Another school year has started. Uniforms ready, shoes shining, backpacks loaded.

My 3,5 years old is starting his second year at pre-school. He loves it. We originally requested part time sessions for him last year, but after a couple of months we had to put him full time as he was getting really upset to be missing all the exciting things that were happening as soon as we picked him up. He has been asking when is he starting pre-school again all summer.

 My 5 years old is starting year 1. He doesn't like changes much. He likes school, but I don’t think is really looking forward to it. The unknown makes him feel anxious.

I remember how much I loved going to school when I was a child. Summer looked such a long time and I ended up being really bored to be at home. I loved studying, playing with my friends and being busy doing crafts, maths, and reading. But one day, that changed.

Biscuits & Chocolate Birthday Cake

Happy birthday to me! 

I'm turning 34 today. 34. Twentytfourteen. 

I always have mixed feelings when my birthday is approaching. I'm happy, but I also feel sad. I know I've been lucky enough to live for a whole year but that also means I'm a year older. This always ends up with me feeling a bit miserable the week before, pretending I'm feelingless the previous day, and overexcited as soon as the sun rises on the 12th. Don't blame me, I'm a Gemini. 

This morning I've woke up being 34th years old, and I say this without cringing. 34, wow. That is a lot of years!

Custard Apple Cake

During my “pre-children” life I had a perfectly formed Idea of the kind of mum I was going to be, the kind of things I was going to do and it was crystal clear how confused and wrong the other parents were with their children. It seemed so easy to bring up the other people’s kids.

 

When my big son was born, I spent the first three months of his life debating whether or not I should put him in his crib. I had heard so many scary things about co-sleeping and I was so pushed not to do it by everyone that I felt I was doing something really horrible to my baby. And it was such a shock to realize that it was me who was confused and wrong.

Custard Egg Tarts

My 4-and-a-half year old is starting primary school this week. No matter how much I have prepared myself, I still feel like I'm not ready.

In a few days he will be a big boy. Dressed up in his brand new uniform, feeling excited and nervous. And I’ll spend the whole day thinking about what he’s doing, what he’s thinking, if he’s ok, if he’s eating his lunch, if he misses me and his dad and his brother.

He’s dreaming about being an inventor, a pilot, a scientific. Just 4 years old and he’s interested in electricity, DNA codes, machinery. He’s a clever, patient, intelligent, generous boy.