tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46676298859379032432024-03-05T18:09:39.271-08:00introspectivelessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-67275833108428729532016-01-15T19:49:00.003-08:002016-01-15T19:49:51.620-08:00Once upon a time there was a little toy penguin named Tango...<br />
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Once upon a time there was a little toy penguin named Tango.<br />
He and Olivia were inseparable. They went everywhere together... They've been around the world (well almost).<br />
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It makes me a little sad that Olivia isn't as reliant on Tango anymore. I'm also happy that she's not. For a while Tango was an extension of Olivia's personality. She and Tango were the same. Tango allowed Olivia to be a bit more sociable and outgoing through him. Mind you she does shove Tango in people's faces... not sure I am exactly a fan of that .<br />
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So who is Tango?<br />
Tango is a small stuffed penguin that Larry found in one of his offices. There was also an American eagle that we named Sam. Originally Olivia was a bit more attached to Sam and somehow we managed to lose Sam so I kind of forced Tango onto Olivia to try to get her to forget about same (she was under 18 months from memory). So that was fine. I do apologize world - I created the monster that is Tango. It is all my fault. There is a kid's book named "and Tango makes Three" about two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who become Dads. We used to read that book a lot when the girls were younger and when we found the penguin - Tango seemed appropriate.<br />
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It's funny as a parent I think you tend to see yourself or wonder about yourself at that age when your children go through it. I occasionally wonder if I had a toy like Tango that I was attached to and if my parents put up with much as we have with Tango (I shouldn't say put up with but I think most parents can relate to the we have to stop or go back or something because we forgot/left behind/dropped said toy or lovie as they are called here). I do/did have Theodore E. Bear though - I got him just before I turned 7, he's been by my side pretty much since then even to the point now where he's one of Louise's army of stuffed animals. Getting back on track...<br />
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Tango has been a hoot. He's been pretty much everywhere Olivia has been, he's pretty much been around the world - there's photos of him in Hawaii, Mauritius, Disneyland.<br /><br />
One unexpected bonus about Tango is that Olivia knows a lot about penguins. She knows the difference between chinstrap penguins and emperor penguins. She did go through a phase where if there was anything involving a penguin she either a) had to have it or b) had to know about it. She's growing out of it a little bit but still if there's something involving penguins it will spark an interest.<br />
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One of the other things that has always amazed me about Olivia and Tango is how realistic she has been about him. He went missing for a while (about 3 months), he was put in another girls bag by mistake and he was in there for the whole time. After being upset for the first couple of days, she did get very real about it all "oh he'll turn up" - mind you Larry and I did scour the Internet trying to find another penguin that looked exactly like Tango.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigv9mNicXwAQ_CDyDRftDvFUfuRU5-2YJGi3iAjszQplz4oI1KuQkDUvpp_WizLA8FmCTh6gA_dNyyT2G2bWSPG0jdTGjHEDVobQHTQsTVuprIerSvNIkJAGu1aB0gTtXC0f6s5TciBZs_/s1600/1472817_10152110507899225_703207296_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigv9mNicXwAQ_CDyDRftDvFUfuRU5-2YJGi3iAjszQplz4oI1KuQkDUvpp_WizLA8FmCTh6gA_dNyyT2G2bWSPG0jdTGjHEDVobQHTQsTVuprIerSvNIkJAGu1aB0gTtXC0f6s5TciBZs_/s320/1472817_10152110507899225_703207296_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a>Things started to change when Olivia started Montessori last January. The Montessori didn't allow the kids to have comfort toys unless it was rest time. This was both good and bad. It was good in that did allow Olivia to be herself, which I think may have also been helped by the fact that her and Louise were in separate classes. The bad is that a little part of Olivia that is Tango started to disappear some of the magic was ending.<br /><br />However!<br />What has changed can change again.<br />Olivia and Tango are inseparable once more. Tango spends the day in her school bag and comes out to play when I pick the girls up in the afternoon. She still sleeps with him, he still goes pretty much everywhere with us.<br /><br />A couple of years ago I promised Olivia that I would take her to Central Park Zoo so she could see the real Tango. I emailed the zoo keepers to see if Tango was still there. They were quite lovely and emailed me back - unfortunately Tango is no longer around, she died. Now I will admit that I am a bit of an emotional person at times but this did make me cry. I found the email again a couple of months ago because for some reason I got in my head that Tango was in a zoo in Pennsylvania and I said to Liv that I would try to find out. So I find the email again and I'm crying again. I worry that telling Olivia that Tango is dead is probably going to be more shattering to her than finding out that Santa, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny are all me (I still think she suspects). However I have promised that we will go to Central Park and see Roy and Silo in the Spring. These penguins have been so important to Olivia (and us) for a long time its probably about time that we did go see them. <br />
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lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-56257421913980526202015-10-13T18:17:00.003-07:002015-10-13T18:17:46.877-07:00Ghost Luminaries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I bought this small Taste of Home halloween magazine last week. It's got lots of good stuff in there to be honest... one of the things that I thought would be fun and that the girls also latched onto was this. I'm one of the "room parents" for both Louise and Olivia's Kindergarten classes and I have been trying to find craft ideas that we can do as an activity for their halloween party. This seemed perfect...<br /><br />I have to say it's a lot of fun. I had a blast making this with Olivia. Louise didn't seem to enjoy it as much as she was having problems getting the glue and the tissue paper onto the jar. She got there in the end though but I did sense that she wasn't really keen on the whole thing. She was just doing it because Olivia and I were doing it.<br /><br />I have to say I loved Olivia's approach on this. I bought a luminary from Pottery Barn which is a mummy so she wanted to do hers to look like a mummy. So to make hers look like a mummy she was pasting the strips of tissue paper horizontally. I was quite surprised at how clever she can be.<br /><br />I don't own the copyright to this. This is entirely Taste of Home so if you end up copying any of the text following please credit them. The photos are mine so if you copy them - I will get a 6 year old to hunt you down and glue tissue paper to you.<br /><br /><i><b>Materials needed:</b>- wide-mouth jars</i><br />
<i>- face template</i><br />
<i>- black tissue paper</i><br />
<i>- white tissue paper</i><br />
<i>- decoupage glue</i><br />
<i>- scissors</i><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSbSun4bJUXjAxx6gkk85uXomzvHJfUagwyqwyFFJuk4WWzCYQDxRGmc7Lg8z1hchqUwWnwPYyeQf8YMDJuemBbx07MksfVF2JvPD4y1NdPiLqZUR09NUH0-qDDpAmpSjOGzDQQ0AL3Of/s1600/IMG_5793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSbSun4bJUXjAxx6gkk85uXomzvHJfUagwyqwyFFJuk4WWzCYQDxRGmc7Lg8z1hchqUwWnwPYyeQf8YMDJuemBbx07MksfVF2JvPD4y1NdPiLqZUR09NUH0-qDDpAmpSjOGzDQQ0AL3Of/s200/IMG_5793.jpg" width="150" /></i></a><i>- tealight candles or electric candles</i><br />
<i>- sealant (optional)</i><br />
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<i><b>Method:</b>Cut colored or white tissues paper into 6 to 8 inch strips.</i><br />
<i>Brush a thin coat of decoupage glue on each jar.</i><br />
<i>Lay tissue paper strips vertically over the jar, layering only enough to cover the gaps.</i><br />
<i>Cut <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nettsu/22120179096/in/dateposted-ff/" target="_blank">face template</a> and trace desired template onto black tissue paper; cut out shapes.<br />Place face shapes on jar and affix with 2 or 3 thin coats of decoupage glue. Let dry completely.<br />If needed spray jars with sealant to protect designs.<br />Illuminate with a tealight candle or an electric candle.</i><br /><br />So I decided to cut the strips a bit smaller - just to make it more interesting... either that or I didn't read the instructions properly (with me it's probably the second part...). I like the look of the strips being cut smaller to be honest. The smaller/thinner strips also allowed for Olivia's mummy to look more like a mummy. I didn't trace the template onto tissue paper - I just cut them straight from the printer. Although considering I now have an inkjet (thanks to shennigans of broken printer and superglued fingers), I did find that the ink was starting to run slightly with the glue.<br /><br />Speaking of glue. Now I am not the worlds craftiest person. I am reasonably new to all this craft stuff (apart from High School but that was like eons ago). I have tried stuff in the past but it has tended to backfire on me or it's just become a comedy of errors (Michael's great attempt at sewing as a perfect example). Now I had no idea of what decoupage glue is - google does though... I think I would be lost without google. Anyway it's basically just watered down glue - too easy :)<br /><br />
