BEST & WORST of the week
Last weekend, we sat down for dinner as a family on Sunday night. It's embarrassing and sad how infrequently we do this and whenever we do get it together, I'm remember how worthwhile it is. Jason kicked off the meal with something we used to do a few years ago: best and worst. It's simple. You go around the table and each person has to give their best and worst picks of the week.
I went first. It had been rather a difficult Sunday. I can't remember the exact details but let's just say that Mummy Was At The End Of Her Fucking Tether And Lost Her Shit. Ahem……
There had been some shouting. Not my finest or most nurturing performance as a wife or mother.
So when I had to pick my best and worst moments of the week, I said that exploding at my family had been my worst thing. Everyone nodded. I think I then said that my best thing of the week was right at that moment, sitting at the table with my two eldest children, the baby asleep, all of us eating something delicious that Luca had cooked (he wants to be a chef so I consider it more work experience than child labour, OKAY DOCS?).
As we went around the table, everyone named their worst thing of the week as 'mummy losing it'. Even Jason. Especially Jason. So we all had that in common. Bonding.
It was a funny, wonderful dinner and I was reminded of how invaluable it can be to take a moment, and a breath, to reflect on the week and be grateful for the good things and try to work out how we can avoid repeating the bad ones.
So, now I want to hear from you. What was your best and worst of the week? It could be something you did or ate or heard or saw. What were your high and low points this week?
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I was going to post on this before reading some of the comments, but I’m glad I didn’t! Reading what other people are going through with such a good attitude really makes my ‘worst’ pale off into insignificance! People are generally very good and brave, so I am going to put that as my best – getting perspective on my lack of pregnancy by reading this blog entry.
Second best, realising that while i have one ‘worst’ contendor, I have about 20 for ‘best’!
Brilliant husband
Sunshine
My health
Loved ones
Employment
the list goes on and on.
Chin up, everyone, and thank you Mia, what a positive exercise!
Best: being at Club Med Lindeman Island and not having to cook or clean for a whole week! And getting to play tennis with my husband for the first time ever.
Worst: Mr Almost 3 picking up not one, but two separate but equally virulent viruses from the Kids Club, bringing them back to our room and sharing them with all of us -yeah, thanks. And then after two bad nights due to teething, the one night Miss 9 Months was trying to sleep through, her brother wakes her at 3 am with his delirious screaming. Holiday with small kids?? Contradiction in terms.
This is a great post Mia, there are so many lovely people here
Best: Being greeted at the airport after a weekend away by my hubby and 7 year old son who leapt into my arms and cried like a baby when I walked through the gate
Worst: Missing said family while on girls weekend away!
Worst: Finding out a colleague who was at work last week, died of a heart attack on Friday. How does that happen to someone so young, so unexpectedly.
Best: Making my 6am flight to Melb, despite being in bed at 5.15a, half an hour away!!
Oh and the other best was my grandmother, who’s practically my second mother, having two weeks without chemo and so she’s feeling better and healthier. Seeing her happy was wonderful also. =)
Best- Seeing my almost 2 year old little sister squeal wih excitement at the birthday cake I made and decorated for her- “*gasp* LADYBIRD CAKE!!!!!!!!!”
Worst- Having my little sister cling to me for comfort and security after my mum and partner (sister’s father, but not my father) had yet another domestic fight where mum almost had enough courage and left him, but yet again he manipulated her into staying… *sigh*
Another thought on this subject..
The Best..Knowing there are so many lovely people in Mia Land..
The Worst..Knowing so many are doing it tough. Just remember, nothing lasts forever, even the bad times………
Worst: Miscarrage 2nd baby at 7 weeks. Needed a D & C.
Best: My baby boy sensing mummy was sad & has been an angel all week – whilest cutting 5th tooth – good boy.
Best: Finding out I landed the fab new job I’d been interviewing for. All the things I was looking for professionally. Lovely pay rise. Closer to home. Perfect.
Worst: Resigning and dealing with the inevitable questions. The people I work with are so wonderful. I’m going to miss them intensely. Mixed feelings. It’s bittersweet.
