Sorry

I came across this prayer this week at school when we stopped on National Sorry Day to remember the pain caused by the forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families by previous Australian governments:

Sorry Day Prayer

Almighty and loving God, you who created ALL people in your image, Lead us to seek your compassion as we listen to the stories of our past.

We place before you the pain and anguish of dispossession of land, language, lore, culture and family kinship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have experienced.

We live in faith that all people will rise from the depths of despair and hopelessness. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families have endued the pain and loss of loved ones, through the separation of children from thier families. We are sorry and ask God's forgiveness. Touch the hearts of the broken, homeless and inflicted and heal their spirits.

In your mercy and compassion walk with us as we continue our journey of healing to create a future that is just and equitable.

Amen

(Cath Ed Off Weekly Prayer Newsletter)

Milestones

My son Sam reached two major milestones this week. Firstly he bought his first bottle of deodorant and secondly when he took his school shoes off in the car on the way home, he suffocated everyone in the car with the stench. He has hit puberty and will probably die of embarassment if he reads this. Youtube Halo sites are far more interesting to a twelve year old, so I'd be surprised he'd remember I have a blog. You always know your children are going to grow up and sometimes you wish it would just hurry up and happen, but it takes my breath away to think that it is happening now.

Sam is a terrific kid, he always has been. He was my special little guy for three years before Patty came along and he adjusted wonderfully to having to share everything. He was my chief "nappy fetcher" and never complained when I couldn't take him outside to play because I was busy with the baby. Ten years later I had Isabel and he is still incredibly patient and loving towards his siblings and my friends' children (except he draws the line at changing stinky nappies - I don't blame him, I've tried to too!).

He still thinks that girls are germs and that's ok with me; he still would rather read books about dragons and aliens (but then so does his Dad) and he still laughs hysterically at fart jokes with his brother, so I don't have a lot to worry about yet. But my special little guy is growing up.

Love you Sam, smelly feet and all.

Mum

Regression Therapy

Someone should be proud of me. I have just survived a 90 minute tantrum from my two year old. I did not give in and give her a biscuit, cordial, bread, juice or lollies or let her watch Hi-5, Jessie-Doll ("Toy Story 2") or give in to any of her other demands while she held the entire house at ransom. I am exhausted. After three children I know this should just wash over me, but it never does.
My sister is a child psychologist and between us we are going to start advocating a new type of therapy for parents called "Regression Therapy". It allows parents to behave like children to try and get their way. I'm gonna try this when I go with Kelv to the shops next, and he won't let me get a new Pandora for my bracelet. I'm gonna just sit in the middle of the store and scream until I get it, shouting things like "Give it to me!" or "You're a stink bomb, I want it NOW!". And then, when no one cleans up after themselves at home, I'm gonna go to my room and slam the door and not come out. Or demand to listen to Radio National over and over and over again while driving to school (instead of the incessant Hi-5 or Boomchickaboom from 106.3.

I'll let you know how it goes..

Kathleen

20 Things to Do Before I Die

(In no particular order)

1. Take the family to Ireland and kiss the Blarney stone.
2. Be a volunteer in a maternity section of a hospital.
3. Do a big cruise (relive a "The Love Boat" fantasy).
4. Visit Uluru and The Olgas.
5. See U2 live in concert (last time I had tickets, I got chicken pox).
6. Go for a balloon ride (Andrew, what are the fatality statistics here?).
7. Go to a Papal mass in the Vatican.
8. Finish my Masters of Education.
9. Reread all of my English Literature texts from 1st Year.
10. Convince Kel to buy me a 1 carat princess cut diamond solitare ring.
11. Take the kids to Disneyland.
12. Have a white Christmas (as opposed to the sweaty one I've had every other year).
13. Earn enough money to have a full time cleaner and let Kelv stay home and cook for me (trust me, we'd need both!).
14. Spend a year at home with just me and Bel (before she goes to school).
15. Learn how to play the piano.
16. Live long enough to see a female Catholic priest and married priests (not holding my breath here).
17. Go to an ANZAC Day Dawn Ceremony in Gallipoli.
18. Sing with a symphony orchestra behind me on a big fancy stage somewhere (not necessarily with anyone watching).
19. Do another pottery class (used to do this as a kid and loved it).
20. Have a yard big enough to get some chooks and let Kelv grow more of his vegies.

What do you simply have to do before you shift off your mortal coil?

Kathleen

Is it Friday yet?

I am having the longest week ever, and it's only Wednesday. Kelv is away in Cairns for the week and this is one of my busiest weeks in the year because of our Open Day at school. Everything that could go wrong on the home front has: Bella has had sleepless nights because of teeth and a cold; Sam's face puffed up - rushed him to Orthodontist thinking the worse after his recent oral surgery (when he had 6 taken out), only to be told that he is in fact only teething too; Sam undid Bella's belt when we got home today, but forgot to help her out of her seat and she felt and cut her head open on the driveway (thankfully no stitches required). Patrick is yet to cause a minor catastrophe, but he hasn't had his hockey game yet..Major dramas at school, but nothing that a few wines won't solve after Open Day on Friday.

Are you having a crappy week too? If so, I'll have a drink for you too!