<br />lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-38323223966719123232015-10-01T11:45:00.004-07:002015-10-01T11:45:53.145-07:00DIY Bunting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQtMT3yQZ5Y1VzqWly8KGonthJgBfyJ_9qTycDPO1MQzVzy0P_EUGa9AbfoP528Kz9F44NHojnbtyMvyuHTBw1eI4qOE6edPUjijheyHq4ZRJcpCYbn5c6yfofTviAetoKgdGw_9Mayzh/s1600/IMG_7239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQtMT3yQZ5Y1VzqWly8KGonthJgBfyJ_9qTycDPO1MQzVzy0P_EUGa9AbfoP528Kz9F44NHojnbtyMvyuHTBw1eI4qOE6edPUjijheyHq4ZRJcpCYbn5c6yfofTviAetoKgdGw_9Mayzh/s320/IMG_7239.jpg" width="213" /></a>Originally I was going to title this DIY Birthday Bunting but you can apply this to any purpose. I'm still not really sure even why I'm doing this blog post - mostly because facebook wouldn't let me pin one of my photos.<br />
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For the girls birthdays I tend to normally go the extra bit or completely mental going by your viewpoint. This year I thought it would be nice if I made some bunting to hang from the fireplace. The idea actually came about as I found some halloween paper at a craft store and I'm going to make bunting for them for Halloween (but that one is coming up after their birthday and we are going completely mental for Halloween!). So I then thought it would be nice if I made some for their birthday... and the idea was born.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRlALzSbcyq6J1llDFxF07lwqpe7vFAy9KtvHi9u_TTI5IJoPNmZVO4SZ4xJtkZoUTpQQ8cZphyphenhyphen6YMCzjrpFPo_Xy4QWHKcRBVBMzOln1yi1JEO0ZKJuIPL0dm1S6X5yFGDY36518fX_B/s1600/IMG_5615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRlALzSbcyq6J1llDFxF07lwqpe7vFAy9KtvHi9u_TTI5IJoPNmZVO4SZ4xJtkZoUTpQQ8cZphyphenhyphen6YMCzjrpFPo_Xy4QWHKcRBVBMzOln1yi1JEO0ZKJuIPL0dm1S6X5yFGDY36518fX_B/s200/IMG_5615.jpg" width="200" /></a>I'm normally a bit hesitant about craft projects as something will always go just a little bit wrong or I worry I don't have the skills or abilities - probably the most famous example is my whole attempt at sewing. So I generally tend to not "do" things. Anyway I kind of figured what was the worst that would happen - I'd waste a little bit of money on a failure. At best I'd have something pretty that the girls would like.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ0ka-_vbOppdMzK5vuN270PeTHo5_BWa3WUbaohrTttsdeSbAOehygKLpZcl_xyNP9jV6Vf2Yoq6K49mjPblEWHiGcxz9hOOOUeDOzkGYTG1aTqsuxrLS4sD4bI0qf_CjdE4R4rBFBtr/s1600/IMG_5616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ0ka-_vbOppdMzK5vuN270PeTHo5_BWa3WUbaohrTttsdeSbAOehygKLpZcl_xyNP9jV6Vf2Yoq6K49mjPblEWHiGcxz9hOOOUeDOzkGYTG1aTqsuxrLS4sD4bI0qf_CjdE4R4rBFBtr/s200/IMG_5616.jpg" width="150" /></a>The end result I'm not 100% happy with as I should have made the bunting flags a little bit bigger. But I did start cutting the flags before I found the stickers. That was also the sticking point (no pun meant) - I had no idea of how I was going to do the letters. I had a vision (kind of) and the lettering was what I wasn't really sure on. I was thinking of cutting the letters out but that meant printing the letters, transferring them and then cutting them out. Which in theory sounds ok except I broke our printer on Monday - I snapped something, tried to fix it and ended up superglueing my finger. At times I am really reminded of the Midvale School Far Side comic... It really does apply to me in a lot of ways.<br />
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I was originally going to attach the flags to some ribbon I found at a craft store but when I was at Target yesterday I found some red and white twine and (HUZZAH!) the stickers. I thought the twine would be easier to use than the ribbon and it also made it easier in terms of hanging the flags - I just scotch taped the twine onto the back of the flag and then folded the top of the bunting over the twine and taped the back. And that was it - repeat twenty-odd times and completed.<br />
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I'm actually happy with how they turned out - I know the mistakes I made now so I know what to do when I get around to making the Halloween ones I want for the girls next week.<br />
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<br />lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-6646059707905768482015-09-04T19:18:00.000-07:002015-09-04T19:18:25.437-07:00"Daddy - I don't like you"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had my heart broken today.<br />I also cried in front of my children - I won't say I try to avoid this, I suppose being a man I feel like I shouldn't as it does show a weakness. As a parent I am actually ok with it as it does show my children that I am human.<br /><br />
Summer has been long. So very long! Now for the most part I have been able to keep Louise and Olivia busy with camps but 13 weeks is 13 weeks! This week has probably been worse than most as they have been home with me. I have also been a bit angsty this week about other things so that hasn't helped. I will be honest and admit that I woke up in a very foul mood today and I really couldn't shake it. No idea as to what caused it and unfortunately being human as much as you don't try to do it - it does affect your interactions with your kids, so I really wasn't the most fun I have been with the girls. Also Louise really is at that stage where she's pushing, constantly pushing. I do tend to react rather than think and then react which she also feeds off. So with a small amount of craziness from being home with me and the end of summer so on... Louise and I have butted heads a fair bit lately. She has developed this tendency of starting to look away and ignoring me when I'm talking (or lecturing if you want to be honest) to her - which upsets greatly. She did it to me this morning when they had one of their friends here - I was talking to her about something and she turned away and started putting her helmet on because they were going to scooter.<br /><br />Well!<br /><br />So yes... talk became a lecture and off she went inside. She did a couple of other things to push buttons - she decided it would be fun to take everything off her bed so I helped her. Then came the crunch I asked why she did the things she did. Why does she not listen to me? Doesn't she realize that it upsets me and it makes me feel like she doesn't respect me or even like me... Now I did put the words out there so it is partly my fault. She told me she didn't like me. It was literally a physical blow. I had to walk away from her and I walked into her room and cried. Olivia came in to comfort me and then Louise slipped the note under the door. Olivia grabbed it and asked Louise what it was about. "BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE DADDY!"<br /><br />I took a time out.<br />I told them both that I just needed to get away and just breathe.<br /><br />This parenting thing at times is hard.<br />I know Louise loves me and she was just reacting to the fact that she was upset and I am what ultimately is creating some of the upset. I just have to try to not take it personally. It can hurt though.lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-3191883844411437122015-08-20T08:24:00.000-07:002015-08-20T08:24:16.918-07:00"Daddy I'm really sorry"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These are words I was not expecting to hear for a very long time...<br />I wasn't.<br />So you could have knocked me over when Louise said them to me this afternoon. And the look on her face was just so adorable.<br /><br />The backstory...<br />Halloween approaches.<br />It does!<br />Last year when we were visiting the states - we unfortunately missed Halloween but we did get a little bit caught up in the hype (it's hard not too really!). The girls were a little bit sad that they got to miss trick or treating and the rest of the fun that seems to come with Halloween (ok... ok... it's not just the girls... it may also be me). So Halloween is coming around again (as it seems to every year) and we're all getting a little bit excited (Larry maybe not as much as the rest of us). I went off to the grocery store after the gym to get some stuff for dinner - I missed a night when I did my shopping on Monday. I went to the grocery store near the gym rather than home and they had *gasp* candy corn for sale. So I got some.<br /><br />Now I thought it would be nice if I got the candy corn and put it in a nice container on the table. I didn't tell Louise and Olivia that I had bought the candy corn because I didn't think of it - I figured also they'd see it soon enough.<br /><br />Louise did.<br />SHE WAS SO EXCITED!<br />She grabbed the jar and raced into the living room to show Olivia. Now again my parental ESP should have kicked in. Anyway the next thing you know *crash* glass and candy corn all over the family room floor. Cue freak out about broken glass and a puppy trying to eat candy corn. Now this is where Louise surprised me - she said "daddy I'm really sorry" and bless her heart she looked absolutely crestfallen. At the end of the day it was just some candy corn and a broken jar - although the funny thing is both her and Olivia were upset at the idea of no candy corn until the next time I went grocery shopping... again maybe it's parental ESP... nah... it was 3 bags for $5 and the third bag wouldn't fit in the jar. So I had an extra bag and they got to have a piece of candy corn. When I was putting Louise to bed she apologized again. It really was very sweet.<br /><br />Although the loss of the jar was a bit of a downer - it was one of the very remaining remnants of my life as a single person (mind you I haven't been single for a very long time but I suppose we get sentimental about silly things).lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-19461190238787745692015-08-19T10:42:00.000-07:002015-08-19T10:42:20.757-07:00The "hitting" incident<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It’s rare that I have to come down really hard on the girls. It is. I know I come across as the cranky, mean parent. I kind of am cranky. I’m not a completely freaking ray of sunshine most of the time. I do get frustrated easily… anyway… Over the course of the past 6 years we haven’t had many “big” trouble incidents. Last night was one of them.</div>
