Nothing to wear

We have to go to town, nothing special, a bit of food shopping. DD 11 years is holding us up… we can hear sobs coming from her room, and upon investigation we discover that this child has absolutely NOTHING to wear. She has no tops… no bottoms, absolutely nothing; she is a deprived child that we have overlooked as she is in the middle.
At least that is her story and she is sticking to it. Looking into her room it is a hard story for her to sell though… you can’t see the floor or the bed through all the clothing she has… all apparently is stuff that doesn’t fit her, or she hates it… not hers, or not clean.
It is hers, it does fit her, and if she didn’t change her mind on what she likes as often as she breaths in and out… she would like all of it… as for the washing, I expect an 11 year old to get their washing to the laundry… NOT hard!

She finally puts on the ugliest combination she can produce, things that might look OK if worn with more subtle pieces, but together they look like she is a colour blind child who can’t sew that made her outfit from a set of grandma’s curtains! We are all a little annoyed at each other, but I’m pretending not to care and we leave.
Once we get to the shops DD won’t get out of the car, it all turns into a rather stressful outing, and upon returning home I send her to her room to clean it…. At the very least get the washing out.

Clean your room actually translates to… go to your room, laze about, make a bit more mess whilst listening to music. If I enquire if anything is actually getting done, a snappy YES, nearly done is the standard response. I don’t like the word NEARLY… This translates to ‘not doing it’.
All weekend I kept harping on about her room… all weekend I got a NEARLY done answer, she did get some of her washing out… 9pm Sunday night!

After weeks of her room being NEARLY done… I spat it… Monday morning I got up and her room still looked like a floorrobe (wardrobe on the floor) so I filled 2 garbage bags of her clothing that wasn't put away and hid it in my wardrobe... (She wasn't inside during this time)... I then grabbed a garbage bag of rubbish, and put it in the car... she saw this and I told her to watch the kids for 2 minutes...

I drove up the road and put the bag in a bin up there, came back and told her that her room issue is fixed as I just donated a bag of all her floor stuff to the salvos!

She was less than impressed… I have apparently thrown out ALL her favorite outfits and so she now has nothing to wear… considering she said she had nothing to wear before and was whining about her lack of outfits … I guess not a lot has changed other than I now have 2 garbage bags of her stuff in MY wardrobe. *sigh*

'Messa in Onore di Saint'Antonio'

Ever have a morning when you battle to wake up… well that was us this morning. It was like we were hibernating bears, and some idiot thought it would be fun to wake us up, we were all snappy and all wanted to just hide in bed, away from the freezing cold and soaking heavy rain that awaited us outside.
We had an extra child sleep over, and I was still telling them to go to sleep just after midnight… Taivian was sooo excited, that I don’t think he went to sleep till 2am, and this child NEEDS sleep, he can be hard work with sleep… no sleep is asking for problems..
We had an Italian church thing, it’s only once a year, and some of the children get dressed up in traditional costumes to be part of a special mass and parade. This year S and A both wore costumes.

Akelina

Leaving the church

Svarah,

The sister told us that we had to be there at 10.30am, thinking we better not be late we get there at 10.15, to find it is really 11, but they tell us an earlier time so we aren’t late. Since we didn’t want to be late, in all the rush, we forgot a head piece; or DD conveniently left it behind, she wasn’t a fan of how it looked, and had joked about not bringing it, I didn’t think she was serious! I dropped off some of the children at church and drove home to get it. Even with this extra trip, we weren’t late, *sigh*

Finally it starts, Tai wanted to know who everyone was, how we know them, why can’t they talk better, why are they making up stuff… he attempts loudly to make up his own language, we are telling him to shhhhhhhh

He wants to know where Akelina and Svarah are, why they are in dress ups, why isn’t he in dress ups, why can’t he see better…
We tell him to shhhhhhh

