Tag Archives: reality

0

Back to it!

|

IMG_0555.JPG

Monday, 22 August 2014: One Year and Twenty Five Weeks Old.

It was back to work for me and back to day care for Ayla today and it was like we’d never been away.

Because I’d been working from home while Ayla and I were interstate my return to work was rather uneventful but I was glad to be back in the office and around people again!

Ayla was also glad to be back at day care with her friends, not even coming close to tears as I handed her over, gave her a kiss and waved goodbye. I was surprised really because I expected her to be clingy and emotional after all the upheaval of the past few weeks, even though I’d had a sneaking suspicion she’d been missing her little friends.

It’s funny really, how Ayla and I loved our intense time together while we were away, but we both seemed equally grateful to be back to our routine and normal activities again.

0

Back to reality

|

20140706-104754-38874049.jpg

Friday, 4 July 2014: One Year and Ninety Five Days Old.

It was back to reality for my little family today, and Ayla didn’t want a bar of it.

When I dropped her at day care this morning, Ayla cried and clasped onto me and wouldn’t let me go. It was the first time Ayla had reacted like that since her first few weeks of day care and it was heartbreaking.

I knew that Ayla loved our week away, having the attention of both her Daddy and I for a whole seven days, but I didn’t realise how much it actually meant to her.

Ayla’s reaction shone a spotlight on the importance of family first, focusing on our own little nucleus instead of all the day-to-day living activities that often steal our attention.

Going back to work (and life) was also a bit of a downer for me. Not because I don’t love my job or because I’m not grateful for the wonderful life we have, but because with life comes distraction and I know what an impact this can have on Ayla.

I don’t know what the answer is… The answer to life-balance.

To keep a roof over our heads and food on the table, to have the money to afford a good education for Ayla, and still finding funds for the things we enjoy means both of us must work.

It also means we have to dedicate our spare time to renovating and property investing, goodness knows our superannuation won’t be much, and it takes time and commitment to continue building our skills so we can maintain our careers.

But, it all comes at such a cost!

Seeing Ayla in tears this morning brought back my desire to throw all our plans and goals and dreams away and head off on an extended family “holiday”; to not worry at all about the future, or Ayla’s future, and think only of the now.

But while it sounds like a wonderful idea and one that could even be achievable, it’s a risky whim that doesn’t address the real issue, it still doesn’t create balance.

0

The long drive home

|

20140103-223359.jpg

Thursday, 2 January 2014: Two Hundred and Seventy Six Days Old.

We made the long drive home today, despite none of us really wanting to leave.

Ayla was much less settled on the return journey today than what she had been last week, and her tears weren’t as easily wiped dry with a new toy or snack.

After all the excitement and stimulation over the past week I think Ayla found being confined to her car seat boring and lonesome so we pulled out all the stops when it came to entertaining her.

After we’d run out of reasons to stop and stretch our legs, after Ayla had tired of playing baby games on my iPhone and after we’d run out of nibblies to graze on, Hubby and I finally resorted to singing Ayla clips of our favourite hits from the nineties (Corny Parent Status: Complete).

When we finally got home Ayla seemed to know exactly where she was and she started kicking and squealing with delight as soon as she saw The Dog.

Ayla also seemed to recognise her toys, and she got stuck into playing them like they were long lost friends while Hubby and I set about unpacking.

0

Back to reality

|

20130715-211457.jpg

Monday, 15 July 2013: Fifteen Weeks Old

It was back to reality for our little family today.

After three weeks of holidays Ayla and I went to the gym, did the grocery shopping, caught up on house work and made some business calls, while Hubby went back to work.

As boring as all that sounds it was really nice to have some quality one on one time with my Baby Ayla after so long.

Although I knew it already, Ayla really has grown so much!

I noticed that she’s nearly too big for the baby capsule on the shopping trolley, and her little feet poke out the bottom of her pink zip-up cocoon!

They say time flies when you’re having fun, and it definitely does.

But a friend of mine blogged about “being present” today, which was a resounding and timely reminder for me to enjoy the now and appreciate the little things.

Like grocery shopping with my daughter 🙂