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Larry’s in Chicago for the day with work and he expected to come back late which is fine. Funny though how most things like this tend to happen when Larry’s not around. Maybe it’s some form of parenting kismet. The afternoon had cruised along pretty easily, the girls were tired from camp so they were just chilling on the couch after dinner. Olivia and I had our usual run-in over food. I know common parenting logic says that you shouldn’t make a big deal out of it because you will create eating disorders later in life. My logic says that my child not eating is indicative of something deeper. So I push, and I push, and I push. Olivia feels that’s she not getting enough attention and that one way to retaliate is to by ignoring something I put a lot of effort into. She’s a smart cookie.<br />
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So we’re all on the couch on iDevices. I realize it’s almost 8pm - give them the quick heads-up that they need a bath. So I go start the bath. Olivia comes up and joins me - which is cool. Then Louise follows. Now the girls don’t generally bathe at the same time. It seems to be coming a bit more common so I’m not really sure what’s going on there. Again I am not really rock the boat though - saves me time sitting on the bathroom floor keeping them company. They also both decided to wash their hair. Now the funny thing here is that Olivia particularly doesn’t like washing her hair… I normally have to force that issue. Recently nope - she’s washing her hair every couple of days. So Louise and Olivia are in the bath. Now it’s a normal sized bathtub and I should have foreseen something was going to happen. Parental ESP and all that.<br />
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So something did happen. The bathtub is getting to be a bit too small for two kids to lay side by side. So the next thing is the argy-bargy, the she touched me, no she touched me, she got water in my face and whammo - Olivia hit Louise. So Olivia gets hoisted out of the bath given a towel and marching orders to brush her teeth, hair and get straight into bed. Now for the first time in her life she complained that she hadn’t washed herself… seriously! <br />
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So Olivia has her pajamas on and has brushed her hair and teeth, is in bed and she cops the lecture. Now we have a couple of golden rules in this house - one is no hitting. So it’s not a small lecture, it’s not the I’m upset that you hit you sister. It’s the I’m disappointed in you. Now I get to a 5 (nearly 6 year old) the gravity of things isn’t quite apparent. We got there eventually. The clanger though was when I did the channelling my own parents - the “I thought I was raising you better than this.”<br />
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Now ordinarily this probably wouldn’t be so much of a problem. However the girls share a bathroom that separates their bedrooms so Louise overheard me saying “I thought I was raising you better than this” and she took that to mean that I was raising Olivia better than her. Cue favoritism drama - so I have one child upset because she’s gotten the lecture and didn’t get a kiss and a hug good night (I’ll come back to this) and the other one is upset because she thinks I favor her sister.<br />
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So I have to put that little fire out. One of the things I really love about the English language is the diversity and breadth of expressions. There are just so many cute and interesting sayings. One of the things I dislike about the English language is that you have to try to explain to children who don’t quite have the same understanding of the language you do what these expressions and sayings mean. So I spent the time explaining to Louise that I was disappointed in Olivia and I thought I was doing my best to raise kids that don’t hit. So that was sorted out. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Meanwhile Olivia is having a meltdown in her room because she didn’t get the hug or the kiss. That was hard for me. When I was having the talk to Olivia about what punishment she felt was suitable - none really felt that they would lend themselves to the gravity of the offense. Taking her iPad away for a day is pointless because she still has the TV… so I thought if I just tucked her in and said good night and walked out that would do it. Now I am not a complete monster - there is one thing that I have always tried do to with Louise and Olivia and that is leave with them a smile or a laugh when they go to bed. So I went back in and had a quick chat to Olivia and told her that I forgave her and explained that I get angry too, I react to things without thinking them through - it’s human nature, I don’t hit people though. I tend to say TV words - the really bad ones! That gave her a bit of a laugh. I gave her a kiss and a hug, told her I loved her and said good night.<br />
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There’s lots of things about parenting that I find hard. I’ve spoken to people before about the fact that I try to be the perfect parent (which I know isn’t possible). With situations like this I worry if I have done the right thing. It was all a bit stressful for me… now in the past I’d unwind with a few drinks (probably a few too many) - these days I unwind by folding laundry and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. The ultimate outcomes are that my kids know that I love them, the boundaries were enforced and my sanity prevailed.</span></div>
lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-57492810736410977282015-07-23T09:44:00.002-07:002015-07-23T09:44:25.168-07:00Louise & Ramune<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcGk9Gab3ohmsSdVPJny7n6ezvSpLnmcvC4Y4Pu30z1EXg4ki7a5_a3CbGmQ2Iy-EmboIlt5UKxtQfpS4hw38Gc6bYJ8zo9S-hQXuMdz6VTAOzV-erwr_kZigxkB5SapeH11fAficILe6/s1600/IMG_0720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcGk9Gab3ohmsSdVPJny7n6ezvSpLnmcvC4Y4Pu30z1EXg4ki7a5_a3CbGmQ2Iy-EmboIlt5UKxtQfpS4hw38Gc6bYJ8zo9S-hQXuMdz6VTAOzV-erwr_kZigxkB5SapeH11fAficILe6/s200/IMG_0720.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcGk9Gab3ohmsSdVPJny7n6ezvSpLnmcvC4Y4Pu30z1EXg4ki7a5_a3CbGmQ2Iy-EmboIlt5UKxtQfpS4hw38Gc6bYJ8zo9S-hQXuMdz6VTAOzV-erwr_kZigxkB5SapeH11fAficILe6/s1600/IMG_0720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-auvSAecru3xKp85OtpFFBVVVBSL3VUlFGd71pf4VkeKqZxrFwLIVVZgjK3rWHWt9KrFdJqbTA4xmxTmIS7jjSHHX9WQJ4PyLXAz_kak1LE7SY0JL282yVVSzfW7ny8ctVdiZpSz3mWy/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-auvSAecru3xKp85OtpFFBVVVBSL3VUlFGd71pf4VkeKqZxrFwLIVVZgjK3rWHWt9KrFdJqbTA4xmxTmIS7jjSHHX9WQJ4PyLXAz_kak1LE7SY0JL282yVVSzfW7ny8ctVdiZpSz3mWy/s200/IMG_0774.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-auvSAecru3xKp85OtpFFBVVVBSL3VUlFGd71pf4VkeKqZxrFwLIVVZgjK3rWHWt9KrFdJqbTA4xmxTmIS7jjSHHX9WQJ4PyLXAz_kak1LE7SY0JL282yVVSzfW7ny8ctVdiZpSz3mWy/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>I have a thing for Japan. I can tell you the cause for that actually - I fell in love with Robotech when I was a kid and that sparked my interest in Japan. How you cross over from americanized anime to a general love of Japan I'm not quite sure of but hey - it is what it is!<br /><br />Louise seems to be developing a similar interest - although I don't know if it's about Japan as such yet. Obviously being young their interests will be molded by mine and Larry's. They are interested in comics, cartoons and superheroes which is entirely via me. Louise and Japan at the moment is purely food based. When they were younger (about 2 maybe) we went grocery shopping one day and there was a sushi place near the supermarket and I got a couple of handrolls for lunch and Louise wanted to try one - so I gave her some. There started her love affair with sushi (some would say obsession!). For my birthday last year - Larry took me and the girls to Ichi Ni in St Kilda which is my favorite Japanese Restaurant (I haven't found one in the DC Metro area yet so I am open to suggestions) - Louise also really loves lemonade. Our waiter suggested that Louise try Ramune - obsession #2 gets created. She loves Ramune.<br /><br />Fast forward a little bit. We're now in Arlington. I went grocery shopping one day and I was really surprised to find out that they had Ramune! It really wasn't something I was expecting to just find at a grocery store. And of course I just had to get some for Louise. I have since found out that the Asian grocery store (which is massive) near home has an extensive selection of Ramunes so Louise is really happy with that idea!<br /><br />Although I will make one observation. Sushi and handrolls seem to be much more common in Australia than what they do here in the US. Mind you I am not in downtown areas very much so it could be different there. I don't really know.<br /><br />The whole reason for this blog post is that I wanted to explain one of my <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nettsu/19758301698/in/dateposted-ff/" target="_blank">365 photos</a> - so this is the explanation.lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-60025326471799110452015-07-21T19:52:00.001-07:002015-07-21T19:52:28.996-07:00Not every little boy wants to be Superman when he grows up...