FIVETRIBE

The times they are a-changing. Last week Rach passed her learners licence. I am so excited at the prospect of having another driver in the house. I am so terrified to have my daughter driving on the roads. Thankfully I am well versed in managing duality and conflicting emotions! She did not want to do her first lesson stone cold so we drove up and down our road. She did well but I did not. It was unnerving to say the least. I have made it clear I will happily dole out cash to a driving school.   I know my limitations.

Monday Morning: You Beast. 0500 the alarms go off in this house. If only so we can snooze them 6 times before actually getting out of bed by 0545. Levi, myself and Rach are in the car by 0620 but not before I rush into Faith's room to kiss her goodbye and remind her where to leave the remote for me....and to admonish her NOT to go back to sleep as her lift will arrive at 0730. Life is busy man. Crazy busy. I am part of THREE lift clubs. Any given day is a newly constructed logistical masterpiece. A 15min change in any one schedule will give birth to at least 4 new permutations. Adaptable. Flexible. Problem-solvers.  That is what we have become. It has taken time and tears and many ugly, tantrum moments but God-knows we are future-proofing ourselves!  By 8am I have made all kinds of magic happen and now it is time for me to start work. Today found me in CT central meeting with a specialist tax attorney for 2 hours. Not for me personally. Just in case you thought I ...

  My poor neglected blog. I am here to resurrect and continue to journey that I started in 2006. What a 14 years it has been! I have been reading the volumes of entries I have captured and what a treasure they are. My kids are now adults. Well, not really, they still need LOTS of my money which is a little terrifying - I used to think little kids were costly. I WAS SO DAMN WRONG. Levi is in Gr 8 at WBHS, a  massive adjustment for him but he is thriving. Their first rugby tour happens in 3 weeks time - during school holidays which is annoying in terms of family time but without doubt the highlight of his year!    Rach is 1st year at Varsity College and working towards getting her licence - a little car has been purchased ... ready and waiting for her to walk into new independence. It is time. Today she also celebrates her 1yr anniversary with her person. The young man has stolen her heart and crept into the hearts of the whole family.  Faith had a ve...

I don't think I ever talked about 'The Decision' on Facebook or on my blog. Back in January, life came to a point where it was either the end of my relationship or the end of co-habitation. I had seen Kev's growing unhappiness and sensed his uncertainty about our future. It was a very stressful few months preceding my decision.  Was I going to lose this man that I love? Or would he accept a rather weird, almost backward, development in our relationship? These thoughts, fears and imaginings had a drastic effect on my mental health and I ended up a wreck. My good friend and GP drew a line in the sand for me and I knew I had to man up and face my reality. I think the heavy thing was all the sentiment around Kev and I. Everyone NEEDED us to have our happy-ever-after. The Brady Bunch. The fairytale. I wanted to be able to do that - in fact - I thought I could! I would never have stepped on this bus if I knew I wouldn't have the metal for it.  I simply had ...

2019 has been a huge year for Levi. I have watched him just burst out in so many areas. He has achieved every goal he set for himself  (and more) in 2016. My biggest concern all those years ago was how I was going to parent this energetic, sports-driven young boy. How was I going to fuel and grow all the boyness that he embodied. I need not have been concerned - he has simply done it anyway. Prefect Ceremony He has had men in his life who have created opportunities and fanned flames that I would not have been able to do and for this I am grateful. My role was simply to feed him. Lots. And take him to the chiro. And help him navigate some anxieties and insecurities. To be present at his games. Player of the Tour There have been considerable setbacks and many sleepless nights - particularly this last month. An injury took him out of WP trials in the very  last round....he had to make a choice - he could push through and try to make the team or he could p...

The day arrived...I was quite unprepared really. It was a real mixed emotion type of thing. I wanted to mark the day somehow but nothing felt right. I ended up doing a gazillion things and pretty much wore myself out!! We started the morning with presents and took all the kids to school late. Memphis spent the night and that was pretty cool for Rach to have him there. I gave her the moon/star ring with ALWAYS inscription which i knew would be meaningful to her. Come lunchtime I delivered balloons and sushi to school for her which, in hindsight, was a tad extra but anyyyyyway. From school I whisked her off to Queen of Steel where she had her ears pierced and her first tattoos done... We pranked the family with a fake tattoo which was a great success - she put Memphis' name on her ribcage and the silence on the family group was deafening! #punked We then rushed back to shower (after I had a meltdown in the car about my tattoo gone wrong) and met the family at Osetra in...

What I wish for you on this day of your birth: Greenery.  Freedom.  Soft fabrics, soft weather, soft soil.  The immense grit of wolves.  The wild grace of horses.  Dreams that listen.  Waters that soothe.  Love that’s sure. Limitlessness that grows.  HOPE that remains.  {Victoria Erickson}  Happy birthday Fiery Fairy. I love you