Miss Fine end-of-year question review

Miss Fine

It's been a year since the the previous questions to the nearly 9 year old. This week Miss Fine is celebrating her 10th birthday. We are so proud of her. She has done so well at school, and it seems she knows who she is and what she wants.

Mon asked her a few questions, and I wrote it down as is. Thank you for the honest answers. We learn more from you, than you from us.

Mid-year update - Miss Fine

"Sharp!"

Miss Fine had to take a back-step these past few months. It was only wedding stuff and preparations, and the whole budget went into it. The Wedding was the best party ever, and it was all worth it! Miss Fine had a ball of a time. She complained before the wedding that she would not know what to do with herself and that she would be bored. This was not the case. She was a perfect flower-girl, and she enjoyed manning the photo booth with her friends. She also danced the night away! Everybody commented on how confident and big she is.

The 21st of each month used to be my monthly update when she was small. This blog is all about keeping track about how she is growing into the person she has become. I did an update after the first Grade 4 exams, which went very well. We only had feedback from the teacher after the holidays. The teacher said that Miss Fine is her perfect example of kids that really do well, although they are so young for their grade. This validated our decision to put her in Grade 1 when we did. (This is what moms do: Worry about what you do and don't do, and each year we worry AGAIN!) "Phew!"

The Wedding was the best party ever!

#HnK #JacobsTroue - Patrick Pretorius Photography

Our Wedding of the Year was finally on Wednesday last week. We could not have picked a better day. It was summer in Brits. The Eldest got married to her soul buddy, the same guy she got engaged to a year ago. She still likes him a year later. ;-) They worked hard to accomplish this wedding, but it was all worth it!

Wedded couple - Patrick Pretorius Photography

As mother of the bride I enjoyed the whole day. There were a few tears, but not much. It was just one big happy party! I shared a few photos on Instagram about the wedding: #JacobsTroue. We were so grateful for everybody who took the time off to celebrate the day with us. I think it was the best wedding ever! Of course! ;-)

Miss Fine the Flower-girl - Patrick Pretorius Photography

All the hard work of making the wedding decorations paid off. The rustic wedding theme looked amazing. I will be sharing some more in later posts.

I am so happy that my daughter is happy! She is having the time of her life!

The wedding couple also entertained us immensely on their wedding day. They danced and danced.
This is from a screenshot from one of their dance creations. That was so clever and entertaining, you two! We are impressed and think you just lifted the bar for upcoming weddings.

#JacobsTroue #HnK

All our blessings are with you!
May you have wedded bliss always!

M.O.B. - Mother Of the Bride

Wedding - MOB Dress-ready

The excitement is gaining momentum in the family. In less than two months we are going to have a WEDDING. I am going to be "Mother of the Bride". I am going to be MOB (He-He saw this on t-shirts, and quite like it). It is not a scary or a sad concept. I love it! I have a daughter, the Eldest,  who has found her Love, and she is happy. What more can I ask for? Nothing.

The first time I saw your faces

Daughters

With Mother's Day coming up and having all the warm fuzzy feelings about being a mother, and having a Mom whom I only appreciate more and more... I feel blessed. I have signed up for the first time for the Mother's Day Connect on Sunday where groups of moms will visit new moms in hospitals. You can still sign up here: Embrace Mother's Day Connect. It's only an hour out of your day, and you can still be back with your family on Sunday.

I was very lucky to have support and family, and we could prepare for both our daughters. I can't imagine how scary it must be when you don't have that?

I can still remember how I felt when I first saw these precious faces.

The lessons we have learnt from our daughter

Miss Fine 

Laura-Kim's post about the lessons she has learnt from her 4-year old inspires this post. It made me smile. We learn so much about life and ourselves by what our children bring to the table. You would think that they are carbon imprints of ourselves, but NOT at all! They are their own personalities, and they teach us more about life than we sometimes think we teach them about life!

Life lessons we have learnt from our daughter

• We learnt to have more patience. Patience towards ourselves, but also towards other people. (We are still busy learning this one.) 
• We can each think differently about life, and it is all okay. There is not only one recipe for life.
• We don't have to loose our shizz when somebody else loses theirs. (Still learning...)
• A melt-down as an adult is also not pretty. You can't tell somebody to stay calm when you yourself can't stay calm.
• Staying calm! 
• Being happy is not always inherent to our nature. We sometimes have to work on it.
• Trying to do something is already 99% done. Do not discourage the process.
• Doing things differently should also be commended, and not reprimanded. We all learn the most by failing and trying again. By saying you know that it won't work, won't help. Life is the best teacher of all.
• Appreciation of what we have, and how little we really need to make us happy.

