One of the biggest changes we've made since moving back to Tasmania is to slow life down a bit and minimise a lot of unnecessary running around so we can enjoy life more.
Part of that decision involved having the boys, who turn 4 this week, stay home with me full time, all day every day. This is the first year I have had just with the boys at home on their own since Blue Eyes started full-time school this year. The Boys will start 'big school' next year in the form of a 3 day Kindergarten so I really wanted to soak up their last year here at home. They are an absolute delight to have around and I find that now they a little older I can get a lot of things done with them around and I don't feel the need for a break from them like I did when they were younger.
Also being twins, they have a permanent buddy by their side and entertain themselves together pretty well. The cost of childcare/pre-school is $70-$100 per day and we just can't justify paying up to $200 a day for them to be in care just so I can have a few hours to myself.
Then there is the headache of dropping them off and picking them up. It's just another inconvenience I didn't want to sign up for. I feel like this year both them and I don't need it. I am neither opposed to childcare nor the need to have some respite from the daily grind of child-rearing, I'm just not doing it this year.
Last year in Sydney, they went to pre-school 1 day a week. I called it my "Woman-Posessed Day" because it was the day I ran around like a lunatic getting a million things done in the 6 hours I had to myself without any children. I volunteered at the school, did the weekly groceries, cleaned the house, cooked, did some after-school activities with the older 2 and then had to hop in the car AGAIN to pick the boys up during peak-hour traffic.
Nightmare!
I was thoroughly exhausted at the end of my 'day-off' but felt I needed it nevertheless. Not this year.
We do lots of fun things together. One of our favourite weekly things to do is head down to the beach. It's a 5 minute drive down the road and completely isolated and gorgeous all year round. We throw the tennis ball to the Whippet, collect treasures, run around the sand dunes, climb over the rocks and wile away the hours until the weather turns bad. It's one of my favourite times of the week. Just me and my boys.
Eye-lashes!
ReplyDeleteI have 'irish-twins' ie two boys 11-months apart. They were why I stopped working, because day-care was too expensive, and then Martha came along so I stayed home for a little bit longer.
Enjoy it. Soak it up. I've now realised how easy I had it as a sahm now that I work 5 days a week.
It was fun. So milk it and invest in them, mother. Fill them with love and attention. You need to enjoy these days when they are dressed like Superman, still love you and have eye-lashes to kiss.xo
That sounds pretty perfect. Love to head to the beach with my girls, especially in winter. Stunning photos! x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteNext year will come all too quickly.
Enjoy this precious time with those gorgeous boys.
:-) xx
The delightful thing about twins is how they always have their buddy. Just watching and eavesdropping On them can be such fun. I let Maya stay in kindy even though I didn't end up working as planned because she just loved being with other three year olds so much. She would have been a very happy twin!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't even though of going to the beach in ages, I hate feeling that cold wind whipping in off the ocean. But you had a beautiful morning! Might take my boys down there later in the week when it (supposedly) going to be 17!
ReplyDeleteLooks idyllic. Enjoy these times, they go so quickly.
ReplyDeletePenny x
What better fun than taking a couple of superheros to the beach..looks like it's your own private one at that!
ReplyDeleteThe burning question is - does YOUR whippet return the ball?
ReplyDeleteI'm already panicking that my baby.....is almost two. When you have children you can't deny the passage of time. It looks idyllic hanging around at your place! Rx
ReplyDeleteSounds perfect. How lucky you are to have a beach 5 mins away! Enjoy the year with your boys.
ReplyDeleteHow I wish I could turn back the clock to have my offsiders with me again everyday. Enjoy it all Mel. And yes, those eyelashes are amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post Mel. I think you're amazing & doing the most beautiful job there with your gorgeous boys. Mama time & brother time is something they will only thrive on...and I completely understand your reluctance to jump on the daycare train, it IS expensive & often quite stressful picking up & dropping off & doing everything in between. Love these photos, what a gorgeous part of the world to live in xoxo
ReplyDeleteA precious post, Mel. A time in your lives so beautifully captured - well done, mama! The cost and stress of Sydney daycare is certainly something I don't miss. J x
ReplyDeleteMy idea of a perfect day! The beach to yourself as well, what a treat. I live 5 from the beach here too but alas it is never just me and the ocean breezes. I'm pretty sure Tassie was the last place that happened. Love your little superman guy. That reminds me of a nasty sewing session. Being a patchworker,I was "volunteered" to make 20 superman capes for a school fair.I wrangled that stretchy rolly fabric for days. Also just love your little blue bear <3 Happy days Chris.
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely being able to spend special time with your gorgeous boys. I feel the same way with Grace who is starting kindy next year. We have simple days and routines we enjoy. Collecting shells down at the river is one of our favourite outings too :)
ReplyDeleteHi Mel,
ReplyDeleteI'm another mummy blogger visiting Tasmania for a couple of months, and I wondered if we could visit you and blog our visit. I know things are busy for you at the moment. We'll be here until February.
Love,
Lauren.