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Like a lot of people I have seen this particular image doing the rounds. I googled what it was about as I was curious and I was actually trying to find the image so I could use it for my own purposes... It's from </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes the Spoon Runs Away with Another Spoon Coloring Book </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">by Jacinta Bunnell and Nathaniel Kusinitz. So all credit for the image goes to them.<br /><br />So anyway...<br />I really liked it and it does resonate with me. I've always liked Wonder Woman. That's not to say I wanted to be Wonder Woman. As a little boy though - I did pretend to be Wonder Woman. I adored the show (yes I am that old!) and I would do the Wonder Woman spin in my bedroom etc... She had a bit of a lasting impact really!<br /><br />I also love that Louise loves Wonder Woman - I get to kind of live vicariously through her. Although I do have to admit that is my doing - she did see me reading Wonder Woman comics. Although it was actually Larry that introduced her to the Lynda Carter series - which was before I started reading the New 52 Wonder Woman.<br /><br />Larry took me to Manhattan in 2007 and he had some work meetings so I got to wander around by myself and I ventured over to Midtown Comics. I had decided that I wanted to buy a comic from Midtown Comics. I bought a Wonder Woman trade paperback. Much to regret it was the Jodi Piccoult arc... I should have grabbed a different one ;)<br /><br />Anyway just an odd little update from me.</span>lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-80303008110666636742015-07-13T14:10:00.000-07:002015-07-13T14:10:41.923-07:00The Nanny Period...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAOZwEPnaeUhXZt8pU87kgH0QtYHk84M39GalZtwWKROLrHry47rPwVkhyphenhyphenDTC-M7f4kABuM_3nLKRXE-vKhqLkJJtscW60xQmMb71bAPWRFAd-dawpvpsqAl9qA_QNxmD4oL_Q8Z6FrIv/s1600/312883_10150324059316345_462847049_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAOZwEPnaeUhXZt8pU87kgH0QtYHk84M39GalZtwWKROLrHry47rPwVkhyphenhyphenDTC-M7f4kABuM_3nLKRXE-vKhqLkJJtscW60xQmMb71bAPWRFAd-dawpvpsqAl9qA_QNxmD4oL_Q8Z6FrIv/s320/312883_10150324059316345_462847049_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>a note to my readers - sorry I have left this blog and our surrogacy story alone for so long. I really have been a bit slack - I do need to sit down and write this more regularly... so hopefully my slackness will abate for a bit!</i></span></div>
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Title sounds awful doesn't? ;)<br />
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Now I personally had reached a meltdown. I literally tore myself apart over this. I had a breakdown - I rang Larry at work and asked him to come home because I couldn't cope. So we started discussing options, childcare or a nanny. Now I wasn't ready to go back to work and your Dad has been really gracious about me not working - I will give him full credit for that. So we ended discussing what would end up working best. I just needed the ability to get out and do the errands without you two. So we figured that two days would be best (and it was probably also what we could afford).</div>
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So we interviewed a couple of people and I found someone I really quite liked - I just took a while to finally getting around to calling her to tell her that we wanted to hire her. She was very gracious about it actually - she told me that she understood. For me it was separating feeling like a failure and actually getting someone to help. Thankfully Megan was still available to work two days a week for us. And so there started us having a nanny.<br />
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There is probably a lot of people that associate nannies with the wealthy. I know there are increasing numbers of people who are getting nannies because they can't get places in childcare or it is actually cheaper for them to hire a nanny then have full-time childcare (sorry a bit of a segue). I did get the reaction a few times that we must be rich to be able to afford a nanny...<br />
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So anyway Megan entered our lives. It took me about a week and a half to able to leave the house for more than an hour... I wasn't really <b>that</b> overprotective!<br />
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In a lot of ways Megan was a godsend. She taught me so much about being a parent and gave me lots of tips and tricks and did also show me where I was doing a few things wrong. Well not so much wrong but how I could be doing things better...</div>
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Probably the main example is that I never set a strict nap routine - I would just let drop where you were when you needed a nap. Apparently not a good idea as your naps end up being short and I end up being frazzled as part of it. One of the really important things that Megan taught me was more about myself - I can't be the perfect parent. I can only be the parent I am. Noone can be the perfect parent (they don't exist). All I have to ever do is look at how happy and healthy you are and know that I am doing a good job - or at least the best job I can.</div>
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This is also one of my favorite stories involving Megan. So bathtimes for us were hell. Sheer absolute hell - noone enjoyed them. Megan had her doubts that they were that bad... so she decided to give you guys a bath. I was outside washing your Dad's Vespa as he was selling it. It honestly sounded like someone was being murdered in the house. She was shocked! So anyway she came up with a strategy to help you guys deal with water - we went to the pool - no more horror baths.<br />
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Megan has become a very good friend. She was with us for about 8 months and we had a few comedies. The horrible Santa photo at Highpoint which I will point out was entirely her idea! HER IDEA!!!! It was shocking but really quite funny. The photographer was a pain and the Santa was as cranky as all get out and go... and of course two little one year olds didn't want to sit still.<br />
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After we stop using Megan as a Nanny she would still babysit and just come around and visit. She's an amazing friend.<br />
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After this started the Montessori and Childcare adventures. I will get to those in due course.<br />
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lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-53188956556867607492014-11-12T21:06:00.000-08:002014-11-12T21:06:20.929-08:00Sinterklaas vs Santa Claus - cross-culturalism in our household<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMNEbNgxoY9dXrMQny_h9-FSZ2h_0gMmqKP3TperOX4RHvD7hiStJ0SCqs5d8vq6tVoIruRgJwRQH6nLZOOuw-cEa-b308e61GbsRE6NJ2UHJqbvY7TKU1uiJlM7iPuDoZ0ZnKhjL6eih/s1600/1796075_10152912108474225_7997001934648203087_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMNEbNgxoY9dXrMQny_h9-FSZ2h_0gMmqKP3TperOX4RHvD7hiStJ0SCqs5d8vq6tVoIruRgJwRQH6nLZOOuw-cEa-b308e61GbsRE6NJ2UHJqbvY7TKU1uiJlM7iPuDoZ0ZnKhjL6eih/s320/1796075_10152912108474225_7997001934648203087_o.jpg" width="320" /></a>So Christmas is becoming a topic of discussion in this house. Quite understandably as there is two five year olds here SO of course they are getting excited... but this is also where it gets kind of interesting. My heritage is Dutch (and I was born there) so for me it's also about Sint.<br /><br />Now when we moved here in the early 1980s we had to pretty much assimilate into Australian culture. Mind you we did also move into an area where there weren't that many Dutch people around. So suddenly Sint became Christmas (we did have Christmas or Kerstmas in Holland but Sint is the big one) and Santa started bringing us our presents. Now my brother and I are pretty cluey - I was 8 and he was 10 when we moved here so we kind of figured that Santa wasn't the real deal. Mum and Dad did try to convince that we now lived too far away for Sinterklaas to deliver our presents and that Santa would deliver them instead. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIrzclpKvx2pd9jFCuKzc48VKA2D1zUpC7gy5n9xqAs9YcG0joU_mu5KW1flSZxriaMigcg7tsq8-hI7FbjBlBUIGZmcJSIibZIJqm5LZI-CNr9ysQe5GZg1Vi_wSjxEbzEuPRTIY5wPP/s1600/1487291_10152168916484225_699082337_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIrzclpKvx2pd9jFCuKzc48VKA2D1zUpC7gy5n9xqAs9YcG0joU_mu5KW1flSZxriaMigcg7tsq8-hI7FbjBlBUIGZmcJSIibZIJqm5LZI-CNr9ysQe5GZg1Vi_wSjxEbzEuPRTIY5wPP/s320/1487291_10152168916484225_699082337_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Let me pause for a second...<br /><br />Now logically...<br />Sinterklaas lives somewhere in most likely the Netherlands Antilles and Santa Claus lives in the North Pole. It's much of a muchness as to who can deliver presents to a couple of Dutch kids in Brisbane, Australia.<br />
