Monday, April 28, 2014

Another Long Weekend




We've been very spoilt with 2 long weekends in a row. It has meant that Daniel has been home for much of the School Holidays and we've been able to enjoy quite a bit of family time together. As you can see - and I do apologise for the photo overload - we've just returned from the little piece of paradise that is known as The Bay of Fires. It is one of my most favourite places in the world. It's only a few hours drive up the East Coast of Tasmania but you feel like you're a million miles away from everyone and everything. The weather was at its Autumn best - cold but gloriously crisp and sunny - and apart from an innocent faux pas at the Indian Restaurant on Saturday night, we had a gorgeous few days together. Sometimes I can foresee a potential misunderstanding before it happens but entering the Indian Restaurant with my 5 year old asking the Indian owner in a really loud voice "where are all the Indians" was clearly not one of those times. There were a few giggles from the tables and a quick discussion on the distinction between people from India and Native American Indians before we settled into our delicious curry and rice.

I'm really enjoying this current phase of parenting and I think it has a lot to do with the ages of the Children. I'm loving the current dynamic of having four of the children between the ages of 5 and 9. I'm enjoying their conversations, their growing independence and I love that they all get along really well and enjoy doing a lot of the same things together. All of the micro management that needs to be done with very little ones has almost gone and Daniel and I are both noticing how nice it is to take a teeny step back and watch them enjoying themselves. At the same time they are still young enough that they want to spend lots of time with us which will no doubt change in their teenage years. Even though there is little Flynn, he tends to include himself in their group whether they like it or not and they are very good at indulging him anyway. I don't know how things will change as we enter those tween/teen years but right now I'm soaking this up and enjoying this new phase of my parenting journey very much. Has anyone else noticed a similar shift moving into the School-age phase? Where are you all at on your parenting journey? I'd love to know your thoughts.

Mel xxx





30 comments :

  1. Don't you just love the innocent comments children make - that me laugh out loud! My eldest son once asked in a very loud voice in the supermarket why a man (covered in tattoos) had been drawing all over himself!
    Stunning photos - I can see why you like visiting that part of Tasmania.
    My children are now mid/late teens and early twenties - I have enjoyed each stage of parenting, you are forever learning but my goodness the years do fly by - I can't believe my middle child (younger son) started his final term of school today!
    Enjoy every moment with your children!
    Caz xx

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  2. These are lovely photos of your get away and of your family, Mel, you look so happy and relaxed and it is great that you and Daniel could embrace the joys of family life so much recently. I know what you mean with taking a step back and watch the children enjoy themselves. Mine are between 5 and 13 and similarly, Richard and I are taking the backseat, just watching and observing. There are of course moments of madness and plenty of arguments but on the whole, life is good with the growing independence and all it brings. Having said that, my oldest, Sam, is moving towards adulthood a bit too fast for my liking, I find he is slipping away from me to submerge himself into teenage-hood. Enjoy your week! Cx

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  3. I have been saying the same, I once thought I would sooooo miss the baby stage, but I had no idea how wonderful kids are as they grow. I love having a 5 and 8 year old, they are able to do so much more and entertain themselves and me all day.

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  4. What an amazing place. We seem to have been enjoying similar things ... beaches, sunsets, rocks and family. Lovely photos, that one of you and the kids is great. My girls are 14 & 16 and still love to be with us. A bit more time spent apart (while they chat online to friends) gives me a bit of space. They are happy to be on holidays with us, but it's harder somehow to get them enthused about certain things, and whereas in the past I might have "made" them join in every family game or activity, these days I have to let them make up their own minds about some things, which might mean then that others miss out, also. There are definitely more moods to deal with, but other good things to make up for that, like being able to converse at a more adult level. My friend who has written some parenting books says that ages 5-9 are the easiest, and looking back, I agree. Although the tween years were not too difficult for us, either. I think if you have a good foundation and happy childhoods with good family times, family times, especially holidays, will stay positive, on the whole. Enjoy!

