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Holy crap, it’s been a big week! I’m still trying to find my groove, now that the Little Mister has started kindy, but I am oddly excited about getting organised and starting a new routine. Oh, and time to myself will be great – however fleeting it will feel between work and school drop offs and pick ups!
I have had a lot on my mind lately and in some ways, all this school stuff has been a good distraction (as much as it has been nerve wracking)!
So here’s the stuff that has made me happy in the last week…
Surviving the first week of being a ‘school mum’
The Little Mister had staggered starts all week at kindy. Each day had different requirements and start times or finish times. It was chaotic inside my brain, to say the least! I was so worried I would forget something or that the Little Mister would buckle under the pressure! But…as each day passed and I didn’t forget anything and the Little Mister did OK, I thought – hey, maybe I can do this! In fact, maybe I can actually enjoy it! Sure, that might be the honeymoon phase talking, but I am optimistic, and a little enthusiastic, as only a new school mum can be haha.
The mums all seemed nice and friendly. The right advice always came at the right time. The school feels like a community. The Little Mister wasn’t upset about it. I only cried once – a tiny little bit – in the car after dropping him off for his first full day (and to be honest I blame at least 60% of that on PMS haha).
I even made a school lunch that consisted of healthy stuff, some of which I had PRE-MADE and frozen ahead of time. Like a real Pinterest school mum. OMG.
I am excited to start Week 2 of term, because that’s when a true routine kicks in. It will be nice to not be super nervous every day and to be able to really plan everything properly. I think the Little Mister will really respond to a steady routine – last week was a bit (understatement!) nerve wracking for both of us, I think.
Taking the Little Mister to the Lion King musical
He’d seen the movie and enjoyed the songs and read the book at bed time. He loves music, so I was really excited to take him to a live show! We went along with my parents (big fans – not even kidding) and made a day of it. While he did struggle a little to stay still (maybe another year older would have been the ‘perfect’ time), he did so well and I loved looking over to him when he was clapping earnestly after a big song or when he was so mesmerised with the performance. I also can’t say I minded too much when he wanted a cuddle during the ‘scary’ scenes. It was a long day for him (for all of us) and while it wasn’t the same relaxing experience we’d have if we didn’t take him, I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. Especially when he exclaimed to Mr Unprepared as we walked out, “That was fun!”
He then decided he wanted to live at the hotel there (at Crown Perth) “FOREVER!”, so he could watch the Lion King over and over. The rest of us just wanted to go home to bed haha.
Totally amazing and totally worth it. There’s nothing like the joy of knowing you’re making fantastic family memories.
He wanted to sing Hakuna Matata all the way home!!
Freshly painted nails
I’d given my nails a break when we got home from camping. My nails were breaking and my skin was dry. But I was in first-week-of-term survival mode. I had a chance to sit down on Friday night and treat myself to a manicure. I even had some Jamberry samples sent to me by a friend (I am usually allergic to party plan things so this was a big deal), so I chucked a couple of those on – gotta love a feature nail haha. I feel like my hands are so pretty right now!
Self care for the win. So good to include it when things are stressful.
Having darker hair
I’d been rocking a reddish, brassy blondish balayage monstrosity for months. I decided that if I was to take my career as a school mum seriously, I would need to maybe not look like an adult fail/hot mess. I bought a home colour kit in the darkest shade of brown, and went to town on my skull foliage. No more brassy ends on my hair! Yippee! It did wonders for my confidence – especially as I am well aware that it has been way too long since I actually got my hair done professionally.
It’s so funny, because whenever I dye my hair really dark (i.e. closer to my natural colour), I feel like it’s too dark and I look like a goth/emo/whatever the cool word for it is at the time. But then I remind myself that I’m actually Asian and no-one is that shocked by seeing an Asian person with dark hair. I think I literally forget I’m not white sometimes!
Again, it was important self care!
Falling asleep nice and early almost every night
That’s not to say that I didn’t wake up a lot or struggle at times in the wee hours, but I really enjoyed that feeling of knowing I was drifting off without much effort. I am in love with that really lazy, comfy, I’m giving into this, kind of feeling right before you fall asleep. I think this really helped me with getting up nice and early to begin a new before-school routine.
Other stuff that made me happy this week:
- Mr Unprepared having my back when I really needed him to.
- Clearing the air.
- Getting back to work.
- My new lightbox (from Kmart – I only went in for some plastic plates and bowls I swear).
- My mum’s group. They give the BEST advice and reassurance and are honestly, the most loving and supportive people. If it wasn’t for their little pep talks and encouragement, I don’t think the past week would have felt quite so manageable x
- Watching crappy ‘reality’ shows (but not MKR – ew). I am not even sorry, bros.
- Unexpected sms conversations with an old friend.
What would be on your happy list this week? x