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So we basically did figure that Santa wasn't real. We humoured Mum and Dad though until Dad gave up the pretence of Santa (which was pretty much the Christmas after Mum left). I know it's silly but there is still a little part of me that does believe in Sinterklaas. As a rational adult I know he's not real but the kid in me still believes in him.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlNhbHtmLWw2UcjrNa2ea9Mj4LYegFyVeP8itb_26NJTajG8uU1FCBx-t6-eZpxKnpqp0VPNxfSfy89dEdUt3rCmbk0BGbBtxtMxmUHL58Ji38-ED1fIK04N9mS57gUsjEvzDfbMb3VYA/s1600/10387008_10152912106759225_4354992935917504795_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlNhbHtmLWw2UcjrNa2ea9Mj4LYegFyVeP8itb_26NJTajG8uU1FCBx-t6-eZpxKnpqp0VPNxfSfy89dEdUt3rCmbk0BGbBtxtMxmUHL58Ji38-ED1fIK04N9mS57gUsjEvzDfbMb3VYA/s320/10387008_10152912106759225_4354992935917504795_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlNhbHtmLWw2UcjrNa2ea9Mj4LYegFyVeP8itb_26NJTajG8uU1FCBx-t6-eZpxKnpqp0VPNxfSfy89dEdUt3rCmbk0BGbBtxtMxmUHL58Ji38-ED1fIK04N9mS57gUsjEvzDfbMb3VYA/s1600/10387008_10152912106759225_4354992935917504795_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlNhbHtmLWw2UcjrNa2ea9Mj4LYegFyVeP8itb_26NJTajG8uU1FCBx-t6-eZpxKnpqp0VPNxfSfy89dEdUt3rCmbk0BGbBtxtMxmUHL58Ji38-ED1fIK04N9mS57gUsjEvzDfbMb3VYA/s1600/10387008_10152912106759225_4354992935917504795_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>Now for the background for the Sinterklaas vs Santa Claus discussion in this house. Facebook is wonderful. So it has allowed me to actually reconnect with some of my cousins in Holland (because we're from the south of the Netherlands we actually refer to is as Holland - because well we're from Holland). Last year De Ruijter released a <a href="http://www.deruijter.nl/producten/specials-koffie-puur.aspx" target="_blank">coffee chocolate hail</a> and I asked one of my cousins if she would mind sending me some. My cousin did as well as... (she blew me away to be honest!) a whole bunch of Sint goodies. One of the things she sent which has been very much appreciated in this house is a Sinterklaas picture book - Louise and Olivia have already been asking me to read it to them. Which has given me the opportunity to discuss my childhood and Sinterklaas with them. We're raising cross-cultural kids! It's funny I had both of them ask me when we were going to get some more Strooigoed (small biscuits with marshmallows).<br /><br />So because I have been going back over the Sinterklaas thing with them - the topic of Santa Claus came up. As in why does Sinterklaas only deliver presents to Europe? Why can't he deliver them here? Why does Santa have to deliver presents to the rest of the world? Now these are obviously questions that I don't have answers too but it is kind of fun exploring their wonder behind it all.<br /><br />I had to stop yesterday though when Louise told me that she didn't believe in Santa. I was like YIKES! I am not ready for this!!! But I didn't have to worry - she believes in Sinterklaas. I actually suspect it's an underhanded way to trying to get two lots of presents. She was amazed when she found that my birthday is the same day as Sint. YOU GOT TWO LOTS OF PRESENTS!?!?! So that may actually have something to do with it.<br /><br /><br /><br />
<br />lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-21604680879597716882014-07-06T22:09:00.003-07:002014-07-06T22:09:53.434-07:00So have you ever had to "come out" as a heterosexual?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ok<br />
I'm angry...<br />
There's a certain Australian "parenting" website that's run by a woman who used to edit women's magazines here in Australia that decided to report that Sir Michael Parkinson asked Ian Thorpe if he was gay. Now because she used to edit women's mags they might have thought this was news... for my american readers think national enquirer with dieting tips.<br /><br />I have a hate/hate relationship with it. I also do keep trolling it - but I get bored and I need the laughs. <br />
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I think it's more that the site tries to bill itself as being inclusive.<br />
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So I got my back up. I was on facebook and saw that a friend had commented on an article that this site had posted about Ian Thorpe being asked by Michael Parkinson if he was gay. That was pretty much the crux of the "article".<br />
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Now that got me to thinking...<br />
If you look at recent history.<br />
Tom Daley had to deal with so many questions around his sexuality... as did Matthew Mitcham...<br />
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<b>Now when was the last time someone was asked if they were straight?</b><br />
<br />Why do people need to keep being asked if they are gay?<br />Why?<br /><br />
I understand that people feel the need for gay role models. You know as a society we shouldn't. We should just accept that people are people. And it really does come down to why are people who don't fit into the norm are asked why they are "gay" - I don't get it.<br /><br />I have been an out gay man for 23 years.<br />I still don't get it.<br /><br />People are people.<br />Asking someone if they are gay is rude.<br />Same as asking someone if they are heterosexual is rude.<br />It's not something that should be done.<br />
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/end rantlessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-19697899111300936192014-06-30T20:41:00.001-07:002014-06-30T20:41:51.852-07:00So I was taught an important lesson by my kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojcn0gIpLwJjqmD9Fu729h7QiTQUdu4ufpG76kpGcwexY6_HzrNNZRoy78GljfElU5SoVKMynOBlf97ECC0l9TbKQly4rs0-YfEvLsQZmy3zWttDnAIIi5ZTctDkuPSwSKBFIEtCN4X95/s1600/10406501_10152576103219225_4918138182835482741_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojcn0gIpLwJjqmD9Fu729h7QiTQUdu4ufpG76kpGcwexY6_HzrNNZRoy78GljfElU5SoVKMynOBlf97ECC0l9TbKQly4rs0-YfEvLsQZmy3zWttDnAIIi5ZTctDkuPSwSKBFIEtCN4X95/s1600/10406501_10152576103219225_4918138182835482741_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
I'm a parent to twins. It's hard. It's complicated. It's a struggle to work out the relationships and everything else.<br /><br />Olivia has been a bit funny for the past couple of weeks and I couldn't work out why. Larry and I have had discussions in the past about favouritism and the fact that I favour Olivia more over Louise. Which I tend to - I think it's my protective instinct - Olivia is smaller and has been since birth, and I guess also being the younger sibling myself (I'm not a twin though) I feel for her. The elder sibling can soak up a lot of attention - which if you've met Louise you'd understand that too! I think part of it as well is that Olivia is very introverted (like me) but she's always been capable of entertaining herself.<br /><br />So try to make up the imbalance between time I thought I was spending with Liv and the time I wasn't spending with Louise - I was spending more one-on-one time with Louise. Unfortunately I wasn't spending much time with Liv one-on-one.<br /><br />Olivia has developed this habit of tilting her head to one side if she's upset. Now for the past couple of weeks when I have dropped the girls off at school Olivia has been very withdrawn and doesn't want to move. None of the educators could draw it out of her and Olivia has said a couple of times that she was "sick" and just wanted to stay home with me. Which being the awesome parent I am I just ignored (I did the usual checked her temperature etc...).<br /><br />So yesterday driving home I finally pushed the point and asked her why. So she actually admitted because I wasn't spending any time with her. I was shocked. I had that moment where I went WOAH I have made a mistake as a parent. I try to do the right thing by one and I stuff up with the other one...<br /><br />So we talked about it last night and she did say just wants to spend time with me without Louise. So Olivia and I are having a Michael Daddy and Olivia day on Saturday. So far it seems to involve Lego, puzzles and watching iPads.<br /><br />It was funny this morning...<br />So I got the Lego Simpsons House for the *cough* girls. Louise doesn't really have that much interest in it so Liv and I have been building it on and off for a little while. We started on it again last night and we were doing a little bit this morning before I took the girls to Kinder. Louise dragged Larry into the bedroom because Olivia and I were having some "alone" time.<br />I am amazed that my kids get it. We have two very smart little monkeys.<br />But yes I learnt a lesson. There's something my GP suggested that she does with her kids (although they are a bit older) is that her and her husband try to spend 20 minutes each day with each child without their siblings around. Maybe that's something Larry and I need to consider.<br />lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-31902798235317412432013-09-15T17:56:00.001-07:002013-09-16T05:21:02.979-07:00Misadventures with a sewing machine and a favourite blankie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the things about being a parent is that you end up with an almost prescient sense of when something will go wrong... it's freaky really.<br /><br />Take for example.<br />On Saturday, I told Olivia not to take one of her favourite blankies (we bought it in Mumbai just after the girls were born) onto their seesaw and I explained why. It could get tangled and ripped, not to mention that it could cause an accident and someone could get hurt (the seesaw also <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSLtWKgF2wY&feature=c4-overview&list=UUEq4I6kN9liE09wCdV6SspQ" target="_blank">spins</a> around). So come Sunday... what happens? Blankie gets caught and rips. It's almost quite literally the end of the world (hell I nearly cried when I had to throw my favourite pair of jeans) so I promised Olivia that I would fix it for her - isn't that what your parents are supposed to do? Now I should have realised that this would potentially be a challenge for me.<br /><br />Why?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can't sew. I really can't.