.
Happy Friday! It’s finally here, and in keeping with Mamamia tradition, it’s time to reflect on your week – the good, the bad and the in between.There are no “rules” just join in and tell us about your highs and lows. Remember no issue is too small or too big. Sit back, unload and let’s get the weekend started.
If you want a chance to host best and worst, email info@mamamia.com.au with your full name, headshot and a short bio (include any links to your blog/Twitter etc), and we’ll take it from there.
Introducing Susannah. She writes:
Best: My six-month-old baby sprouted his first two teeth! I’m so proud of my little man that I’ve been letting him bite my finger just because he can. Bad idea? I know, but it’s worth it for all the otherwise-toothless smiles.
The welcome pack for the child I’ve sponsored arrived. He too is a gorgeous little boy and my heart goes out to him and his family in Africa. I really hope that sponsorship will make a positive difference in their lives.
And as for me . . . my hair went from shoulder-length boringness to short, cropped edginess and it’s turned out better than I ever imagined. As a new parent it’s my change in lieu of a holiday.
Worst: Those teeth continue to announce their arrival by waking the whole household every two hours, 9pm to 5am. Very, very painful for everyone involved. I just have to remind myself that it won’t last forever, and keep smiling.
OMM (On my mind): Life should be a balance of hard work and good fortune. I wish everyone a little less of the former (after all, it is Friday!) and a lot more of the latter.
Susannah is a 29-year-old new mum, constantly seeking a meaningful existence in the big bad world of advertising. She doesn’t blog and barely tweets, if she did there would be no time to read everyone else’s.
Comments
266 Comments so far
Best; It was good to see Ms Freedman on TV trying not to be a liar and hypocrite when asked about what is a feminist. Her reply was to give females a voice and a choice. Unfortunately, she obviously doesn’t know the definition of feminism. I would suggest she looks up Wikipedia to find out. But why are females so pathetic they can’t speak? Since females are so pathetic then obviously this is why there are so few females at the top.
Worst: Saw Ms Freedmans attack on Jacky O where she blatantly lied. Example; she said females get paid 18% less than men. Outright lie. Females and every other person gets equal pay for equal work. If she claims females get paid less money for the same work then why are females too pathetic to take advantage of FREE services to address this? Makes females out to be pathetic yet again. It seems feminists have a very poor regard for females.
loading...
This is the reason I have stopped being a regular on here, especially these open posts, but pretty much all of them. The bitching & incredible righteousness.
Why why why is everyone, well most people, so judgmental? And so damn mean?!
What is wrong with you Haysoos H? Are you a really unhappy person? Are you perfect? Because that is how you come across. And worse.
So over it, not just this post, but so many of them on here usually by “Anonymous” posters. Yeah they’re happy to criticise but don’t have the guts to put a name to it. Sick to death of the bitching and running people down.
All you’re doing is hurting yourself internally by being so mean and judgmental. And let’s not forget righteous.
Haysoos H, you’re such an expert, what have you done lately? Mia has set up this amazing business, she well and truly supports women, she’s smart, sympathetic, successful. Can you tell us your achievements, considering how critical you are of hers?
I can’t wait to hear about your contribution to society.
loading...
Best: Have finally bit the bullet and decided to move to Melbourne (from Tas) when my lease expires in a few weeks. After a year straight out of the depths of hell I need to move forward. I’ve just come back from three solitary weeks of soul searching in Indonesia and I think the time is right.
Worst: I now have 2.5 weeks to quit my job, cull most of my worldy possessions, clean and vacate my apartment and get my ass to Victoria. Then I can worry about a job and a roof over my head.
loading...
Good luck with the move!
loading...
Best: I have finally finally finally started seeing a wonderful guy who really seems to like me. Very excited and happy
Have just bought textbook romance on iPad to hopefully get a few tips for the future!
Worst: Very behind in work- did not get newly enough done this holidays!
OMM: How to achieve some sort of work/life/health balance, making time for everything while trying to enjoy myself!
loading...
worst ;my little boy 15 m/o had Herpangina, a viral disease cause high fever and ulcers all inside the mouth,his gums,tongue and throught was inflammed and covered with numerous small ulcers.he could not even drink from his bottle.My poor little baby.Thank God he is improving.worst wk ever after i brought him back home from NICU(he was premature).
Best (would be):Hubbies birthday tomorrow,wanna cook some surprising dinner.
OMM: Hope my baby gets better soon
loading...
Best: it is still a balmy and unnaturally warm 26 degrees in melbourne today.Vic Markets were in fine form this morning and melb in general is a pretty good place to live right now.
Worst: am inside doing homework but beloved is sleeping on couch next to me so it could be worse.
loading...
Best: Met the man of my dreams last night. Went to a function for Uni and was with some of the girls from Uni and one of my friends was saying to all the guys that I was single and I was like no way no way. Anyway, this guy turned around and asked for me to go outside on the boat and what can I say, spent the next three hours speaking to him.. and he is everything I ever wanted. I know how fast this may be but I honestly thought it was love at first sight. And there are the butterflies again… Whatever I’m feeling is a lovely thing.
Worst: I’ve had the worst couple of weeks. Family, Uni, friends, everything. Just a really bad time for me. Everything that is going wrong is going wrong – family fighting, friends just not caring and uni is just unbearable.
OMM: Look at the below target catalogue guys… Someone was playing with photoshop and obviously stuffed up! Thought the MM community would appreciate it!!!! Made my day. Can anyone guess what is wrong with the picture?
loading...
Had a quick look but didn’t notice anything… What is it?
PS great news on the boy front. I felt the same way when I met my partner, it has been 4 years now. Good luck!
loading...
He asked me out on a date the next night and it was still amazing. Conversation flowed, we had a real connection and he just makes me smile all the time. He has been texting all day. I love feeling wanted. I really think he could be a keeper. He seems to be really into me but how do I make it so he doesn’t disappear? I’m taking it extremely slow but he seems to be really fastening it up. Do I go at his pace or mine?
loading...