Long time reader, first time commenter, seems like a good topic to comment on
PS Mia, reading your column in the Sun-Herald is one of my favourite parts of the week
BEST – Finally getting my green Ps after seven years on my red Ps, and not feeling dumb anymore that I couldn’t pass that silly test (not sure how i managed to fail the first two times…)
WORST – Being two months since my mum died, and being a total bitch to my boyfriend because I’m so angry and lost (and don’t know what to do about it) that it just ends up coming out as bitchface
BEST- Friday and Saturday night, spending time with my gorgeous boyfriend and relatives down in Mandurah for my brothers 21st.
WORST -Wishing my Dad could be alive to be there…and finding out my boyfriend has to work away in Kalgoorlie all this week!!
im a bit delayed but..
BEST: seeing my 20 month old brother again after nearly 2 weeks (felt like forever), teaching him to say Ta and blow kisses saying MWA as well as being bossed around and endlessly cuddled by him.
: Dad being the BEST about the worst (I swore him to secrecy)
WORST: On Learner license and skimming a car while turning (it was a really nice audi) felt so stupid and embarresed but at least not entirely my fault.
Worst: Watching my friend as her Dad died, and watching my sister supporting her… and then hurling abuse at my other sister as I reacted.
Best: Spending time with my oldest and dearest friend… and finally getting on to mamamia, finding this thread, and thinking…. thanks Mia, thanks people I don’t know…
best: the sense of achievement i got when boyfriend and i balanced housework and videogames was lovely. realising that i have a good sort who does housework is lovely after two years with my previous boyfriend who was lazy, useless and spoilt.
worst: knowing that on my birthday, i have to convince a magistrate that i shouldn’t have to pay money to fix a house i wasn’t living in, or pay rent i never owed in the first place. knowing i will probably lose because of the real estate’s incompetence, and will be saying goodbye to my savings for a holiday overseas. i’ve never been overseas.
Worst: Once again attending a function sans partner and being the only one there no partner. Also, wishing we were engaged. Also, desperatly wanting to start our family.
Best: Not sure I can think of one at the moment.
BEST:
Having an awesome time at the best fancy dress party in town this year. oh la la Moulin Rouge!
WORST: Having my fun loving friend tell me she is designated driver and isn’t drink so she could drive me out and home from our choice of place on firecracker night (NT), but getting incredibly stoned instead. She picked me up with a joint in her hand. I still don’t know why I got in the car… and then I watched her take various other kinds of drugs to substitute the whole “I’m not drinking, I can drive you home safe and sound!).
Luckily, I found another friend who was actually sobre and just as scared as I was to take me home.
Another band moment that night was having the biggest rocket they had fall over and explode at my feet. I have burns all over my legs..
I hate Territory Day!
My HIGH for the week is a lot like Amy’s. I’ve been floating around for a year and a half and have decided to study a cert 3 in Conservation and Land Management!
My LOW for the week.. actually, when I think about it is was the day before my HIGH. Felt miserable that all I could think about was seeing my boyfriend and that I wanted to be thinking more about ME and what I wanted to do.
Must say I think my HIGHs and LOWs for the week fit in quite well with you’re column in Sunday Life, Mia. I also watched that story on 60 Minutes and I came to the same conclusion as you did.
You are a pretty awesome chick Mia
You love your stuff and that’s why I love your stuff!!
Best – I got engaged yesterday!!
Worst – i suppose id say Wednesday when I got into a few stupid fights with my family, but it’s been a bit overshadowed by my best this week….
Worst – ending my marriage
Best – knowing it’s the best thing for us both
After reading all the comments, I realized that I could have things much worse. I am young, my partner and I have neither a mortgage nor children to worry about, I have my health, and whilst we are having a rough time, there are plenty of people here who have it much more harder than us.
New Best – Realizing that…
And I am currently watching the Doug Anthony All Stars… Something that was screened on TV when I was fairly young, so I cant remember it… It is Frikkin hilarious!
Heads up everyone who is out of work, sick, down, stressed. I am feeling your pain, and all we can do is know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, even though we may not see it at the moment. Lets just hope the light isn’t a train!
Best: Beating Scott down at Wii Boxing.
Worst: I think i’m starting to like video games…
Wow, my heart really goes out to all the people facing such tough times. Makes my ‘worst’ feel pretty insignificant…
Best: just had a weeks holiday at my parents house, kids got spoiled and my husband and I had lots of time together.