This is a list I am going to come back to.

What life lessons have you learnt from your children?

Questions to the nearly 9 year old

Miss faces

It's been a year, and it's always good to sneak in a few questions to our daughter. There's some "Ah-hah" and some "Really?".

She's been with me at work for the first day of school holidays, and she's managed to use up 4G of my 5G dongle before lunch. Now she is tasked in making me a picture for my office, and I try not to look at the mess... (This is going to be a long 6 weeks!)

Mom and daughter dates are also needed

Little Miss asked yesterday that we go on a shopping trip alone!

I was planning to go to the shops quickly for the weekly lunch-box shopping in any case. So we just had to agree on the best shopping spot. She wanted to go to China Mall, but I convinced her to go to the newly opened West Pack Lifestyle (big-plastic-and-everything-you-can-think-of-supposed-to-be-cheaper-shop). It was a win-win for both of us, and she got a free balloon at West Pack. We also could do the lunch-box shopping at the nearby Woollies and get that cappuccino!

Engagement celebrations!

Happy couple at Drie Berge 

I have been so excited on my Eldest behalf for a few weeks now. The boyfriend asked the parents a couple of weeks back, and we could not say anything to her!

How sweet that the boyfriend made an appointment with us when she was not around? He planned the whole engagement affair, and we as her parents were asked to join afterwards with a braai (barbecue) celebrating the good news!

Mom and daughter week

Winter holiday picnic

Little Miss has a three week holiday break. It's a very long break for a little girl who still has to go to school. It is Vacation School, but still... It's at school!

Mom guilt took over, and I decided to take a week (this week) with her! The plan is to relax and sleep late. We are doing it!

Things escalate each day, because she gets me to do more than I think we/I should! Yesterday I promised her a picnic, and soon we were buying sushi at Spar and going to the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens. (I was thinking of having a picnic at home...  Real mom rubber arms, it seems!)

Little Miss packed our picnic basket, and of course I had to carry a heavy basket, instead of the back-bag that I suggested to her. (Why do I do this to myself? Rhetorical question, of course!)

But I was glad we went. It's lovely in the gardens this time of the year. The succulents are in full bloom, the waterfall is full and the eagles are flying overhead.

Sushi picnic - Mom win!

I was also instructed to pack away my cellphone in my bag!
(Mom fail! Sorry, Miss, I still wanted to take the picture.) It is lovely spending time with you, and I want to remember it!


What are you doing these holidays with the little ones?

To the Eldest

Happy birthday, K! I am so glad that you are enjoying your life, and having the best time!

May your day today be one of celebration! We are stretching it out until the weekend this year!

Thanks so much for all you are teaching us. You are the kindest and most compassionate person I know! You are always helping others! Thanks for the lovely example you are for our youngest!

Your smile and warm greeting to each and every body you meet makes it a pleasure to be around you! Stay as you are!

May this year be the best yet, and may you still go on those travels you were planning!
Boomerang back as much you want! ;-)

The Boomerang Generation

Millennials coming back home after their studies or doing it on their own. The Boomerang Generation is an apt description for older kids living with their parents! I have many friends who also have these Boomerangers back in the house! (Is that a word?)

The Eldest is still staying with us, working and doing her own thing! But living again with the family after she was a student for three years away from home. This was not the original plan, as we thought she would pack her bags and go off on adventures after her studies...

Strange how life works?!

As a mom I must say that I am grateful for this extra grace in time with my Eldest! I love that we get more time to spend with her! Of course she has grown up too fast! I love that we have this extra boomerang period!

The only drawback is that we worry more about her! (Maybe?) We know when she's out and about, and worry! We also still appreciate and ask for the messages each day of her arriving safe at work and back!

We don't know how long this will last!
But for now I will cherish this special time!

Graduation and the end of an era

We attended the final graduation ceremony of the Student yesterday. She received her post-graduate diploma in Management. She finally finished her final subject in Accounting with a distinction after she did not make it last year!

The day was filled with pride, but also with nostalgic reflection of a time that has passed very quickly!

It was the best of times!
It was a difficult time, especially in the first year of initiation!
It was a time of great friendships!
It was a time of hard work!
It was a time of play!

I am so glad that my daughter had this time in her life!

