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!

5 Tips to a job seeker

Keep on searching for the perfect job! - Bitstrip

(From the Job Seeker’s Mom)

We have a job seeker in the home. The Student is finishing her final subject in the first half of this year. The initial idea was that she stayed on at University and to get a student job while at it. But the student jobs are few and not paying very much. She is now at home near the city to find a job while completing her final studies on every second Saturday.

A head hunter told me last week that the job market is saturated, and that the employers can be very finicky! We experienced it already! The Student was at University last week to register and she could not go to an interview that she was invited to for the next day. She was immediately disqualified! Although she said that she would be available on Skype or back home this week, it was not acceptable!  That’s how cut-throat it is!

So I thought I would get in a pep-talk for this Monday…

Tips to a Job Seeker

(Translate: Mom’s wisdom on finding a job!)

1. Do not get despondent too soon! 
It feels like it’s taking too long, but a few months is not too long measured against a lifetime of work.
You are not “unemployed”, but a “job seeker”.  (There’s a difference! Yes, there is!)

2. Make sure all your CV and online information are up to date!
Do a regular Google search from another computer (not your own) to ensure that your online profiles are “job-worthy”!

3. Engage your social media networks!
It’s usually through contacts and who you know that get you a job. People love helping people when they are asked to or know how to help!

4. Do not take any job because you are getting frantic.
You have studied to have a specific career, and don’t let go of that goal. The jobs that we do tend to define us, and sometimes it can limit us in our future job seeking efforts!  (Trust me! I know!)

5. You are still a student! 
In today's  workplace you will keep on being a student!  Work that title as much as the title of being a “job seeker”!


Do you have any more tips for a job seeker?

Final year!

The final year for The Student has arrived!

We dropped her off at university yesterday.

It looks like it is going to be a great year! She finally has a single room with more space in the residence. She is doing a post-graduate in management that seems to be very promising... She has made many friends which makes life a ball on campus...

It's the time of her life!

But it is not only a final year for her, but for me as well!
It has been tough on the budget, and I am looking forward to some sort of respite after this year of paying for the studies.

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She has been working at attorney's these holidays, which helps with the pocket money. She even learnt a few lessons about how to be an employee from hell! It has been a good experience!


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Best wishes for you, my girl!
I hope you enjoy with all your might, because it will pass in a flash!

We have a Student with a Degree!

The Student with a qualification

The Student has written her final exams for her three-year degree. She has heard that she has passed all her subjects!

We are very relieved and very proud!

Congrats to you, my daughter! You have worked very hard!

I can't believe the three years have passed so quickly. (sic! I know! I know!)

Just the other day I was complaining about the initiation practices at university, and here we are! Done! Finished!

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She will be doing a post-graduate course next year. And she will finally have that single room in her residence!
Everything looks rosy!

We moved her stuff on Sunday, and brought back some of it for the holidays!

Little Miss brought her "helpers"

Corridors 

Bye to the shared room!

Now, if anybody knows about a student job for the holidays, let us know?

Happy family - update

At the airport

This is the busiest time of the year. I don't know why everybody waits until the end of the year for everything to start happening?

But this is not a post loaded with complaints...

It happens each year, and we are actually going with the "flow". December is not that far away, and there is still lots to be done and accomplished!

I was in Cape Town last week for a conference, which I absolutely loved and learnt so many new things in the world of archives. I also loved being in the centre of Cape Town. It is such an inspiring city against the backdrop of Table Mountain.
(Next time I am definitely going to be born on the slopes of that mountain. In one of those mansions!)

I missed my family very much, and so did they! I realized again how much I enjoy being with them and going on adventures with them. Each of my experiences in Cape Town was loaded with the thoughts of "wishing they were there!"

The eldest did a week of shadowing as part of her practicals for her third year. She enjoyed it so much, and she saw the shadow of her future self emerge! It looks as if everything is coming together with her studies, and she has now decided on her post-degree studies as well! I am so proud of her!
Now it is just getting through the last part of the year with lots of tests, assignments and exams to get through.

The youngest and her Dad bonded very well, and it was good for them to spend some time together.
She is beginning to look forward to Grade One, and we have to count each day until her birthday and until it is Grade One. Dad forgot about the OT appointment last week. Luckily he sent me a picture of his cappuccino, and there was still time for him to go and fetch the Little Miss and take her for her OT.
He told me after the week that he did not get much done than focus on her, and that he don't know how single parents cope...

Luckily we are a family that likes being together!
Happy family!
Happy times!


Keep calm!
Breath deep!
December is a month and a half away!

I am going to miss them while I am in Cape Town

I am going to a conference in the Cape on Saturday! I can't wait!
We do not get these opportunities very often, and I am really feeling very VERY lucky!