Worst: Having to go back to work tomorrow after a long period of mat leave
Mia, what a great idea – I”m going to institute it in my place (though I’m not yet ready to take wollywally’s suggestion and ask my 4 and 3yo’s what they think I could improve on – I’m sure the answer would be more juice, more tv, more marshmallows, less veges and less bed!).
BEST: watching my 3yo dribble a soccerball across the field this arvo, laughing his head off (as was I), but managing to make it without falling in a heap.
WORST: realising my 8mo had abscesses in both his ears – and I didn’t know!
Reading this has certainly been elightenng. I hope all those with really hard, tough worsts have the best ever bests in the coming weeks.
thanks for sharing wollywally you have a good week too x
good luck good luck and more good luck to you kass
I like this idea
Worst:
1. Another specialist appointment. Cancer sucks.
2. My overtired and emotional mother picking a fight with my husband last night over something stupid – she got personal and I am not.happy.jan.
Best:
1. Signs good that cancer has been eliminated (still no R word though, and I don’t mean recession!)
2.Watching all of season 2 of The Tudors. I’m obsessed.
Claystep, my son was about six or seven years old when I did ask the same question, in one of my moment of self-evaluation as a mother, I just wanted to know is opinion, his answer was, that I can improve my english, and I started laughing, he did gave me a completly different prospective, and as you can see I haven’t improve my english, have a good week, love ooxx
Hi Wollywally I asked and my 5yo boy was very quick to say let us be the bosses and then you have to listen to us but also asked that I turn the powerpoints on for him first , my 3yo just wanted to watch ‘her’ shows on the tv
Claystep, ask your kids instead another question, how you can improve as a mother, how you can be a better mather to them, when you tell me their answers, I’ll them you what my son answer me, when I did ask him se same thing, love ooxx
Best : seeing a team mate call my son’s name and pass the ball to him in U6 soccer
Worst : asking my 3yo daughter what I am good at and having her reply ‘washing’
good wishes and luck to all that are going through trying times I hope the new day brings great news
New best: trip to Adopt a Pet day resulted in dad and me making puppy dog eyes at mum, and the world’s cutest puppy coming home with us.
Such a great topic, Mia, and what wonderful responses. So many stories. The last few pages seemed to bring other issues to the fore, such as Dads out of work or being made redundant, and some of the commenters being unable to find work. Also the couple who run a country pub, Hopee and her partner. To hear how such decisions affect relationships is heart wrenching.
The real damage from bad economic and business decisions is not measured in budget deficits, but in the affect on families, individuals and in particular, relationships.
This post, and the comments, should be required reading by the powers that be. This is a wonderful snapshot of life on the ground, one that many political decision makers probably never see. Protected as they are, or cushioned, from redundancy and unemployment, surely their decision making is skewed when it comes to deciding policy for the majority of families.
As for a best & worst, I don’t really have one, so I’ll share some others.
Worst: MM’ers Amanda(bugman) in hospital with her child, again, and Benita seeming to be going through hell at the moment. I hope you both have a better week this week.
Best: Haven’t got one, it’s all good when you get old! Although I do understand yours, melwallace. Hughesy once replied to me as well, he wrote, ‘yes’. I was chuffed too!
Just a reminder, the moon is nearly full, some people are affect more then other, for the ones who do, PMT+ full moon is a bad bad combination, sorry for husbands and boyfriends they have to copped, here few home remedies to survive the coming week;
have daily hot bath with lavander oil, morning, noon, and evening,if this fail next is,
garlic necklace, easy to make, keep away, bad spirits ,vanpires, and husbands if you don’t feel having sex tonight,
if everything fail, and we feel like yelling at somebody, we can always go outside and have a good howling at the moon, and enbrace our werewolf nature,…….just having a joke, take it easy this week,
for the ones who suffer,
for the ones looking for a job,
for the ones loosing their patience,
for the ones having health problems,
for the ones that have to make hard decision,
I wish you a better week, and may your problems be solved, love to all
Worst; Reaching the 11th week of not having a job after being made redundant & trying to still be pleasant when well intentioned people give me “job search tips”
Best; My fantastic husband consoling me when I burst into tears at the dinner table because I had reached the 11th week of not having a job after being made redundant & trying to still be pleasant when well intentioned people give me “job search tips”
I love this idea…
Worst: Almost being taken out by a semi-trailer which was trying to change lanes without looking.
