the fifo wife

Holly Dooley its Friday and I know as a parent it doesn’t matter what day of the week it is we are still working, but school just makes things ever so much more tiresome don’t you think? And I don’t know about you but as the year comes to a close the days somehow get longer and not in the literal sense. Everyone is so tired. I notice B2 is quick to cry, B1 just looks so ragged and B3- well he is just B3. The kids at school are tired too. They lack gusto and those who struggle to sit in class are struggling more so, the work, play load and hot days its a tricky mix.

Add to that I’m not a fan of summer and even though we are technically still in spring here on the Tablelands of FNQ we are almost in drought. The ground is crunchy underfoot and everything smells of dust.

Anyway this weekend we are heading to the city this weekend. We are going to take the boys to the tree playground {we still love playgrounds} and lagoon on the Esplanade for something different to the lake and creeks we normally swim in but depending on the heat we might keep that for Sunday.

Here are a few things I bookmarked from around the web that I thought you might like as much as I do..

1. Knowing how much it costs myself for dental work I have been tempted to head overseas but some things to consider before going overseas for dental health.
2. Ever heard of the basic universal income? Well, trials began in Finland and Canda early this year.
3. An ode to Nora Ephron. Whilst I came to know her through Ophra I have only just started to read her work. Great stuff.
4. A new summer dress. I love the sleeves.
5. 49 Ways to calm an anxious child.

And my favourite comments from posts this week:

On children swearing: I just can’t swear in front of my boy (he’s just about 3). My mum and dad refrained from it with us growing up and it’s something which has stuck with me to today. There are times I would feel better blurting a swear word out but I know ‘as you say’ that I couldn’t tell my boy off if he swore because I swore too. I see a lot of swearing here in Australia as it’s just the slang as you say. It’s a toughie

Tell me what you are up to.

Have a great weekend lovelies.

Deb

It came out of his mouth like I wasn’t there.

Except I was there and typically those words before coming out of his mouth had come out of mine.

He looked at me waiting for a blast of parenting. Except I couldn’t because those words are said by me in anger, in frustration and sometimes in telling a story to get my point across.

I don’t swear a lot and when I do it generally because of all of the above. I never use to, however, it was a respect thing and I remember saying to my husband when we first met, when I read more, wrote more “there are some amazing words in the English language you grab that one.”

Swearing, however, loves it or hate has become the modern day slang. Words once used to describe a terrible act is now just a word they have lost their meaning and its nothing to hear the abhorrent c-word screamed across the junior oval during a touch game when I’m on playground duty.

So as we stood there in the line I said to him those swear words the ones your just tossing into your everyday conversation are adult words with adult meanings and you using them as a child doesn’t make you look impressive it just makes you look more like a child beside its much more impressive when you add a little colour to expression using other words.

He tilted his head and so on cue, I said like for example holy hot wings batman. He laughed and so I said doesn’t that sound better and funnier than a plain old swear word.

Now don’t get me wrong you’re going to swear at some point but right now you’re a child and those are adult words and if I hear you continuing to use them I will start charging you rent because if want to behave like an adult you will charge like one.

Since then in moments of frustration, pain and in him just telling a story, you can hear b3 scream fudge buckets with a cherry on top or my favourite that he says ever so slyly knowing he has almost crossed the line you crazy mother lover.

xx

Deb

Oh, I am struggling this week people. The days are long and I am so behind on things. There is literally stuff everywhere- I feel like we are living in absolute mess.

Regardless of I’m organised at least in what we are cooking this week and prep will start just as soon as I finish cleaning the holiday rental which fantastically has guests arriving at 2pm.

Monday. It’s pasta tonight. A simple Neopolitan spaghetti with enough to go into lunch boxes for the next few days I think. I have never had a recipe written down its always been a bit of this and that but here is a similar one too ours.

Tuesday. Thanks to one of you guys sharing we are making Pork San Chow Bow this week. The boys have yet to try it and I am hoping that it will be as successful as the chicken cups I made years ago.

Wednesday I picked up some discounted Asian pork so we are making a Pad Thai. The boys love noodles and I think Pad Thai is the ultimate.

