There's always a first in everything

Had a few firsts the last couple of months. Had my first chinese deep tissue massage and injury massage and I must say that though it hurt like mad on my injured spot, it worked wonders. I mentioned in a previous post that I had hurt myself one day while carrying my then 15 months old and pulled a cartilage in my back. And the body being so well made by God, was able to compensate the injured part and use the rest of the body to operate. However, it did hurt the rest of the back eventually and I had to get myself treated.

Physiotherapy with the electric pads didn't work. They made it worse. I went to my chiropractor and that helped to loosen the muscles somewhat. Decided to go for a deep tissue massage and the most available one was a chinese massager and I went in for 20 minutes. What a wonderful 20 minutes! They guy who rubbed my back really went into the spot. The body was fine after the massage wore off the day after. Didn't have to spend tons of money on physiotherapy!

We also had a first for my eldest as flower girl for my cousin's wedding. It was tough on the rehearsal night as she was very very clingy. And I really meant clingy. She wouldn't let me go and I had to literally drag her along the red carpet. We coaxed, we scolded, we threatened, we ignored and bribed. Nothing worked. Everybody said that it was ok. It's her first time and to just let her do it if she wants to.

On our part, my husband and I were angry that she just refused to walk. We had no problem with one of us walking in front of her to guide her, but she just wouldn't let go of my arms and legs. We have drilled her for the last two months on what was going to happen. I brought her to the church for two Sundays to get used to the surroundings and also went to great lengths to describe the morning to her.

However, she refused to do it. She came home saying she would practice at home and will do it on the wedding day. I don't know about you, but when it comes to important events like this, I'm not willing to take the chance that everything will run smoothly. But there was nothing that we could do with a koala. Wedding day came, we dressed her pretty and she walked! SHE WALKED! Had a quick run through with the other flower girl and she was OK! Praise the Lord! Everybody prayed. Really prayed. We didn't want to mess up someone else's happy day. I was so so proud of my daughter!

I did promise her a surprise though.

She picked her gifts and had a special afternoon tea as a reward.

I had my first car breakdown on the evening of the wedding rehearsal. Lost my way in the city while on my way to pick up my husband from work. Will blog more about this in another post.

We also had our first proper kiss from the youngest and her first steps! All at 15 months. Bought her a pair of shoes and she just walked. It's as though she relates shoes to walking. As soon as the shoes are off, she wouldn't take a step. So, she had her shoes on from morning till night and she just walked. Hardly any stumble, though not very steady initially. But she only took a week or so to figure out her gait.

Our first kisses from her came as a surprise. She used to give us wet, licking smooches, but somehow at 15 months, we get a real kiss with sounds too! Now she just loves giving kisses to people.

I'm sure my little one knows how to whistle. I've heard it. Not very loud, but still a whistle from the mouth. She only makes a single sound, but it is getting stronger. She doesn't know what she has done, and we try to cheer and clap everytime she whistles to try and get her to do it again. It hasn't been successful. Only the accidental wind blowing from her mouth. Wonder if this one will grow up musically inclined?

A year just flew by again. I'm sure this phrase will be repeated in the years to come, but this year has really passed by too quickly for me. My eldest is turning 5 and will be in Prep next year. We went for her Prep Orientation and she was happy with the teachers and friends. I felt lonely. Strange. She is growing up and is leaving me. There will be more separation as my children grow, but this first Prep Orientation really took me hard. My baby has grown up and is finally going to school. Half the battle of separation anxiety really lies with the parent. I had to let her go and know that she is safe. Her teachers are wonderful and I am assured that she will be given the opportunities to explore to her greatest potential.

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Finding me in a new hobby

Haven't been blogging for awhile. That seems to be the start of quite a few of my blog posts! I have been busy with a new hobby and also with my two children. So much has happened this last year it is quite a journey in my motherhood.

I picked up balloon twisting last November. Exactly a year ago and it has grew dramatically on me. Started with 25 long twisty balloons from ebay and went on to buying from a wholesaler in the USA. I'm not a business entity so the Australian wholesalers won't sell to me at wholesale price. And it's too expensive to buy from party shops.

So, the hobby went from single balloon designs to multiple balloons designs and the latest was a centrepiece for a friend's engagement party.

Even my husband and two daughters caught the balloon bug! Well, the husband isn't so keen on balloon twisting and sculpturing, but he's an active consultant in giving suggestions and improving my balloon bags and accessories. My eldest is able to twist a few designs on her own and my youngest, now at 18 months, knows how to operate a handheld ball pump (the balloon pumps are too stiff for her) and also to put a balloon onto the nozzle. She can't inflate a balloon yet. The coordination for that is still too much for her. But, they are all getting somewhere and I'm glad that it's being welcomed into the family.

Many have asked my why balloon twisting? To be honest, I can't quite remember. I was looking for something to do for myself. Was actually very close to enrolling into a massage course or Auslan course, but somehow found balloon twisting on youtube and thought that I could start off with a hobby instead. And people do make money out of it. Well, I wasn't quite thinking about money at that time, because I just wanted to learn something new that has got nothing to do with my children.

Selfish? Yes.

But as stay at home mothers, we have been spending time on our children, reading up books, attending seminars, networking with other parents, reading and singing children's books and songs that we forget about ourselves. It has come to a point where I am sick of picking up children's story books and CDs. I wanted to find myself back.

Don't get me wrong. I love my children. And all other children. But I need me too. I graduated with Dip in Mass Communication and BA in Journalism but am not doing any work in that field because my husband and I decided that we will spend time with our children. I worked from home as a family day care mum and did a Cert III in Children's Services so that our children can have a parent at home. I ran an online bookstore but it wasn't successful because I couldn't spend time promoting it. My husband worked hard in the office and sometimes at home too, to put food on the table and a roof over our heads.

I'm not boasting nor saying how great we are, but that's the truth of every stay at home parent. Qualified professionals who choose to stay at home. Be it the mum or the dad, the one who stays home to look after children ends up losing a huge part of themselves.

It is important to still have our own identity. So that we are not dependent on our children to live. One day they will leave home. They will go to school, move overseas/interstate, get married, have their own children. A parent's life shouldn't revolve around their children. They need to be themselves too.

And so, I picked up a hobby. Not for the children, but for myself. Also as a challenge to overcome my fear of balloons. I think I have succeeded. It has been fun and challenging. My children love the sculptures and so does my husband. My family members are my greatest fans, consultants and supporters. There are balloons everywhere in the house. I bring balloons in my bag everywhere I go and will make something for somebody at every chance.

It's wonderful to see a crying face light up with a balloon in his hands. It is wonderful to bring a smile to everyone's lives.

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