Best: Realising I would live to see another day after I slammed on the brakes in the nick of time, avoiding a collision by millimetres.
I lied!
Best: Having Mia quote me in last Sunday’s column, and getting a reply from Hughesy on Twitter, even though it only said “really?”
Worst: Hearing about Amanda (Bugmum) having to take her Small Child to hospital again, and hoping that she gets better.
Best: going out last weekend for the first time since becoming preggers 16 months ago, and feeling like myself again.
Worst: having so many monotonous days strung together that I can’t actually distinguish one specific worst moment, they all blend…
Best: my little girl telling me to lay in bed while her and daddy go to the emergency ward at 3am after she fell out of the bed.
Worst: discovering she had broken her collarbone.
Worst: Watching my dad being turned down for yet another job after losing his previous one, on the basis that aged 61 he is ‘too old’, even though he has ten kids to support. Having to babysit my brothers and sisters again and losing my job as a result, wondering how I will pay the rent for my place and study at uni next semester.
Best: Having my ten year old brother still run up to me and hug me tightly every time I walk through the door to my parents place.
By the way Mia we used to do this most nights at the dinner table but lost it somehow. It was always a great way to get the two older boys to open up, being boys they usually just grunt. Thanks for the reminder.
Best – Realizing that I have successfully toilet trained my third and last child, and that I am now nappy free FOREVER!!!
Worst – Realizing that I have successfully toilet trained my last child and that no matter how much I beg, my husband says no more kids and I will never have another baby or ( my biggest regret I will never have a daughter).
Worst – Alot. My partner and I moved to a country town about 7 months ago to run a pub. We just got told that it has been sold, so now we are facing unemployment and we will have nowhere to live. The fights because of stress have been terrible. I lost it big time at a customer last night and I was out of line. A customer lost it at my partner last night and threw a drink in his face. The stress with the staff over their future job prospects. It is the WORST!
Best….
I just recently started uni to complete a degree, so I have a prospect of leaving the industry. We rescued some kittens from the back of the pub about 6 months ago, and the cuddles I get from them every day is nice.
Wow – so many stories!
Worst: Pretending to be happy when another baby in our circle of friends/family is born.
Best:having a breakthrough at work.
WORST. Finding out on Thursday that my dad has been made redundant. He’s 64 and was going to work at least another 2 years so he could to afford to retire.. (after being made redundant 7 years ago as well)
BEST: Finding out the government is going to pop $1000 in my bank account next week because I get Carer’s Allowance.
lee, i’m completely with you on the harry potter re-obsession!! congratulations NJ. that’s fantastic news
i had a big smile in front of the computer for you.
Best: going to see my sister for the first time in months tonight. missed her a lot.
Worst: realising i’ve never had an honest, open relationship with my mum and never told her anything of much importance. always just superficial chit-chat. Mia, this ‘best/worst’ exercise has made me realise i’ve never actually had any sort of meaningful discussion with my mum…. i think its really great you do it with your kids.
Worst:
waking up this morning and finding someone tried to steal our car last night and failed so they trashed it instead
Best:
Made an offer on our dream house and had the offer excepted, we move in in 8 wweeks.
My worst? The knock-down, drag out, screaming in each other’s faces row I had with my 14 year old son. We calmed down, and made it up inside of an hour, with apologies on both sides, but it has hung over the rest of my week like a ginormous cloud.
Best? When said son gave my a hug and told me he loves me, post row. Taht will take some time to top, methinks.
Best: writing this post with a sleeping kitten on my lap, a cup of tea within reach, and Rage on the telly.
Worst: Realising I’ve put on 5 kg since Christmas.
Th worst part of my week was realising the expensive built-in wardrobe in my children’s room had only a 20cm wide clothes hanging area.
The best part is my toddler had his first wee in his potty last night…You have never seen a prouder face.
Best: Being approved for professional development at work ie even more study! Woo Hoo.
Worst: Trying to figure out when I will actually be able to do the study (between 3 and 5am is looking free…)
Thoughts to all with tough journeys at the moment…
Best – waking up at 7.30 am this morning after a full nights uninterrupted sleep, the first time in 15 months as Master 15 had his first sleep over at Nana’s last night
Worst – Finding out that yes Payserve is really taking 9 days wages out of my next two pays to cover for the holdiay pay stuff up they made while I was on maternity leave. Urgh!!!!!!!!