I think that is one of the greatest accomplishments for parents when their children successfully earn their qualifications to get a kick-start in life!

The friends...

 A special person...

The family...

Thanks to a Dad who had to drive the taxi when the lifts failed. He even drove one evening from a function to pick up his sick daughter to bring her back home before he went back to his work conference.

My eldest is not a Teen nor a Student anymore!
I feel like shedding a tear and shouting Hallelujah at the same time!

So proud of you!
You are my the my example of Parenting-done-right!
Well done, my girl!

Smash and

The Eldest was involved in a smash-and-grab the previous weekend. She was coming from friends on a Saturday night at 10 o'clock!

Luckily she is very alert, and she was watching guys across the road which looked suspicious. The next moment there was this huge smash on the driver's seat window! She did not see them at all! She reacted automatically, and drove through the robot just before the robot turned green for the other side! The window was shattered, but it did not fell out! They could not take anything or hijack her!

She was very shaken when she arrived home and felt a bit deflated! Also very despondent about the "assholes" (her word) that dampened her evening!

So she had to go and make a  case at the police station the next day, and had to have the window fixed during the week. She had to pay in the excess of R500 which was also not planned for... All very unwelcome and a lot of schlepp!

She had to wait for the case number from the police, as we filed the case at another police station. The thought was there that we would wait very long or not hear from the police again.

But she got a phone call from a very concerned police woman who wanted to know if she is okay and is she got hurt. She was told that the crossing is a hot spot and that lots of people are being smash-and-grabbed there. It touched the Eldest that the police woman seemed to care. How many of these cases do they not get on a daily basis? It was not even a mentionable crime as she was not injured and nothing was stolen... The Eldest said it restored her faith in humanity! She also got the case number within a week, and was notified that a detective was assigned to the case!

She was lucky!

And The Mom wants to preach again about going out at night... (But I won't!)


On a totally different note: Check out the cool Prisma app which changes your photos into art works! The picture above was created by using the app.
It's available in the App store and the Google Play store! For free! (The server seems a bit unstable at times, but I can't blame it, as I've got to run through all the filters before I make a choice!)

Daughter, wishing you only the best on your birthday

Birthday girl

Dearest Daughter

It is such a great journey to have lived with you for 23 years now! I wish you the best on this day and into your future!

I am so proud of you for finally getting that last subject (and getting those marks!), and that you are enjoying your new life as a working adult! (I can't call you The Student anymore, although you have already signed up for an online course...) Although still under "probation" at work, but I am sure it won't be a draw-back! Most probably helping you along the way!

You are the reason I don't get despondent about parenting that much! ;-) I raised you as the perfect example of what we want our kids to become! Self-sufficient, able, happy, life-affirming go-getters in life!
If I did it right once, surely we can do it right this time?
But I do realize it's more about you and the person you are, and not about our parenting successes or failures!

Littler Miss was very excited about your birthday! She could not wait to give you the earrings she made for you from the Kids Emporium breakfast stash. (See photo above) She also insisted to buy you toothpaste, because she does not want to share her toothpaste with us.
That's why you got your present with the toothpaste! (We cannot dream up these things, even if we tried... ;-0)

You are very special to us and Little Miss! She was a bit sad that we can't go with you tonight when you see your friends, but the restaurant outing last night made up for it!

Enjoy your day!
Love you!

How do you know you have a great mother?

How do you know you have a great mom?

When you become a Mom yourself and realize all she had done!

Without complaints!

Every day!

Thanks, Mom!!

She got the Superhero Cape!

We attended the graduation ceremony of The Student yesterday! She finally got the graduation cape and the hat, and she got her few seconds to shine on the stage!

It was a proud mom-moment, because it feels like we have achieved something as well!

I know I did not do any of the hard work, or worked through the nights, or helped her with any of the studies. (Only a little bit of research some times from my side...)

But we made it possible for her to study. (Cha-ching!! and I am only starting to work back the bursary...) There were times that we said we did not know how we are going to do it, but our focus will be on the completion of the studies. She also knew there was no do-over available! This was it!

And she did it!

I am very proud of her, and so glad that she has something to show for her hard work.
The speaker spoke about the importance of time yesterday: "The importance of a year is so much more appreciated by a student who has to re-do that one year!..."

The wonderful time at university she is having now, is coming to an end at the end of the year. I hope and I know that she is making the best of it! (So glad she is enjoying it!)

