKIP are on the rise down south, fills me with dread. Why? Because parties like UKIP have openly come out and stated that if they had anything to do with matters that benefits such as maternity pay would be scrapped...what a fair, just and equal society we may face in the future of our country being part of the UK eh? We are being given *promises* from the powers that be in Westminster that we will be given more powers (tax raising etc)...yet Bojo was quoted only a matter of weeks ago stating '...for no reason we are promising the Scots more tax raising powers. There’s no need.' Talk about showing the little child the sweeties to get them to do something, then when they do it, snatching the *reward* from them once the *grown ups* have achieved what they desired. There's also been a lot of commentary posted on my timeline from both sides about the Scandinavian countries and people stating that they are concerned that we would face higher taxes and be unable to live or survive, that this would push Scottish tax payers to the brink. Now, I don't have a crystal ball and I'm not mystic meg so I can't obviously state what our income tax levels would be. But having done some reading about these countries I can quite honestly state I wouldn't turn down a job there if my circumstances were different- 18 months PAID maternity leave with that being split between mother and father; sick pay at 80% of your salary; unemployment benefit of similar levels based on past employment; a huge contribution towards childcare to allow working mothers to be just that (we do not get assistance towards childcare here until our child reaches the age of 3 and even then it currently only pays for just over 3 hours a day during school term). Now I'm not stating that people who do not have children should pay for working mothers' childcare- a system which works properly on the above basis would help all members of society...what do working mothers pay too? TAX. Allowing us to reap the skills and knowledge of those mothers who could previously not afford to return to work. Some of these countries also allow a retirement age with state pension payable from 55-65. I would reckon most of us, under the current Westminster government will retire with a very small, if any at all, state pension. I can see myself, the way things are being done at present, working until I am 70!!!!! "As a matter of comparison, Sweden does not have food banks. Their tax structure and their balance of union labour and corporate enterprise and political will, results in a society and economy where people do not fall into the cracks and are not fearful of being unable to provide for their families. Is this too complicated for our politicians?" I fear for what may be in the event of a no vote for Scotland. What future is there for Scotland under a Tory government in Westminster? Can people advise me what good the fast austerity cuts have done for the GREATER GOOD in Scotland? If 1 in 4 children now living in poverty in Glenrothes alone is a good thing then let's continue to live under the rule of a government which sits 600 miles away and who quite clearly believe that disadvantaging the most vulnerable in our society such as the disabled and impoverished families with legislation such as the bedroom tax, then yeah, let's continue with the status quo! I'm not saying that I think an independent scotland can wave a magic wand to eradicate child poverty, to narrow the gap between the rich and poor and to give us a welfare state better than that anywhere else in the world. But what I do feel is that the system and the country is broken, it needs fixed and I cannot see things changing with a Westminster rule. It's not all about the oil, Eck and the SNP- it's about US, the people of SCOTLAND taking OUR future into OUR hands and at least trying to do what is best for our future generations. Today has been just lovely. We had my sister and brother-in-law's dog, a toy poodle called Murphy, all day due to the fact that my parents are moving home tomorrow so their house is upside down! Rosie absolutely loves him so it kept her well entertained. We took him for a nice big walk around Balbirnie Woods, which we are blessed to have on our doorstep! However, the big news came later! Scott and I took a quick jaunt to the Aldi Baby Event after he finished work - I love a good rummage around all their bargains! Apart from the usual nappies and wipes etc, a little pink toilet seat with a hippo on it caught my eye. We have been trying endlessly with Rosie the past few months to get her to use her potties we had bought her. She seemed to not be keen, although she knew what they were for. I bought the pink seat and Scott 'installed' it tonight, at the same time drawing Rosie's attention to it's new position. After the bath and bottle (pre-bed routine) she stood up and shouted 'potty! potty!' at us, whilst pointing to the toilet door. What happened next made me SO proud! Although it's a natural body function to do the toilet, it was so sweet watching her excitedly use her new seat for the very first time. She wanted to wash her hands and flush etc too. This was definitely a