Best: My sister-in-law’s face as she saw her parents greet her at the airport after two years away overseas. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. She didn’t speak for five minutes, she just hung onto her Dad and sobbed.
Worst: Feeling like I contributed to making Mia Freedman feel terrible on the internet
BEST: Waking up on Friday, with the day off feeling creative and starting blog and new book. Book will be a LONG way off… I would say 10 years, but I have still started it. Oh and also, completed one month of detox (no wine at all) and starting DRY JULY!
WORST: New monthly sales targets at work – increase from $84k to $100k in the hardest economic times in the past decade. WTF???????? Glad I had yesterday off to digest.
Thanks Mia – great post. Some really tough and sad worst days for some people – thoughts to all having it tough at the moment.
Best: sitting at home with my boy in front of the fire watching telly and feeling my growing baby bump!
worst: Being told that my job may not exist when I get back from maternity leave
Worst – sacking a person who works for me for incompetance and then getting an impassioned plea from her involving family stories and money issues. Feel so guilty and horrible.
Best – the sun shining every day this week. It’s HOT which is a wonderful thing for London town.
Best: Nailing Mum and brothers birthday presents on wed!! I rocked that one.
Worst: Neighbour with mental illness calling me a piece of trash, still recovering from that one
You know, I’ve heard about swapping bests and worsts of the week, and it’s a really good idea… I should start a personal weekly journal of bests and worsts. Thanks for posting this!
Best: A spectacular job interview applying for a position in an elementary school working as a mentor/tutor for at-risk children.
Worst: Failing to stand up to a particularly rude, bossy and condescending co-worker at the daycare I currently work at.
Best: Spending three lovely days with my wonderful husband in Rome WITHOUT OUR KIDS.
Worst: Unfortunate incident he had after I left and he stayed there for his conference.
Worst: Being worried about my best friend when she announced on Facebook that it was the “worst day of her life” and then not being able to contact her to find out what happened.
Best: Going to the P!NK concert tonight!
BEST: Getting bargains at the stocktake sales!
WORST: Coming home and seeing my cat in a fight with one from down the street & then looking like an idiot as I chased the other cat down my street!
I do not have best or worst, because I know that there is good in worst, and worst in best, I am just gratefull for what life dish me, and for been alive and well, for everybody out there having tough time for any reason blessing and strengh to you all, love ooxx
Best: Watching my little man play with the animals at the Kindi-Farm at his daycare today.
Worst: House-hunting in stupidly overpriced Sydney…
Best: Husband’s boss asking him, “When are we going to get you on here full time”. He is a corporate lawyer currently on a short term contract. He was made redundant from old job last year and was out of work for ten months. (He is fifty and is constantly told he is overqualified). (Hate that term overqualified). I am a SAHM with two young kids. And if I went back to work we would hardly make anything from my salary after childcare.
Worst: Spending hours not being able to sleep worrying about husband losing current job. Finally getting to sleep then two year old waking me up at 1am to fetch dolly that fell out of her bed and then listening to four year old coughing his asthma cough off and on for the next five hours until alarm went off. Happy times. When do they ever sleep through the night.
Congratulations NJ!
Worst: Starting my trial HSC exams. Most likely failing my first English exam. Most likely failing my second English exam. Realising I’m nowhere near as talented at school and English as I used to be, and wondering how that happened. Stressing out about exams and taking it out on 3 year old nephew. Fighting with mother. Fighting with father.
Best: Actually feeling okay about Religion exam. Reaching the weekend. Having lunch with friends. Listening to the 3 year old nephew tell me gorgeous stories in the way that only toddlers can. Taking time out to remember school isn’t everything.
Best: taking the time to enjoy my children and my parenting and just laughing and smiling and kissing them hundreds of times every day
Worst: those moments every day when I panic and stress over how am I going to keep working, looking after kids, bringing in money, exercising, being a good friend, not neglecting my husband, making time for me, maintaining sanity, keeping a clean tidy home, sleeping
Worst: after lots of discussion deciding not to continue with an unplanned pregnancy and having to end it
Best: there just can’t be one this week
Best : Spending a whole day with my children and doing everything with them (i know doesn’t sound like much but to someone with OCD, PTSD, BPD and GAD its a lot)
Worst: Waiting on a very important life changing email – all week…..and still waiting
Love the family dinner!