Having just finished reading Textbook Romance by Miss Zoe Foster, I can confidently say to go at YOUR pace. You don’t want him to think that he can get what he wants whenever he wants.
I highly recommend reading it.
loading...
As you asked… I’d really slow it down. It takes ages to get to truly know a person. It’s fantastic you have such a connection and this could be it! How exciting. But just be wary as there are some men who are so rushed at the beginning, then they lose interest. So take it slow and check him out properly. If he is fine about slowing down then you truly know he’s a keeper. Good luck.
loading...
Arrrghhhh! The hand!!!!!
loading...
AHAHA! I wish I had 3 hands…
loading...
He has three hands!!!!! creepy ad…..
loading...
Worst: This week has been hard, emotionally drained…my boyfriend’s sister had her beautiful baby boy but was diagnosed with severe preeclempsia. The poor thing has had a very rough few days and only just saw her baby properly yesterday – 3 days after the birth. Also bub has been in intensive care after he stopped breathing on his first night…Been so difficult but finally we’re seeing some light at the end of the tunnel…
Best: Family. The support and love we all have for each other has been amazing this week. Couldn’t have asked for better (future) in laws. Feel so grateful. And becoming an ‘aunty’…blessed to be welcomed into such a beautiful family.
OMM: hoping mum and baby get to be together permanently soon.
http://www.thebeautyblot.wordpress.com
loading...
I feel for your boyfriend’s sister. That would be so hard. My mother-in-law had the exact same thing with my husband and all ended up perfectly fine. But it is a difficult start to motherhood, hopefully she has some good support around her – it sounds like it
loading...
Thanks for your comment, it’s so reassuring to know that others have been in the same position and come out smiling
loading...
Worst: Reading all the judgmental comments on the mummy wars article on this website after returning to part-time work this week leaving my son with grandma.
Best: Coming home to my beautiful boy’s smiles and laughter and realizing that is all that matters.
loading...
Best; joined a running club! And loving the forecast for melbourne today, a lovely 26 degrees.
Worst: back to work after a fantastic 4 week holiday.
Omm: no annual leave at all, how am i going to survive.
loading...
Best: Last minute visit by my darling cousin who lives in LA. Loved seeing what a gorgeous young woman she has become and managed a fabulous girly dinner out in Surry Hills.
Worst: Sick little girl meant no sleep most of the week plus work/house work has been piling up. Also had to watch Lion King & Finding Nemo on loop.
OMM: Still need to sort out our marriage and get it back on track and start really talking to each other again. But on the flip side my best & worst really just reminds how lucky we are.
loading...
Best : Day off and have spent it with my kids and sister
Worst : ex-hubby carried on like a pork chop when I picked up the boys this morning, he had bought them new thongs and wouldn’t let them wear them because he thinks things ‘never come back’ which is untrue. I told him he was ‘mean’. He text me later to say that he thinks that I buy them far too much and my parenting is materialistic. I replied that clothing and shoes are a necessity and that he was being petty. We have NEVER argued in front of the kids until today and we’ve been separated over 3 years. I don’t understand how he picks his battles – they are few and far between – and they take me by surprise sometimes. I said of all the shoes, clothes, hats, toys I send over, are you picking a fight over a pair of $15 rubber thongs?!
loading...
Hang in there and stay positive. I am witnessing this at the moment with several people I know well. Once they have split up, once doting adoring fathers become nit picky, mean and penny pinching, aimed at upsetting the ex wife but its just makes the poor kids the most upset. I know one dad wouldnt let his 3yo son take his birthday presents from him home, they had to stay at his house. You are not alone and it is so hard to understand where it comes from.
loading...
Worst: Life has just been manic for the past 6 months and work has been even more mental.
Best: I booked a week’s leave for the week after next. Yippeeee!
OMM: A side effect of all this stress is my anxiety levels spiking. Am back to having horrible nightmares and thoughts about terrible things happening to my children that are beyond my control and it plagues me with fear. I’m in tears most days, and panicking constantly. Hopefully my leave will help de-stress my mind and all the terrors will disappear. It’s debilitating and I need it to be gone.
loading...
Hi Shaezy
Take some time each day just to breathe and try to observe (what can you see/taste/touch/hear). Drink a cuppa slowly and just focus on that and nothing else. I find this helps me. Also going for a walk outside 
The anxiety sounds awful
loading...
Thanks elle. I’m definitely trying to get out for a walk each day which is good for me. I just keep thinking four more working days! And I’ve booked a massage and hair cut for Day 1 of hols so that’s heaps to look forward to already. Also spent some awesome time with my kids today and that has helped just make me happy. Thanks for your advice and care. x
loading...
My birthday. Spent the day with a truly inspiring author who was once a top comedy script writer, now getting over a stroke. The road is hard. I have the utmost admiration for him.
Then dinner at our local with my lovely husband. No down side this week; ask me again in a few days.
loading...
Best #1- spent last weekend in Melboune, and fell in love. Partied it up Saturday night at Elephant and Wheelbarrow, then spent Sunday/Monday exploring the laneways. Particularly loved DeGraves St.
Best #2- Have had a super chilled lazy day today, went to the gym and then spent the rest of the day drinking wine and ER reruns- swooning over Dr Benson!!
Worst- watching an old family friend battle through recovering from a brain tumour, surgery and a subsequent stroke. So heartbreaking to watch a previously very confident, stubborn, articulate man struggle to walk, talk, etc. Hate hate hate cancer.
Tea and muffins to those doing it tough.
loading...
Best: I had a great first date with a lovely guy. He was very complimentary, interesting, gorgeous, conversational and seemed very interested. I felt confident, comfortable and thought the date was a hit.
