The Week That Was

Last week was unusually eventful - and not without its fair share of stress!

First we had the situation with Sam's tumble off the bed. I don't want to talk about it. Thinking about it makes my insides knot up, so let's just leave it at that (you can read about it here if you really want to).

The very next day, Sam cut his first tooth. At last! My poor baby has had a rough time with this teething business. Where some babies seem to cut teeth without any effort at all, Sam seems to have had everything happen to him: he's had fevers high enough to land him up in hospital, diarrhoea, rashes and a cough. And he's been suffering with these symptoms on and off for four months! So you can imagine my joy when he promptly followed with a second tooth the day after cutting the first. Two for the cost of one. And I see the top two are pushing through as well.

In another series of firsts, on Friday Andel and I attended my first ISCT 6th Form Farewell (in other words, matric dance). Before Sam was born I was all for dressing up and going to a fancy dinner, however, when I returned to work a mere 2kg lighter than my full-term weight, I was in two minds. I literally tried to get out of it until Thursday morning. When I was unable to (bring myself to) get rid of my tickets, as you can well imagine, Project Cinderella went into top gear as I somehow had to find something appropriate (that could actually fit!) to wear, with accompanying accessories, a face and a hairdo! Thank God for sisters, that's all I'm saying. Anyway, despite my lack of confidence required to pull off the outfit (and lipstick), Andel and I had a good time on our first proper, fancy, alone date in about a year!

Friday night's Photobooth

And it's a good thing too, because on Saturday, it was our 6th Wedding Anniversary, and in keeping with our custom of celebrating with traditionally-symbolic gifts, the 6th Form Farewell doubled up as our Iron (it was on a golf estate) and Candy (we exchanged chocolates) experience.

Way back in the day...

Follow this all up with an overnight trip to Grabouw, and we've had a good weekend. I'm grateful to have had some time off of my usual responsibilities (like not having to cook), and even had the boys let me sleep in until 10h00 yesterday (interrupted, but still - it's something I don't think I've done in 10 years!).

Life is good at the moment. Busy. Crazy. Stressful. Good. I'm just counting down the days to school holidays now. Two weeks. Hallelujah!

Sam Takes a Tumble

The title of this post sounds happier than it should - at least if how I'm feeling has anything to do with it.

At some point during the night - I can't tell you exactly when or how because I can't remember much about it - Sam rolled out of the bed. There was a quick cry, an even quicker reaction from me (too bad it was too late to avoid the accident in the first place), and then some healing cuddles and prayer. I felt - still do feel - absolutely terrible.

Since then I cannot shake the desire - the need - to post about it. Mostly, because, surely, this must happen to most, if not all, parents? And yet no one speaks about it! I know it's not post-worthy in the greater scheme of portraying our parental prowess, still, the feelings of absolutely incompetence, loneliness and guilt are not ones I think should be experienced alone.

This is not the first time it's happened to me. Zac took his first tumble almost exactly 3 years ago. For some reason I posted about it then, and thank goodness I did, because if no one else is going to come clean, I did. And when I read that post just now, it was just what I needed to hear to know that I will be ok.

So to the Mom whose baby has taken a tumble...

You are not alone. We have all had these accidents, and that's exactly what they are: accidents. I know that you were probably tired/distracted/multi-tasking, and you most likely usually take all the necessary precautions to avoid these things. It's alright.

I know you feel incredibly guilty. Don't feel condemned. God's grace covers and sustains us. Don't believe the lie that you are not good enough. You have been created for this, and especially selected to parent your child/ren. There isn't anyone, anywhere who can do a better job for them than what you can do.

Pick yourself up. Wipe away those tears. One day this will be a distant memory for both of you.
Embrace the gift of the present. Don't give up. Be at peace.

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way" 2 Thess 3:16

Family Photoshoot Sneak Peek

I'm pretty excited. We got some pics from the nearly disastrous shoot we did two weeks ago, and guess what?! The images aren't half as bad as I expected.  

In case you didn't read the post about the shoot, please let me clarify that it was the subjects, not the photographer, that we were concerned about. Naomi Bolton's images are beautiful. Here are a few of them...

If you looked at these pics and thought "I'd like some of those", and you happen to find yourself in the Cape Town/Helderberg area, please do contact Naomi Bolton via Helderberg Photography.