Best- was offered really cool 6 month project role.
Worst- clipped side mirror on car reversing into ridiculously tight spot. Insanely inconvenient and expensive to fix 2 second mistake. Blaaaah.
Sense of perspective- everyone I love is healthy. Warm thoughts to those of you dealing with far worse “worsts” than mine
Best: adopting a dog from The Lost Dogs’ Home. Cookie.
Worst: Hearing the barks of all the dogs I left behind. Cried.
Best: finally buying our first home … hubby and I had too much fun early in life and have only just been able to afford a small house in the country for us and our 3 beautiful boys. So happy and excited about the move.
Worst: having so much to do that I have had ignore boys at times during a rainy week and they ended up in World war 3 -15 today.
Best: Finding out I’m pregnant. Yay us!
Worst: None at all.
Jamtart: Just had to say how moved I was by your description of your son typing those beautifully metaphorical words. Sounds like a very special moment.
Worst: Sleeping for only 1 hour on Sunday night.
Best: Having father-in-law come and stay over to help with partner who had flu and baby. Initiated a lovely conversation and listened to my feelings, making me feel heard and understood. Nice
Worst: realising that even though they’re my family they don’t love or care about me all that much (3rd year in a row now where I’ve been reminded my birthday is an inconveince to them and their lives).
Best: getting a friendship bracelet from partner with him down on one knee, because I’m his “best friend”
Best: Husband starting holidays. Yay!
Worst: Not having enough time to fit in my hectic social life!
Best: Having coffee and going to see Ice Age 3 with friends this afternoon (turns out I’m not the only 19 year old who desperately wants a ride-on toy dinosaur…)
Followed very closely by dad telling me we could got the RSPCA adopt a pet day tomorrow. I said there was no point if I couldn’t get a puppy. He said “We’ll take mum, and hope that something that isn’t a poodle makes puppy dog eyes at her.” Funniest thing I’ve heard all week.
Worst: Realising that having not heard anything from childcare center I applied for a job with 3 weeks ago probably means I didn’t get a job which I would have loved, and would be really good at.
Worst: walking away from my little girl this morning at creche
Best: watching the sheer joy break across her face as I opened the creche door this afternoon and then scooping her up into my arms
P.S. Mare – so lovely to read your post, can’t imagine the nailbitingtummyflutteriness of waiting for both blood test results AND a rental application.
We just got the go ahead on a new rental place so I share your happiness!
Worst: Dinner with the toxic in-laws- couldn’t get out of it this week!
: Mr. Toddler’s cough that just won’t go away.
Best :Bun-in-the-oven has started kicking like a champ this week. Love listening to the heartbeat with home doppler machine-best thing I’ve bought all year (peace of mind).
:Lunch with an old friend I haven’t seen for months
Best: Booking my husband’s birthday present – a Harbour cruise. We don’t give eachother presents, we do experiences instead and I think he’s going to love this. It’ll be the first night we’ve had out together since my birthday in February.
Worst: Realising upon booking said cruise that upcoming birthday weekend also marks 7 months of unemployment for Hubby. GFC sucks.
oh Lee – reading your comment just officially became my ‘best’ pick of the week
P.S. Mia did you read the Telegraph today?
Your name is no. 2 on most popular baby names ‘of the recession’.
Thanks for the change of pace Mia
Best: going to a gig at unibar and dancing with my boyfriend and friends. good music and people and fun night.
Worst: not feeling my finest.
I love doing this. When I used to have the kids I Nanny for late at night, we’d sit down and do this at dinner.
I now do it on my blog every Monday, and will do it with my daughter when she is old enough.
Best: Playing at the park with my daughter and one of my charges. We took some great photos and had fun. It made me realise we should do it more often. AND having my first sale in my etsy shop. That validated my work and made me feel all happy.
Worst: Still not getting any sleep 15 months on. I hate that it’s my ‘thing’. I hate that it’s so constant. I hate that I’m a nanny and have sorted out so many other kids sleeping issues and can’t even fix my own. Being sleep deprived is really taking it’s toll on me. I look like shite. Have my first cold sore EVER. I need to beat this sleep thing. It’s always on my to-do list but has now been moved to the number one position.
