Days out at the zoo and chipmunks

Dear Matthew

On Sunday we went to the zoo with your Aunty Chantel, Andrew and your cousins (and a friend of Mikayla), which meant we walked around with 8 kids. Luckily it wasn't as challenging as it sounds as you were all so well behaved. Your big cousins (especially Ella) always want to take special care of you so you were smothered in love from beginning to end.

 

I love how you get to sit in the stroller that your cousins brought along for Harry. And then Andrew looks after you despite having 7 other kids to look after while your dad and I walk around and look at the animals. He's a good guy :)

 

In September we are going to Rottnest with your cousins so we're looking forward to you spending even more quality time with them. We find that when you're around the big kids you take a little while to warm up (it can be overwhelming at first) but then you find your groove and start cuddling them all eventually (this weekend you especially loved cuddling Quentin).

 

Yesterday we caught up with Mother's Group at Chipmunks again (our local playcentre). You surprised me greatly when you climbed up the giant inflatable slide without any encouragement and slid down like a champion. It really is amazing watching you grow (and so, so quickly at that). It was a bit awkward however when we were waiting for chips we had ordered and you decided you couldn't wait anymore so you wandered over to a stranger's table and just helped yourself to their food. They were very kind and obliged you but after a chip or two I had to stop you, which of course ended in a meltdown until your own precious chips arrived.

 

I then lost you a little while later and while scouring the playground for you and starting to panic, Gareth from Mother's Group noticed that you had walked up to a table with leftover fairy bread on it and helped yourself to someone's leftovers. Lovely.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Don't change, Machu Machu.

Love,

Mum xxx

Doing things my way

 

Dear Matthew

 

After your birth it's safe to say I was disappointed in the way it panned out. I was overjoyed to have you in my arms and for you to be happy and healthy but I hadn't planned on meeting you via caesarean section. I was angry at myself for not looking at other options when the induction failed and guilty that you didn't get to experience all the benefits that come with a vaginal birth.

 

Since then I've been trying to manage my anger and guilt over your birth but have been struggling to do so, so instead of simply plodding along expecting something to change, I've decided to attend birth trauma counselling in an attempt to be better prepared for when your sibling comes along. We are hoping to conceive your brother or sister towards the end of this year and I don't want to be fearful of his/her birth or out of control. I have been researching VBAC births (vaginal births after caesarean) since shortly after your birth and feel that my knowledge is very strong. The last piece of the puzzle is attending counselling with a qualified counsellor.

 

 

I had my first session on Tuesday and to be honest, we talked for an hour and haven't even got up to your birth yet! The main thing we focussed on was that I unapologetically parent based on my values, such as breastfeeding to natural term and bed-sharing. I do it because I adamantly believe it is best for you and (as you'll see below in the photo of Ma Ma, your uncle Andrew and myself) it's all I know. I sometimes find it hard to parent 'against the grain' because my personality is one where I try to fit in and get those 'gold stars' for doing all the things that the books tell you to do. It has taken a lot of my strength and courage to burn those books and to simply be the best mother I can for YOU, which means following your lead. I'm hoping I can draw on this strength in the lead up to your siblings birth - doing things the way I feel they should be done, not simply because someone tells me that's how they're to be done.

 

I want to set an example for you not to simply be a sheep. You can do things on your own terms if you wish. So long as you feel in your core that what you are doing is right for you, you will always have my full support. For it is only when we act based on our values that we will ever be truly happy and fulfilled in life.

Love you my darling boy,

Mum xxx

School interviews

Dear Matthew

Last Monday your dad took a day off work and we attended school interviews with you at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School and Yidarra Catholic Primary School.

In preparation for these interviews I researched the schools, talked to parents with kids at the schools and formulated a list of questions I wanted to ask each of the principals.

I thought I was well prepared but I was still a bit nervous about being quizzed on my knowledge of Catholicism/information about the schools etc.  

However, I didn't anticipate the main issue - you not wanting even to enter the office of the first school and running down the street back towards the car, twice, in an attempt to escape whatever it was that had you fleeing. I think perhaps you thought the office resembled a doctors/dentist office and wanted to be free of any potential injection/mouth review.

In any event it was difficult to keep a conversation going when your toddler is sitting next to you screaming to leave. We survived but I'm pretty sure I had a mild panic attack following the interview because I was convinced we'd screwed it and you were unlikely to receive an offer. Truth be told, we received an offer in the post the next day and the school understood that in fact you were just acting as a typical two year old.

The second interview went a bit better later that day because they were prepared with an awesome toy in their reception and when things became a bit boring for you in the principal's office she suggested we go outside to the playground (you had a tantrum when we attempted to get you to leave the playground but your dad hung with you while I chatted with the principal so it was generally less traumatic).

We have to wait a few months to see if you'll get an offer to Yidarra but you have your offer for Mel Maria so looks like you're off to Catholic school (somewhere)! Your dad and I are really want you to attend a Catholic school so that you have the benefit of the amazing pastoral care that comes with it, which we think will help you thrive at school. Looking forward to you starting pre-kindy next year! Can't believe it's come by so quick!

Love you my crazy toddler,

Mum xxx

Playgroup and Mother's Day

 

 

Dear Matthew

 

Last month, after a few weeks of difficulty getting you to sit on the mat during gymbakids and running around disturbing the class, I decided it was time to move on from gymbakids (at least for the moment) and try playgroup.

 

We joined the local group that your friend Charlotte from mother's group is a part of and (the first week at least), you seemed to really enjoy it. I was surprised at how easily you joined in with the kids, played on the toys and ate happily at the kids table during morning tea. Unfortunately the second week was a disaster and we had to leave early as you became upset in the bathroom when I went to change your nappy and simply couldn't be consoled. It's safe to say your mum is really struggling with transitioning you to new surroundings (you also had multiple tantrums at your school interviews last week, which I'll post about soon). Hopefully it's just a phase and you'll get better with time. 

 

 

We also celebrated Mother's Day where we had your grandma, gramps, nanna, Darryl and aunty Robyn come around for dinner. It was an interesting night with lots of different discussions to say the least! In any event it was great to have two sets of your grandparents together and to celebrate and show gratitude to your grandma and nanna for all the wonderful things that they do for us. 

 

Love you Matt,

Mum xxx