the fifo wife

Remeber how I said the other day I had that mother earth thing going on? Well it dissappeared yesterday…well sort of…I handled the tantrum with such calmness even I surprised myself but it would seem even the calmness of mother earth could not break this mother of all tantrums. The mother earth thing I knew it wouldnt last but I tried. But on wards and upwards I say.

B3 threw several tantrums yesterday. He is coming down with a cold so with each one I tried to give him some lee way but come yesterday afternoon he refused to get out of the pool. The pool is heated and I thought (this mother thing is not exact science please dont judge me) it would help to wear him out as we are not sleeping through. We had a great time swimming and carrying on as we watched B1 and B2 doing there lessons. Sound familiar? Everything was going well. Swimmingly pardon the pun. But it was time to go the pool was getting far to cold. I started the count down..I read that somewhere once to count down for a toddler when a really fun activity is coming to an end…so I warned him at the five minute mark we have to get out in five minutes. Two minutes bubba. One minute bubba. Okay lets go. Nooo he said. Yes bubba the pool is getting too cold. And it was I was cold. He must be cold. His brothers jumped out no worries. No he didnt. He jumped back in. I jumped in. I got him out. I started the process of handing towels out. He started the process of a tantrum.

It was cold out of the pool. Its winter for goodness sake. Swimming in winter. I was going as fast I could so was he and the pool was packed. Full of those earth mothers. Then he started. I dont like you. Over, over and over again. Screaming. I tried to ‘talk’ him through it. Telling him he was about to miss out on his thursday night mc donalds should he continue. Then he refused to walk. I was trying to hold up my towel, carry the basket, open the gate and calmly walk out as my child was screaming he didnt like me. I could feel the earth mothers looking at me. I could see them raise an eyebrow as they breastfed their three year old as I warned my three year old that if he didnt stop this unaccepatble behaviour and he knew thats what it was he would cop a smack to the bum.

Rather proud of myself I remained calm right through this tantrum. I hadnt even got to the change rooms when he broke free of my grasp and ran back to the pool. I reached him at the gate. At this point he had worked himself into to such a state that it was ridiclous. I again tried to ‘talk’ to him again. Nope he was to far gone. Free hands I picked him up and we walked to the change room. Putting him down to get inside he started screaming again.

It was then that earth mother well she left me. Im not sure where she went but she vacated the building and left. I pondered calmly what to do. This talking stuff hadnt worked for the last three minutes, although it seemed typically like eternity. This behaviour was ridiclous and if I hadnt been worried about the earth mothers looking on I would have smacked his bottom long before this. Without thought without a look over my shoulder to see who was still looking. I smacked his bum. Just one. Not hard. Not even direct. You wouldnt even call it a smack knowing the smacks I have given in the past and ones I had endured at the hand of my mother. He stopped dead in his tracks and walked inside, I followed and I locked the door.

He stopped crying as I silently undressed him. He started to shiver. I dressed him still not talking. He spoke to me. I didnt. I listened. I dont like you and Im very angry with you he said trying to control his sobbing. Well B3 I said. I dont like you right now and Im even angrier with you. I asked you nicely to get out of the pool and we had a nice time but the pool was getting too cold. That behaviour was ridiclous. Silly behaviour bubba. You my fine feathered friend will not be getting Mc Donalds for dinner. No mummy, No mummy. He started the wind up again. Think about it bubba I said. I warned you that you would miss out you had many chances to stop being silly and you didnt. I warned you this would happen. And he did. Stop that is. He was silent all the way home and no he didnt get Mc Donalds his brothers did though all though they didnt rub it in they just ate silently in the car. B3 ate when he got home. He had a piece of toast and milo with me.

Lets see how today pans out,

xxDeb

FIFO husband called me last night. Its the first time in four days. Before that he hasn’t been finishing his shift until 11pm and starting again until 7am. This job is a massive one. Its the first swing so its the hardest. The kinks need to be worked out. Its a first for everyone I think and well I don’t think anyone was prepared enough but can you ever be prepared for something so big that you have never done before? So its all hands on deck so to speak.