Worst – agreed to someone making a playdate for me and their au pair I’ve never met and child at a play centre. (This is as weird as it sounds)
Best – Toenail Tuesday – hanging out with 4 year old without kinder so we painted toenails – a different colour for each nail!
Worst: The ongoing fight with my husband that started as a disagreement on Wednesday and by Thursday escalated to full on screaming. Unfortunately the screaming is continuing and now my throat is sore. Oh, and all of this done in the presence of our 3 very young children.
Best: A wonderful chat with the fabulous Gigdiary about all things musical, which momentarily shifted my crappy mood and reminded me that music has always been my escape, my source of solace and my passion. And my piano got a bit of a workout this week
worst..
same as you Mia, shouting at my recently sick and still washed out but naughty, sister torturing, uncooperative 3 year old. Really shouting. Adult tantrum. Mummy has left the building screaming. Cried much later on out of guilt and shame.
Best…
Being told “I love you mummy” half an hour later by same toddler when I apologised to her.
Sometimes my kids put me to shame.
Have a lovely weekend xx
Best: Not taking my migraine medication anymore! I am no longer reliant on them and am now starting to get used to waking up without a migraine.
Worst: Argument with parents about same-sex marriage being made legal in Iowa…..
Best: Watching my 7 week old baby girl smile and laugh at me for the first time. Magic.
Worst: Realising that a night of unbroken sleep is something I will have to learn to live without for a long time.
Worst:more appointments in the hospital for my hubby and all the endless waiting that goes with it.
Best: he is still alive and having appointments!
worst – pulling the fridge out and seeing what was living behind there, then having to clean it!
best – when my 11 yo son came and asked me if I wanted a hand whilst cleaning behind said fridge.
I just love boys xxx
Worst: Same as Emma-being broken up with my boyfriend of three and a half years, it being four months down the track and still crying most days.
Best: The lovely friends who are still listening and supporting four months down the track
Worst: Hyperventilating at the realisation of how little time I have left to finish my thesis while surviving on a part-time wage.
Best: Making time for brunch tomorrow with friends and my wonderful other half.
Worst: Its a tie between both me and the boy being sick all week and losing our shit at each other this morning while out for breakfast and starting to get seriously stuck into writing my thesis and realising starting is (hopefully) the hardest part.
Best: Making up with the boy and having a nice cuddle and adoring looks over breakfast. Oh and finding out I got a scholarship for uni.
Best – not having to make lunches, iron school uniforms and get out of the house early every day
Worst – having gastro bug go through the house and spending all week at home with kids and this was the last week of school before the holidays.
Worst 1: Being told my job has been made redundant, yeah thanks for that!
Worst 2: Having to deal with my in-laws asking me every time I see them if I have found another job…I would like to say shut the f**k up and stop the nagging.
Best 1: Deciding to take a couple of months off to re-charge and take a well deserved holiday.
Any ideas where to go for a bit of R&R people?
Best 2: My gorgeous man for being so very supportive.
Best thing: my first paying client (no, it’s not what you think. Nowhere near that well-paid).
Worst thing: Checking on 18mo napping to find her sound asleep, bum in the air…NUDE bum in the air, covered in poo, which was also all over the cot, the walls, and the nappy that had been thrown over the side. Joys of motherhood!
Best: A week without morning sickness, where I could actually function like a normal adult.
Worst: Toddler son throwing up 8 times in one night, change of PJ’s (6), Bed Sheets (2) and a terribly hung over feeling the next day.
Best: moving back home to live with my parents
Worst: moving back home to live with my parents!
Worst: “Mummy Was At The End Of Her Fucking Tether And Lost Her Shit”. Ditto! Beautifully descriptive..
Best: Spending a day with my 3yr old son – just him and me. It was so nice to give him my complete attention instead of him having to share me with his 20month old sister.
Happy weekend
Worst: Losing an old friend at the too-young age of 45.
Best: Receiving wonderful, glowing school reports for both children.
Worst – worrying all week about;
a) not having good blood test results
b) our application to rent a house not being accepted because my lovely husband is ‘in between jobs’.