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I did home economics in high school we were supposed to make a pair of shorts. I cheated. I had someone make them for me. I only sewed the elastic for the waistband. I hated the sewing components of home ec - the cooking I loved (duh!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />So coming from a history of complete incompetence when it comes to sewing - I decided to buy a sewing machine probably about 2 years ago with the great intention of building a fabric cubby for the girls. It took me about 6 months to learn how to put the bobbin in (if you asked me to do it now - I probably would still have no idea - I will only sew things that require white thread until the bobbin runs out) and pretty much pulled the bottom half of the sewing machine apart. So basically for about 2 years the sewing machine has sat in a cupboard gathering dust (with the bobbin in).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had to do something about the blankie situation and I did promise Olivia I would. So here was my personal crisis. I can't sew. Child needs favourite something fixed. Solution "suck it up princess" and just try to do it. It took me until today to actually build up the chutzpah to do it - but I did it. Badly but I did do it... I now have a happy child and I have a somewhat mixed sense of accomplishment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the end of the day - it's not about whether I can sew or not. It's about making my children happy and that I did accomplish.<br /></span><br />
<br />lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-19295479901046928032013-09-05T00:14:00.000-07:002013-09-05T00:14:01.972-07:00Bibs & Bobs (basically a medical update)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3789/9642129405_f9e3328f1f_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3789/9642129405_f9e3328f1f_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I had my bloods done again. Pretty much just after the 2 month mark (I'll update accordingly when I have the actual figures and do a comparison with the original numbers). My psych has gone on holidays so I had to ring my GP to get the numbers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Basically my liver is still hurting. Not as much but its still hurting. So it's on the road to recovery. My blood cells are looking normal again, apparently they had acquired a bit of a funny shape (not really sure what that was about - but apparently due to heavy drinking blood cells end up looking a bit distended). And I managed to double my vitamin d numbers... they were sitting on 50 and they are now on 100. My GPs advice was to basically stop the supplement and just spend more time in the sun. Although I guess if anything it's a good indication for next winter that my vitamin d levels are likely to drop.<br /><br />I'm still off the antabuse. It was amusing. I told my psych that I had finished my antabuse and the first thing he did was write me out a new prescription for it. It's apparently standard practice as it does provide a fail-safe if you're tempted to relapse. When I saw my psych last Thursday - I was doing brilliantly. I actually wasn't having any cravings - nada, none, zip. Fast-forward a week to today and I am seriously considering getting the prescription filled. Yesterday and today have been tough - I don't really know why. I think if my stress levels go up - then my desire to drink also increases. I need to find another stress release really. Exercise has been helping which has been beneficial for both myself and Alfie. Rather than taking a walk around Albert Park Lake - I have been taking my little mutt for a walk. So there's that - my GP suggesting getting into a craft. I am using baking as my new addiction/stress mechanism and she quite honestly told me to stop it before I start putting on weight.<br /><br />I'm out of the transitions program.<br />YAY!!!!<br />They cancelled it as there wasn't enough people.<br />YAY!!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm completely heartbroken of course.<br />YAY!!!!<br />As my psych said one of the takeaways is that it does actually show how relatively non-crazy I am. There was just so much that I couldn't and can't relate to - like people naming the voices in their head. <br /><br />Although here was something weird. I got a phonecall yesterday from the clinic suggesting that I do an assessment for their life skills group. I asked the guy what the program was about - he didn't really know. But he suggested that I come in - spend $110 for an assessment and they could tell me more at the assessment what the program was about. What? I said no. You don't know what you're talking about - I'm not going to spend the money.</span>lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-85941135113602101972013-08-28T00:10:00.002-07:002013-08-28T00:10:30.741-07:00Lose weight by baking! JUST ASK ME HOW!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wonder how many people will actually ask?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm obviously not serious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I went to see my doctor yesterday about a couple of things. I need to get my blood tests redone to see how my blood sugar, liver function and vitamin d are doing. Now I normally don't weigh myself - I hate it, always have. Even when I had a 7 day a week gym habit I would rarely weigh myself, only really when I had my assessments. So anyway as part of my admission to the clinic I got weighed. I was 112kgs (ugh!) so on the spur of the moment I decided to weigh myself - I'm 102kgs. I've lost 10kgs over the past two months. But I have been doing a LOT of baking. I've switched my drinking addiction to baking. It's quite sad! (And the reason why I weighed myself was that I weighed Olivia so it piqued my curiosity . So yes out of stopping drinking and incidental exercise I have lost 10kgs. I am left to wonder how much weight I would be losing if I didn't bake so much - it's basically me and the girls that eat most of it - and if I did some structured exercised. I could be back to my <a href="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/106/265870056_35c449678f_b.jpg">gym toned self </a>in no time (cue Mrs <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.545454025268555px;">Krabappel</span> from The Simpsons' HA!) - in all honesty I could be a bit thinner and healthier. All in due time!<br /><br />It's probably not that surprising that I have been losing the weight. A glass of sparkling wine is 100 calories and if I honestly think about how much I was drinking... yeah I really don't want to think anout the calories but I understand why a) I ballooned up and b) I've lost the weight pretty quickly.<br /><br />Other updates:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I took my last antabuse on Saturday. Which is fine. I've not missed it. My cravings aren't any worse without it. So it's all good. It was just another medicine I took so it's like I was consciously aware that this was my non-drinking medication.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm not doing the addictions program - it's on a Monday and a Friday - I have the girls on a Monday so we'd have to get a nanny in and we can't afford it. Also the addictions program is more to get people off their addictions (apparently baking wouldn't be covered). I have spoken to my psych about this and he feels that I can't get away without doing it as long as I do what I suggested as an alternative - look at getting a job or getting out of the house to do "something" and go to AA. I've found an AA group here in St Kilda so I will most likely be going to my first meeting in the next couple of weeks.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm going to stay in the Transitions group for a little while longer (probably just a couple more weeks) mostly as I am getting some use out of it and my health fund does cover my psych appointments if I have group. I'm turning into a cheap bastard really ;)</span></li>
</ul>
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<br />lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-62507264006356751502013-08-20T01:35:00.001-07:002013-08-20T01:41:33.114-07:00Apparently Michael Danby supports Marriage Equality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So here we go again...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Michael Danby (or do-nothing Danby as I have dubbed him) has decided to email me again on marriage equality *sigh*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So the basic gist...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>"<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">For the first time, we have an Australian Prime Minister going into an election with a commitment to supporting marriage equality.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It is my belief that allowing all Australians the same dignity, the same opportunities, and the same freedoms is the best thing for our country and <u><b>I will support any future marriage equality bill</b></u>."</i><br /><br />and further...<br /><i>"</i><i>I have supported the principle of marriage equality for a long time and I am proud to be part of a political party that has put addressing this injustice on its agenda."</i><br /><br />This is a man who abstained on the vote on marriage equality because he wasn't going to vote because it was going to be defeated anyway (or something along those lines).<br /><br />So the obligatory response that will undoubtedly like all my emails to him will get absolute no response.<br /><br /><i>"</i><i>Dear Mr Danby,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I really find it galling that you have the audacity to tell me that you are a supporter of marriage equality that when I have contacted you and your office at least 4 times over the last federal term to receive no response in regards to marriage equality issues.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Also I also find it quite insulting that you are saying that it is disappointing that Mr Abbott won't allow his parliamentarians a conscience vote - which as was proven - it is non-binding. A liberal crossed the benches to vote in support of marriage equality. You are telling me that you are a supporter of marriage equality, when the last bill came to parliament, why didn't you vote? </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Mr Danby you chose to not vote for marriage equality so in that spirit and considering the support you have physically shown - you can in fact not count on my vote.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I wish you the best of luck.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Regards,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Michael Verhoef</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And also I have unsubscribed for your email list so please do not send me anymore unsolicited emails."</i></span></div>