Worst: Although he texted me saying how much he enjoyed the date and he really likes me (a lot apparently
I am still waiting for him to ask me out again…..How long do I wait? And is it a turnoff if I ask him out instead?
loading...
Zoe Foster would tell you to wait. Actually, not wait – she’d probably tell you to go off and have a great time do something very interesting and exciting. And if in the midst of all that he should call, that would be nice. But if not, you’re busy doing something interesting and exciting!
Don’t call!
loading...
Did you reply to the text, I guess you did. How many days ago was it? He’s obviously not shy as he sent you the very nice text. God knows what goes on in mens minds. Just try not to fret or focus on it. Some men do get cold feet. ANd it’s got nothing to do with you.
loading...
All is back on and moving (albeit slowly) in the right direction… I do hate all the dating drama and would love to get into his head to suss out if he is genuine….Wish there was a fast forward button sometimes to just skip to the relationship phase rather than dating…..
loading...
Fantastic! That’s so great.
Yes I’m the same, I hate the early stages and always want to fast forward. But I have learnt, the hardish way, to take my time and really learn about a person. I could have spared myself soooooo much pain if I’d done that in my past two relationships. I should have sussed them out much more right from the start.
The writer Rhonda something or other (sorry) who wrote Feel the Fear books wrote one on dating and she says that you should treat the dates like an interview of them. Instead of worrying whether he likes you, if you’re pretty enough, funny enough etc, you must focus on whether he ticks all your boxes. I believe she is sooo right.
Really hope it goes well for you .
loading...
Thanks Hannah, and you are so right about me needing to see if he is right for me rather than worrying about impressing him…. Fingers crossed it works out
loading...
Best: great to be back at work with the kids. Never a dull moment!
Worst: falling asleep with three year old daughter and missing “Offspring”.
OMM: dad having lymphoma.
loading...
Oh no, my dad has it, too. Big comiserations to you.
My dad went through chemo and radio last year, and is doing really well. Hope your dad does, too.
loading...
My mum had lymphoma too – she’s 6 years in remission (now considered “cured”) and going so well. It CAN have a happy ending. I wish your dad all the best of health and lots of love to you and your family too.
loading...
And thankyou also Shaezy. A great outcome to have. The dr said of all the cancers to have, this is probably the best (I use that term loosely) one to have. Glad your mum’s doing well. X
loading...
Thanks for your thoughts Lizi. He starts some chemo next month but will hopefully be ok for a while after that. Has lost a lot of weight though and is really tired a lot of the time. Just not same old dad, but I’m sure everything will be fine.
Love and wishes to your dad also. X
loading...
Michelle, Offspring is online at the Channel 10 website! http://ten.com.au/watch-tv-episodes-online.htm
I always miss my favourite shows – I just catch up online, legally!
loading...
Fantastic! Thanks Miss Gilkie for the link. Hadn’t even thought about online.
loading...
Best: A great week. Part of my formation (pre-ordination) journey involves a LOT of self exploration – I’m really learning a lot about myself right now and it feels good. Hmmm, reading back that sounds a little… physical….
Worst (but really a best): I’ve bought a whole heap of clothes over the last month as I needed an ‘office’ workshop, but they’re all getting too big! Woohoo! Ahem, I mean, darn. Luckily, I buy all my clothes second hand and my mum has said she’ll take them in for me so I’m not too out of pocket.
OMM: I’m looking at how I deal with death at the moment, which is confronting to say the least. Good stuff.
loading...
Best: My beautiful son just smiling and laughing all the time. He is just so innocent and sweet
Worst: Being tired!
OMM: Pregnant with my 2nd and all I can think about are all the things that can go wrong. I really should just enjoy the pregnancy!
loading...
Best: Nothing substantial this week. Attached to my Kindle in my spare time. Loving it, don’t really feel the urge to watch tv of an evening, though I did just catch up on a couple of TV shows in the Foxtel IQ.
Worst: Work. Running my department of 30 people this and next week. My boss, who is on holidays, doesn’t like her job anymore and I’ve been left to get things done that should have been done when she was there. Found out week after next’s rosters need to be sent to head office by Tuesday arvo because of public holiday. She was planning to come in and do them on Thursday next week (and messaged me that last night when I told her they need to be in Tuesday) because she doesn’t teach her 2ICs how to do them.
My store manager and duty manager asked me to try and do them, I agreed, I spent hours, some in my own time, working on them (my first time ever doing rosters) to get to a point today where they just need tweaking – pretty happy with it. I get a text this afternoon that she will be in Tuesday now to do them. So odds are she will start over and I wasted my time.
As a plus, apparently my SM was thrilled I jumped at the chance to step up and do it. So brownie points for me?
OMM: Feeling as if I am stuck in a retail rut, and even though I am studying a Masters, it’s going to be hard to work my way out of this industry. I’m smart, I don’t want this for myself. Ergh.
loading...
BEST: Beautiful glorious weather all week while I’ve been on holidays. Fabulous just hanging out with the kids at home.
WORST: Back to work on Monday and I haven’t done any of the work I brought home to do. It’s going to be a fun weekend
loading...
BEST: My nightmare assistant just called in sick. This has TOTALLY MADE MY FRIDAY. Good times people. Good times.
WORST: I seem to have had a non-verbal falling out with a dear friend who lives on the other side of the world. It’s a gut feeling, I’m not sure what to do or if it’s worth initiating a conversation about it. It’s hard over email / skype / text. Hopefully it will be sorted with time.
OMM: Sunshine, happiness, wine and chocolate. In that order.
loading...
Non verbal falling outs…. I too had this happen to me, turns out when I finally had that difficult convo that I had said something in passing a year prior ad hadn’t realised!!! She didn’t tell me I upset her. I too was living OS I wish I had sorted it earlier!!
Good luck, true friendships will whether these storms
loading...
