Missed You

I've been gone....a while...

It wasn't planned, it just kinda happened. I've been around. I've kept up with Facebook and recently started using Instagram like crazy. But I completely have ignored my blog for months.

Things are going well though! At the moment my brood and I are in the USA visiting our family in Charleston, S. Carolina. We've been here for a couple of weeks now. We just returned from Disney World and it was just as magical as the adverts make it seem. With the girls now being at prime Disney age, it was an extremely memorable trip. Kiki was just tall enough to do all the "big rides". Her first roller coaster was Space Mountain (we don't believe on breaking them in easy!) and she squealed with joy the entire ride.

Our next USA adventure will be a 7 hour car ride to visit my grandparents in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I am sure there will be more memories made with all my family there and I'm so excited to see them all. It's been too long since my last visit.

Well, I'm back now! How have y'all been?

Old School

We've all seen it.  We've probably all been there.  Let me set the scene.

Child- "Mom, can I have this.  I will absolutely die without it and little Johnny down the street has one just like it and I need it now! Please, please, please!!"
Mom- "No."
Child- "Pleeeease?"
Mom- "No!"
Child- "PLEEEEEEEASE!!!"
Mom- "Oh all right then!"

Child 1- Parent 0.

Finally I got sick of replaying this scenario every time my kids wanted a sweet, treat or small toy. Their bedroom is crammed full of crap that they don't play with and do not need to add anything else to the pile.  Even one more Moshi Monster.  Now, no means no.  And?  "Because I said so." is a completely valid reason.  As are "Because I'm the parent", "Would you jump off a bridge if Suzy did?" and "You'll rot your teeth out".  Things I swore I would never say.

However, I have figured out, old school parenting WORKS for me and my kids.  I know that they won't be damaged because they already have good self esteem from being told on a regular basis that they are smart, loved and capable of anything they set their mind to (other than getting that particular treat that they see while standing in the supermarket check out queue).  They know that my love is not dependent on the amount of crap that I buy for them. The word "no" also isn't going to kill them.

Of course they still ask for things.  That's fine.  They're kids.  But now I have a handy answer.  "You can buy it with your pocket money if you have it with you."  You see, both my kids have a set list of chores that they are responsible for doing each week.  If they get most of their stars, they each get $5 or 3 quid (depending on where they want to spend their money).  If they have their money, they can buy whatever they would like as long as they can afford it.  I don't spot them money and let them pay me back when they get home.  I wised up to that little trick quickly.

I guess our grandparents might have known a little bit about raising children after all.  Even without books and psychology and all that mumbo jumbo.  Who knew?

I think they look pretty well adjusted.

Silent Sunday

Silent Sunday

Moving House Is Kinda Like Having A Break Up

When you move into a new house you fall in love with it and you over look things that might annoy you, glossing over them like a young lover would do with their new suitor. No dishwasher, no problem. Carpet in the kitchen, eh no biggie. You accentuate the positives like the huge living room and the lovely back garden with no overlooking neighbours.

But after you have settled into the relationship, the cracks in the foundation of the relationship may start to show, as the dodgy windows let your heating straight out into the fenlands and the boiler plays up every night. Then in your head you start toying with the idea of finding a new relationship, scouring estate agents websites, mentally cheating on your beloved home.

Then when the end is nigh, you just stop caring. Bloody boiler. Stupid muddy driveway. Ugly carpets! And you just can't wait until the whole thing is over and done.

Then after a few months, you can start to remember the good times with your house. The memories made with each other. Remembering that you once did love the house, but you never want to go back. Ever.

Silent Sunday

Moving House! At Christmas! Again!

When we moved to the UK four years ago, we got all our household contents that had been shipped from the states delivered to our home on December 22nd. We spent Christmas surrounded by boxes stacked to the ceiling containing the contents of our old life back in Missouri. We are about to repeat this again, only this time 20 minutes down the road, not across an ocean. I'm not exactly looking forward to the prospect. My kids are really excited though.

The new house is in a neighborhood and there is a large park across the street for them to play at when the weather gets a little less....icky (let's be honest the uk weather is awful). They are gonna be able to ride their bikes and make friends with kids who live a couple doors away instead of having to jump in a car just to go have a couple hours of play.

We have decided to keep them in the same school they are currently attending. It is more of a drive for me in the morning, but keeping some aspects of their life stable right now I think is important. Plus I adore their school. I'm sure it will be worth the commute.

Now, back to sorting out the detritus in this home before the packing crew arrives next week. Here's hoping to a smooth move.