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lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-43955944046617274012013-08-17T03:01:00.001-07:002013-08-17T03:01:32.405-07:00Trying to explain surrogate birth to nearly 4 year olds...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Is actually quite difficult...</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We ended up having a conversation with the girls last night which turned into the first conversation about them being born through a surrogate. I wasn't quite sure when we could expect to have this discussion. I wasn't prepared for it and I have no idea of how well we covered it.<br /><br />Louise and Olivia get they have two daddies and they are different from other families. I really hate describing our family as different and have avoided saying that around the girls. We have been able to highlight diversity in different family structures so they do know we are not that far from the norm. They do understand that they don't have a "mummy" so then trying to explain that they came out of a surrogate's tummy was met with disbelief. We do have the photos (see!). <br /><br />I'm not sure if the larger confusion comes from the concept of birth in general, the lack of a mother, or trying to understand surrogacy. "Babies don't come from tummies!" "She didn't eat us!" It was an amusing conversation in some regards.<br /><br />I guess the major thing is that we have crossed the bridge and introduced the concept that they were born via a surrogate. </span><br /></div>
lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-25730874505029747112013-07-24T21:51:00.003-07:002013-07-24T21:51:34.333-07:00Sugar cravings and other updates...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know I've mentioned this before. I was told from the outset that I would get sugar cravings - which does make sense especially when you consider the amount I was drinking. And I did mention before the battle to find a low-sugar substitute to replace those cravings. Zero-calorie lemonade (soda) and a splash of lime cordial was working and still is. Although I do find that during the day I end up craving sugar something fierce. Which I am mostly ok with. Except a) we have chocolate in the house and b) we have jellybeans in the house (bribery for Louise and Olivia to try to get them to either behave or do something). So I am basically hoeing through the chocolate and the jelly beans. I even have a stash in the car which of course is for the girls... of course... completely... it is... honest!<br /><br />The other thing which I have to share and it did make me laugh. There's apparently been a bit of a run on antabuse or there's transport or manufacturing issues. My normal pharmacy didn't have any antabuse and their store didn't either. So went to my old pharmacy in South Melbourne to see if they had it (it's a methadone clinic so I thought my chances were pretty good). That was a no... it surprised me. They were however kind enough to ring a discount chemist warehouse to see if they had some in stock - which they did (this is turning into a joke where you're sitting there going sheesh get to the punchline already...). Now antabuse is a drug to stop people from drinking - that's pretty much it's main use. So what's the bloody warning label I get on the damn thing.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"DO NOT TAKE ALCOHOL while being treated with this medicine"</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This to my mind does really fall into the thank you Captain Obvious category. Anyway I thought it was kind of amusing. It's probably not as amusing as I think.<br /><br />One of the greatest challenges that I'm finding is cooking without alcohol. As someone who enjoys cooking - it's a challenge. I keep skipping past recipes that have alcohol in them - mostly as the alcohol doesn't completely burn off so it could actually trigger a reaction. Speaking of triggering reactions - the pharmacist yesterday was a delight, it seems that hairspray, perfume, mouthwash and deodorant can trigger reactions in some people taking antabuse. I'd say I'm pretty safe from the hairspray one just between you and me...</span>lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-1574090962023131852013-07-20T20:13:00.000-07:002013-07-20T20:13:20.255-07:00"Stay Strong Princess!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have the most amazing friends. I don't have many but the ones I do have, I love dearly. They constantly surprise me and amaze me. It's no great surprise to people that I'm a geek (or a nerd - I prefer geek!) so I love the little geeky presents that I occasionally get from my best friend. This was really more about the message though - I probably would be finding this a lot harder if it wasn't from the support of my friends. Matt and I have discussed this at length for a while and he's really helping me through it. I don't make or keep friends very easily but the ones I do have mean the world to me (you hear that Matt! I'm actually being nice to you!!!!)<br /><br />So various updates & observations:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have reached the conclusion that my clinic can't organise their way out of a wet paper bag. So I showed up late for group on Thursday (I had to go with the girls to see Possum Magic) and they couldn't find my group... so the receptionists advice was to go have lunch and come back for the after lunch session. Nice!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I also managed to discover that the clinic (or more technically my health insurance) pays for parking for out-patients. This probably could be excused it was only my second week ALTHOUGH I have been asking for longer than that.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had my assessment for the addictions program on Friday. I've been accepted - not sure if I want to go yay about that. I've heard it's a very good program though so it should help. Although it doesn't start until late September so I get to deal with the transitions group for a while longer.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So when I had the assessment for the Addictions Program and I was chatting to the psychologist (yet another one!) she was surprised at how quick my detox was. She'd never heard of a detox that went for 4 days. Which I guess explains the cute psychologist's surprise at my lack of a treatment plan.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been alcohol free for a month. I know a large part of that is the antabuse which does provide the psychological boost that I need to stay strong. I am getting better though :)</span></li>
</ul>
lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-21134581000006211092013-07-12T19:43:00.001-07:002013-07-12T19:43:57.533-07:00More reflections on group therapy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So it seems that I am going to be in group therapy for a while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now I guess upon reflection (moreso as I have had a couple of days to think about things and I did see my psychiatrist yesterday), I can understand why it was suggested I do group therapy. The group I'm doing now is called "transitions" which is for people who've been staying in the hospital for a while to transition back into normal life. No obviously this doesn't really affect me per se, as I am let's face it pretty normal to most intents and purposes. Now I am not the most world's most social person - I used alcohol to drop some of my inhibitions so I could actually interact with people. So being thrown into a situation where I actually have to interact with people sober isn't exactly a lot of fun for me, it downright sucks actually. The intent in part is for me to get used to being group therapy so when I hit the real stuff (the addictions program) I'm ready for it. And I can basically cope with what it's going to throw at me (well not throw at me but deal with the fact that I am in group therapy).<br /><br />The other interesting thing that my psychiatrist said yesterday about group therapy (and in some ways I think this is quite awful) is that group allow you to gauge yourself compared to others. So if everyone in the group is basically a raving loon - it can help you feel better about yourself. I know it's a horrible thing to say but I can understand where he's coming from! The real intent though is that it can give you different approaches and ideas of how to handle things.<br /><br />So it should be interesting all in all. I can see a large number of benefits, aka getting me back into a routine other than just hanging around at home. Means I may struggle to get the stuff I am supposed to get done (like clean the house, laundry, shopping etc). But getting out and about may actually do me some good. I know dealing with my addictive behaviours will undoubtedly do me a lot of good. I'm not sure if I will stay in the transitions group once the addictions group starts (probably not as I don't really feel like I fit there).</span>lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-44643460459994260302013-07-12T00:44:00.002-07:002013-07-12T00:44:29.160-07:00this is the longest I have been sober in years...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm 21 days sober today.<br />