He wants to go to the motel, wants to go to the farm, wants something to eat, and wants to go outside
We tell him to shhhhhhhhh
He finds an old pencil… attempts to draw on the lady in front of us, we take the pencil off him, and he starts to scream/ cry, we give it back to make him Shhhhh, he drops it, the pencil roles under the pew, and he leaps to get it. The lady in front, I think thought he was attempting to get her handbag, snatches it up and gives us THE LOOK. Probably the 1st of many, but the only one I actually saw.
I threaten Tai that we will leave, but it really isn’t a part that you could leave without being rude, so we stay… just a bit longer. Long enough for Tai to try and draw on the seat, and Joes shirt, and pretend to poke Joe in the eye with this bloody pencil.
We have had enough… when we are all told to stand; I stand and attempt to leave with DS… Of course the people in our pew don’t speak English, so I have to get DH to ask them to let us through… but it is sitting time again… Missed it!

After another hymn and a bit of chatting… I got about 7 words… ‘Everyone, family, above, speak, Italian, immigrate’, and a couple of connector words, the rest I really had no idea. At home I can understand about 50% or more… here, with a slightly different dialect and accent… I understood about 1% LOL
We stand again, and finally get the people to let us out! We maneuver past the other people and out the church doors… it is bucketing down… I can only JUST see the car, and it is less than 20 meters away. Tai is screaming that he wants daddy, and he wants to go to the farm, or the motel, or MacDonald’s… I pick him up because he won’t be lead, and he is kicking, and arching, but we do get to the car and pile in. J

Now for the wait… How long can this service go? Well a LONG time is the correct answer.
Finally people start to trickle out of the church… there is a break in the rain… it is still raining, but not pouring. Everyone gets organized to walk in the parade, and celebrate St Antonio day with a feast… once they get there.

Getting ready to walk down the main Street

Part of the parade -

We still have another hour and a half of dealing with DS and the other 6 kids, before we stumble home, happy that we can stay home and do nothing for the rest of the weekend.

Today reminded me why I don’t go to church more than occasionally.
Have at least 3 months to recover, till we take the kids again.

NO Photos of Mr Tai... was just all too hard. LOL

School swimming lesson fortnight

Tavanna’s interpretation of a conversation…

“What stage do you WANT to be in?”

The more likely conversation

“What stage ARE you in?”

Whatever the real wording was, her answer was 4 :)

Hmmmm WRONG… Nothing like doubling your ability with 1 word… try stage 2, and not a confident 2… she JUST passed stage 1 three weeks before.

Partly this was my fault, we had weeks… no it was probably months to hand in the enrolment forms, but I handed ours in the last day of school before the lessons commenced. I’m NOT great doing things if I’m given too much time, I work better under pressure. Add to this... I didn’t make it down on the first day, had great intentions of getting there, but the day zoomed past and I missed it.

I was shocked to hear her tell me about her lesson, especially when she mentioned that she was in stage 4! I asked how on earth they came to that conclusion, so she retold her take of the conversation… They asked what stage she ‘wanted’ to be in, she said 4 so that was where she went. :) Miss T continued to explain how she got to swim in the BIG pool where her eldest sister swims, but she had to use the side heaps more than anyone else.

The 2nd day I made the effort to go down… Obviously they realized quickly that stage 4 was just a random number DD picked, not a reality, she was placed in stage 2 the following day.
The remainder of the fortnight was OK, we struggled some nights with homework, as DD was tired, but overall the fortnight flew past.

Today was the final day, I told Tavanna that it didn’t matter if she passed or not, and in all honesty, she couldn’t care less about passing, she just loves going to the pool! After her lesson she came over and told us that she was still in stage 2, we told her that was great and that we were proud, and she went back to school happy.

3 hours later we were back at the pool to do in term swimming, Tavanna went to her class, and it appeared that her teacher was making her do more than the others, she then got the head of swimming to come over to watch her, then they got another swimming teacher to get into the pool to do a few things with just Tavanna. After the lesson they came over and told me that she should be in stage 3! I mentioned that she had a fortnight of school swimming, and didn’t pass, but they were very sure that she had. LOL
Apparently they are looking for a stage 3 to move her into, but I have told them that I can only do 2 certain days, and that I’m happy for her to stay in this stage…

We told Tavanna that she had in fact passed… thinking that she would be happy… how wrong I was! Her reaction was fear! Fear that we wouldn’t keep coming down to the pool!

