Monday, December 9, 2013

Last minute, life altering, epiphany, rainbow bunting



I had an epiphany of sorts this week. Actually three things all happened recently to give me a collective and massive mind shift. The first happened about six weeks ago when Roboboy who is now seven and a half told me he no longer needed me to read him a story at night. In one fell swoop he was done, with no warning. We were two chapters into Harry Potter when he said that I was just too slow and he  could read much faster himself, thank you very much. To my great surprise, I was not done, not prepared and not ready to give up this long held ritual of childhood.




Our house runs with a lot of ritual and sameness. For someone like me it is simultaneously both somewhat reassuring and incredibly stifling. There have been nights where I thought I may have still been reading books to this boy when he was twenty three. There have been nights where it was not exactly what I felt like doing at eight pm. I certainly never, ever thought about the day when it would stop. Just like that.



The second thing that happened was the final check up with the plastic surgeon who removed my melanoma. All is well with my scar. Then he wanted to check my groin, for lymph nodes. Gulp. Just to make sure I was not in that five percent, that small number where their melanoma would come back.

Mostly I have put that five percent out of my mind. Sometimes I think about that fact that is a one in twenty chance. If someone told my I had a one in twenty chance of winning a million dollars I would be a teeny bit excited. I would think that it was a real possibility, that I was in with a chance.
But I don't want to be in with a chance at all. So, I'm going to get on with it and put that tiny number out of my mind. But I'm going to make every day count, because you just never know what is around the corner.



The third thing was realising that my only other child, my youngest, my darling girl was turning five. Soon there will be no more kindy and she will be off to school. And then in no time at all she will turn around one day and say she doesn't need me to read to her in bed at night any more.




I have been wanting to cut up my vintage sheet stash for two years to make rainbow bunting. Until now, there had always been something else that I should be doing. But not this week. I had a sudden panic that if I did not make this bunting, right now, for this five year old party, that suddenly Liongirl would be fourteen and wanting a gothic themed event and my chance would be lost.

So like a woman possessed, I ignored the dishes and the laundry and the list of shoulds, and I chopped and ironed and stitched. So buzzed up that when I stepped on the pincushion in the above photo and  two large headed needles went into my foot, I just yanked them out and kept right on sewing. (note to self, do not keep needles in the pincushion, it is a health hazard).


So while the deck roof may be unpainted, we have fourteen metres of glorious rainbow vintage sheet bunting to distract us and remind me to snatch up every last golden childhood moment and savour it.

 I never understood when older wiser people told me that these years with young children would be the best in my life.

When you are dealing with severe and chronic sleep deprivation, food allergies, sensory issues and countless other struggles you raise your eyebrows and think "Really?" and "Far out, are you telling me it gets harder than this"? But, like a sudden slap in the head it has hit me, that even with the hard stuff, these years are golden, and magical and precious and filled with unconditional love. So, I intend to soak up every last drop.

Back soon with an under the sea mermaid party and the favourite of all the cakes I have made. And may all mothers go forth and ignore the shoulds to craft memories for their children. Remember, the days are long, but the years are short.


* ( all is not lost, while the bedtime stories may be gone, my boy now just wants me to lie down for a chat and a snuggle instead).

21 comments:

  1. Your bunting looks lovely - well worth delaying your housework and dishes for - they will always be there anyway, unfortunately. My children no longer like me to read to them in bed, however they do still like to snuggle up on the sofa for movie nights and for the reading of our favourite Christmas books.

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  2. Lovely pretty bunting Mel, hope your foot has recovered. Childhood does past all too quickly, I know there are so many books we never got to, even with the tastes of four very different kids. I have one turning 20 in a few days, eek, I'm too young for that!

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  3. The bunting is beautiful. Great job! I hope Liongirl has a fantastic party. It seems like just yesterday I was making birthday cakes for my little girl...who is now 35. It does go quickly, but now I have two beautiful grandsons to enjoy. :)

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  4. 14 metres!!....go girl!. I love this post so much. my days are filled with "me do it myself" and while I always have to re-do or come to the rescue, im nervous about the days ahead where rescuing is no longer required. I sigh and huff some nights that Charlie cant stand to rub a towel on himself and that I have to dab him dry....but just this week he can manage to do his feet!....we also added a new item of food....the first in 3 years....oh the excitement....I can smell independence around the corner and that makes me laugh and cry at the same time......note to self...time to cut up the cupboard full of vintage sheets!.....oh my that bunting looks fab!! x

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  5. Lovely to hear that your boy still wants a chat and a snuggle. Love the bunting. Keep seizing the moment and enjoy every minute!!!