proud mummy and daddy moment! I'm blogging late, because Alexander has been up every half hour since 7.30pm when I first put him to bed wanting fed. It's easy to let myself get uptight about him not really having a *set* bedtime pattern yet, being almost 6 months old now. Once I bring him in for a feed and see him being comforted, skin to skin, any exhausted feelings strangely disappear. Before I took the journey to breastfeed, I had read women online speaking about their 'special' alone time with their baby being the feeding time. I can 100% agree with this... I had planned to feed Alexander for maybe 2-3 months, having Rosie to run after too. But, truth be told, I just can't stop! I love the way he closes his wee eyes and snuggles in tightly to me. The way his little tiny baby feet flex and curl in whilst he feeds due to the comfort he is getting. I sometimes look at him, and try to imagine him being a big grown up man one day in the future. I really can't think about it for long, because for these short moments in time, in the darkness of the room, the only person he needs is me. Selfish as that may sound, I love it. I hope to look back on these days and sleepless nights and to be able to cherish them. Rosie is growing funnier and funnier every single day. Her speech is coming on brilliantly now too as is her growing relationship with her little brother, whom she has named 'the boy'! Tonight after bath time, she came downstairs in her pj's (which she sources herself before bedtime) and asked for a 'shong' (song) to be put on. She loves dance music, so MTV dance (sky channel 353) it was! She then asked me to 'dance' with her, so we spun around the living room for 15 minutes and giggled. She has also taken to carrying a dolly or teddy around with her. She mimics the stuff I do with 'the boy' with her dolly or teddy- feeding him, cuddling him, kissing him and 'shhh'ing him. It's adorable to watch her wee imagination run wild. These are al precious memories I hope to cherish and to tell them about when they're grown up. It's a tough job raising two rascals, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I appreciate all that I have and I cannot wait for the memories to continue! If I've heard it once, I've heard it a million times- 'oh you've got two under 'x' months? Oh your life will be over now!' (As they smile smugly). Sometimes when I spend my day saying 'Rosie, no', 'Rosie don't steal Alexander's socks again', 'Rosie stop throwing tampons down the toilet again' or 'Rosie, don't squeeze Alexander so tight!' It may well feel like that and to the outsider certainly look as though 'her life is OVER' 😔. But in reality, these little instances and the stresses which go hand and hand with parenthood make it all that little bit more fun(ny) and interesting. Every day when Rosie and Alexander grow and learn, I can quite honestly say I am growing and learning too (my husband may say growing due to too many coffee and cake meet ups and learning how to spend his hard earned salary!!!). Before Rosie growing into the cheeky, hilarious and gorgeous little toddler she is now,I don't know when I last held a paint brush to draw and play (probably when I was bottom of the class in 2nd year art and design at Balwearie High School!) or melted chocolate to make little love heart gifts (probably never). It's little things like this that remind me that my life isn't over as some may say. I'm learning and I'm loving the daily fun we have. I took Rosie out for a drive last week when Alexander was having one of his 'I'm not going to sleep, I'm going to scream and cry about how tired I am, but I AM NOT going to sleep'! We ended up driving to Leslie and up and over the country roads around the Lomond Hills. There were fields upon fields of sheep and Rosie was fascinated. We stopped the car and waved 'hello' at them. Rosie learned that the sheep say 'baa' and found this hilarious. She is now obsessed with 'sheep spotting' and saying 'baa' at any sheep. Such a simple activity brought me so many smiles. I don't know when, before then, I last stopped the car and enjoyed our countryside or an animal so widely on show in Scotland as a sheep! I could go on and on and on about our daily experiences, but I don't want to bore you too much! Even when Rosie steals tampons and shoves them down the toilet or watches me shaving my legs, so sources a razor (!!!) to try and shave hers (don't worry, there was no blood and no injury - I'm a sensible and quick off the mark mum!), I laugh it off. May sound cheesy, but my life isn't over, in my eyes, it's only just beginning! Quickie - peace and tranquility this morning as we got until almost 9am without Alexander so much as letting out a moan. Rosie even cuddled him and was holding his hand. It was sheer bliss......until she stuck her finger up his nose. These past few weeks I have been given a real insight into the VERY hard parts of motherhood. We were very lucky with Rosie, she quickly settled into the newborn routine of eating, sleeping, eating, sleeping and so on. It really is true when people say that your children will all be completely different. Also that no baby is