Sewing as therapy

Hi peeps,

A few months ago, we saw our beautiful, usually happy,  then 6 year old daughter very upset.  She is a sensitive soul and can be so very, very sweet (not all the time!)  She has always made, and kept,  friends easily.

It is very difficult as a parent, to be watching as other children treat her feelings with little thought or go against their word.  They are only 6 and 7 year olds and so often completely unaware of how their words or actions can hurt another.  Our girl was hurting.  She was so upset one day, she would not get on the school bus.

I found this situation very confronting.  Part of me was angry yet part of me understands that they are only 6 and 7 year old children, emotionally very young.  Part of me is so, so sad that this happens to anyone, let alone our sweet girl.  Abbey has had very little exposure to this type of behaviour before.  We talk about feelings and behaviour with our children all the time.  I feel Abbey is a very thoughtful child.

So we are now learning how to cope with it. Learning how to make her stronger, more resilient.  This is not an easy task, for her or us.

How have I been dealing with this?  By sewing, of course.

Here are some pretty photos of some lovely flannelette fabric I have been sewing with, making newborn baby gifts.  This flannelette is the softest I have ever sewn with, it is so lush.  Not to mention, the colours make my heart swell with happiness.  I needed this happiness in my heart when it was aching for our big girl.

Have a happy day.

Cat xox

NB: this post was written many months ago.  It has been edited, almost deleted and almost published so many times.  I can report all is well in Abbey's world now. 

Raising children rant

Some days I really wonder what the heck I have gotten myself in for, this being a mummy thing. Don't get me wrong, most days I love it. But some times, I wonder if I am capable of raising a well adjusted person. It really is hard work.

So many people have told me it gets easier as they get older. Well, some things definitely get easier - the older they get, there more they can do for them selves. But I am finding many other things get harder as they get older. Like teaching Abbey the proper skills to be able to deal with all her feelings, some of these emotions she can barely articulate herself. A few months ago, I felt like we had a 4 year old teenager - Abbey was moody, temperamental, and throwing temper tantrums (all over again, I thought she passed that stage years ago) For a few weeks there, I stayed close to home, and hardly ventured out, as she was so unpredictable, and I did not have the energy, and some days the capacity, to deal with these outbursts.

Personally, I have found the baby stage quite easy. I am grateful, both my babies have been quite easy to look after, and both, most of the time, have been good sleepers and eaters, who don't get sick that often. The older they get, the more challenged I feel.

Luckily, most days, they make me laugh. The unpredictable "mummy, I love you" I get from Abbey, these are priceless. Zoe gives me the sweetest, sloppiest kisses, also very random.

I am trying to look at all the positives, and the more I think about it, the more there are. But it is OK for me to admit some days are flippin' hard.

Have a lovely weekend peeps. Cat