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  5. I just love the photo of Eleanor with her hair cascading over her shoulders... and what beautiful shots of you too Mel!! I know what you mean about enjoying that 'easier parenting phase'. Even though Sophie is still little, with my girls at the age where they are more independent and will play together and occupy themselves more, things are definitely easier and I imagine at your stage must be really lovely xx PS Did you see Grace's outfit on my Denmark post? Eleanor's vest is still going strong :)

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  6. So glad that you had such a great time and that your children are all loving spending time together with you and you with them. I hope that it lasts for a long time. Love the restaurant story! These things are so confusing for children learning that there are different meanings to things and also when and where to say things! Beautiful scenery, thanks for sharing. xx

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  7. It sounds like it was a wonderful family outing! As always, your pictures are so beautiful. I especially like the one of you and your children on the beach. So much love expressed in one photo. :-)

    I'm in a very different place in the parenting journey, since all five of mine are grown. However, that doesn't mean they don't still need supervision. Some of them were here for a visit this weekend and I was having to repeatedly tell my 29 year old firebug son to stop putting so much wood on the fire. Some things never change!

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  8. I'm glad you're having such a nice time. My children are five and eight and I've been thinking lately that this has been the best phase of parenting for me. They're very active and busy but they're independent, and still very young and childlike and ready for imaginative fun.

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  9. The Bay of Fires does look like a different world.Wow it is so beautiful! That was logical thinking with your 5 year old! Do make the most of those precious years with your children happy to spend their time with you! When mine were teenagers they much preferred spending their time with friends. Over the past few years as they have been away to Uni they have wanted to spend more quality time with us again so luckily things have changed again for the better! Sarah x

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  10. Every phase is good Mel. Don't let anybody drag you down talking about the 'dreaded' teenage years. You're already laying the foundations to ensure that all the ages and stages will be fine ... and enjoyable.
    Enjoy what time remains of your holidays. Beautiful photos of you by the way.

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  11. Happy to see your holidays were so well spent. I'm just a little envious of all that beautiful countryside, rainforests and history you have down there.
    I'm enjoying the 3,9 and 11 dynamic (most of the time anyway). There is just a little more independence and though that brings it's own challenges with eldest it is nice to see. The early years with little ones can be quite chaotic and I'm enjoying that "pre-school" age with all the funny little things they do and say.
    Enjoy your back to school week Mel. Mine are off this morning for the new term. xo

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  12. It looks absolutely beautiful there.

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  13. Gorgeous photos Mel. Now .... how did that hat get in the pig pen??

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    1. Well it went like this. Dad: "Charlie, hold onto your hat, it's windy and I'm not going in that pig pen to get it out!", repeat 20 times.....and then it happened :-)

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  14. Beautiful! I love the picture of you with your babies x

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  15. What a beautiful place! The Indian comment made me laugh!
    I have three teenagers now, gulp, but it is another lovely phase and we can do some great stuff now they are older, like all snorkelling together last week. That was heaven. x

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  16. OMG that second photo of the blue starfish or whatever it is...is incredible. We are so so lucky in Australia. Your photos are fantastic, the beach, the water, blue skies and sand and kids being kids...I just love it. The Indian comment was hilarious as well...........the strange thing is as well, there are not many shows on tv these days that kids watch with native american indians anyway but somehow he was thinking Indian. My son is right into "smores" at the moment, and when I say right into it, I mean he really wants to try them. We just went camping recently and did the Australian thing which is to roast Marshmallows over the fire.....I said to him "smores is very American" it's not something we really do... we are marshmallow totasters here in Oz. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane

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    1. They play Cowboys and Indians and also have a Teepee in their room and Native American Indian dress-up clothes.......you're right, it's hard to find Native Americans on TV shows and books now but we still have the vintage Golden Books with them in it (very politically incorrect storylines I know, and they've also been watching the old Walk Disney cartoon, Peter Pan, Pocahontas etc which all feature Native Americans so they've picked it up from all these other sources. It was also their first time at an Indian Curry Restaurant! x