Currently he is thriving. Being under pressure well he thrives. He is also a ‘chief’ in his position so has everyone piping up and giving their valuable two cents worth. And to him its all valuable. He is the sort of person that takes everyone’s stuff as valuable stuff and tries to see if it works. Or if he can fix it. He is good like that. I’m not biased. I know what an arse he can be, like everyone can be. Yet at work he is fair. As far as work goes we are the same. I’m a work and ethics kind of girl too. He is a good boss. He is a good work mate. He is a very good employee because ultimately its all about the bottom line and what does that bottom line do? Its pays your wages baby. Its makes your lifestyle possible. So he is working hard and doing a damn good job. I’m proud of him. So proud of him.

So in being that good he sounds tired he may not be but that’s how he sounds. Its not something I hear very often and so when I do worry. Yet I know that he will be okay. He is a man with boundless energy but still I worry, that’s my job isn’t it? Sometimes I feel guilty because I cant help him at all but tell him about my boring day to give him that little bit of distraction. I guess its possibly the same guilt he feels when he cant reach through the phone and cuddle me and tell me its okay after consecutive days of no sleep and lots of tantrums. I never quite know what to say to him even after thirteen years when I can hear he is possibly tired and ticked off, perhaps its guilt on my behalf that I cant help, that he is working so hard for me for us.

So I get that feeling of guilt. I will be honest most times its as fleeting as the phone call. This is our job our life. What would we rather 6am-6pm 6 days a week for little money and four weeks leave a year. Or four weeks hard hard work, for four of fantastic weeks leave every second month and for crazy money. This lifestyle it goes for the both of us. I honestly belive I work almost as hard as him so four weeks holidays a year to one every second month hmmm…I know what I prefer obviously.

So having said that Im knackered and Im off to bed. Neither child is sleeping through for one reason or another either needing the toliet and theres a monster in the hall, ears are hurting or they are just talking in the sleep so Im weary tonight. And Im off to the city tomorrow…tooth to be fixed bride of frankenstine hopefully no more.

Hoping that you have had a great Thursday lovelies,

xX Deb

Okay dokay first of all I’m sorry for the lack of posts. I like to post day of and this past week my day ofs well they are kind of leaving me bewildered. This month this swing and we are only a week and a half into has seen the following happen..its not in any order or importance but its just happened…that tree fell and needed to be removed, the hinge on the gate has snapped and requires welding so as the dogs, cats and chickens cant escape..to which they are on a regular exhausting basis the gate is currently being helped together with a piece of rope and a brick, furniture needed to be collected, a indicator on the trailer had to be fixed and well taped back together ( I have used it once in six months a little tape wont hurt till the FIFO husband gets home), two trips to the city for B1, B1 failed his hearing test…we are back to him hearing like I’m screaming at him underwater…fantastic to say the least and he requires more surgery, the clutch on the car needs to be fixed, B1 has been sick, B3 is currently sick, and B2 is currently in the processes of becoming sick. Yet to top it all of my tooth BROKE in half today an old root canal that well could take that freddo frog no more. Its crumbling in my mouth as we speak and I cant freaking believe it..I have fear that I look like the bride of frankenstein. Oh but wait there is more…I’m now in a loop hole argument with council about my shop..go figure…I have only been trading in my garage for a year.

Yet unlike once upon a time (the beginning of the year..lets not kid each other) I would have been a fuming, frustrated mess, a screaming bitch taking absolute pride in being that bitch; now I’m the epitome of calm. I’m like one of those women I envy at the swimming pool who always look in control of themselves, their life and their children but lets also not kid ourselves this mother earth calm thing going on could seriously vanish quicker than you could say what the? However right now I’m like what else could go wrong seriously? Could it be that sleep that wonderful thing is now allowing me to take it in my stride and giggling all the way to the next disaster. There is no other way to look at it. Seriously no other. Because if I didn’t I would be straight to ward one. I’m hope to have my proverbial crap together soon just as soon Im sure it wont take long. In the mean time please accept my apologies I miss you will resume normal posting as soon as possible.

Yet on a serious note and without getting all mushy. Thank you to everyone that reads and comments. I consider everyone friends seriously true (don’t be scared I only know your email addresses) I appreciate all your emails, comments, and encouragement’s like you wouldnt believe.

Thank you my lovelies…thank you

xx Deb