The road to ruin

Ahh that road to ruin. You know the one, the one that is paved with good intentions. I had every intention of making sure I post at least every second day when I first started but that went out the door bloody fast. My last post was what? Last Wednesday? Tuesday? In my defence I have been sick. I've caught Lucy's cold and its thrown me all out of whack.

I knew I was coming down with something when I couldn't run as well as I had been. I'm really rather proud of what I have managed to accomplish on the treadmill. Of course its not much to most people. Ok everyone else, but to me its something. I set myself I goal and I'm doing it. These good intentions have stuck. I'm now up to running for 8 minutes at a time. Next time I get on which will be Wednesday I plan to do 9 minutes straight. I know its going to be hard and part of me is scared that I won't be able to do it but then I think that's how I felt when I went from 7 to 8 minutes. I wasn't sure I could do it. And I can. I know the first few times are going to be harder but after a week or two I'll be ok. At least March is a longer month so I'll get more of a chance to go for the 9 minutes. In April I will up it to 10. Of course if I feel up to it I will increase it before then and hopefully that will be the case but I also know the more I do the harder it will be to increase it. Just got to keep pushing forward I guess. Hopefully March will see me get another personal best. I got on in January and another one in February. Just one a month is all I want. I can do this, I know I can do this. I WANT to do this more than anything and that want should keep me pushing through until I can do it.

The only thing... it gets rather boring at times running on the treadmill. When it gets boring it gets hard. Hopefully though the 9 minutes will be easy and I'll be able to do short amounts within that time at a faster speed. That seems to make it go faster for me. I've just got to take it one day at a time. I will get there in the end. I have to.

Age is just a number

Before I get started I'll admit the inspiration for many of my posts have come from an internet forum. To protect the ignorant I won't say where. Now that that's done...

Since when did being older mean you were smarter or better at something just because you have lived longer? Yes life can give you experience but it doesn't always been you are smarter due to that experience. It just means you have had more time to experience things. Being older also does not mean you know better than everyone else and are always right in your opinions. 

I know I have used the phrase "in my day" but to hear/read it all the time is very very annoying. For someone who lived 100 + years ago they did just fine without things like electricity. They survived but that in now way means that we would also survive without it or that we now take it for granted. Just because 25 years the government didn't give new parents a baby bonus when they have a baby (in order to boost population numbers) doesn't mean that those having babies now should not get it. In fact many of the new parents getting this payment were not even old enough to vote when the baby bonus came in! 

Yes, 30 odd years ago all nurses were hospital trained. They never even saw the inside of a university. Just because most nurses now are University trained does not mean they are worse nurses than hospital trained. In my opinion it actually makes them better. And yes they are all generally younger nurses too. Doesn't mean that they don't know just as much as the older nurses, doesn't mean they don't love the job just as much, it just means they were born later. 

I swear if I ever become one of these old folks who think the world should have stopped progressing and changing 50 years ago SHOOT ME!

2012

I'm starting to think that there maybe something to it. Between civil unrest in several countries, floods across three Aussie state, Bush Fires in another, record snow in the Northern Hemisphere and now yet another NZ earthquake it has me worried.

It does seem that something is happening with our planet. I'm sure its not going to be like the movies. I think changes will be much slower but possible far more devastating. I'm not sure however that the whole world is going to end on one particular day. I think it may just be a slow change to another way of life.

I just got done reading a book about a well polished society. Everything was controlled. From who you married, how many kids you had, what job you had, what you ate, how much you ate and even when you died. Everyone died on their 80th birthday as the society could not give them quality of life after 80. All diseases had been eradicated. While at first on the surface this seems like a good idea the more I read the more I began to think of how bad an idea it is. It's pretty much taking away free thought.

No one really knows when the world will end. I'm sure it will one day. We'll probably go extinct the same way the Dinosaurs did. Via something from space hitting us. Who knows. Maybe by then we will have colonised another planet. Or be living in harmony with people from another planet. I don't think any of this will happen in my life time but a part of me almost wishes it will, just so that I can see what will eventually become of the human race.

Saturday Snapshots

Hidden Meanings

Actually its more like hidden vegetables. Reading a website yesterday someone asked about how to get their 8 year old to eat fruit and vegetable. Suddenly there was an outpouring of ideas. Or idea. Hide the vegetables! She'll never know she is eating them! All I could think was "And then when she moves out of home in 10 or so years, she'll go back to eating no vegetables at all" Why? Because she never knew she was eating them in the first place! 

