Well 2014 is nearly at its close.
It has been a crazy, ridiculous year. At the start of this year, we did not think we would be living in Canterbury, Melbourne with me working back in management consulting. So many things happened this year that were unplanned. Things went wrong. Things were harder than we thought they were going to be. Decisions made were questioned. It would be easy to wish to 'forget' this year and wish for a better year next year. But instead I am going to be grateful for this year.
1) I am so grateful to have Damien by my side
It seems so cliched and corny, but this year, with all its challenges, has really brought D and I closer together. Struggles have made us bond together and fight together.
2) I am so grateful to have four healthy, average kids who all want to cuddle with me in bed and tell me they love me.
(Please note - a reality check on this point and photo above - D and I were de-lice-ing the children in this shot! Healthy and average as I said! On a side note, I did find D with his head upside down under the tap in the sink, conditioning and combing his hair! You will all be pleased to know that, so far, D has no animals in his hair!)
3) The community of friends we have made through the school, pre-school, cricket, tennis, swimming and piano.
4) I am grateful my children have four loving and active grandparents that love them so much, and enjoy spending time with them.
When people hear that we have four boys, there are always exclamations of "How do you do it all?" and "You must be so tired!". And the truth is, I am very tired. So very very tired (not from sleep deprivation any more but just emotional and mental bandwidth), and the truth is I don't do it all. There are many things that ideally should be done that don't get done.
Having my M&D close by has meant however, that for example, piano lessons can be had for the three big boys without Sammy (he spends the afternoon with M). And Tom can get picked up from swimming and have dinner with M&D to save me dragging them all across town at dinner time to do the pick up. D takes W to Milo cricket on Saturdays. The list is endless. I am grateful. And the boys LOVE spending time with Danna and Bumpa.
5) I am grateful for the beauty of Melbourne. The colours of the leaves, the leafiness generally. I am secretly in love with leaves. And clouds. I love our garden - it is like living in a park. We often eat on a picnic blanket in the middle of the backyard. Where we live is one of the most leafy suburbs. Cycling along the Yarra today into the city reminds me of my youth; the buildings rise up out of the green. Interestingly, Brisbane taught me to notice my surroundings more - because of Brisbane, I get daily joy from being in the moment in Melbourne - enjoying.
6) I am grateful for the lessons of the year. They have been tough-love lessons which I am still learning in many ways. But it does go to prove you are never too old to learn. I hope I will look back and see these lessons were valuable and empowering.
7) I am grateful for my time in Brisbane.
My babies were born in Brisbane, I founded my own business in Brisbane, I met my husband in Brisbane. I learnt how to be a mother in Brisbane. I learnt how to be a homemaker in Brisbane - something I look back on now with more gratitude than I had during the doing. I have friends in Brisbane who I miss not living closer too - not being able to pop in for a coffee and a chat. I miss that I am missing out on what is happening in their lives. But I am grateful for their friendship and love and support - that friendship, love, support that they gave me throughout my thirteen years there.
I remember when I was killing myself to sell my business, my mother's group each brought around dinner for about two weeks.
I remember Friday pool nights after school with lots of kids and coffee and wine.
I remember so many plays at the parks so fondly that it brings tears to my eyes.
I remember long days spent with friends with kids just whiling away the long hours of motherhood. I am so grateful for those memories. As the kids get older, I treasure them more and more.
8) I am grateful for our beautiful house in Melbourne, my bed and bedspread (Melbourne does cosy really well!) and my Jasmine cat who sleeps thereon.
And on that note, I am going to snuggle down into said cosy bed and try and sleep-mend my immunity deficiencies .....