textbook (that is very, very true). The first 6 weeks with Alexander we thought that he was just a 'colicy baby'. We spent a fair amount on all the popular colic relief remedies but nothing helped. By 10 weeks I started to feel like it was something more than just a wee bit of gas. He cries in pain and nothing relieves him. It is heartbreaking to see. We have now been give gaviscon and ranitidine from the doctor. The gaviscon made him sorer by giving him constipation (one thing after another!!!!!). The ranitidine (Zantac as most people know it) *seemed* to help but after 3 days we were back to constant screaming and crying. I am lucky to live in an area with lots of lovely supportive mums. A few of them recommended a lady called Claire Morrison who operates from Priory Gym in Kirkcaldy and who is a qualified Bowen Therapist. We have seen her twice now and she ia wonderful. I really think that this is the only thing helping him at the moment. One thing I would like to get across in this post is my support for our NHS. In both my pregnancies I had 1st class maternity care. The post pregnancy care with Alexander has been brilliant and this situation highlights that. My health visitor is absolutely brilliant, supportive and always in touch to make sure we are all doing ok. Above this, the referral from my gp to the hospital was escalated so we are seeing a paediatrician tomorrow...less than two weeks after the referral from our surgery. Really couldn't ask for more. I am so glad that I have the support network around me that I do. I can see how women could so easily slip into postnatal depression in the blink of an eye. If you are reading this and feeling like the pressures of being a new mother are too overwhelming and getting on top of you, please, please do not sit silently on your own. There IS help to support you and you are not alone in how you are feeling. These past few weeks I have had the biggest whirlwind of emotions - I have laughed, danced (lots with princess Rosie), cried a lot (to Ashley in the middle of mothers and toddlers in Markinch (!) and Laura (spence) in the middle of the doctors surgery and perhaps screamed a little myself...not to mention the emotional whats app conversations with my best friends Laura, Kylie, Cat and Heather and of course my mum and Julie (where would I be without you two!?!). I've put a quote below which I have always loved since becoming a mum. No matter how hard it is, I know I am blessed to have two beautiful and healthy children. Here's hoping little Alexander can get his sore tummy sorted so that our 'Daly' adventures can continue for many years more...😊 Anyone who has children will know that getting ready in the morning can sometimes (most of the time!) be like a regimental upheaval. Once Scott leaves for work during the week I usually have a wee cuddle with Rosie and Alexander in our bed, usually lying there thinking 'ahh, this is bliss'. That is, until, like today Rosie decides to give Alexander a *cuddle* by sitting on his head. Bang goes the blissful silence of snuggling my two peaceful children! So it's off with Alexander to his nursery to change him (which is a task in itself - I always compare changing a newborn to trying to dress your barbie doll / action man as a kid). I give myself plus points in the morning if we manage to get him changed without him performing his magic fireman hose trick, thus soaking me, his changing mat and usually the clean clothes I have picked out for him. All whilst this is going on, trying to have eyes on the back of my head to watch Miss Rosie who is usually trying to squash herself into his jumparoo which she is now miles to big for (and she HATED it as a baby!!!). Changing Rosie is now actually quite pleasant. Now that she is speaking we pick clothes out and if she really likes them she tells me they're 'nice'. Very sweet. She's also recently become obsessed with her belly button and likes to point it out every morning. After the changing rigmarole it's off downstairs for breakfast. Rosie is a great wee breakfast eater, except for mornings like today where she places her *empty* bowl on her head and ends up with milk all over her hair and face - 'DONE!', she proclaims. No honey, it's 9am and you're only just getting started...! Where to start...I am a 25 (26 in a few weeks!) year old mother to two beautiful (yes, they are beautiful, because they're mine(!!!) 👍❤️) children - Rosie (nearly 18 months) and Alexander (nearly 3 months).... Currently off on maternity leave I often tell my husband of my daily woes and laughs with the babies and have been saying for a while that I should blog. So here we are - my first post, marked by National Hug Day (probably one of those annoying made up *national* days but who cares)! In between changing nappies filled with poo, dealing with Rosie shouting 'NO' at every request and cleaning up Alexander's sick (not to mention having him permanently attached to my boob like a dummy) I will be blogging my trials and tribulations with photos and funny's of life in the Daly Family! Here's a wee photo to mark 'National Hug Day'! |
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