FIVETRIBE

I have a confession to make. I am totally jealous of my mans relationship with my boy. Things have totally changed....I am primary care-giver. Toter of skateboards, giver of sustenance and finder of socks. Beyond that Dad is King. Recently Hooli asked me to please print a picture of him and his dad and put it in a frame for him. His reasoning was that *in case* dad died or something he felt it would be a good idea to have this picture. It took everything in me NOT to say : AND ME?? Your doting mother? This is a very tongue-in-cheek post but I do feel a sense of loss as I watch my boy adoration and obsession with his father. I do know this is totally natural and am eternally grateful for my man who is so involved! **************** PS  while lying with Hooli last night he did throw me a bone though... 'mom, even when I am mad at you I still love you okay?'  :-)  I'll take that and stow it with my heart-treasures.

We have bunnies. Five until yesterday. We started with two, who were apparently both males.....turns out one was female. We found out this simple truth when Honey one day stumbled upon a 2wk old grey bunny hopping around our yard. MESSAGE She named him Message because he told us a story....Smokey was a girl and she had had babies! We then discovered the other babies and have since had 3 litters since Message was born in March. Message and Lucy - dearly loved He was extremely special to her and last night she found him in obvious distress. We rushed him off to the vet and he was paralysed. Just his little head could move - he had apparently broken his back somehow. The vet explained how fragile there little skeletons are in relation to how high/fast they hop around. Turns out this can happen very easily for young rabbits. Lulu with Message and Lucy Two hysterical girls returned home with a euthanised Message. We printed photos, drew pictures and wrote letters. We prepa...

This is ridiculous.Am I the only one that battles to get my (now) 10yr old out of bed every morning? I know its a gene thing...I really battle....but c'mon?!! This morning was insane....it was 0740 and she was still hiding undercover refusing to get up! I cannot (and wont) wrestle with her at this stage. She has to listen to me. >_< Eventually I did what every good mother does. I bribed. Although I dont like that word. I began to incentivise albeit negatively.   I began to deduct pocket money....we have a little chart that goes up at the beginning of every month. At the top is the total pocket money you get at the END of the month...but deductions (and additions) can occur at any given time during the course of those 30 days preceding pay-day.  So basically you can lose and gain all through the month...ending up with MORE or LESS than the original amount. Works a treat for my girls, I tell ya! So I finally said : That's it. You lose R20 off your pocket mon...

(circa 2009) What is it about little boys? I absolutely love and adore my girls but there is something truly unique about my affection for my son. 'Mom, when I grow up can I marry you?' and 'Mom, when I am big I will build my house next to yours so we can still be together okay?' I never want to forget these tender moments with him because I know all too well that these will be few and far between in the years to come. (circa 2011) My heart is tied to this little man. Bless him.

I occasionally watch Super Nanny - that young british chick that gets kids sorted and parents back in control. I can honestly say that I have shed a tear or two as I have watched parents beyond themselves with out of control kids. Yesterday all three of my kids watched with me. Riveted. It was such an interesting experience hearing their thoughts about the show. They clearly picked up the fathers favouritism for the young (out of conrol) daughter and his stern/angry demenour with his older son. Funnily enough I had a rare supernanny moment of my own last night.... Honey was about to play computer games when I reminded her she had not practised her piano piece. She insisted she knew it (which she did) but I told her she has to practise daily. End of story. The was much wailing, stomping and yelling. And then some more. And then the ineviatable " You're the worst Mom, everrrr. I am not coming downstairs, everrrrr, no matter how hungry I get!" and then... "And I am qu...

I love this picture that my man surreptitiously snapped as we left for our run last night. Honey is showing a keen interest in fitness and exercise. She even came and did a workout with OMS and I during the school holiday and loved it....in fact she wants a 'fitness party'. :-) Am wondering how much it is to do with the actual exercise and how much it is to do with spending ALONE time with me, engaging in something she knows that I value . Either way I love this time with her; it is yet another fabulous opportunity we use to talk about life and growing up.

1. When on a dinner date, order the steak. Guys dig girls who eat real food. 2. Never make fun of your brother in front of other girls. 3. Let your date be the guy. Chivalry is not dead or outdated. 5. Yes, your skirt is too short. 6. Beware of men with accents. It does not make them more sophisticated. 7. Be loyal to your friends. Always. 8. You dont need to do anything to *prove* you like him. Ever. 9. Ride a bicycle. Rollerblade. Surf. Picnic. Hike. Jetski. But no skydiving while I am alive. 10. Dance with your dad. And not just on your wedding day. (based on and adapted from a list I found here )