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Wellington, New Zealand
welcome to my corner of the blog world! i love step, boxing, zumba, scrapbooking, photography, watching movies, walking the hills of my suburb, my family, and life in wellington. take some time to have a look around and be sure to say hi!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

what a difference a day makes

i really enjoyed blog-hopping through the 5 chick chatters yesterday. chick chat is a SITS feature that allows bloggers to go beyond the written post.

the general consensus was that:
  • comment-pasters
  • blog stalkers; and
  • perfect life bloggers
are generally a blogging no-no.

the last one got me thinking. i absolutely admire those bloggers who share personal tragedies and journeys, but i'm not sure that's me. i mean, once it's out there - it's out there! my blog is fairly middle of the road, and i do tend to share only the good stuff.

so, in the spirit of "nobody's life is perfect", i would like to share a conversation between myself and miss 19 that took place 24 hours ago.

[miss 19 ready to leave the house in my car]: i'll return these videos for you (did anyone miss the subtlety there!?!)
me: i told you you couldn't have the car
miss 19: WHAT? you never said that! you can't just spring that on me now! why not?
me: i told you the car's 'off the table' until i see more proactivity around chores (a WHOLE other post...)
miss 19: what? no you didn't!
me: yes i did. yesterday
miss 19: no you didn't!
miss 19: are you sure you want to make this decision today? because if you do, i'll NEVER do anything around the house ever, EVER AGAIN!
[the status quo btw lol]
me: that would make living here extremely difficult
miss 19: well good luck throwing me out!!! followed by family room door slam, bedroom door slam and extreme volume on her personal stereo.

rather than beat myself up about how i could have possibly given birth to and raised such a selfish ingrate, i took the younger girls down to the waterfront. it was a stunning day.

i mean - how can you feel like you're a bad mother when you live 10 minutes from this?
fast forward 24 hours: i'd returned home after taking the younger girls to get some easter-themed cupcakes at the farmers' market, got some photos developed (12 cents a print!) and been a craft exhibition at a local art gallery to find miss 19 in the KITCHEN; cleaning out the fridge.

butter wouldn't have melted as she greeted me with smiles and a 'see me being proactive mum?' 'yes i do' i replied. right now, she's playing rock band (rather loudly, but i'll pick my battles!) with her younger sisters.

what a difference a day makes...

11 comments:

Krissy said...

I just had to comment on how beautiful that looks!

Ann On and On... said...

It sounds like you handled that really well. You are right....with that view it is hard to stay mad/unhappy. It is also great that miss 19 was (later) doing something around the house. I do not think my husband has ever cleaned out the fridge. Sigh.

Oh the joys of parenting.

Working Mum said...

I'm storing that one up for the future! See, your blog is educational as well as fun!

Personally, I like reading the nice blogs with fun lives; restores your faith in family life.

auntiegwen said...

I want to come live in NZ with you, please ? I'll be proactive about chores !!!

Melinda said...

I am right there with you on the middle of the road. I do not want to put something out there that will be a regret later. Let's face it even though we may only write the good stuff we all know we have bad days or that everything is not peachy keen all the time. I just think it is so great how you handled it!

mandyb said...

OMG you are having ALL the fun,,,, glad you got out in the sun- is so so lovely today too - YAH!!!!

Christina said...

Taking away car privileges will do it every time. ;)

Scary Mommy said...

OY!! Picking your battles is what parenting is all about, isn't it?! :)

And I'm always suspicious of perfect bloggers. There's got to be something sketchy going on there!

Elizabeth said...

I agree with Scary Mommy about the perfect bloggers. I have a friend who is one, and I want to tell her we all see through the act! :)
I love the photos of your town. Looks like a great day!

Anonymous said...

I remember being nineteen... I had the same attitude.

I'm like you, Sue - I worry that I'm only sharing the good stuff and not sharing enough of me at the blog. I don't know, though, that the other stuff is anyone's business, really, but mine.

tiarastantrums said...

GREAT job momma!!