406 + 302 Weeks

Well, what to say this week?  I was travelling for most of it!  And yes, my trip was amazing.  It was just so nice to be able to eat when, where and what I wanted, to wake up when I wanted (unbelievably two hours earlier than my usual wake time, because I wasn't up painting the night before until all hours), walk at my own pace, watch what I wanted to watch, go where I wanted to go, and do what I wanted to do.  I visited Victor Harbor, Port Elliot, Goolwa, drove up the Murray River, Mannum, the Barossa Valley, and back to Adelaide where I spent half a day perusing through the Art Gallery of South Australia.  I had lots of teary FaceTime calls with the kids.  By the end of it, they were really emotional and just wanted me home.  I, on the other hand, could have stayed for another week, although I was starting to ache for a cuddle from the kids. But despite all the driving that I did (in my super cushy rental car!), and the zillion photos I had to take, it was the most relaxing time!  I arrived home on Tuesday night to huge love from the kids.  Arley could barely look at me, it was too overwhelming for him.  And Carmie gave me a ten minute cuddle :)

I thought I'd come back feeling like a new woman, and I did for about an hour or two...and then on Wednesday morning, I realised that I felt like I had never left.  All of the stress came rolling in when Arley was refusing to let me help put his sock on and was having a massive meltdown because it was twisted.  And it has continued from there!  This morning I almost had a breakdown, so I sat with the kids and drew up a big chart about happy families, and then about stress and what it does to the body. I have let them know that things can't continue like they were, that I am not going back to that amount of stress, so they had better figure this stuff out!  Carmie was upset because she thought that it was them causing my stress, but it's not, it's the fighting and naughtiness, because when they are lovely (like this afternoon), there is no stress at all, just happiness and love all around.  This afternoon we played hide and seek (they are so good at it now!), and then I took them to the neighbourhood park for climbing and running races.  And now they are happily watching science videos in their rooms.  I think my plan is to get them out for a good hour right after breakfast, every single day, because if they stay inside, they go crazy.  Even after three solid days of horse camp, which they did on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

So, the kids loved their horse camp, but poor Carmie found it quite stressful.  Her instructor doesn't cut her any slack at all, and Carmie had a really hard time mucking out the stables, fetching buckets of water etc.  She was physically and mentally exhausted by the end of it, and I think she might be taking a break from camp the next holidays.  But she did say it was happy stress, but I think it was all a bit overwhelming for her.

Jeffrey is glad I am home.  I think he was at his wit's end having the kids on his own.  The house was rather dishevelled when I got home, and Jeff has been quite snappy at the kids, so I think he needs to go on his own holiday now!  I don't blame him, I know it wasn't easy.

Anyway, I am back now, and the kids have a break from all of their regular activities because it is school holidays.  They have a busy week filled up with holiday programs next week, which is good because I have a lot of work to do now.  Carmie and Arley are very excited for the Easter bunny to arrive on Sunday morning.  Carmie wants chocolate and Arley wants money...we'll see what happens!

At Port Elliot

 At Port Adelaide

 Last day of horse camp, and they get to decorate their horses.

Park play this afternoon