Lifestyle Archives - Page 9 of 11

Yawning, what causes it?

I’ll tell you. It’s simple. Scientists may not know for sure. But I can tell you this:

As soon as I start reading aloud, I start yawning.

How is that? Why is that? Please someone explain this.

It doesn’t make any sense. It’s 7pm. I’m wide awake. I’ve got a mountain of things to do still. It’s the kiddies bedtime, not mine.

It’s really hard to make reading time work properly when I’ve got to interrupt each sentence to yawn, kind of doesn’t help the story line to flow all that well. Although, perhaps it’s a genius method to ensure the kids are following and not lolling off distracted (which will undoubtedly force me to read the same chapter again tomorrow night to “recap”). It makes the adventures of Captain Underpants slightly boring and turns the story of Cinderella into an epic-long tale.

The power of the yawn does many things to keep story time in business. In fact, perhaps the only thing my yawning doesn’t do, is make the kids yawn.. hmm and I thought yawning was supposed to be contagious!!

Gah, go to sleep already kids. Nanny was promised her peace and quiet. Ho hum.

Back-to-school blues.

Nothing. Gah. Don’t ask me that. Boring!

Are the words most often out of my kids mouths shortly after the school pickup. There’s also a good chance these words are served with a side of some substantial huffing and even a little storming-off-to-slam-a-door if they’re feeling particularly committed to their performance.

Usually my gentle prompting elicits the afore-mentioned closed-mouthed, teenage-esque type mumblings (ironic really seeing as they’re not even close to being teenagers – I’m pointing my finger at the invasion of American television for this. J’accuse!!)

As you can imagine, with this kind of attitude, it’s always interesting to hear what they have to say. Sometimes I’ll get lucky and receive a non-committal: “I can’t remember”, followed by: “we had (insert occasional random subject like Chinese or Art or Cooking).

This usually plays out for at least the first hour that we’re home in the afternoons. I’ve learnt to leave them be, to give them their space, to let them digest the day’s events. This is in the vain hope that they’ll come to me once they’ve cooled off and volunteer the information I seek freely and happily.

This scenario is nothing new and can be found in most households (don’t quote me on this, but come on. Really?!). According to certain respected (maybe respected?) child psychologists and educators, this occurrence can be attributed to the idea that children form “schemas” based on their experiences and the norms of everyday life and routine. Interestingly, I find that as adults we often do the same. For example, I can have a full-on day at work and still come home and say, “oh the usual, nothing major” when asked as to how my day went.

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It is thought that once a routine becomes a habit, it is no longer viewed as being special or different. From the perspective of the children, their day is regarded as being somewhat uneventful and mundane, thus explaining the boring responses in answer to my (Spanish) inquisition.

So, as today marks the first day back at school for this family, I have a teensy-tiny request to all of the teachers out there. Note: I shall include myself in this poor lot and mark a permanent yellow sticky-note to my brain for future reference.

“To all of the teachers out there: please change it up a little bit every now and then. You know, ‘variety is the spice of life’ and all that. Please make an effort to engage your students each and every day, to encourage them, to inspire them, to fuel their never-ending hunger for information and to equip them with the necessary skills to go forth and conquer.”

And if nothing else, tell a new joke each day. I’d love the chance to have a normal conversation in the afternoons without feeling as though I’m pulling teeth. Hey, I might even be dazzled with a smile.

The Only Way To Have A Friend Is To Be One

The Joys of true friendship

I’m currently loving the good vibes of a long weekend. There’s just something so great about getting a three-day weekend every once in a while to change it up a bit. It’s the equivalent to a mini holiday in an otherwise long few months. Even better than enjoying a three-day weekend is getting to spend it with my best friend. She’s back in town for the weekend and I’m loving it; happy days!

I recently saw a blog post by Tiffany Zimmerman @ The Working Mother’s Notebook. She was talking to her kids about “How to be Friends”. She went on to quote Emerson, saying that the only way to have a friend is to be one.

It’s really quite timely that I happened across this post at the same time my best friend was to be back in town. We usually keep up a long-distance relationship. Yes, it call it a relationship and not just a friendship. We’ve been maintaining this since we both graduated from university and went off to make our mark in the world.

In my opinion, Emerson really sums up the conditions of friendship quite nicely and it got me to thinking. This insider wisdom is something that I’ve been trying to impart onto my kiddies for a while now. With all the girls at stages of their lives in where they’re undergoing changes in activities and interests, they’re also changing friends as well. Because that’s what kids do right, they haven’t quite learned that having friends with differences can actually be advantageous. We’ve had many talks about liking each and everyone for who they are, despite their differences, and to show kindness and respect to all. We’ve had talks about the need to show empathy and understanding, to have the want and inclination to be able to put ourselves into the other person’s shoe and to see what they see. And we’ve had talks to explain that sometimes friends go their separate ways from time to time, but true friends will always withstand and come back together when the time is right.

That’s exactly the way it is with my best friend. We weren’t always friends. In-fact, for a while when we first met at university you could say we were anything but friends. We were chalk and cheese. But we overcame our differences and went on to spend years together. Studying together, living together, working together, holidaying together and no-doubt driving each other crazy together. We shared our dreams and aspirations and helped each other to meet our goals.

These days we’ve gone our separate ways. We faced a fork in the road and I suddenly decided to go left and she kept working towards her goals to the right.

Thankfully our friendship has survived (like it wouldn’t)! When you have such respect and love for one another, and a deep-rooted appreciation for the friendship and you each commit yourselves, I think you’re in with a good chance. Essentially, I think that’s what Emerson was saying. It goes both ways, and takes a fair amount of contribution. Nothing comes for nothing, it all takes work, but the rewards in doing so are exponential. To quote my dear friend, you won’t get it if you don’t ask for it.

So girls, next time you’re facing friendship struggles, remember that you have to put yourself out there. Say what you want, mean it, work for it, respect it, and value it. In turn, it will all work out for the best. Remember, the only way to have a friend is to be one.

With love to my best friend. xx

Do you keep up a long distance relationship with a friend? Are you friends with someone now who you weren’t always friends with?

It was a set-up!

Playdate: (n) a scheduled appointment for children to get together and play, typically arranged between parents for the children.

So, I went on a date last night.

It was a set-up type date.

Strangely enough, it wasn’t with the BF.

Not even kidding. Although it turns out that he was the mastermind behind it.

I had planned to stay home and study. On a Saturday night. I know, I know, such a good girl (read: boring). Then before I know how it all happened, I’m joining the BF’s parents in Sydney Harbour to watch the fireworks for the Royal Navy Fleet Review… sans BF. Yep, I was all alone (he had to work, sucker)!

I have to admit, I felt as though I’d just been booked for a play-date. I can now completely understand how the kiddies must feel when I arrange for them to go on play-dates with new friends… awkward.

Thankfully, despite my original nerves (read: I’m totally shy), we had a great night.

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By the way, did I mention that I just love fireworks? There’s something so special about them.

A he said/she said date. Anyone else had a similar experience?

Makeup. Because you’re worth it?

Oops, was that my alarm?
Guess I kind of like my ‘beauty sleep’.. It’s lucky I’m a nanny.

No place for makeup and heels in this field. Besides, what kind of a role model would I be to those girls if I did. This way they can see that true beauty doesn’t need any enhancements.