2013 Swimming Carnival

It was this time last year that I had set off on a work trip to India.  Unfortunately, I made parent of the year by missing my daughters first swimming carnival.  As luck would have it, work tried to send me back to India for a second trip this year, smack on this year's swimming carnival.  This is the expression that the child beams upon seeing me sitting in the stand this year.

It was well worth the morning off work to be there supporting in the crowd.  I met the Father of one Maddison's friends.  He was also with his wife, whom I had met at the youngsters birthday party last year.  Lovely family.  Although I was slightly caught off guard when the Mother announced that Maddison had told her daughter that I was in love with her Father!  My eyes were wide open in amazement and shock.  I looked at the Father and said I was just being friendly at the athletic carnival, and although you are lovely, I am not in love with you!  Thankfully they both burst out laughing, and invited me to take a seat.

The first race was backstroke.  I glanced over to my friends and said quizzically, and said that I didn't know that Maddison could do backstroke! 

I was right, it was a hilarious trek down the pool, by most of the kids.  But it was fantastic that they had that and breast stroke in the carnival, and that the kids gave it a shot.  Although back stroke was not a big success, the style off the blocks for the freestyle was impressive.

Then there was major cheering from the parent at the half way mark of the race.....

I am really not sure why this child persists on having her ears outside the swim cap.  But there was a big beaming smile at coming in second.

WestJet Christmas Miracle: real-time giving

How cool was this?

 

Modern Age Dating?

My haven't the times changed?  Check this out, dating today.  The boyfriend is in the States, and the time zones align for a short time.  It is a lovely Summer morning in downtown Brisbane, so you make your way to the trampoline to enjoy the peaceful life on acreage.  Then you bust out the iPad on a wireless network and chat away!

Of course there is no Facetime on this call, as clearly she is still in her pj's, and not pick up attire!

 

Raising Independent Children

One of my parental goals is to ensure that I raise a self sufficient and independent young woman.    The main source of this aspiration is knowing the mortality of life, and that I may not be present for all of her childhood, so like my own Mother, I want to ensure that I can equip her as best I can, whilst I am here.

Although for me I do not have a terminal illness lingering over my head, so I am much softer in my approach.  I don't actually do a bed inspection whilst she is at school each day to ensure that all hospital corners would pass a Major Generals inspection, and if not, trash the entire operation and demand at 3:05 pm that the efforts are redone to a higher standard!  Nor do I make her ride her bike to the supermarket at the age of 8 to collect the ingredients for dinner, and then come home and make it.  But we do cook together, for four reasons.  It is a bonding experience for the two of us, it also provides some much needed life skills, and it also provides a corner stone to financial independence.  It is cheaper and healthier to cook at home.

I remember when I joined the Air Force at 21 that there were a number of similar aged adults who could not make their bed, iron, sew or even understand that shoes needed to be polished with a foreign substance called nugget.  With my upbringing, I found military training a breeze, and was in bed asleep by 10:00 pm when the balance of the flight was running around until 2:00 am!

Recently we were having a discussion about chores at home, and the youngster was negotiating for different chores.  I was really interested in this, as the underlying theme was that she thought she was ready to progress to a more advanced chore level.  After enquiring what she thought she should do, she quickly responded with her own ironing.  I was not so sure that she was ready for this, but determined to support her own quest for development.  So we practiced on a few square things to our eye in, and then quickly moved to t shirts and shorts etc.  So now she does her own washing, and 90% of her own ironing.  The morning chores for me around getting her ready for school are dwindling, and I have been able to start to fit in a few exercises in the spare time.

I am really proud of her developing, for eight, she is indeed the independent daughter I want to parent.  Speaking of independence, it also comes with selecting your own clothing range, and despite my please for no pink leopard print sleepwear, you can see I obviously failed to negotiate a win in that discussion.

 

Family Traditions

Do you ever take the time to skip back over some of your favourite childhood memories?  For us, we grew up with a mother who had a terminal illness, so the good memories are even more special.  As we grow older, and seemingly more mature in life, I often watch the intersections of my own relationship with my daughter and in these moments I have only amazement for how a single mother of two small children could possibly have coped.  But she really didn't just cope.  I sure do know where my life long fighting spirit has come from.

We had an extremely frugal upbringing, but I always appreciate the wonderful culinary delights that made there way to the dinner table each night.  Ok, maybe not the parsnip or rabbit, they were not so delightful.  And yes, I always knew that there is a difference between rabbit and chicken, they are different coloured for a start!

Every night we had a two course meal, and the sweets that were whipped up are no doubt to blame for my insatiable sweet tooth.  For school lunches, tuckshop was not on the menu, but Mum had cakes, biscuits and slices down pat, so I never felt like I missed out.  Actually some of my best memories are racing my sister down the hall to see who could get the bowl, spoon or beaters for what ever delicious thing was in train.  Of course when you are an only child you don't have to race!  It is some of these moments where different planes of memories collide, and I know that in time she will repeat these traditions with her own family, and look back fondly on our moments of growing up.

 

Beach Trip

I love Caloundra, so much so that I think I may actually retire up there.  Although I usually visit in the Summer when it is awesome, so maybe I should visit a few times in Winter before I decide.  Maybe all I need is a Summer house!

I am still learning on the camera, but did manage to get an action shot or two from the day.

 

Returning to Normality

As delightful as the visits to India are, I really miss family moments like this.  Sandy sure does make the most amazing prawn pizza, and it was even better after a week of curries.

 

And the summer weather in Queensland is amazing, I really love spending time by the beach.

 

It is moments like this that you look back on the snaps and really appreciate how wonderful life is with close family and friends around.