Overrated

Cooking with children is overrated. After waking from a lovely afternoon nap, I thought it would be a great idea to spend some quality time with Bel and do some baking. She was terribly excited about it, but by the end of the cooking I was rather stressed. I obviously don't have the patience I did with the boys - I spent most of time just cleaning up frankly (and they turned out all lumpy!!) But anyway managed to take some photos along the way for posterity. If you want to know how they are meant to turn out, check out Leoni's blog - she's a cupcake marvel..

He's an Ideas Man

One of things I love about my Kelv is that he is an 'ideas man'. He doesn't see the molehills as he's too busy thinking of quick rich schemes in the mountains. Ask anyone who knows him and he has told them what they need to do to either make more money or improve their life in some other way. In the past he has thought about buying a semi with his friend Andrew A and going truckin'. Why? Can't tell you - just sounded like a good idea. His latest plan is to buy a Gold Cortina off Ebay from down south somewhere, do it up and give it to his Dad. Kelvin knows nothing about cars, can't keep his own one clean and dint free, let alone do one up. If your husband (or wife) suggested they were going to buy a second hand car off the internet, leave it in your front yard and research the internet about how to do it up you would probably have a fit. This is the rollercoaster that is Kelvin. I can hardly wait for his next plan..

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Me

(One of these is untrue though. Can you guess which one?)

1. I can't sleep if I know there is a mosquito in my bedroom. I will pursue it until I can see it dead.



2. I'm terrifed of cockroaches, but quite like snakes. As opposed to my husband who is terrified of snakes but will happily stamp on a cockroach with bare feet (shudder).



3. I have an auto-immune disease that requires me to take steroids (totally ruined my chance at participating in professional sport).



4. As a child (I'm embarassed to say) I sang in Country and Western Music festivals and won several trophies and money prizes.



5. My Mum and I share a weird psychic thing that "knows" when the other is sick or had a bad night's sleep.



6. I have a strong sense of justice, which has been known to land me in hot water at different times. My eldest brother Joe used to call me a "rabid feminist".



7. I got the highest Tertiary Entrance score in my final year at school.



8. I got a marriage proposal before I met Kelvin.



9. I love birdwatching.



10. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

Sisters

I've thought about having a blog for a very long time and have lots to share, so I will post like crazy for the first few weeks and then probably get very slack..

I absolutely must share this photo of my gorgeous sisters:

From Left: Monica, Rosemary, Annette and Me. (plus little Syd and Gigi) Stronger and more beautiful women you will not find.

My brother Joe took this photo when we went to Melbourne a few years ago for his 40th Birthday. It was a great trip with lots of drinking, playing in the snow, wine tasting and general McCarthy banter. We made a decision to celebrate each of our siblings' 40th Birthday in a special way. So far we have been able to do that. It's Nettie's turn next. Mine is a long way off yet...

A Good Hair Day

My kids have all been blessed with great hair. They were each born with lots of beautiful silver blonde hair. Kelv says the boys had better enjoy it now - he and his brother were balding in their early twenties. Despite being tormented no end by my four brothers who used to pull my piggy tails whenever we went anywhere in the car, and my Mum made us wear rubber bands in our hair, I just couldn't wait until I could put Bella's hair in piggy tails too.

I'll be honest, she hates it too, but she looks adorable.

Favourite Places

One of my all time favourite places is the great park I am lucky enough to have in my own street. It's not that it has the coolest playground equipment or is especially quiet, but my kids have grown up in it and I have spent a lot of time in it trying to settle a colicky baby, survive witching hour or just hang out with Kelv and the kids. It is also a haven for birds. I loved this photo of Patrick and Bel.

This was a photo I took recently when we went to the Reef HQ. This is another of my favourite places to take the kids. Bella (in the middle, 2 turning 12!) loves spending time with the boys (Patrick on the right, 7 and Sam, 12). This is mostly because on weekends the boys spend quite a bit of time on XBOX as they aren't allowed to play it during the week. So to get the kids to really spend quality time together, it is easier away from home! You can only encourage a 12 year old to jump on a trampoline (thanks Leoni) and play in a cubby for so long.

Don't you love Bella's "cheese" face?

Meagre Beginnings

Well hello to all in blogland who happen to have stumbled across my blog. I have always been rather skeptical about blogs and have resisted many attempts by my close friends to have one. What you will learn about me in this blog, is my tendency to overanalyse most situations, but hey I'm prepared to throw a bit of myself out there and see what happens. I have a large extended family and even if they are the only ones who check in from time to time, I should always have at least one person check it out. Hello to all my relatives who despite being spread out all across the country, mean the world to me. I am very family driven and love being one of eight children. This means that I have something like 35 cousins (too many to count and yes you can almost hear the banjo music playing) and at last count 11 nieces and nephews.

My own children are 12 (Samuel), 7 (Patrick) and 2 (Isabel). Over the course of the next few weeks I will tell you more about their little quirks and what joy they bring to my life.

As mentioned in my profile I work full time at a local school and have helped to build a new secondary College. It has been a major challenge and has consumed my life for the last 4 years. (I somehow managed to have a baby in the middle of this, and wonder what I am doing most of the time. Not really, just always trying to find the balance and some serenity - Oh the serenity).

My closest friends (Jen, Leoni and Sus) are bloggers too and are all a hundred times more creative than me!

Once I have learned how to do a few things, my blog might start to look less like a Publisher template and more like a little record of my daily life, which is what this blog will be.

Hope you enjoy!

Kath