It was only the other day I complained about the initiation practices, and in the meantime they have abolished most of it!
We had some pep talks along the way to keep her going, and she also learnt valuable life lessons while studying.

But here we are! She is busy with a post-graduate diploma, and busy thinking about the next stages of life already!

And we are left with the question: "How did it get here so quickly!"

Well done, my girl!
Love you!

More superhero poses can be found here: Wordless Wednesday #259 - Superhero poses #graduation 

Wordless Wednesday #237 - Sisters

Twenty one years of joy

#kiaragatsby
Photo: Patrick Pretorius

To my darling daughter

21 years!

Yes, it's flown by in a blink of an eye, but it has also feel like it's been forever! You have always been with us, and also not!

You are already making a life for yourself, and we love the fact that you still enjoy coming back home to us!

That you are in our lives, and that you are always a delight!

People are always telling me how beautifully mannered you are, and that you are such a light and a pleasure to be around. It's got more to do with the person you are, than our own inputs.

Thank you for being a great daughter!
Thank you for being a great sister!

We all love you very much!

I know you are feeling a bit unsure at the moment about where life is going to take you, and that your expectations vs. reality are stressing you. But I know you are going to grab all the opportunities coming your way, and that you will make the best of your life!

We are cheering from the sides.
Feeling very proud!

No, I am not sad that you are 21!
I am glad that we got here, and that we can look forward to sharing your joys and your milestones!

Love
Mom

Photos from the Gatsby Party we had on Saturday at Chicago's Piano Bar!
It was a blast!

Rick, the Creative behind the cake!

Dance!
Photo: Patrick Pretorius

With family
Photo: Patrick Pretorius

Cheers!
Photo: Patrick Pretorius

Family: Gatsby style!
Photo: Patrick Pretorius

Friends at Chicago's
Photo: Patrick Pretorius

Little Missy

Helping Sis to blow out her candle!

Chicago's Piano Bar

The Importance of Teaching Children to go Green

I really want to focus more on going green, and how to teach it to my children. I want my children to be responsible adults who will consciously make a positive difference in their environment.

This guest post is a kick-in-the-butt reminder of why and how.

Going green has become a huge trend in today's society. Some people are doing it because they really care about the environment, and others are because they want to learn more about doing so. Teaching your children to go green is crucial to make sure this trend isn't just a fad, and the following reasons explain why:

Our Future: Here

Consider the future of the planet. We simply can't continue consuming the resources at the pace we are now if we want to survive. In other words, it's vital  for us to be proactive. As this generation begins to pass away, the planet is going to be left in the hands of the people who are still on earth. It is OUR responsibility to teach children about going green - each of us has a part in carrying on sustainable traditions into the next generation. Otherwise, the planet and our grandchildren will suffer as a result.

The Everyday Benefits

Let's say you're not currently living in an environmentally-friendly home. Maybe you don't recycle, or perhaps you've not been turning off the lights when you leave a room. That's all right - most families don't. However, if you're willing to talk to your children about the importance of going green, you have the ability to create a productive, team-focused atmosphere in your house. By working together, your family can become much more tight-knit and environmentally conscience. That way, whenever they grow up and move out, you can know that you did more than just raised them right - you made the world a better place.

Future Visions

Though you might not realize the potential that your little ones have, you should definitely note that they can make some major changes in their life. If you talk to them about going green, they might be inspired to start a green project, whether they plan out a day where all of the residents of your community get together to pick up garbage in the park or perhaps raise money to clean up a local body of water. They may join clubs at their school that are dedicated to the environment or study environmental studies in college. Who knows, but they might need a bit of a kick-start to light the fuse. Be the spark!

Future Opportunities

Speaking of which, there is an endless amount of jobs and opportunities in the green sector. Companies will always want to save money on energy, and they will always be eager for PR-friendly solutions they can brag about. Besides, we live in a world of limited resources - we won't always have oil to rely on! People are interested in discovering energies of the future NOW so that when they're in demand, they'll profit from them! 

Finances

It might seem selfish or simple, but the truth of the matter is that green families are frugal families! Investing in green technology and solutions on a family level will save you money down the road in infinite ways. Turning off lights, unplugging unused machines, replacing old light bulbs with CFL bulbs and more will all lead to savings over time (of both money and time).

Teaching your children to go green is a goal that you should have for your home. You might be amazed at how much information your little ones are able to absorb and where they take these ideas.


Joseph Rodriguez writes about all things related to parenting and education. His recent work is on earning an online education degree.