#mothehood

[demiduzit]

[isthisreallyforever]

Yesterday actually went really well.  I gathered the kids in a huddle and gave them a pep talk in the morning about how we all had to be a team and work together.  And I think that it hit home because they really were cooperative.

We had a fair amount of schoolwork to get through and we managed to get through it all in about four hours, including breaks.  We even did all of the math work, which they usually do with husband.  My biggest worry was A, who is too young for any organized curricula and is also my most high energy kid.  But he did great, he took advantage of time to play undisturbed by his brothers, and then came in to play with stickers and cars when he got a little lonely.

E had a major poopsplosion and a little bit of cranky time when she was tired, but other than that she did great.  After school was done, I made everyone lunch, and then the boys played while I got chores done.  J wanted to do a special art project, so I told him if all the toys got picked up, we could do it.  He convinced his brothers to join in, the house got cleaned and the boys had fun making window decals.

Husband ordered a full cord of wood for winter, and was stressing because he didn’t have time to finish stacking it.  After our art project, with E in the moby wrap, I went out back with the boys and finished stacking wood while they played around me.  I managed to get it all put away, and clean up most of the mess from our pumpkin carving party, too.

By the time husband got home, the house and yard were clean, the kids were done with all their work and playing happily, and the baby was laying down while I folded laundry.  It actually left the impression that I had my act together.  We had leftovers for dinner, and then all four kids had a bath and I had a shower.  

We built a fire in the fireplace, and I read aloud from their current chapter book which is the last book in the little house series.  It’s the first fire since I rearranged the living room, so we were all able to sit in front of the fireplace on the rug and lean back against the couches.  It was so cozy that A fell asleep right then and there.  Husband brought the kids up to bed and all the boys were asleep by 8:15, E by 9 o’clock.

There were some crazy moments and some loud moments, but all in all, it went really well.  Husband’s parental leave was a huge blessing and made having the baby so easy, I was a little nervous about managing it all on my own.  But if yesterday is my baseline for our new normal, some days better some days worse, then I think we’re in for a great time as a family of 6.

[canada-2-england]

Mummy’s Girls 💕👩‍👧‍👧

[isthisreallyforever]

Yesterday was a big success. I made the boys a warm breakfast and husband took the big guys off to school. The littles and I killed time at home before the discovery museum opened, getting ready and reading picture books.

A was so ramped to go, I gave him a snack in the car and we headed over a little early. I found great parking and he was literally the first kid through the door. There were no field trips that day, so the place was much quieter than usual and A had the run of it for the first hour.

In the past, going there with all the boys has been tricky for me, and felt like herding cats. A has a shorter attention span than his brothers. Even if he likes an activity and wants to come back to it, he can really only focus for ten minutes at a time. Then he either has to wait around, or I need to split my attention between the three boys, while trying to keep them within my sight or earshot.

Yesterday though, I could give him my full attention. We went through the museum at his pace and played with everything he wanted to. We spent extra time on things that his brothers have always walked right past, and I got to see his imaginative side as he pretended to be sick in the ambulance and to make dinner in the kitchen area.

We stayed for over 2 hours, and he would have lasted longer, but I needed to go shopping for the Cub Scout camping trip this weekend. We got a quick lunch at the store, and he was cooperative and even helpful for the rest of the trip. We went to pick up the boys after that and stayed for an hour to play on the playground.

The day felt like a success but I found out it truly was at the dinner table. Every night we go around the table and everyone shares one good thing from their day. A, with his speech delay, said, "Go 'seum." Then, not long after, he said, "Me wuv you," to me at the table. That's the first time he has ever said that!!!

So now my plan is to dedicate Thursday mornings to adventures with A. Hit some of our old favorite spots, and maybe try a couple of new ones, too. Last year, I had to pick up J at 11:30 for homeschool co-op days, then be back at 3 for M, so there wasn't time for much. This year both big boys go until 3, so we have time for local adventures. E is small enough to just ride along in the baby carrier for now and I want to embrace this time before the two of them are running in opposite directions.

[eduardosculptor]

My newest work"Mountain of Grief" This sculpture resided in my head for 48 years! It commemorates the unfathomable pain my wife and I felt when loosing our oldest child to cancer. Over the years, these feelings have also invaded me when thinking of others' grief. Most recently, due to the invasion of Ukraine. I carved it out of a 250 lb block of marble purchased from the widow of a fellow sculptor. Carving it for months was somehow therapeutic. #memorialsculpture #marblesculpture #mothehood (at Jensen Beach, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChTBNoMMqy5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[eduardosculptor]

My newest work"Mountain of Grief" This sculpture resided in my head for 48 years! It commemorates the unfathomable pain my wife and I felt when loosing our oldest child to cancer. Over the years, these feelings have also invaded me when thinking of others' grief. Most recently, due to the invasion of Ukraine. I carved it out of a 250 lb block of marble purchased from the widow of a fellow sculptor. Carving it for months was somehow therapeutic. #memorialsculpture #marblesculpture #mothehood (at Jensen Beach, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChTBNoMMqy5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[spencersarc]

This time of year is always a hard one for me & for Mr S. You see it’s coming up to my survivorversary. Or the littlest twins birthday as we prefer to call it now. When I was 35 weeks pregnant I was diagnosed with a rare pregnancy complication. Timehop always shows up those pictures that make our hearts thud a little. But that time was quite a healing time too. I know that sounds a little bit odd. How can one of the worst moments in my life actually be a point that starts to heal a life time of pain. But the things that happen, happen for us not to us. Those moments that are completely and utterly shit at the time are moments that are sent to us to make us stronger, sent to us because we can handle them, sent to us to help us make the most out of life. I knew when I got through my worst of times I needed to help others, I needed to do something worthwhile for others. I needed to make more out of life for me, for my kids, for my whole family. That’s why I was led to coaching. That’s why I believe so much in the work I put in with everyone who steps through that virtual door to the MITG community. That’s why I want you to appreciate motherhood, parenthood, life! Get rid of the motherhood overwhelm, stop that mum guilt, and start living with more fulfilment and passion for the things that actually matter. So what are you waiting for. Time to take messy action time to open that door to the mums in The Groove community. There’s epic things happening and I don’t want you to miss out on them so head into the profile section tap “put the kettle on” and you will get news, weekly updates, tips, little nuggets of gold that are going to help get you motivated & taking messy steps. #mothehood #mumsinthegroove #mumsofinstagram #parenting #parentsupport #mumsuk #mumvillage #momentsofmine #placentapercretasurvivor #placentapercreata #placentaaccreta #mumslife #traumarecovery (at Jessop Hospital) https://www.instagram.com/p/CS86HdSMpKm/?utm_medium=tumblr

[iamtimefrozen]

#maternity #munamommy #munaccoterie #maternityphotography #mothehood #blackmotgerhood #boudoirmaternity (at TimeFrozen Photography) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGRCPZEHi_c/?igshid=9t4ymfznmikz