I am passionate about attending conferences, and I love Cape Town.
We definitely don't go there as much as I would like. (Cape Town is on my bucket list - anything and anywhere that's Cape Town).

But I don't like leaving Little Missy and the eldest behind. (The ambivalence of being a working mother.)
I know that Hubby will be there to handle it, and he will do it very good! He also supports me all the way! (Thanks Hubby)
The eldest will be shadowing as well as part of her practicals, and an aunt will cover it! (Thanks to family!)

I am going to miss them!

Hair selfie - Sit still, Mom!

Hair selfie  with a very serious looking
Little Miss

Warning: Prepared to be spammed by Cape Town photos!

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

Onesie - a student fashion must-have?

"Definition of onesie in English:
onesie 

Line breaks: one¦sie
NOUN
1 A loose-fitting one-piece leisure garment covering the torso and legs:
I’d had a bath and was in my onesie ready to settle down for yet another reality TV marathon."          - Oxdord Dictionaries
                           

   

                                             

The Student has been begging for a onesie since last year. We struggled to find one the previous year, but this year she got her wish!
This one is from Edgars, and it even has a hood with pockets in front! (Little Missy was not impressed that her onesies does not have the pockets... *sigh*)
I had bought two bigger onesies for Little Missy about two years back, and they are still doing the job this year.

I expressed the wish that I hope it won't be worn to class, but it seems it is a wish in futility!

A while back I saw a young girl/lady with a onesie at Spur, and my jaw must have dropped, because the mother said: "Yes, I know! At least it is covering everything that it should!"

Wordless Wednesday #217 - Sunday afternoon nap with the dog

3rd Year Student

We dropped off a third year student at Varsity this past weekend! 

Of course it feels like this time with her getting a degree is whizzing by. The 3rd and final year of the her studies. She is most probably going to continue with her studies for another year, but it has been lightning fast!

We had her for a whole three months at home, and we miss her at home. 

Little Missy cried when we had to say goodbye, and I had to wipe a few tears as well! Little Missy reminds us each day that she is missing her big sister, and that it is not nice at all that she is not here.

The Student was extremely excited to go back, and she is looking forward to another year with her fellow students. As well as a new year with studies she is fortunately still enjoying! 

She blogged that it is good to be back in her residence on campus! That makes me happy!

I am so glad that she is enjoying it and that is making the most of her time! 

We love you! 

We are proud of you!

(We miss you!)

Rose with thorns

It is very difficult navigating the relationship arena when you are young. You still have to define and find yourself, while negotiating in a relationship with another person on the same path of self-definition.

That was true for me! Because of that I made the "mistakes" in my relationships, and made the wrong choice in my first marriage partner. (Now I don't think of it as mistakes any more, but as valuable life lessons.)
I would not have become the person I am now, and have been where I am now, had it not been for these "detours" in my life!

Of course, I am sharing my "wisdom" with my daughters!

It seems my eldest has a good shot of her own wisdom. She has picked up most from her interactions with the unfather, who is a very emotional manipulative person.

The boyfriends in her life does not get a chance to treat her badly.
She does not allow it!

On Friday night she changed the arrangements to make it easier for the the boyfriend to come and pick her up. He flipped, and said that she can't change the arrangements as she wish. He also came and gave back her books she has loaned him, and broke off the relationship. She shrugged, and said that was it!
When the boyfriend wanted to continue as usual on Saturday, by ignoring the previous night's altercation, she wanted nothing more to do with him. He has been sending flowers and chocolates, and continues to bug her with requests to stay his girlfriend! But he has not said he is sorry!

She says she does not take back ex-boyfriends!

I am proud of her! I think it shows that she is extremely smart with regards relationships.

If this guy gets mad about a small arrangement being changed, and then not apologising... What would happen when there are bigger issues at stake?
Something is not right there?

I wish I had her "smarts" when I was young!

(Sketch: Little Missy's sketch of her sister)

Mid-year report

Little Missy is doing well at school!
I was totally surprised to learn that she can say all the months of the year! (We did not think to start teaching her ourselves, and here she is doing it.)

We still need to focus on concentration and listening skills!
So we got lists of stuff to do at home!

But she got a mention for her creative work!
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She has been approved for Grade R, and I felt like dancing! I don't know what we would have done if otherwise...
Happy holidays! For the lucky ones! (Not us! :-()
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Please hold thumbs for The Student who is writing 2 subjects tomorrow! Thinking if you!

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Exams and missing times

We are not seeing The Student that much these days, as she is busy with exams, and she could not join us for the most recent holiday in Umdloti.

Little Missy cries and complains almost every day about missing her sister.
"Dit vat té lank!" (It takes too long!)

She has been drawing pictures for her sister, and taken a shell and other paraphernalia as gifts to her  to put in her room.

We miss her too...

