Parenting

Being a parent is like walking through a maze without a map or a lookout. Each stage and age brings another in a series of challenges and development for me as a parent. Felix is proudly 4 and becoming extremely self aware. A sence of independance but still a need for dependance is upon us. As a mother I too feel I need to have children as much as they need me. While I might think I know what is best for a four year old I am remindered that Felix really is the best person to decide which path to take. I feel at times that we are alone in our parenting philosophy unlike anyone in our family or close friends yet we feel so at ease so it must be ok. I meet more like minded parents who don't control but work with their children and this empowers and liberates me.

The pigs

We travelled to our beloved Collingwood Children's Farm to our delight the paddocks are filled with kids (baby goats). Felix feeds them confidently as Tilda watches on a little unsure. We visit the pig pen to be greeted by a large pig rooting around in the mud. We offer a apple core which is greedly munch and swallowed. Sitting under a large tree we enjoy our popcorn, homemade yogurt and rice cakes as well as the company of a goose, a cat and a chook. We finish the morning sitting for 30 minutes cuddling Guine pigs.

Bus to get fish

I am sitting at the bus stop it is hot we are on our way to get fish for dinner the kids are have a great time running around on the grass

You know you have a strong willed 2 yr old when ..

your 4yr old's kinder teacher is helping you cope!

What a character- Tilda just know wha she wants. Last week at kinder i tried to help her blow out a candle and want bluntly told- "Mamma don't I do it myself". Our kinder teacher later noted that she hadn't met a 2 year so certain of herself.

Felix's Birth Story by Felix

After reading that some children remember aspects of being born reportedly up to the age of seven I decided to ask Felix what it was like for him. Here are a few things he said..

"It was tight and a short tunnel I needed to go through"
"When I came out I just wanted my mamma and call for her mamma mamma"
"it was warm inside"

I might ask him again another time before his memories disappear.

Birth choices

I had the wonderful privilege to attend a screening of orgasmic birth. I left the film feeling empowered and ready to open up a part of my life. With two very successful birth center births, no intervention, natural births it only feel natural to move this to another level, a home birth. It might be a bit strange to be talking, thinking and considering birth before I am even pregnant, but it feel like a journey that starts well before the conception of another child. Reflecting on the birth of Matilda and Felix the part I did not enjoy was getting into a car, thinking my contraction might slow down and stop and maybe needed to go home again. This did not happen either time- but the stress I felt did not have to occur either. In the case of Matilda we were at the hospital for 12 minutes before she was in my arms- I missed out on the opportunity to experience her moving down into my pelvis and virgina as I was concentrating on just getting to my room. I feel this rush to get there may have contributed to her outrageous crying for the first 20 minutes of life- it was all too fast for her. So now seeing a movie such as orgasmic birth, I feel that my options are really limited to birthing at home with my husband and children and all the things around me that make me relax. No car rides and no unnecessary intervention. It seem for once in my life I am doing my homework well before the final exam.