Like your OMM mindset. Go ahead, you sound like you deserve it.
loading...
Best: Have had a lovely month in Italy with my boyfriend. I was worried after not seeing him for almost 3 months, that things would be weird between us. But things were just the same as they’ve always been and I love him more than ever!
Worst 1: I have to say goodbye to him at about 5.30am on Sunday morning. I’ll be back in another 3 months, at the end of July, but it’s just going to be so hard. I can’t help but cry as I’m writing this. But it’s not all bad. I am looking forward to going home, seeing my friends and family, getting back to work (working from home from his apartment has been driving me crazy) and the gym. And I know once I’m home, it won’t be so bad and I’ll cope, but that farewell is going to be so hard!
Worst 2: My purse got stolen in Pisa. So I have to organize a new drivers licence and make a travel insurance claim when I get back. That’ll teach me for bringing my whole purse to Europe with things in it I didn’t need and will now never see again!
loading...
Best it is my birthday ! Lots of fb messages, hubby bought me cookware, mum took me too see Mary poppins 2 weeks ago plus bought a new book. 5 year old bought me slippers perfect When pregnant step daughter bought me a throw rug! So spoilt! Out too dineR tonight after a great day at the park.
Best going too an engagement party tomorrow night kid free no kids for 24 hours also going too the movies with hubby can’t wait
Worst high risk pregnancy just hope we get too 38 weeks with no hospital admissions, Gord is bad but learning too deal with it
OMM no idea what is happening with work no idea if I got my promotion and boss wants too cut my hours
loading...
Happy birthday! It sounds like you’ve had a great day and had heaps of awesome gifts.
Also sending good thoughts re: pregnancy. I hope everything goes as smoothly as possible.
http://www.ivoryleaf.etsy.com
loading...
Best – finished a uni assignment, and got two back – Distinction and High Distinction! YAY! I’m not an idiot! really settling into life right now, pretty happy.
Worst – have two more essays to do before thursday – worth 40% each – while working 3 jobs (one of those choreographing a high school production so I can’t swap shifts or anything…)…essay writing on the bus here I come! Also uni just being intense in general, it’s a bit of a shock after a year of mindless full time work, travel and watching TV. But I’m lucky to have the opportunity to go to uni
OMM:two things this week… journalism tutor pulled me aside and said she really wants me to continue as she thinks I could really make it and do well…I ‘m dropping out and changing to gender studies – what to do?!
have an audition for a play next week – just quietly I am so nervous I could fart…
loading...
I got first assignment back – only got a pass. And it was the one I went to Learning development for help with, sat there and wrote part of it there, and the bit I wrote with the LD teacher got the most comments and corrections! WTF?? Two more coming back in the coming week…
loading...
Whoa, that’s a worry. Are you going to take it back to the Learning people and show them?
loading...
Yeah, I have an appointment with a different person on Tuesday. I didn’t really feel like I was clicking with the other teacher, maybe fresh eyes and a different approach will help.
loading...
Georgi, a lecturer wouldnt pull just anyone aside to say they think they can do well. Maybe discuss your concerns with her. She obviously sees something in you that you may not have seen yet. I would stick with the jounalism.
loading...
Best: the hospital that I am a hugely regular outpatient and sometimes inpatient at is partially funding me to speak at a conference about appearance in England! Their CEO and research director thinks it’s a wonderful opportunity that I was asked to speak. I am so grateful for the funding and for them believing in me!
Best: was published on News Limited this week. It wasn’t an article about world peace or any big issue. Just why I love Hamish Blake – though not in the same way as Zoe does! The comments were brutal though, but I did get a laugh. Really proud of that!
Worst: none.
loading...
congratulations on both counts. can you add a link to you story on news.com?
loading...
Linky: Punching on – Why I love Hamish Blake http://carlyfindlay.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/punching-on-why-i-love-hamish-blake.html
loading...
woah those punch commentators are kinda special aren’t they??
now i understand what lana, rick and others are saying when they talk about how nice the MM commentators are!!!
you are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better than that. stop reading the comments for your own well being. and you are right Hamish is divine.
loading...
You are so right. MM is very tame compared to other sites. The anon trolls are the worst. As I wrote on my blog, I am so glad I didn’t put my heart or face on the line in that article – those comments were easier to handle because that article was a fluff piece.
loading...
Carly, take the punch comments with a grain of salt. There’s a lot of “keyboard warriors” there who think they know everything. Just remember, strangers on the Internet. I’m off to read…
loading...
Well done!
loading...
Thank you so much everyone
Those commenters took my article – esp the headline – way too seriously. But I am so grateful for the opportunity! The Punch editor tweeted me about one of my food photos the other day, asking me why women put pumpkin in everything, and yuck. I replied “I bet Hamish likes pumpkin 
”
Heheh
loading...
It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted here. Just haven’t been having a great time generally and thought it would be good to just type some of it, get it out there and then hopefully move on. Absolutely first-world problems, but still.
Worsts: Today I got marks back for a uni group research proposal…we did quite poorly. We passed and got 65%, but compared to what other students got, we were bottom-level.
I have a second group task and I am really not seeing eye-to-eye with my partner, try as I might. While I think she has great ideas and is really intelligent, I don’t think she’s thinking outside the box and she keeps shutting my ideas down as “irrelevant” when I believe they provide a less superficial critique of our topic. I don’t want to rock the boat and I’m happy to compromise, but it makes me feel like she feels i’m not contributing anything valuable.
Also had a mid-semester exam earlier in the week that I didn’t do so well on because I spent time working on stuff for that latter group project, only to have it brushed off anyway.
Aaaand my mac, with all of my notes and research etc. has died.
Best: Luckily, I managed to back all of my stuff up just before the final crash. I also bought a new computer today.
The boy is being mighty supportive through all of this, though.
