Saturday, February 8, 2014

A whole new world



Last week was about new beginnings. After eight years of mothering, both my birds flew the nest.

Those fuzzy days of naps, double prams, frighteningly early starts, Maisy books, sipper cups, soft rabbits that were never allowed to be washed, Bonds wonder suits, dummies, thumb sucking, swim nappies, sandpits and stick collections are fading into the distance as a new, vast world opens up.

My big bird moved up to the big school, at the top of three flights of stairs into the world of grade three. He disappeared into this safe and familiar world with barely a backward glance. He has friends who are happy to see him, a new teacher who probably knows him already and a routine that provides the predictable comfort that holidays never can.




My baby bird tiptoed into her new class, full of pride, excitement, a few nerves and only minor issues with the seams in her socks. While the teacher is new, the room and the teacher aide are like old friends she simply hasn't seen since she was two and visiting every day with her brother. And while she hasn't been there for three years, when I asked if she needed me to show her where the toilets were she scornfully told me that she remembered herself.

To have both your children happy at school is a miraculous gift for which I am very grateful. And for me, as I slowly exhale, it feels like maybe I can just sit down, enjoy a hot cup of tea and allow myself a moment of pride that we made it.

Parenting small children is immense, all encompassing, exhausting, miraculous, hilarious, relentless, incredible, magical and mostly involves much less sleep than I ever could have imagined. Parenting has taken my lofty ideals of the mother that I thought I would be, and scattered them with the winds. It has brought me to my knees,  and then slowly built me back up again, stronger, wiser, humbler and endlessly grateful for small victories.

So, as one door closes, I am hit with a sprinkle of sadness,  a dash of relief and a generous dollop of excitement that a new door is opening. It's a whole new year and I have lots of plans.



And this was my first finished project. My favourite vintage fabrics, mod podge and a Kvissle wall rack from Ikea. This is phase one of a grand plan to finally get organised.

18 comments:

  1. Such a poignant time for you Mel! Wishing you luck and good juju for the year!

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  2. A beautiful wall rack! I can relate to each and everyone of your feelings about having your children at school, and out of your hair between 9-3pm. I adore my girls, and being home with them, but boy have they tested my ideals of mothering too! I am equal parts looking forward to them starting school, and equal parts not wanting to every let them go.
    Enjoy all your spare time to organise, clean and catch up on everything else you've been meaning to for the last 4 or so years!!! Carla x

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  3. So beautifully written, and expressed, and I am sure that their success is down to you and your husband and the ways that you have loved them and bought them up! I hope that you enjoy the time that you might now have to do other things. xx

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  4. I remember those very same feelings so well. In August, my last wee man started school. Too soon for me but not soon enough at the same time. He was the one I worried about most because his speech development is delayed considerable and he is difficult to understand. I was quite anxious. But it was such a relief to have them all at school at last. Parenting is always surprising I find. Amazing and wonderful and tedious and tiring, depending on the day. I have days when I don't want to send them to school and others when boarding school sounds like a great solution... Enjoy your wonderfully confident children Mel and enjoy your additional you-time, too. I wonder what lies behind that door that is opening for you? Cx

    P.S. I do almost like the idea of grandfather beige on walls... but white is so much versatile and inspiring I think. And I also love your wall racks.

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  5. That ikea rack is gorgeous you should do an "ikea hack" post 😉
    Glad the kids are settling in easily I work with school age kids and its heartbreaking when they don't settle in straight away, make life easy when they transition easily your a lucky gal and amazing mummy xxx

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  6. Enjoy your daily burst of freedom. Looking forward to seeing what you do with your time. From all of the pics you have posted about your little girl I can just imagine her tiptoeing into her classroom with wide excited eyes. Here's to a successful school year for both of your gorgeous children!

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  7. I love the wall rack. It's stunning. I've never used modge podge myself so I don't know of its sticking or otherwise healing qualities. It won't be until next year that all mine will be at school. I am not looking forward to it, to be honest because there is no turning back. Thanks for your house-hunting tips. I will write a list. Cork floors being a priority!!

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  8. I love, love, love, love that rack! Such a great idea.

    The soft rabbit bit made me chuckle…we washed Puppy Bunny this morning…and there were tears afterward because he didn't smell right…as in didn't smell like some sort of swamp creature!
    They do grow up so quickly.
    I love this age…but I also look forward to the day when I can exhale and have a quiet cup of tea!

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  9. Gorgeous! Congratulations on getting two lovely kids to school happily. Well done, give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy that cuppa! xx

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  10. oh mel this made me all a little teary....we are a year behind you and part of me wants it to hurry the hell up and the other part just says no stop the clock now!....there are no words for the struggles and also no words for the love and pride....I get it.
    finally some time for you?....pffft is there such a thing?.....love the shelf....will it make me organised too?. I`ll be watching!!. Al x

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  11. Beautifully written Mel. We've had a similar time here with my youngest starting kindergarten/ preschool a few days a week, and the oldest two off to school. After 7 weeks of 24/7 children at home, it's been a strange (although somewhat welcome!) adjustment.It's amazing how quickly those toddler days that stretch never-endingly before you pass, when it seems like life will always be a frantic and messy world of children. And then it changes in a blink of an eye. Enjoy the time to yourself, and love your first crafty project. xx

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  12. Love your para about parenting small children. Being brought to you knees and coming back up more humble... I think that you've hit the nail on the head. I also agree that having 2 children happy at school is a miracle and a blessing. We are not there yet - not by a long shot - and I can imagine how amazing it would feel, to know they were both out of the house, at school, and ok. Love the rack! After you get your place organized, you could start on mine. Please. Love, Mook xxx

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  13. Lovely post Mel - we are entering new phases this year too. I'm excited but also a little sad that everyone is growing up way to fast. Love your creations xo

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  14. Brilliant! Both your successful launching of both children into school, and your happy filing rack.
    It is a big change, I well remember that feeling. It seems like just the other day. But now this year I've got one daughter home early 2 days a week with "study periods" and then in another 2 years I'll be at the mercy of a uni timetable! Not that I mind her being at home (mostly) ... but those years of primary flew by and high school even faster! Enjoy your days!

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  15. Hi-Fives all around Mel - it's a huge deal to get to the point of sending them all off to School full time. You deserve to be able to have a little breather now. I'm sort of in the same boat. I still have little Flynn here but the others are all off this year and I'm pretty excited about the year ahead. Love your rack! I have grand ideas of getting organised this year too, not sure how I'll go, I seem to already be distracted by other things (hello knitting!)....Mel x

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  16. Mel this looks amazing. What a perfect way to have those pretty vintage florals on display.
    Well done on raising such amazing little people.
    x

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  17. Oh Mel, such a lovely post! Yay to you for being such a fab mum and raising such happy, confident, self-assured little people. I'm really glad they are happy at school. My two are both at school now too, and have been since last September. I was very broody when they both went back and spent months in a kind of daze, wondering what on earth I was supposed to do next. I'm finally finding my feet again - sounds like you already have! x

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  18. This is a lovely post, so beautifully written. I was nodding in agreement as I was reading.

    I love, love, love your wall rack, what a brilliant idea. So pretty:)

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