I have never hidden vegetables in the girls food. It has always been served up as is. Vegetables on the plate as clear as day. For a while there Jasmine loved carrots. Just carrots. So she always got carrots and at least on other vegetable which was mixed up with the carrots. She always tried the other vegetable. Sometimes she would like it, sometimes not. If she liked it she would get it more often. Now she eats pretty much every vegetable served to her and will happily try new ones. Sure she only eats the stalks of broccoli, and likes baby corn more than normal corn, but she eats them and knows she is eating them.

Both Rodger and I try and set a good example by eating all our vegetables too. Vegetables are not the enemy. I'm not opposed to adding extra to some dishes, but full on hiding them in every meal is only setting your child up for more struggles along the line I think. Let them smoother them in sauce if that's what they want. At least they know they are eating the vegetables. Let them pick two or three fave veggies and serve them. Meal times should not be a fight nor should they be a way to have one up on your kids. 

We now let Jasmine help plan the meals for the week. Of late she is always choosing pasta but she's 4, that's expected. We do expect her to eat her dinner and we do expect her to eat her vegetables and she knows this. We make is very clear what we expect of her so there are no surprises. And that includes within her meal. No hidden secrets.

Compassion

Or the lack thereof. It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who are so selfish all they can think of is their own comfort levels and not show compassion and understanding to others. 

Online discussion again. In fact I could probably find a million stupid things said on this particular forum daily. Never fear JM girls, it is not JM, the ladies there show compassion on this particular subject. Anyways, the discussion started off about a lady who is trying to change premmie resus guidelines and make it law for any baby born after 20 weeks to be resused and kept alive by any means needed. Currently they guideline here is 24 weeks and for good reason too. However, as always these people feel the need to be judge, jury and executioner all at once. The lady campaigning for change is doing so through Facebook. She has started a group for it and her, and others have added photos of their precious angels.

And here is where the compassion should come in. Instead of staying on topic and discussing the guidelines, the discussion turned into one about how one woman is "sick of seeing dead babies". Excuse me?? I thought about it for about 10 minutes but had to reply. My reply "You might just get the most rude and offensive comment ever award. For some people the only photos they have of their babies are from after they have passed. If you don't want to look, block the group but please have some compassion". 

I fail to see why those of us who have lost children should have to hide their photos away for fear of making someone else uncomfortable. I'm sorry but your comfort is not of my concern. Sadly, I have come across this on JM. In recent days actually. And it broke my heart that someone found the photo I had of Zac offensive. I've since taken it down. Not because I care I made someone uncomfortable, but because it hurt that someone took the time out of their day to tell me so. The photo I was using was not one of Zac after he died, it was just one of him at one. What was so offensive about it. His scar could clearly be seen. I had the photo up as a part of a CHD awareness siggy. I felt it showed what CHD was. The bitch in me almost changed it when I got the rude FB message. To one of Zac just after his first op. Want to see gore lady? I've got gore.

So I guess this turned into more of a rant than anything else but it needed to be said. For those wondering, I don't know who sent the message, I think its someone just trying to stir trouble. They can do it all they like. I don't care. And just in case they have followed me here, the photo in question...

That might explain it.

It seems every week in the news there is something about the obesity epidemic in our children. That teenagers of today might be the first generation to not live longer than their parents. Walking Jasmine to Kinder on Monday I saw a few things that might just explain why. 

First, the long long line of cars outside the school dropping kids off. In my day (oh lord I'm old) when the weather was good (as it was on Monday) we walked! These days it seems anything more than 500m in too far for kids to walk. If you are able to drive them to school, then surely you have the time to walk them? Yes, I know some of these parents would have been on their way to work but from the way the majority of them were dressed I don't think so.

Secondly, when we got to the Kinder there were several parents there with kids in prams. Not the younger sibling of the 4 year olds either. The 4 year olds were in the prams! We received a contact list last night with phone numbers and address' of all the 4 year olds. Very few of them live far enough away to need to be pushed in a pram to kinder! Its about a 800m walk for us and Jasmine walks it just fine. There is one girl who lives closer and was pushed in a pram. 

I thought we were supposed to be encouraging our kids to be active. Isn't walking them to and from school/kinder being active? Now I know Jasmine has endless energy so I'm going to assume she's not the only kid at kinder who does. She'll come home later and bounce around the house all afternoon. I fear what she would be like if she didn't walk to and from kinder. 

Three for the price of one

A few things to day. First... I read an article yesterday on Dr. Phil telling a woman to stop her young son from playing with dolls. Now, I've never liked the man but that is just so silly. What was even more infuriating what the number of people who replied to the article agreeing with this silly comment! The comments ranged simply from agreeing with him, to a few saying that children playing with the "wrong" toys is the cause of all the issues in the world today. I really don't understand why in 2011 there are still such strong gender stereotypes attached to toys of all things. Especially the ones that assume that if a boy plays with dolls he will end up gay. I bet these are the same people who tell their children off if they play with toys "wrong".