OMM: Friend’s 22nd tonight; I know I should stay home and study, but with all of this on my mind I’m not convinced I’ll get anything done. I’m feeling so down that I think I just need a break.
Sending love and support to those who are doing it tough this week xo
loading...
Just go and enjoy yourself.
You can study tomorrow (as long as you don’t overdo it tonight) and will probably be more effective. Everyone goes through “rough” patches at uni.
loading...
Best: going to see a musical tonight. Plus just went and bought a great quilt cover to finish the newly redecorated spare room.
Worst: my brand new red suede shoes were soaked in a downpour yesterday. I hadn’t waterproofed them yet
Also worst is that all of us are really struggling to shake a really heavy cold. I am looking forward to the show tonight but I’m kind of wishing I didn’t have to go out.
OMM: a very positive lunch meeting I had with a prospective future employer.
loading...
This post made me eat boiled eggs for lunch. With soldiers.
loading...
Personally I cannot think of a better lunch
loading...
It was just perfect.
loading...
Worst: Last year I pitched a technology wrap to my boss early last year – which meant writing a script about all the tech stuff that was happening around the world. It would go online to YouTube and I thought it would give me a bit of exposure. He liked it, but never encouraged me much to do anything with it, so it got ignored.
Wouldn’t you know it, one of the guys in the department is doing it and he’s all over it! I don’t know if the guy doing it happened to pitch it to him or my boss gave it to him, but I am pretty royally pissed off about it. My boss basically stole my idea and pitched it to another colleague. Even if that colleague in question pitched it to him he should have remembered I had the idea in the beginning! Grrrrrrrr
loading...
I have just been offered and accepted a part time job! It is something that I think I will be really good at – hence the offer because they think so too. HOWEVER! If part time is 9am-2pm, when will I fit everything in??? I will have to re-consider my daily “what will we eat tonight” and “what shall I pack for school lunches tomorrow” last minute shopping/cooking deal.
Also, when will I fit in the plumber next week, the kids to the Doctors, one to the dentist – all for issues that need to be dealt with SOON blah, blah, blah.
My kids go to school at varying times between 7-8am and I make them all breakfast and lunch. When do I shower and get ready? EEEK? Nightime perhaps.
Exicited to be back in the workforce after such a L.O.N.G. time (clearly this post shows) and being PAID!!! But I just don’t know how mothers do it.
Perhaps this weekend I should borrow the DVD “I don’t know how she does it” to find out. By the way, my new employer does not know about my tuckshop roster at school!!!! – I will worry about that one later.
Wish me the best and please give me advice!
loading...
My tips:
Plan the lunches and dinners for the entire week on a Sunday night and do an online shop to arrive Monday night. Make sure Monday night’s dinner is something quick and easy, and let the kids tuck-shop it on Mondays as a treat.
In the mornings, shower while the kids are eating b/fast, and take a small makeup kit to put the face on in the car before going into work. If you’re like me and have hair that takes a lifetime to tame, practice some comb/clip up-do’s that look worky and are easy. Wash & dry hair at night and get an outfit ready for the next day ….just shower-off in the mornings.
Lunches can also be made the night before if you can be bothered (after cleaning up after dinner), this will speed up the morning.
You’ll be in your routine before you know it!
Good luck with the new job!
loading...
/\ Good advice! I would add – get the kids to pack bags/get uniforms ready the night before and keep them beside the door. If you’re getting really stretched for time in the mornings a sandwich in the car on the way to school is still a decent breakfast!
loading...
can’t your kids make their own breakfast and lunch? I started serving myself pretty much as soon as I could pour the milk in without spilling it everywhere. Ditto with lunches – not that hard to grab some pieces of fruit, veggies and throw together a sandwich! Mum hasn’t made my brekkie since, oh man, kinder, or lunch since about Grade 2. she has to get ready and we were perfectly capable of doing it ourselves! would save you a lot more time – you deserve to get ready!
good luck
loading...
Being organized is the key.
All uniforms washed / ironed on Sunday night, weekly meal plans, booking appointments well in advance ( so you can get a time that suits you).
I get up early to excercise, then have coffee shower and dress myself before I wake my daughter up.
Mornings are the most stressful part, trying to get everyone out the door on time, so the more you can do the afternoon / night before the better.
Perhaps with you going back to work it might be a good time to review the distribution of house hold jobs – perhaps the kids can start to do a bit more, or (if you have a partner) he might need to take on some extra parts of the endless house/ life organizing.
It takes a little while to get a routine, but you will find what works for you. Best of luck and treat yourself to something lovely with that first pay check.
loading...
Get the kids involved if they aren’t already – get them making their lunches and washing/ironing their clothes and making their breakfasts. If they are a bit bigger, get them to help with the dinners too. And cook up on Sunday and have some stuff in the freezer for the weeknights. As for the plumber – well you finish early, so I guess in the afternoon.
loading...
Yep I reckon a 9-2 job sounds sweet!
loading...
Congratulations! You do have to plan the meals out for the week. Get a load of laundry on first thing when you get up.
Get yourself a slowcooker then you can prep all the ingredients the night before as you clean up from dinner. Then throw them all in the slow cooker in the morning. You can come home and just do mash/rice/cous cous and some steamed veges. Get into batch freezing left overs and do one or two nights a week from the freezer. You can freeze stuff like chopped onions so that cooking something nice takes a lot less time. In just a few weeks you’ll be in a great routine. I do the makeup in the car thing and it saves time. Talk to your hairdresser about what you can do with your hair in 5 minutes in the morning. mine had some great suggestions. Doing a weekly plan means that once you’ve thought it through and done your shop you can mentally put it away which is a great tool for quietening the head noise! Best of luck to you!
loading...
