Pinch’n'a’punch, first of the month!I just can’t believe that it’s April already and that the kids are home on school holidays, it feels like they only just went back to school following the summer holidays. As I have no annual leave booked for this school break I am doing the holiday shuffle, home on their own some of the time, over at my parents or off to a lovely girlfriends who takes them roller blading (Thanks Jo). All the while I carry around guilt at not being able to be home with them.
When I decided to start work during the day, I had worked in the evening for six years; it was all going to be so easy. The boys would be going to after-school-care and on the holiday program held at the school, Mum would have the boys sometimes and Lee and I would spread out our holidays to cover the 6-week summer break. Well so much for my plans. The boys hated, HATED, the school care program, Mum does come over and help with the boys but she’s in her 70’s and that’s a lot to ask when I have 10 and 12 year old boys, my work don’t always approve my holidays as there are lots of other mothers in my position so we all have to share the summer break.
As the boys get older the burden has lightened some, but I still feel totally rotten when I look back at the end of the break and realise we did nothing very special. I resist the urge to buy them things to make up for my failings but a quick trip to McDonalds now and then does make us all feel better. I also find I try very hard to say yes to the things that I’d normally say “not on your life sunny Jim”. Like this past Sunday when they had four friends over at the same time…. ahhhh six boys rampaging around the house like a hurd of baby rhinos.
So today I am at home, the boys were not feeling 100% this morning following some upset tummies and so I have called in sick for work (that comes with it’s own degree of guilt) and I will spend the day pampering them and being a very doting Mum. Tomorrow it all starts again!
I had no photos to share today so I have used picks from my favorites on Flickr, I hope you like them as much as I do. Oh and just a quick update on my Ripple, I’m up to row 24 and counting so I have put a Ripple Row Tally on my sidebar. Have a great week.
TTFN
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April 1st, 2008 - 11:27 pm
Eye candy! I love the photos. We just got 8 inches of snow - a little over 20cm - so those delightful colors are just what I needed.
Your boys will remember all the fun when they are older. They won’t go around thinking “in March of 2008, when we were on break, Mom had to work.” It’ll be more like: “Remember the time we went ____ and we all ______.” And everyone will have a good laugh. Those trips down memory lane are about things that stand out, not the ho-hum stuff.
Thirty rows! I am impressed. You’ll have it done long before winter. I am trying to finish a baby sweater that I may be sorry that I altered the pattern on. Yup. I kept adding stitches to get a ruffled look. I went from 98 stitches up to 368 stitches. What was I thinking?
April 2nd, 2008 - 5:18 am
You have inspired me to start learnning to crochet properly. I am going to master a granny square if it kills me. Will keep you posted.
April 2nd, 2008 - 8:14 am
I have just been looking at your ripple work. I still have the ripple pattern baby blanket, crocheted for me by my great grandmother (and namesake) when I was born. It is a wonderful mix of strong colours and not a baby blue or pink in sight. It is not doing badly for 40 years old and has since wrapped two more babies (my boys) and is now doing sterling service as a comfort blanket when said boys are under the weather.
I hope your pattern becomes treasured in the same way mine is.
Regards,
Charlotte
April 2nd, 2008 - 8:19 am
beautiful photos Maddy. I can see why they are on your Flickr favorites. Hope your boys feel better soon.
April 3rd, 2008 - 3:32 am
Ah, motherhood and guilt. They go together like, well, motherhood and guilt.
April 3rd, 2008 - 9:26 am
It is always so hard to juggle motherhhod and our other obligations and hobbies. I work from home and this is just as big a dilemma - I hay be here for them physically but am often not here for them emotionally or mentally and I feel huge guilt about that…. But that said it is also great for them to learn some independce, learn to entertain and enjoy themselves and develop more imagination…. So what is the happy medium???!!! When you know, let me know!!!! HEE-HEE!! Love the photos by the way - great selection!!
April 4th, 2008 - 12:19 pm
Forty-two rows!!!!! Whooo Hoooo! Totally awesome dudette! I keep checking back evryday to see your progress.
April 7th, 2008 - 5:20 am
Very colourful pictures with this post Maddy. I love all the crocs! I am a owner of several pairs, but in sedate colours, although my heart does long to break free from the mundane and buy a brightly coloured pair!