Each time we do something as a family; we think of her and we know that she would have enjoyed being there as well.

Last night on the phone I heard her voice was near tears.
The exams are tough, and there is not much a Mom can do!
Only sympathies and suggestions of how to tackle a huge workload!

I hope it goes well with the exams!


This year has been much better without initiation demands at university, and she has much more freedom with going out. We can see that she is enjoying it!

We love it that she enjoying her young life!


Vasbyt!

Best wishes to all the Moms students doing exams!

Weekends with Big Sister

We really miss our eldest when she is away at university. It was really nice to have her with us this past weekend!

Little Missy told me before the time that her sister would immediately go with her to her pink house when she comes home. That is her ultimate "gift" she bestows on a person; to promise them a visit to her pink house! (The pink house with the two dragons, the little sister and the small kitten.)
She told me that we could not come with, because our wings are broken...

We went again for a Saturday lunch at Glen Afric. It is not that far out of the city, and we feel as if we can breath a bit of fresh air, while looking at some animals walking in the distance. We saw a few elephants, giraffes and some antelopes. It definitely helps in recharging the batteries!

We are having a bit of summer again. The days are still warm and sunny!
Weekends are best spent outdoors!
Hope you had a lovely weekend as well?


We are missing you, again, Big Sister!


Related post:

Glen Afric: A place to go for a bush outing

Harlem Shake - The Student needs your views, please

She's the one with the orange shirt and green skirt on the left, with the medical overcoat :D

Relationships end

We wish we could spare our children from the heartache, and we wish we could take it away...

We can't, and we can only say we are sorry! For both parties!

We came to love the boyfriend just as much, and it is very very sad when you realize your relationship with a special person has also come to an end!

We know it will be better, and we know you will move on!
We have gone through it as well, and we know how much it must hurt right now!

Thinking of you both!!


(Sketch by Mieka of her parents on their wedding day ;-) )

Second Year at Varsity

The Student is off for her second year studies at university!
She is looking forward to it.
(An understatement! She cannot wait!)

This year this mother can relax a little bit much!

There is no more of the initiation worries of the first year, and me feeling that I have failed my child for sending her to a place that was the worst with regards these types of practices.
The initiation lasted much longer last year than we had hoped, but in the end she came through it!

Luckily, we have not heard of any bad practices so far, but I will definitely report back if we get to hear of nasty practices still happening!
The Student has vowed not be be involved with any of this type of mistreatment of juniors in the residences!

This year she can focus more on her studies, but she can also have the time of her life on campus.

She has a new room-mate, and they seem a much better fit after she had to learn some life lessons while studying last year.

Hopefully a pep talk with the student would also not be necessary this year! (Hint ;-) )
This year she know how to organise and plan, and how to fit in the fun stuff!

I hope that she will have lots and loads of fun while getting her degree!

I am so proud of her for trying her utmost last year, and for seeing it through!

She passed all her subjects, and can now focus on doing her second year subjects!


Enjoy it, Young Lady!!

We are going to miss you!


Photo: A bit of fun at Pretville

Perceptions change

I was reminded about how much we have different perceptions of of ourselves, and that time usually has a very positive filter!

The photo on top was taken about 10 years back, and at the time I thought that I needed a bit of oomph!
My hair was grey(-ing) and it needed a colour, and I was looking off!
(Or so I thought!)

Maybe, in 10 year's time, I will look differently at the bottom photo as well?
(Not happy with it at all, and trying my utmost to hide behind a camera. Most of the time!)

Fortunately the Young Lady does not have anything to complain about!
I hope not! 

You are beautiful, my daughter!

Wordless Wednesday #155 - Movember

You know it is near the end of the year...

when...

- The Student is back home, finished with writing her exams. I am exhaling with her! It has been a tough year!

- The Toddler is busy with assessments at pre-primary, and not so keen going every day.

- The concert is done and dusted.

- The ballet concert is a few movie clips on my phone!

- The tiny gymnastics end-of-year is happening on Saturday.

- We are seeing Christmas decorations everywhere, but I think I will leave our own Christmas decorations for December. (It feels like it has been put up very early this year?)

- We are all beginning to look forward to the holidays, especially since we now have our own holiday to look forward to. I usually feel that holidays at home does not feel like holidays.

- I have compiled my list: What I want for Christmas. It is the first time I had drawn up a list so far in advance, thanks to Blogger Secret Santa by Stiletto Mum.

- I am beginning to contemplate my goals for next year. One of the main goals is looking at studying again. A lecturer told me to contemplate doing a longitudal study with my Masters that I did not finish. As I hate not completing it, it is something really worth considering!

- It is great weather for swimming here! (Sorry, Northern Hemisphere!)

 

I love this time of the year!

 

What are you planning for December?

Do you also like this time of the year?

 

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