OMM: I am stuck in a perpetual motion machine – I write a plot, let it sit for
weeksmonths and then inevitably scrap it and start a new one. It does my head in because this is not the way a writer should work, dammit! I have too many ideas swirling around inside my head and don’t really have the time to stop and make one work.Best: Starting my producer shadow shift next Wednesday! Woohoo, after being in the library for 2 1/2 years I’m hoping this is my big break/
Worst: The constant travelling from the Central Coast to Sydney is taking its toll, I am always tired and barely have enough time to scratch myself.
loading...
Best: Just bought $275 worth of Napoleon makeup for $75!! A nude lipgloss from the new Nude range, a mascara, 3 eyeshadows, a pink lipgloss, camerafin powder and a bronzer.
Worst: No worst for me this week, life is good!
loading...
How??
loading...
My beautician (who is also a friend) had to get rid of a lot of stock and I got first pick at it!
loading...
BEST : My middle child (yr 7) just had his head shaved for the World’s
Greatest Shave at school (they are doing it a bit late…)
I am so proud of him!!
WORST : WAY too much work on – I work from home and I’ve been really bad at getting motivated this week……
OMM : Life in general – I am a worrier – it’s keeping me awake at night. Wish I could just “switch off”……
loading...
I was the world’s worst worrier – ok, my sister is the worst but I came a close second – but it’s finally easing as my kids get older (14 down to 7). Another big factor was an Oprah show that referred to a study showing over 90% of the things people worry about don’t eventuate. I can’t remember the exact number but will always remember that it started with a 9. How good/comforting is that?!
loading...
I am also a worrier and also need a “switch off” button!
loading...
BEST: found out we were pregnant with a third BIG SURPRISE baby! (older kidlets are 8 & 6…we were DONE)
WORST: Morning sickness….holy s*** batman
OMM: The baby has to come out of somewhere…more than likely my ever panicking vagina….
loading...
mmm, it’s all fun and games till you have to get them out!!!
I marched in and demanded a c-section for my last. I just could Not. Do. It. Again!
good luck with the pregnancy!
loading...
Congrats!
loading...
Oh by the third time they practically fall out tee hee… Seriously, your big kids will love it and will be such a help. Congrats!
loading...
best: boy finally got a job interview for a position he actually wants!! It’s in about an hour and he’s sh*tting himself!! poor thing.
worst: i just have no motivation for the gym anymore. i don’t find it fun and at the moment, all this motivation crap is doing the exact opposite for me.
worst 2: my neck and shoulder pain seems to be getting worse and work is being a pain and refusing to believe it’s work related.
OMM: My sister’s 30th is in about a month and i have no idea what to get her. She’s hard to buy for. I was thinking some sort of experience but most involve two people and I just want to get her something for her only.
loading...
Bit cliche maybe, but what about a spa treatment/day/massage voucher?
I feel you about the motivation part too!
loading...
oh that’s a good idea. I can get one for her and one for my mum as their birthday’s are a week apart!
Thanks!
loading...
Or you could get 3 and all have a day together!
loading...
Has she got much in the way of jewellery? If not you could get hear a really special piece.
loading...
Hi Ellie,
I was thinking jewelry but she only just got engaged about 2 weeks ago and I’m sure she’ll still be basking in that by the time her birthday comes around.
Thanks for the suggestion though!
loading...
I made my sister’s 30th birthday present. When we were kids she had tape on the floor so i would stay out of her half of the room. The gift was half of an antique doorknob from our childhood bedroom. It was the only thing that survived when our house burnt down. I cleaned it up, mounted it on a board with a plaque that said “this is your half of the room.”Slightly weird to anyone but us, but she loved it. Sometimes a quirky but thoughtful gift you make yourself makes their day.
loading...
Awesome!!!
loading...
i got over the gym, so started classes at the gym – best thing ever! I now go in, dont think about what i do next, i just do what the instructor tells me. so good.
as for neck pain- can u request an oh+s inspection of your workspace? Or go to your dr, see what they think, and if they say work related get a work cover cert. they will be forced to act then
loading...
BEST: kids staying at Nanna’s tonight while we go to dinner and movies. First time in a year I reckon! The things we took for granted pre-children…
WORST: mum’s dog being hit by a car, now has a broken leg in plaster. Good lesson for the kids in road safety though.
OMM: my eldest starting school next year. Part sad he’s growing up so fast, part overwhelmed by the process of open days and choosing a school. But mostly excited for him because he can’t wait! Hope that feeling lasts.
loading...
Best: I turned around a really horrible day I was having on Wednesday by focusining on kindness. I asked my friends to comment or like on my FB and in return I would tell them what I love about them. It was the most amazing experience! I had spent half the day crying and then spent the second half of the day feeling so blessed by the amazing people I have in my life.
Equal best: on Sunday my best friend and I are leaving our hubbies and three kids and heading to a health retreat for a week. Two more sleeps and my excitement is palpable! She in lives in Melb I’m in Adelaide so just the fact that we get time together is joyous!
Worst: My stress and sadness is around leaving Adelaide and moving to Stdney for my hubbies work. We are auctioning the house of our dreams tomorrow in a terrible market. But, I am determined to turn this worst into a best and look towards all the amazing things that await!
loading...
Best – As Rach said below, getting in contact with another Aussie living in the US, who is going through similar stuff has been great. It’s always nice knowing someone out there is in the same/similar boat as you and you can share your thoughts/ideas with.
Worst – Our lease for the place we are renting now ends at the start of May, so trying to find another place to rent as we are finding this place a bit too expensive, but it’s been hard finding a place with the same sort of amenities as this one, plus it’s been known for the people here to increase rents after one year which is ridiculous since the rents are already high enough!
OMM – what the future holds for husband and I and where we will be once our visa runs out, still here or back home….
loading...
We have had to pay almost $200 a month more to get what we’ve got but closer to campus for next year. But with our trailer park bus run
and paying for parking, I am going to be glad to pay the extra!