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  7. Bunting always puts a smile on my face. I can't wait to make some with my linen sheet stash. Good luck with your results, fingers and toes crossed. Just want to give you a hug right now. Your wee man is lucky to have you xo

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  8. This post is simply beauitful! And that bunting - divine! :) I'm so glad you made time for it as those rainbows make me smile - I can't imagine what they do for Miss 5 :)

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  9. Ah Mel, what a lovely Post.....much nodding along here. It really does go fast., even when you are soaking up every second. I can't believe I have a 9 year old who used to dress-up every day and wear fairy dresses to bed but all that seems like an age ago now. Your bunting is awesome! I have so many vintage aprons that I don't know what to do with so maybe bunting is the answer? Have great week Mel :-) x

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  10. Lovely post Mel. Agree with you about the golden moments with little children. You feel those toddler years last forever, then you're suddenly farewelling them at the school gates and it's all over.
    The bunting is beautiful, and the painting can definitely wait! I know what you mean about the end of story time. I've stopped reading to my oldest recently, although it was somewhat a relief. As my husband is away a lot, I end up doing stories with all three children, and bedtime takes me an hour of reading/ singing etc to each child on top of baths, homework, music practice and dinner. I usually flake out at 8pm when I've managed to get everyone into bed and asleep. So one less was a bit of a relief. But I do miss it a bit. And I think when the last one says they don't want to be read to anymore I will feel very sad indeed.
    Glad all seems to be well with the Melanoma. Hope it all continues and you're not one of the 5%. xxx

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  11. Hi Mel - what a timely post for me (puts everything into perspective.) Life around here has been chaotic and draining and there have been times when I've felt like running away from it all. Combine it with 'reno fatigue' (yes even I have succumbed to it) and it feels like there is no way out. But the kids do grow up so fast and these 'groundhog days' will one day be a distant memory I'm sure. Wow, that bunting is fabulous! I trust you are making full use of your new sewing room. I hope LG has a wonderful birthday. xx

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  12. What a moving post, thought provoking, too. Moments to stop and reflect are rare, at least in my house with 4 kids from nearly 5 to 13. The childhood years are never over I don't think, they just change. I find that there many wonderful moments with older children, too. I had a very personal little chat this morning with my 10 year old girl (about growing up and puberty) while we were driving to the doctors for a routine appointment. It was a sweet moment that I'll remember a long while. Just her and me.
    The bunting is mindboggling, all 14 metres of it. Enjoy the mermaid party! Christina x

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  13. Such pretty bunting ...and yes it is worth all the effort, they do remember xx.

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  14. The bunting you made is fabulous! It is so great that you made this and I am sure that it will be a hit and will be well used for a long time to come. Hope that Liongirl's party goes really well and that she has a great birthday. I hope that you are not in that tiny number of people re the other thing that I won't name, and that you are healthy and happy for a long long long time. I can imagine that you were very surprised about roboboy's decision, but it is nice that he wants to spend some time to have a private chat with you. You will have to finish Harry Potter on your own! xx

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    1. Oh, forgot to say, my Mum made me some bunting a couple of years ago for a birthday with a 0 at the end, you are never too old for bunting! xx

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  15. Gorgeous post Mel. Thanks for the wise words. xx

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  16. Lovely post Mel, and your bunting is wonderful. I think a visit to the op shops to buy some vintage sheets might be in order.

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  17. Fourteen pretty, colourful meters! That is astounding!
    This is a lovely post..I generally love reading to my little guy before bed...but there are certainly nights when I try to get away with reading only one book instead of our usual three...I will think twice now about doing that...I might even increase our number to four!

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  18. Hi Mel, Have not been checking blogs for a while so will have to go back on your older posts too! I know how you feel. My oldest has his last day, of his first year of school tomorrow and I am clinging to it. How did that happen? It's all so hard and tiring until they start to grow up and you want to do it all again! Great post, all the best for the party. Sherry

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  19. That is so adorable.....super excited lets exchange in January after the hub bub rush is over!
    Heidi

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  20. Oh Mel, this really resonated with me. You've basically summed up how I've been feeling these last few months. It's so hard to let go of them. One of Bella's baby teeth fell out tonight and I nearly cried. Can I just pause time for a year or two, while they are at such lovely ages? Yes, these years are golden. And your rainbow bunting is a triumph. x

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