Friday, February 11, 2011

Grateful


I feel that I only survived this week with the love and support of my mum and some close friends. I am so grateful they are looking out for me at the moment. I know I sound like a broken record, but this sole parenting gig is full on.

I am so grateful that this week, one day when I could feel that I was fraying at the edges, Zoe was having another one of her *throw her whole body on the floor tantrums*. In the middle of the shopping centre. Just because she did not want to walk, she wanted to be carried. I turn a corner, and there was Nell, my best friend, out shopping with no children, looking amazing in a blue scarf the colour of her eyes, relaxed and carefree - everything I felt I was NOT at that moment. I could not have bumped into her at a better moment. She gave me a hug, distracted the girls and carried my shopping bags (I was carrying the tantrum thrower) We did our food shopping together, all the while chatting, my girls sitting in a twin shopping trolley next to each other, so well behaved and loving the attention of two mummies. I felt like a new person afterwards.

I am so grateful my friend Yvette and her two girls were kicked out of their house by tradesmen doing some work - they spent the day at our house. All the kiddies played well together, Yvette tidied up the toy room and the lounge room. We chatted over cups of tea, had fruit-o-clock, and enjoyed some chocolate cake. I even got some boxes of baby clothes sorted into sizes, Yvette folded them into boxes, and they are all labeled and organised. One more task completed. Thank you for the beautiful flowers too (pictured here)

I am grateful that my mum is always so helpful. Looking after the girls so I can run some errands, encouraging Abbey to tidy up her messes, washing my dishes - again. Reading Abbey the same book over and over. Getting Abbey ready for bed tonight so I could make a double batch of Mars Bar Slice for the kinder Garage Sale tomorrow (nice to be making this before midnight!)

Thank you lovely people. I am so grateful you helped me through this week.

Visit all the grateful peeps here.

Cat

17 comments:

  1. I can relate to the way you've been feeling this week, but isn't it great to have such fantastic family & friends who are there for you. Sometimes even if it's just to know you're not alone and others are going thru similar or the same things as you. Hope your weekend is a great one!

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  2. Sounds like you have a great support network. x

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  3. Friends are the best aren't they?? Sooooo important when you feel like you're just hanging on by your fingernails...
    I remember soon after having snowbear feeling completely overwhelmed and dropping in on my friend (Nic from Planning with Kids). I stayed the entire afternoon and hubby picked me up on his way home from work that evening. Made *all* the difference in the world just to feel that bit of support for the day. Will always be grateful for that afternoon :-)

    hope you make it through your weekend :-)
    xxxCate

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  4. Sole parenting is the pits, I'd give you a big hug if I was close enough, but you might just have to settle for a blog hug. :) I know there are times when you feel like you could just sit in the corner and stay there for a week, but you're doing a really great job and you seem to have lovely people around you! Take a deep breath and take every little victory you can - like them being good while shopping :)
    Thinking of you!

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  5. Oh, how wonderful are your friends? Fabulous, I say! And there just when you need them. It IS hard being a single mum. I hear you!! Hugs xx

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  6. Just found your blog through Maxabella, LOVE it!

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  7. Its wonderful you have friends that have your back and are watching over you... and a mother who is right there besides you ...

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  8. It is so wonderful to surrounded by a network of supportive friends and family.

    They have a nack of knowing when to turn up don't they?

    Kate

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  9. What wonderful and caring family and friends you have Cat x

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  10. Friends and family are so lovely and needed sometimes, so glad you had both there for you this week.
    Packing up is such hard work, I've done it alone before too. Ick.
    I hope you kept some mars bar slice for yourself, you deserve it! x

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  11. Hey, just visiting from Maxabella's. What a fantastic bunch of people you have around you. You are blessed :)

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  12. You're doing amazing things. From reading your blog you have so much juggling to do. I'm glad your friend showed up at the right moment. Support makes a huge difference to our sanity doesn't it?

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  13. So love this! I see many mums dealing with tantrums in the shops and have dealt with more than my fair share myself. Such a difficult time with other looking at you etc. How lovely that you have had some friends help out this week. Blessings!

    I so love a Mars Bar slice and was glad I did not go to your school garage sale or I would have taken the whole lot.

    take care...you are doing a wonderful job raising your cherubs xx

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  14. I'll say it again: how do single mums of young children manage? I can hardly get through a full day on my own, let alone week after week after week. I bet they just thank their lucky stars that they have friends like you do!! x

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  15. So nice to have found you. Looking forward to following your journey. I am yet to face the tantrum stage with my bub, but hope i friend some friendly faces 'round the corner when I do. x

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  16. Sounds like you've got some amazing friends there Cat, definately something we should all be grateful for.

    Gorgeous pic too by the way, love it!

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  17. My best friend helped me this week too. She always seems to know what I need her to do and when. I don't know where I would be without her. Think I might make her and her sone some mars bar slice!!!
    http://nairnnicujournal.wordpress.com/2011/02/10/gratefully-cheery-week-6/

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Thank you for your comments. I always try to reply back to you and/or check out your blog, but some days this is not possible. Nice to meet you. Cat