It will be nice in August to say, “10pm? I’m bored…think I might drive 3 mins to the music building and practice!”
loading...
Haha trailer park bus run lol….I guess sometimes it pays to pay a bit more
Definitely good to be close to your place of work, we are both close to where we work and want to stay in the same area, just somewhere a bit cheaper!
loading...
Hi Rach
As a fellow muso I think you’ll commiserate with me. I was asked to play in Titanic the musical. I was in it 8 years ago and loved it. It was a hard-fought decision but I turned it down this time as I’m just so busy with work and the kids. So last night I went to see it with my mum. They played the first two bars of the beautiful overture and I was gripped with such a wave of longing and regret. I should have been in the pit! The orchestra did a great job. Well, the less said about the trumpets’ tuning the better. But other than a few moments it was glorious and now I’m sad!!
loading...
Best: I’m loving playing with my new recycled papers – one is made from elephant dung and the other from beer labels. I already have the elephant dung paper in store.
Worst: Some horrible little six-legged (probably) creature has bitten my ankle and made the whole thing swell up quite badly. Am sitting with a bag of frozen peas on it but my dog keeps trying and eat the frozen peas (a real treat in his eyes!)
OMM: Taking my partners grandmother out for lunch tomorrow. Her husband died a couple of months ago and I’m a bit nervous. What if conversation dries up? What if all she can talk about is her husband? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? What if I cry??? But regardless of the conversation, I hope she has a nice afternoon out of the house in a nice little cafe somewhere.
http://www.ivoryleaf.etsy.com
loading...
Elephant dung!!! I’m all for recycling, but I wouldn’t want a love letter written on that!
loading...
Haha! Don’t worry it doesn’t look like recycled poo. I’ve even had a good old sniff and it smells like normal paper.
loading...
Just get her talking. Ask her what was the funniest thing her husband ever did, what were his hobbies, what did he like to read, films, his favourite foods, just keep her TALKING. Ask her what was his relationship with your partner, what’s the wisest thing he’s ever said – and even if you don’t agree, just listen.
In my experience – and I AM speaking from experience (mine) – bereaved people need to talk about the person who has died. Really need to.
You just might have a few laughs – and remember, it’s about her. I presume it is, else why are you taking her to lunch? And if that’s the case, then if you cry, you’ll be crying with her, not for yourself.
And tears are healthy.
And…the idea is for her to have an outing. There might be tears, but if you keep the conversation about him, then I guarantee a few laughs as well.
loading...
Having had next to no experience with grief, this is all new to me and I don’t know what the right thing to do is. But thank you so much for saying what you did, and for saying it’s okay to cry – I loved my granddad-in-law to bits and always get a bit teary when I think of him.
loading...
Best – Getting my knee reconstruction next week, will be back running around soon!
Worst – Nervous nervous nervous, not sure what to expect pain wise afterwards
OMM – Who’s got ideas for me to pass the time while I’m laid up recovering?
loading...
Good luck! Don’t be too nervous- i had one years ago- it went amazingly well, had no pain whatsoever in the knee (never even took a painkiller!)
Just make sure you take it easy in the beginning and then work hard at your recovery. I had mine ten years ago and have played netball without a problem for the nine years since. All the best!!
loading...
Thanks Trace! Have been playing netball for years and love it so it’s good to hear I can expect to be back playing again sometime in the future!
loading...
Good luck KJ. I’ve had two reconstructions, one each knee. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to do your rehab exercises. You’ll recover so much more quickly!
loading...
Best: Thinking about going to IDRS (International Double Reed Society) conference (that’s oboe and bassoon) in Ohio in July, since I will never get this opportunity again. Gonna hang out with my oboe buddies and go on a road trip!
.)
Best: Getting in contact with Cinnamon on Facebook – my Michigan ‘twin’ – we are going through so many of the same things, it’s scary! And good to know she’s out there!
Best/Worst: Concerts almost every night from Saturday until the following Sunday, sometimes two in a day – I love performing (best) but man, am I going to be exhausted! (worst)
OMM: Husband is conceding that there is a huge chance that we won’t be able to do the doctorate here, but adds, “So you will win anyway.” It’s not about that! But he can’t see it…but at least at this stage I will get my way in whatever form it takes (either stay with a scholarship and baby bonus, or go home and be ‘normal’
loading...
Hey Rach….your twin here
Got your email thanks! I got home at 10 tonight so I’m crashed on the couch catching up on MM, email you tomorrow hehe. Glad I’ve found you as well 
The conference sounds great you should definitely go
How far of a drive is it? Road trips are always fun 
loading...
Just under 4 hours – we are close to the border of Indiana and so is the university it’s at…so we basically just cross Indiana and we are there!
Blows my mind that you can cross two states in the same time it takes to get to Margaret River from Perth!
loading...
I know so true huh! We can drive for less than an hour and be in Windsor, 4-5 hours we can be in Chicago, the other way we can be in Toronto lol
loading...
Oh, the IDRS conference sounds like such a blast for you.
Good luck (or chookas!) with the concerts. I’ve got a similar tiring one coming up. But at least its just one! Our band in Canberra plays during the ANZAC day parade. We play milling around/crowd entertainment music for an hour or so and then we play marches during the parade – to keep the marchers in time. Not only am I the only horn on the job, but a previous conductor arranged most of our marches to suit the horn players at the time. So everything is quite high – even the endless offbeats. By the end of rehearsal on Tuesday I was falling off every high note. Mortifying!!
loading...
Best: Getting all my work done EARLY for a change and allowing me to actually enjoy the weekend and not stress about Monday the whole time. Well, I haven’t ACTUALLY finished it all yet, but if I say it enough, I’m sure it will happen.
Worst: Needing (or wanting) more than is reasonable from the amazing man. Sigh.
loading...