Best -
a) having good blood test results
b) organising to sign the lease of our new home next week!
Best: Re-watching and re-reading the Harry Potter books/movies in anticipation of the movie in two weeks!
Worst: The depression that comes with realising that my life is no where near as exciting as Harry Potter’s
Best: Enjoying a relaxed, fun dinner out with a good friend & her husband on a ’school night’
Worst: Feeling sick in my tummy that by husband felt sick in his tummy returning to a job he doesn’t want to do after 1 month off (mortgage & bills suck!)
Worse – dealing with an angry, petty, tree hating neighbour. The only negative person in a beautiful street.
Best – Sitting in front of the fire with a glass of red wine and time to talk with my hubby.
Best – seeing my baby blow me kisses on a 3D ultrasound
Worst – firecracker night. In the Northern Territory it’s still legal for some reason and is like living in a war zone. My dog needs therapy.
Best: My 8 year old son telling me that frost is ‘powdered cold’. He has autisum, is unable to speak and communicates via a keyboard.And he’s obviously a poet in the making.
Worst: Going stir crazy on the first day of the first week of the school holidays.
WORST: breaking up with my boyfriend after 3.5 years and crying all the time randomly..dealing with such loss SUX
BEST: being offered my dream job by my dream team in my dream industry. boys who need em!!??
Worst of the week: Being told root canal therapy, ongoing,for some weeks !
Best of the week: Blue eyed cod, with chips and salad, at the club !………..
Well I’ve had a pretty spectacular week with lots of highlights – week off in Sydney so best bits were:
* Seeing family members again
* P!nk concert
* Mochas at Lindt cafe (we don’t have one at home)
Worst bits:
* Discussing her recent retrenchment with cousin A
* Sharing pain of cousin B who broke his ankle when playing union on weekend
* Freezing my arse off down here! (hardly relevant compared to other two, I know, but shock to system for Cairns-ite)
Best: Being able to take the week off work to hang out with the kids at home during school holidays. Nice just to be, and to have them and their friends coming and going. And being able to cook what I wanted on the day, rather than having to plan ahead on Saturday just to get us fed throughout the week.
Worst: Husband starting the week grumpy because he was having to plod through a hard week at work. He’s snapped out of it though.
Worst: Not understanding why I had no motivation to take my four year out of the house on his kinder holidays. Feeling like such a bad mother with no inspiration.
Best: Realising today that I have had minor anxiety symptoms recently, and that it is generally out of my control. Being able to recognise the situation and hence regain responsibility for my life.
Best – having coffee in winter sunshine yesterday with friend while husband minded kids (including drive there listening to radio instead of Hi-5). Bliss.
Worst – watching lovingly expressed milk disappear down the sink after baby refuses to accept bottle over boob.
Worst: losing my temper and getting shouty
Best: Finishing a huge work project and so not feeling guilty about work while at the park with the kids and not feeling guilty about the kids while working.
Best thing – waking up to find a freshly made toasted sandwich that had been made for me by my early rising, early-to-work husband so that I didn’t have to rush around in the morning. Sounds small, but seriously…I feel so much love from that.
Worst thing – Not making my budget this week at work
Worst: Being stuck in bed sick since Monday.
Best: Getting better in time for the weekend!
Best: Welcoming our beautiful new baby niece into the world. Little Dominique Claire. So precious.
Worst: When the puppy dug up half the new lawn that was just starting to take. I didn’t think it was really THAT bad! (Other half did).
Best: My boyfriend buying me a wii fit to help tone up my body
Worst: Feeling self consious in a pair of skinny leg jeans
Worst: Walking into my bedroom where Child 2 was lying shivering with a fever to find that Toddler had drawn all over the walls, door, TV, carpet, doona, even Foxtel box with black PERMANENT marker. As I contemplated this horror, Child 1 called out to say he wasn’t feeling well either.
Best: Being present to inspire and witness the creation of @apurplemongoose on twitter – needs to be experienced to be understood.
Great post Mia & happy w/end all.
Best: Since I left high school 5 years ago, I’ve just been floating around and trying to figure out what I want to do. This week, I decided to study a Bachelor of Communications at University! I actually feel so much better already!
Worst: Seeing 3 entry level positions at publishing houses that require degrees. Lets hope I can find them again in 3 years!!