Children’s reactions can never be guessed nor guaranteed! LOL :)

Top heavy

Photo - Using arms to help balance.

Coordination can sometimes be hard; most children eventually pick up the basics… learning to walk, run, learning a new skill, etc. Generally I thought most people had basic co-ordination. This was until #6 child proved that some people just don’t gain this ability at all! (Well not yet)
This child is literally a walking disaster … Tripping disaster might be a better term to use, as walking disaster would imply that he can walk successfully.
I feel like the hovering dramatic over protective parent when out with T, I’m forever telling him to slow down, don’t run, don’t climb, Any people that don’t know him they would think, 'Let the kid be!' BUT… I have to time the ‘Let him be’ moments to occasions that I don’t mind a casualty trip or a night up with him screaming from his latest scrape. It doesn’t help that he freaks out if he can see a cut, graze or mark, but has a phobia of ‘man-aides’, (bandaids), so won’t let us cover up his war wounds.
This child, IMO is top heavy; he has a heavy head that gravity likes to plummet to the ground at full speed at any opportunity it can get! He can trip over thin air, so with the thin air tripping talent, you can guess what he is like walking on paths with cracks, grass, or something really full on like gravel or leaves. He walks into any solid item, and likes to prove he is adventurous by climbing objects at any opportunity.
So never assume co-ordination is a natural occurrence, it is a talent that we take for granted, but appreciate its importance when it’s lacking.

On a plus... when the danger is over... he gives us many laughs with is clutsy style of getting anywhere :)

Love of travelling

Been MIA for a LONG time… I swear to god that I am proof that you can speed up time! I know the last few months have passed in a matter of days.
I’ve thought about getting back into blogging, but put it off as I haven’t known where to start. I’m going to just pick random thoughts over the next week and update in an unordered way J
Zamirah is not going to be a seasoned traveler! I know she hates the car, I’m sure most people at school know me as the mum that sounds like I’m ripping Zamirah’s limbs off as I put her into the car seat… That’s what it sounds like, She fights me with a strength that only black belts should possess… not babies, she is so bad that she snapped the seatbelt buckle a couple of months ago, and if I’m not swift and strong, it can be a frustrating long battle to get her securely fastened.

It was NO surprise that she also hates flying. We went to the Gold Coast (from Perth) and it was LOUD! I gained muscles I never dreamed I had, and for once, time slowed right down… it was the longest 6 hours I can remember, but I take solace in the fact that I wasn’t alone, I’m sure at least 30 other people whom I don’t know had the same opinion.. We did get to have a good look around areas of the plane that most people don’t hang out in, and the Virgin staff will probably stay Virgins forever now, as a couple said they don’t want kids any time soon after hanging out with us for the duration of the flight LOL

Backyard Treasures.

Had a brain wave that I needed the lawn mowed; I have been avoiding all contact with the backyard, I new it was bad. Today I accidently ventured out to freak and NEED it done ASAP… it was above my knees in places!!!

I convinced eldest DS to do part of it; if I do the yard, I use a push along mower, but apparently when males do the lawn, they find a ride-on mower! Geez if I had a ride on I might be able to do it myself.
A ride-on was found at Nonna’s home; eldest DS drove it up through the paddock, this was met with screaming from youngest DS who thinks it was sent to eat him… screams from another that it is UNFAIR how J always gets to ride the bike ha-ha (tell her it is a mower, and get my most loved word… ‘Whatever’ as an answer)

I’m just about ready to say where to start, and I see a toy, go down to get it… and see another toy… and some shoes… and socks… and a bucket… and pegs and lunches. Yep the sandwiches that I declared I’m NOT making anymore were in the yard/ grass. ; All sorts of stuff!

We do a junk hunt, and I’m not feeling real happy (Youngest DS was very upset about this… I got LOTS of ‘Are you happy?’) We collect 4 piles of stuff.

