Catching my breath

Ouf! as soon as we got back from vacation, the kids went back to school, Rose starting 4th grade and Justin proudly entering his first....my babies are not babies anymore, or so it seems, judging by their refusal to wear clothes mummy picked out for them and insiting on choosing everything by themsleves...Of course Rose, as a girly-girl, has been throwing clothes related fits every morning before school since she was 5, but now my son has joined the fuss-parade! At least now they'll only have themselves to blame when they have "nothing to wear" in their closets...

Vacation was a success, and although it was incredibly hot, we managed to live the high life for one week, and while I was spraying my kids with 50 FPS suntan lotion, I forgot to save some for me...Result? A peeling tummy due to the inexperience of wearing a bikini. Sure beats frost bite though.

What's next?

A weekend in Toronto from September 14 to the 16 along with some cruise buddies.

Oh, and a few existantial updates in the next few days.

Time managing for overworked single moms

It is freezing this morning in Ottawa. Minus 25, and my bedroom windows were all foggy. Do I really have to get out of bed Mum? Oh, wait a minute...I'm the mummy. Oops. My son came to snuggle up with me as soon as he heard the radio alarm go off; I was still in a daze, deciding if it was really worth it to get out from under the covers, trying to think of a lame excuse I could use against myself.

-Let's stay in this morning sweetie. Mummy doesn't want to get up.
-OK mum. But what will we do?
-Let's stay in bed.
-But why?

OK, OK, I got you. I have no excuse. At htis point my daughter comes in the room, happy, turns on the light, and screams "GET UP MUMMY!!! You'll be late!!!"

All, right, all right!!! Geese....Even my kids won't let me be inadequate just once. Fine. Better hurry up; surely the office will need my help. Now that's a reason to get up.

A single mother's life is like....a box of Kleenex

My plans have been a bit disturbed. I was planning to send off the kids to school, then to go to work, as usual, in beautiful sunny depressing Nepean, where I could translate until about 3, then take part in the office Christmas party. Being a single mother is being able to change your plans in an instant...

My son was crying and pulling his ear when he woke up, and my daughter was having a fit because she couldn't breathe, stuffy nose and all....So instead of going to work and getting paid to drink champagne and eat fancy canapés, I will be spending most of the day waiting in a clinic. Plus, the winter boots I bought for the kids 3 weeks ago are already good for the bin man, the kids had their feet wet yesterday and the boots were completely soaked....What good is it to manufacture winter boots that last 3 weeks, ready to be thrashed even before the REAL winter starts!!! Crappy rubbish thrashy boots.... Never buy Kangaroo boots, they are USELESS !!! I threw them in the bin! I feel a useless mother; can't even get decent boots for my children...now they both have a cold and I'm stuck home...Oh well.... After the clinic I'm stopping at the shoe store and getting the best boots for my babies and some really strong booze for mummy at the SAQ....along with some vitamin C....

I've said it many times and I'll say it again : This single mother gig is not easy when you do it alone!!!