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  17. What a fantastic beach there, love all these shots! My two are growing up fast and whilst I miss lots of their cute ways I just love some of the conversations we find ourselves having, the scientific effects of global warming one of my favourite at the moment....eldest Beas subject of choice! :) x

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  18. That photo of you with your kids is gorgeous! My boys are 4 and 1, so we are not quite in the space you are, but we have been noticing a shift lately. The older one suddenly seems so grown up, so independent! I love the conversations we have, and the sweet phrases that pop out unexpectedly! The wee one has just started walking so we are in super micro management mode with him :-) x

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  19. Hey Mel,
    What an idyllic spot. I can see why you love it there so much. We have a few favourite places of our own in West Cornwall too. I return to them again and again, although this year I am going to seek out new places to explore. My older boys are nearly 17 (in 27 days time) and 12. One is going into teen-dom as the other is coming out the other side. In many ways it's been a difficult time. They no longer want to do anything with you, and spend a lot of time on their own or with their friends, who become more important in their lives than you. I have had to take a back seat, observing from the sidelines, knowing when not to interfere. But being there when required. And boundary setting for children as they grow up gets much more complicated. With Olly it is much more black and white. And he still loves my company. Sometimes it feels as if he is an only child. I often wonder how it would have been if I had had them closer together, like you. Crazy mad at first. But it sounds as if all the hard head down parenting graft is bearing fruit for you and your husband. You have gorgeous children.
    Leanne xx

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  20. Those are magic years. They are so independent but still completely adoring of you- and you can do no wrong. Plus life is all about playing and having fun then. We are six years on from you 11 to 15 years old and it's far more challenging than babyhood ever was!

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  21. Looks idyllic but glad that had didn't blow just a little further into the puddle.
    I enjoyed every stage of my children growing up especially as each year the dynamics shifted a little, which is one of the joys of large families. Now they're grown up it amazes me how many times they say "Do you remember when we ..." . Enjoy each moment; you won't believe how quickly they grow up.

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  22. Beautiful photos Mel! Looks like a lovely relaxing weekend x

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  23. What a absolutely beautiful weekend x

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  24. What a gorgeous place, your photos are stunning.
    Our parenting journey is at quite an argumentative stage with the two teenage boys but I also know that we are heading rapidly towards my eldest leaving home for university; and if I think too much about that (despite it being an exciting journey for him) I will cry!
    Enjoy your weekend Mel.

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  25. Such beautiful photos! What an amazing holiday you've had. I've loved having my husband home a lot these school holidays, too. It was almost like we were all on school holidays. It was so nice for him to get to share that. We're still in the micromanage stage I suppose - only one just in school. But there are lots of moments like you've described. They're beautiful (although often devolve into a misunderstanding or meltdown after awhile!) Looking forward to the next few years. X

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  26. Eep! I'm so behind with everyone's blogs it's shameful, and I hadn't seen these pics of your weekend away ... what an incredible place!

    Ted has this week off work, but because we're now essentially child free - just the one still living at home - we have no one to amuse but ourselves, which is good, but I do rather miss the child centred hustle and bustle of a few years back.

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  27. I love your photos here Mel, they are so saturated with colour and light! Just stunning. And you rock that bun/top knot by the way.

    I realised this morning that my two had got themselves up and dressed while I was still in bed. At 7 Bella does this every day but Angus likes to be babied and for me to help him. I didn't mind it though, I quite liked it in fact. And last week, Angus saw one of Bella's school friends - a boy called Ryan who was born with one hand missing - and laughed really loudly and shouted "That boy only has one hand! Ha ha ha!!" as though it was the funniest thing he'd ever seen and like it was all for his personal amusement. Just mortifying. Luckily Ryan and his Mum are nice and thought Angus was hilarious...unlike me who was very embarrassed. x

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