Girl on Fire

Monday 12 May 2014

Screen Free week follow up

So the week is done. A week without any sort of screen. We did make some exceptions in our house, 1) it's hockey playoffs, We're allowed to watch Montreal play
2) Dad needs to work!
3) Mum needs to check email sometimes.
4) Dad can text mum when he needs a pick up.

The week was great. I'm not going to lie. We did have some hard moments. Wednesday night I was so knackered that when hubs suggested after dinner wine and tv, I completely caved. But I feel asleep after 20 minutes, so I don't think it counted. Friday night the kids hung out with grandpa which included a movie. Saturday and Sunday morning they watched cartoons.

Other then that, we were screen free. It was liberating. Honestly, I never knew how much I was letting my smart phone rule my day. TV too for that matter. In the morning I came to rely on a wonderful ease into the day routine of breakfast, coffee and mindless computer grazing. Last week I enjoyed breakfast with the kids. Talked to them about the day ahead, told jokes, and was not upset when they wanted something. Normally after lunches were made I would spend about an hour on my 'routine'. Last week, after breakfast and coffee I got the house ready for the day. Kids organized, I was organized and everyone had socks! SUCCESS all around!

During the day when I'm bored I rely heavy on facebook to get me through. Last week it was knitting, books and baking! When waiting in the car for school to end, I play on my phone. Last week I read. At night, after dinner when the kids are in bed. Hubs and I normally eat then veg.out Totally ignoring each other for the rest of the night. Last week, well last week was busy...business trips, grandparents, classes, soccer...so maybe this week??

Often during the day I will do all the laundry, pile it up then around 1pm, will watch a show and fold it all. Last week, I did laundry as it was ready. I didn't have a 'need to watch xyz at 1' so I let the day unfold how it needed to.

Moving forward, I really feel the need to continue. I have already closed my twitter account. Put an out of office message on my email and putting a one day limit on facebook ( I get lots of p.m.'s there!) Kids love TV and video games. I really feel that what amount of screen they had last week was a perfect amount. I understand that in todays age of technology, it's hard to get them to turn off. But last week, they played so much more outside and did so much more. I want to continue pushing them to look at the world around them. I can only do it by example, so it will be a slow road. I have confidence we'll get there!

So want to know all we did last week?!

One day almost of baking
started a sourdough starter
kept clean and tidy house
read 1.5 books
knitted and learned purl stitches
painted decking
planted and tended garden
enjoyed a picnic
lots of go fish
drew pictures
dinner with friends
mothers day tea at school
date night with my mum
Waiting for swimming me and Logan were able to sit and talk for half hour and play tic tac toe without interruptions
The weather has been lovely and the kids were outside almost all week. When inside they would fill their time with each other or various games with me/dad.
Emma's been helping some mornings with lunch making
Baked two sourdough loafs
Walked kids to and from school a couple of days

It really was an amazing week. Finishing it off with mothers day tea in Kindergarten on Friday was the icing on my cake.

The next challenge; a month! I'm taking life back!

Saturday 29 March 2014

An update, an apology, and an anniversary

First, an update.

Life has been crazy for this gal! I started a business and really hit the pavement with it. Thinking outside the box and trying everything to make it happen. Sadly, it hasn't turned out as I planned. The ship started going down and I only have so many life boats! I love Stella and Dot! I love the product and I love the company. I wanted to try. I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and outside my box and try something completely new for me. It has really pushed me. I know I can do something, I know I can do something for me! Its also taught me that I love sales! networking not so much, but sales yes! So what does this mean? It means that I still sell. I still have a website. I'm still in it. But I won't push it. If you want to party, lets party! if you want to buy here's my website. I've networked all I can, now I need the train to move with the steam I've created. If not, it's okay. It's all okay, and I'm okay with the path it wants to take.

Next the apology.

Because I've been going at such a speed, I've left a lot of you hanging. Phone calls unreturned. Emails untouched. Facebook forgotten (sorta). For those of you who wonder if you'll ever hear from me again, in time. I have to also apologize for the next step. Being a busy (working) mom has taught me something really quickly. I'm very blessed to be able to stay home with my kids. Very Blessed! I felt during the rush, a wake up moment. It happened one night when Luigi was trying to get the princesses attention, She turned to him and said 'not right now Bud, I'm too busy'
oh Lord help me, what have I done? What have I been doing? my face; business or not, is stuck on a screen. Looking at the world. Wondering what the world is doing. Pushing the kids a side because sometimes the pressure of being mom is just too much. I'm slowing it down. Putting the phone aside. Turning the computer off. I have to. They are young, for such a short time. Such a small window, and I've been tuning my back on it. Being a mom is a really hard job. One I don't think I knew the extent of. Most days I wonder why God chose me. Why me??? I have the patience of a flea. The temper of hot pepper and I'm self absorbed. So why me? I'll never know. But I will never know if I keep my face on a screen. So for those of you who are waiting for me, those of you who are left hanging. I'm sorry. But life is flying by. Flying. I need to be present. Always. If I miss something important. I'm sorry. I love you and I love the support dear reader that you have always given me. But forgive me, I can't miss another minute and I want the kids to know and remember how much fun I am. Because I may not have patience or a good temper...but God knows how much I love getting into fun with my peeps. Its a journey and it's going to be long and hard. But I have to do this. For all of us.

Now the anniversary.

One year ago, I shoved my kids on plane. Hubs and I unsure of the next step. But it had come, the time had come to go home. Just about three years in England and we were going home. I miss Blighty. I miss her grey sky. I miss my friends that mean so much to me. It was such a long and tough 3 years. I will never forget a single minute of it. England is a big part of my heart. One day I'll go back and hug her and hold her. One day. I can't believe it's been a year. The days are long but the years are fast. I met some amazing people in the UK and I hold them dear to my heart. My dear Jo. I love you more then words can say. You were my sunshine during so many hard times. Thank you. For all you did and all that you are. You are an amazing mum and friend. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart xx Mrs Holland. Caroline. Thank you. Your friendship and laughter brought so many smiles to my face. I would of loved to burn that farmhouse down with you and laugh until it hurt as we watched it go down. Your an amazing person and are raising some amazing kids. Your good karma spreading like a blanket on everyone you meet. Thank you for being able to function on a level of crazy that kills people. That cup of tea will always be waiting for us. xx

That's that Dear Reader. xx

I'll update soon! now go catch life, before it passes you by!