This brings me to my second musing for the day. Debating online. Online you are bound to run into people you disagree with and debate them on the issue. Especially about current events. What gets to me is when someone is so blind that not only can they not see the other persons side but must also imply that the other person only has that opinion due to their age, IQ, or many other things. I know the whole point of a debate isn't simply to agree but attacking someone and laughing off their side and their opinion without even fully reading what they have to say is just a little silly I think. What I do find funny though is when the person then needs their daughter to come in and defend them! If they were so sure of their opinion and so certain that they were right why would they need someone else to come in a defend them when asked why and how they have formed that opinion. Oh well, I guess it's good for a laugh.

Third and final thing for the day. I took the girls to Music this morning. I wasn't feeling the best and it was a struggle but we went. I'm glad we did in the end. They both had so much fun. Its easier this year now that Lucy is older and able to join in more. Her favourite part of all of it was clapping when each song was over. Jassie loved the dancing the most. I love that's its cheap as chips too. $5 for the session which includes 30-40 min of singing, dancing and playing instruments, snack, and playtime after. Unlike playgroup where you pay for the whole term, we only pay if we attend the session. I like that. It means if you can't make it each week, you don't pay for that week. Its held at the local church but you don't need to attend the church in order to attend the Music sessions. What I think I really like the most is how friendly everyone is. I don't feel left out, or left on my own like I did at playgroup. I also like that its a group thing and not simply a hall filled with toys and kids left to play on their own. Both girls get so much more out of an hour long Music session than they ever did out of play group. Can't wait to go back next week!

Photos From Jasmine's First Day

Taken by Rodger before he walked her to Kinder.

All Ready to go

Lucy had to get in on the action

So grown up

 

Jasmine's First Day

Today was Jassie's first real session at Kinder as a 4 year old. It wasn't a full session, only 2.5 hours instead of the normal 4. Next week she has three sessions of 3 hours long, the following Monday another 3 hour session then from the following Wednesday onwards she will be there for the full 4 hours.

She was so excited when I picked her up. I love greeting her. She threw her arms around as a hello and launched right into how much fun she had had. Since the Kinder this year is nice and close we are able to walk there and home. The walk was a good chance for her to tell me all about what she did without me having to concentrate on driving. 

She also received the clothes we had paid for at the end of last year when we paid the fees. She got two jumpers in purple, two t-shirts in green and two hats in bright yellow. She wore them as soon as she got home. She looks so adorable and so grown up in them.

In her group at Kinder she already knew one child whom she had been in daycare with last year before we pulled her out. Rodger dropped her off at Kinder but did tell me that she did recognise him and he her, but that he was a little shy towards her. From what I saw at the end of the session most of that had worn off as he waved goodbye to her. The only issue we have is that she has to see the woman who ran the daycare. Jas remembers her but doesn't seem to be fazed by her presence in the least which is a good thing. The only bad thing is how utterly rude this woman in. Jasmine waved goodbye to her and called her by name and yet she refused to even look at Jas. Geesh lady, she's just a kid, wave to her it won't kill you!
 

Jas is already very excited for next Monday. I'm glad. I was concerned she would have issues adjusting to a new Kinder this year and miss her friends from last year but I think she'll be fine. She's a very friendly girl and so will probably have a best friend by this time next week.

She has come home very tired though and is laying on the couch watching Tinkerbelle and the Great Fairy Rescue. She may just have a little nap while she watches it and I get some work done. 
 

Speaking of work, I better get to it.

The First

Ahhh my first post and I have nothing to say other than it has taken me almost an hour to get this set up. Between not fully knowing what I'm doing, getting Lucy a snack, and the net dropping out every 30 seconds or so its been a hard hour. I'm not really sure what I'll be posting about. Possible just random dribble that forms in my mind. Updates on my life, that sort of dribble.

It would be nice if I had more to say but right now I don't. The only really interesting thing happening right now is Lucy is dancing to New MacDonald's Farm on the TV with Dance and Shout Elmo. Its very cute. Jasmine is at work with Rodger today and thus Lucy has the living room to herself. Actually she has the whole house to herself really. I think she enjoys the break from her big sister. She can play with what she wants for as long as she wants without Jasmine coming along and taking the toy in question away from her. She also gets the one on one Mummy time that she deserves. Its especially good now she is down to one nap a day.

Well I think that might enough dribble for the first post.