Thursday is our extra late night and ordinarily, we have takeout but after going over the budget this past week I have come to realise that we spend a fortune on takeout these days; and I just can’t justify it anymore. So I’m cooking up some fried rice Wednesday night so the boys can just throw it in the microwave.

Friday I am already looking forward to Friday; I think that’s a first- ever but I am weary already. Last week we did build your own burgers and they were a hit so this week I’m thinking homemade pizza using my favourite ready-made pizza bases by Dino Pizzas a local business here in the far north. Making homemade pizza was a tradition we had for a long time but as teh boys got older we stopped I’m not sure why because it was so much fun.

Anyway, friends have a great week.

Deb.

I don’t buy myself a lot. I don’t buy a lot of brand new and I don’t buy without considerable justification (read that as guilt) but last week I walked into a store (bras and things) because I wanted some new sleepwear. Now there is more to this story than the last thing I brought myself and a woman spending money. I walked into that store with the pure purpose of buying myself something. Me. Something nice. Something not from the clearance section at Target or Kmart which I have to say there is nothing wrong with.

Weird I know but I kind of feel my age and not in the ‘old’ way but I feel comfortable in my skin. I feel okay with my faults and I feel comfortable with my decisions. Now I’m not sure if it’s an age thing, or because my anxiety has been put in its place or because I’m coming back into my own after devoting so much time, effort and mental capacity to my family but I’m back to liking who I am.

And I know this will sound crazy but my sleepwear made me feel the complete opposite to who I am now, in fact, the last time I got new sleepwear was when my husband flew first class and was given some pj’s by the airline- I kid you not. Despite what my husband says ( why do you ask if you can have something he screams just buy it you deserve it I know I do) I just couldn’t justify or validate that I deserved new stuff. I do however deserve new stuff. I so do.

Anyway. I brought myself a new night dress. It was important to me, like a present to myself for getting my shit together, for being nice to myself, for being a good parent. Its pink, pretty and it was on sale. There are lots of colours the sale girl told me. I know I said but I have a mum budget besides the next thing on the list is a very pretty single set pink diamond ring and four around the world tickets but that requires a little more work on the mum budget both monetary and mentally. Let’s not get all crazy here.

Does this make sense to anyone else? What was the last thing you brought? Do you get mum budget guilt?

Deb.

I brought this actual night dress from here. The story is real I did by a nightdress under these exact circumstances and yes this is a by-product this is an affiliate link. I’m saving for a single pink diamond and four around the world tickets and trust me they don’t come cheap. Should you buy something I will receive a 3% commission from your sale at no cost to you.

We are back to school this week and the weather is warming up. So along with easy dinners, they also have to be cool to cook. My kitchen is revoltingly hot in summer despite being a Queenslander on stilts it gets the afternoon sun at its hottest; blinds I hear you say seem to make the house worse.

So what’s cooking this week?

Monday I’m trying a new recipe Chana Dhal. I spied it in the latest edition of Nourish Magazine. It looks delish and I thought I could make it in the morning so it has all day to develop. Great theory right? Also thought any leftovers could be turned into a chilli con carne mix. Whilst, not the exact recipe here is a similar link.

Tuesday is set to be super hot and my first day back at work so I’m guessing everyone is going to be a little over the weather and me so I’m throwing together a salad. Its a really quick Chicken and Noodle Salad that the kids love because of the rice noodles.

Wednesday I’m planning on a T-bone with mash and some broccoli fried off with some garlic and bacon. I know this recipe calls for beans but broccoli is in season and so cheap at the minute. My kids hate broccoli but bacon makes everything better – right?

Thursday is without any fear of reprimand is a takeaway night. The kids get a $5.00 pizza each from the nearest grease joint and as I drive into the driveway at some ungodly hour having driven to the city and back after work knowing everyone is full I’m a happy Mumma and I don’t care what nobody thinks.

Friday this week I have decided is going to be a build your own burger night. The husband makes a killer burger and whilst he is at work it will be a nice change. I’m going to use some gourmet sausages I picked up in the discount aisle disassemble them and reassemble them with some added extras. I don’t have a recipe its a go by the seat of your pants kind of deal and no there won’t be any fries- my heart and thighs are on a new lifestyle quest called living your longest life.

So what are you cooking this week? Love to know you can never have too much inspiration.

Have a great week,

Deb.