<br />It's funny (or sad) - I had an appointment with psychiatrist this afternoon and came to the shocking conclusion that this is the longest stretch I have been sober for in probably 12-13 years. The last time I have been sober for longer than this I was training for a corporate triathlon and something screwy was going on in my head (go back a couple of posts for the me with abs). So I guess realistically I have been a very heavy drinker for 10 years plus. I really am very lucky that my body hasn't completely rebelled against me - but from what I have been told I'm at that age where things would have started going downhill rapidly if I didn't nip it in the bud.<br />
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So that was a bit of a shocking realisation. I guess for me it's also quite easy to forget how easy it is to just drink. And that's something I have to learn to cope with or learn to find something else to do... my GP today suggested cooking or writing or something to kill the time and try to take my mind off it (I had to go see our GP has Olivia has conjunctivitis or has she's been calling it congunkeyetis).<br /><br />And to be honest I have actually been pretty ok without the drinking. But as I was telling my psychiatrist as I am on the antabuse it's pretty easy as it does provide a psychological edge to help me deal with it. SOOOOO I was supposed to be on the antabuse for a month. When I go see him next week he's renewing my prescription so I will have an extra month on the antabuse. Do you maybe thing he knows me better than I know myself?lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-41456170653711137322013-07-10T23:56:00.001-07:002013-07-10T23:56:21.010-07:00Thoughts on my first group therapy session<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The public transport bit first.<br />It's ok. There's something convenient about having one of the main city tram routes a block away. Especially when the tram comes every 8 minutes and the stop you're going to is one of the main non-CBD interchanges. So it's a win-win. I guess for me it's a bit of an adjustment mostly as I have driven everywhere for the past 3.5 years. So yeah, it was ok. Popped in the headphones and tuned out the world. Although coming home I did end up with a question when I got off at my stop - how is that people who look like they can barely afford to dress themselves afford cigarettes?<br /><br />So group therapy.<br />Apparently you can have group therapy with two people... apparently. It seems the rest of the group hasn't realised yet that there is a group on Thursdays. So I have been assured that next week should be more like a real group session. YAY!!!! Something to look forward too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can't say I'm a fan of group therapy. The other guy who was there seems more damaged than I do and I (as one of the psychologists said) come across as having had quite a traumatic life (which I really don't think so). Allow me a minor divergence - I won't discuss what anyone else brings up or says that's not my place or right, I will do things like this though. So anyway, I'm emotionally drained, I loathe going back over my past. My past is my past and it should stay there. So one of the interesting things that I took out of today and it's probably quite appropriate (hence the picture) is that the me that drank is somebody I used to know and I have to learn about the new me. And that's actually quite scary for the first time in a very long time - I'm effectively naked and vulnerable. That does completely freak me out. All of my coping mechanisms and (false) bravado have been ripped away - I can't hide behind anything anymore. It's just me - the flawed, imperfect me.</span>lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-37881597250060039092013-07-10T00:47:00.000-07:002013-07-10T00:47:42.503-07:00Does help if I put a title here...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>"Australia has one of the highest incidence rates of alcohol dependence with 18% of Australians experiencing excessive or problematic drinking at some stage of their lives, and 4% developing a dependence on alcohol."</i><br /><br />I'm in one in ten<br />and now I'm one in four<br />I guess on the plus side I have been able to keep my sense of humour about all this.<br /><br />On the other news front which I'm a bit angsty about is that I start the first of the out-patient programs tomorrow. Of course it's on three days a week and the only I can make it is the day it's on when the girls are in care. So I'll have to talk to them tomorrow to see if I can do it one day a week or if I need to be there for all three. I do know when I start the addictions program it's a completely different kettle of fish.<br /><br />So anyway I guess I just wanted to update everyone that I am in fact starting phase two tomorrow. Which also means dealing with (EEK!!!!) public transport! If I see my psychiatrist I'll quite happily pay for parking (it's only 30 to 45 minutes) but as these sessions run a couple of hours - I'm not racing out every hour to move my car and pay another $3 something to the council.</span>lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-1433497859162544082013-07-05T15:10:00.000-07:002013-07-05T15:10:23.068-07:00a health update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So part of the fun of being in detox is that I had my bloods done. I've never quite seen a set of results as comprehensive as what my psychiatrist gave me today but yowza... there's a lot and most of it just doesn't make any sense to me. But then again I'm not a doctor. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The main things that I had to take away from it is that my liver functions are elevated (probably putting it politely) - they're really frigging high. But as I was told that's to be expected considering how long I have been drinking for. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aka:<br />"<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">GGT can be used to screen for </span>chronic<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"> alcohol abuse (it will be elevated in about 75% of chronic drinkers). Sometimes it may be used to monitor for alcohol use and/or abuse in people who are receiving treatment for </span>alcoholism<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"> or </span>alcoholic hepatitis</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">."</span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 22px;">In a piece of good news I have been told that it should be back to normal in about 3 months. It just means that I have to get my blood tests done every month to track the progress (oh joy! - I don't like needles). So I guess I have been very lucky that I didn't do any permanent damage to myself over my years of drinking. I guess when you are drinking that's really something that you stop and think about...</span><br /><br />The other thing that my blood tests showed is that I have low vitamin D levels. I went to the pharmacy yesterday to get a supplement and was told I should take one a day unless my doctor had told me differently. I told her I was told to take it three times a day "oh that is low!" Yep that's me... ;)</span><br /><br /></span>lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667629885937903243.post-14043507971295661022013-07-04T18:09:00.002-07:002013-07-04T18:09:43.291-07:00An addendum to the sobriety update...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5339/9213229694_b261f2fea7_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5339/9213229694_b261f2fea7_k.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/77/154647598_a7cf4972b8_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/77/154647598_a7cf4972b8_o.jpg" width="150" /></a>So I was drinking lemonade. Decided to switch to sprite zero as I was worried about the amount of calories/sugar I was consuming with the normal lemonade. Now sprite zero has no sugar - bonus... the reason why I was drinking so much lemonade is because my body was craving the sugar that it was getting through alcohol. So I feel like a bit of a daft idiot - ah well live and learn ;)<br /><br />Although sprite zero with peach iced tea cordial is actually quite, soda water with peach iced tea cordial is actually quiet foul. The problem also with soda water is that I used to drink vodka and soda at times so I keep expecting the vodka hit/flavour. So I think I'll skip the soda water for now.<br />
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I've also been sober for 14 days. This is seriously the longest I have not had a drink since I was 29 or 30 (I went on a massive fitness binge - no smoking, no drinking, no meat - I still have no idea of what happened to me...). I also realise I will never be that skinny again and you know what I can live with that ;)lessons learnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10410664963638199208noreply@blogger.com0