Best: It’s Friday, I have a dinner date with a friend tonight and I am looking forward to sharing a nice bottle of wine. Also, as the wife of a tiler my house is always the last house to be tiled – but not today! He is working on OUR HOUSE!! YEY!!
Worst: My phone bill was $500 this month because I made the mistake of calling two 1300 numbers. To make it worse, I made those calls to complain about some packages I ordered going missing – so now I have lost the $100 packages and I’ve spent $500 complaining about them going missing!! I feel really sick about it.
OMM: throwing out all my old clothes and re-starting my wardrobe (after I have saved my $500 back – and this time, I am going to shop for my shape ‘trinny and susannah’ style. No more wasted clothes and no more unflattering crap that I can’t wear!
loading...
You could always ring your phone company and ask nicely if there is anything they can do, even if it is just allowing you more time to pay.
Also, I’d complain to the companies with the 1300 numbers, you shouldn’t have to pay to call them! But maybe do it via email or letter this time!
loading...
1300 are local calls, aren’t they?
loading...
Just found this: http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD..PC/pc=PC_1721
Apparently the prices are set by your phone company?
loading...
Best: I’m off to Phillip Island in an hour! I have been organising this trip for the last month! This is for the international students =) And now i’m really excited to go!
worst: soooooo tired! late nights doing assignments, early morning starts and no days off!!!
loading...
Best: back to work this week after two weeks off for school holidays
Worst: I’ve been skipping my therapy this week. Really over this depression!!
loading...
Just curious: how many mammamia’s out there have conceived naturally over the age of 40, and at what age?
Muchos Gracias
loading...
Moi and four of the girls in my year at school – there could be more but these four are from a very small group that I keep in contact with. We all had older children and suddenly found ourselves with surprise pregnancies at 41 and new babies for our 42nd birthdays. All four of these babies are perfect but I do have a friend who terminated a pregnancy when the baby was found to have several abnormalities and a poor prognosis.
I know many friends who’s grandmothers had babies well into their 40′s. My cousin has just had her third baby – all conceived after she turned 40. My Real Estate Agent conceived at 48 but didn’t proceed with the pregnancy.
And a friend’s friend had her first baby at 47, after living the life of a corporate executive with lavish perks and luxurious travel. He darling son is 18 months old and she’s a MESS! Too funny!
I’m convinced that Mother Nature likes to go out on bang and that there’s a surge in fertility in the early 40′s.
When I crawled on my hands and knees into my Obs surgery, bawling my eyes out and pleading with him to tell me it wasn’t so he just laughed and said, ‘ Now, don’t be ridiculous. I deliver babies to women in their 40′s every day. You’re not too old at all.’
So Jo, the moral of this tale is , if you want to get pregnant, there’s certainly a chance you can and if you don’t want to get pregnant then be very, very, very careful!
So, Jo
loading...
sorry, bad proof reading! argh!
loading...
Hi Jo, I’m 42. I had my first baby when I was 40 and my second when I was 42 (4 months ago!). It took a while to conceive the first time as I was in a very stressful job at the time & I’m convinced this makes a big difference. Second time around took hardly any time. But I do consider myself very lucky
loading...
My mum had me at 42, conceived naturally.
loading...
Hi Jo, I’m 39 (close enough!) and 24 weeks pregnant. My bub will be born one month off my 40th
It took me 2.5 years to fall pregnant. I had many rounds of IVF but fell naturally after TCM intervention. I’m planning on a second pretty soon after the first!
loading...
Good luck! Our two are 18 months apart & lots of fun
loading...
I just found out that my wonderful aunt is pregnant with surprise #3. she is 3 months off 40. I laughed when she told me that her first words when she found out were “oh dear”. Her two boys are 10 and 6 and she thought they were done
She (and everyone in the family) is absloutly over the moon about it.
loading...
my aunty fell pregnant naturally with her 5th child at age 42.
loading...
Best: Taking the very small first steps into the world of Buddhism and meditation and already feeling the beginnings of what my life can be like when I master the ability to quieten my very noisy, very loud, very persistent mind chatter. Peaceful.
Worst: Having a very kind and loving man love me more than anyone has before and not being able to find it in my heart to love him to the same degree in return.
loading...
Best: finally feel like my life is getting back on track after my latest romantic disappointment. I never really believed in the ‘just keep yourself busy’ but it has worked for me… so far!
Best 2: my gorgeous puppy dog- from just being happy to see me when I get home to getting me out of the house and stopping me wallowing
No real worsts except having to work tonight and tomorrow but that’s just life as a shift worker (and I get to browse MM at my leisure today!)
OMM: The Hunger Games- finally bought it the other day and am addicted already…
loading...
Best: My husband and I had a night away at the place we were married. It was so wonderful to spend some quality time together.
Best: Took my daughter to Brisbane and she went to the One Direction concert with two friends. It was so exciting seeing the girls enjoy the fun. We dropped them to the venue then us mums had drinks and dinner. Such fun.
Worst: Coming home and being reminded that my mum has gone. It’s been nearly 4 weeks now since she passed away. Mum would always be the first person I would call and she would be so interested in what we had been up to.
loading...
That must be so hard for you. My mum & I email every day and I don’t even want to think about her no longer being around xo
loading...
Thanks Melsie it is so sad.
loading...
Best: I just paid off the last of a $6, 500 credit card debt and am now debt free!
Worst: I’m worried my career will never take off.
loading...
You should treat yourself to something special with the next lot of money that would have gone on your credit card repayment. Congratulations! It’s wonderful to be free of debt.
loading...
congratulations!! My boyfriend and are very nearly free of a $10,000 debt from travelling ($2,000) to go! I can’t wait till it’s out of our lives and we can get on with actually saving money!!
loading...
Yay you! Well done!
loading...
Thanks guys! I’m having a much needed haircut this weekend to celebrate
loading...