Footy, Food and Family
For those of us lucky enough to have active children, life sure does make its own plans for your ‘off work’ time. Big weeks of work followed by big week-ends of commitments mean there is no rest for the wicked.
Love being busy, love my work, love my kids, love enjoying sunrises taking them to work, sport and wherever but this getting up at 3am each morning to catch up is doing my head in.
Time for reflection is something I find is mandatory in my life and the need to process every day is key to moving on to the next with purpose. If there’s too much going on and I miss that time I’m like a loose cannon – thus my 3am reflections to get grounded – and keep moving forward.
Making sure my teenage sons physical, spiritual, mental, financial and scholastic goals are on track will always remain on the top of my radar as that is the top job I have been blessed with. But they are now being mingled with my own needs starting to be met which is truly exciting.
As the boys are reaching the years of L plates, P plates, gap years, permission to drink in licensed establishments, setting international travel plans, doing their own washing and having a crack in the kitchen, little by little I feel the reins loosening a little and that energy is starting to flow back to me.
I feel as if I have been physically and mentally exhausted for years. My health has been on the back burner and my needs very low on the totem pole – which means I am the same as most mums I know. Priorities like providing food, shelter, education and nurturing are at the top as they should be, then it dribbles down from there. It’s hard to articulate without sounding ungrateful which I’m not.
My point is there are exciting times ahead with goals, dreams, plans, interests unfulfilled – now about to get a fresh look – and that is very cool. It will be fun to pull them out, examine them and see if they still fit the older wiser more patient and less self centred me.
And what is the most exciting thing of all? Knowing you have given 300%, and you have learnt to value time. An hour spent yesterday morning with my Mum photographing the sunrise then enjoying a coffee beside the sea together. A couple of hours sitting at the rugby with family and new friends watching my strong handsome athletic 15 year son lead his Rugby Team on to the field as Team Captain. A couple of drinks afterwards with my ever patient partner at the local to find some time alone. And finally checking in with my 18 year old son returning home after doing 8 hours of good honest work in his gap year saving for overseas adventures and Uni obligations.
These things, I would have believed were my right – now I know they are a privilege afforded to few. And I am grateful hourly for my luck.
Well there’s the alarm. Bacon and Eggs to cook. Lunches to pack. One to the footy bus for 6.30. One to work for 6.30. And ….6 hours for me – Balance! Enjoy your day. 💙