1 pile is washing that I now have to rewash!
1 pile was dishes, mainly lunch boxes, and chock buckets, but adds t-spoons and cups just to top it off.
1 pile was toys, stuff that IS meant to be out side… but NOT hidden in the grass.
The last pile was Brocken toys, and bits of brick, wood and pavers.

I had the 4 elder children helping me (and youngest DS following, wanting me happy). All were complaining how they DIDN’T do this, it WASN'T them… I was getting quiet mad and fed up, giving them sarcastic comments telling them they must have, because I didn’t put all the stuff out there, and the fairy sure as hell can’t be blamed! Etc

We get the wheelie bin to throw out the last pile and DD 6 years comes outside, she was so upset.
Apparently we have ruined her treasure hunt game!!!… As she was storming off she made it clear that she now has to hide all the treasures again! ROFL

Had to laugh… what else could you do. :)

My children are the ONLY ones in their school that have to….

My children are the ONLY ones in their school that have to….

….do jobs... Apparently!

I am over how the children do jack crap to help out… I’m their mum yes, slave no.
To rectify this issue I wrote a job chart. Jobs aren’t foreign to the children, they do them, but I thought the chart would help them know exactly what is expected, and decrease their complaining how it is unfair because such and such never does anything, and how they do it all.

Apparently this job chart is worse than getting shot by a firing squad, worse than being thrown into a lion’s pit; both are things that are more appealing to them than what is on the dreaded chart.
DD 10 years was sobbing, saying she wished she had a new family and that this family isn’t a family but a slave camp. DS 13 was quick to agree and suggested he move out to Nonna’s, as he is NOT doing that ‘sucky shit’, and feels that if he didn’t make the specific mess… why should he clean it; NOT that he does clean the specific mess he makes, if you look into his bedroom there is proof that he really wants to be a pig, as a human wouldn’t find the simple task of cleaning 1 room that hard.

I hear your concerns about what is on this chart…if you ask the kids – EVERYTHING, but in reality it is between 3 and 5 jobs each (assuming you count them as jobs) each, depending on age. Tavanna and Taivian share their jobs, and are happy to do them… Washing hunt, bottle hunt and try neaten their bedroom.

Maison has 4 jobs, and LOVES the chart as he often gets blackmailed via the older kids, so he thinks it is great he knows what he has to do – Dry half the dishwasher stuff, open blinds, coat hanger hunt and neaten the room he is in.

Apparently the younger 3 are SOOOO lucky and the next 2 up want to swap jobs as it now becomes unfair… age shouldn’t change expectations, and they know I just hate them cause of how hard their jobs are!

DD 10… the one that wants to change families now; - dry half the dishwasher stuff – OMG why did SHE get THAT, she HATES doing that and would rather do ANYTHING else in the world (apart from her other 3 jobs) Her other jobs… put away towels, wipe under 1 side of the bench and wipe the vanity top. As you can see, I truly missed my calling, a slave driver is what I’m destined to be.

DS 13, normally he gets out of most things as he exhausts me and I get to the point where I can’t be stuffed fighting, regarding the jobs - he wants to move out… or ring DH to complain (Like that will help) His jobs are chook bucket kept OK, if it is full he gets to throw it to the chooks… NOT the whole bucket... just what is in it. Yard duty, and this really isn’t a job, as he will ride his bike or go to the park, but it sounded good and it was away from me , picking up the pegs that grow in the grass under the line. I say they grow, because they are always there; not on the wire! The BAD one is cleaning up the breakfast bits and pieces, put away the stuff everyone got out, rinse the dishes and wipe the bench.
What is so hard about this…? EVERYTHING… according to him *sigh*

Eldest DD isn’t to bad, and she got a couple of ‘real’ jobs, like hanging a load of washing, taking the bins out, ironing 10 items every 2nd day and doing her sisters hair. (The mega curly hair that is a mattered ball of fuzz each morning)

I’m seriously thinking of writing a new chart… one that is more age based… they could do the same number of jobs as their age! ha-ha
If I must hear them complain about it, might as well give them something to actually complain about! ;)

Lucky for them I can’t be stuffed, but I’m not giving up on what I’ve written, and personally feel it isn’t expecting much at all.