Parenting moments gone by – overcoming the denial

Parenting moments gone by – overcoming the denial

The other night I was lying with my youngest son at bed time, chatting about whatever came into his head at any random moment.

“Mammy, I’m going to big school now, its time for you to have another baby!”

Ouch!

“Really?”

“Yes, in fact I want two more babies!”

No pressure then!

The fingers came out and he started to count…

“Yes, I want two more babies, then there will be five children!”

“Five children and two adults so we would be a family of…”

A bit more counting…

“Seven! We would be a family of seven. that’s what I want!”

I was impressed with his mathematical abilities… but less so with his sibling generating demands!

My baby
My baby

To be honest the conversation made me a little sad. In theory I would love to oblige him but in reality I know my baby making days are over. I know that stage of my life has passed, but, in an act of sheer denial, I am clinging to my four year old “baby” with everything I have got. He, in response, is defiantly growing up before my eyes.

He sees what his older siblings are doing and he rushes to match them. I look on  with pride and admiration and while I delight in all his achievements I am painfully aware that we are saying goodbye to another stage of life with children. The pride is mixed with a pang of longing for what will be no more. I am afraid to look back, to dwell on any of those baby moments because I think I will feel the loss too greatly.

When I read this wonderful post on The Busy Mama blog I knew it was time to end my blatant denial and face the truth. I nodded in recognition to all the points that Helen made as she recounted her tales of parenting moments gone by. I felt like many of those words could be mine. As the blog post was an invitation to all to participate and share too, I knew that by joining in the linky I would be forced to look back and acknowledge that my baby days are over – a therapeutic way to overcome the denial within.

I have been blessed with three wonderful children. Each one a unique character, each so different but so complimentary to the other. There are so many little things that I miss but here is just one that is so obvious to me at the moment…. my two older children are correcting their brother in his misuse and mispronunciation of certain words. They do it kindly and I know that he must learn but I wait quietly in the background, wanting to tell them to stop. I love all these little errors, I find them so cute and unique and I want them to last forever. But I know they can’t.

So this is what I will miss…

misappear (for disappear)… a lot of things “misappear” with the little mischief maker around!

incept (for except)… he loves using this word… and I love hearing it!

turch (for church)… I smiled when his brother corrected him on this and he said “some people just say things differently”!!

meleeeze (for please)… it is very hard to say no to a meleeze, especially when there is a pair of big blue eyes and a cheeky grin behind it!

“if magine if” (for “imagine if”)… he says this a lot!

Dee-dee (for Culann) … this was his first word, his name for his older brother; I am not surprised he spoke his name first, it was a beautiful reward for such a loving, devoted brother, who fell in love with him the moment he first set eyes on him; this name lasted years, but is long gone now; it will always stay in the momory of his loving and devoted brother though!

“instructable” (for indestructible)… which is what most things need to be to withstand the “enthusiasm” of the young boy who uses it!

“I love you mammy!”…. no corrections to make there, I just hope he always says it!

 

Click here to check out all the posts in the linky
Click here to check out all the posts in the linky

I think I am ready now to read all the other posts in the linky, with a box of tissues beside me of course. I am beginning  to realise that it is okay to remember but it is also wonderful to celebrate how much my baby has achieved, how well he is growing and how mush delight he gets as he reaches each new goal. I will accept that life with him in my future will be as wonderful as it has been with him in my past, and deep down, in some small way, he will always be my baby!

 

 

A simple slice of science – Why can we not tickle ourselves?

A simple slice of science – Why can we not tickle ourselves?

This week Dr. Simple answers a great question that came in from “Office Mum”… Why can we not tickle ourselves?

tickle

 

So go on, admit it…. how many of you tried to tickle yourself while reading this???

That’s all from Dr. Simple for this week but please keep the questions coming… what would you like answered on A Simple Slice of Science?

 

 

 

Should we be burning plastic – that’s the burning question?

Should we be burning plastic – that’s the burning question?

What chemicals are released when we burn plastic and what effect can each one have on our health?

Bonfire night on St. John's Eve
Bonfire night on St. John’s Eve

The weather has been great here in Ireland recently and I love the smell of the warm Summer air in the morning. On Tuesday morning when I stepped outside I did not get the smell I expected. It was a harsh, burning smell and it took me a moment to realise what it could be. The day before was 23rd of June and people around my area often celebrate St. John’s Eve by lighting bonfires and gathering the communities together. To be honest I had never heard of this tradition until I moved to Galway but I think it adds a lovely social element to the community. What I don’t like is the small number of people who use it to burn off their plastic waste… and that was the reason for the smell I got on Tuesday morning.

I should add, I am no saint myself… I have absent mindedly thrown the odd crisp bag or wrapper into the fire at home. What harm can it do, right? Well, I have done a little research and it can do a lot more harm than most of us might think.

The graphics below explain what chemicals are released when each of the seven plastic groups are burned, the effects these chemicals can have on our bodies and some very startling facts!

plastic-3

 

References:
Bisphenol ABPA research articlesDioxinHydrogen Chloride in firesDangers of burning plastic and rubberHome burning of plastics and waste

 

If you want to find out more on this subject check out these great blog posts…

 Burning of waste – not in my backyard

A new breed of gansters.

 

A Simple Slice of Science – Why do we hiccup?

A Simple Slice of Science – Why do we hiccup?

Here is something new to the blog… A Simple Slice of Science! With these posts I hope to answer a little science related question in 30 seconds or less. These posts will be presented by a new character on the blog…. folks, meet Dr. Simple!

Dr. Simple
Dr. Simple

 

What can I say about Dr. Simple? Well, he is a bit of a lab coat nerd, you can tell just by looking at him, right? The good thing about Dr. Simple is that he is a man of few words so a perfect candidate for presenting one science topic in 30 seconds!!

In a nutshell… Dr. Simple likes to keep it simple!

I am hoping that A Simple Slice of Science will become a regular spot on the blog, so if you have any science type questions that you wanted answered in a 30 second way, leave your question in the comments below and Dr. Simple will be only too happy to give an ever so simple answer!

First up… Dr. Simple has been struck by a little bout of hiccups! He thought it might be a good opportunity to tell you a little about what they are and how they work… all in 30 seconds!

 

Why do we hiccup?
Why do we hiccup?

I hope you like this new spot, please do leave me a comment telling me what you think, and remember… keep those questions coming!

Mystery Creature revealed – The Aardwolf

Mystery Creature revealed – The Aardwolf

Last week’s Mystery Creature was the Aardwolf (Proteles cristata). Although a member of the hyena family, the Aardwolf is closer in size to a fox than a hyena, is a more quiet and solitary animal and has a very restricted diet.

photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar via photopin cc
photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar via photopin cc

A primarily nocturnal animal, the Aardwolf is more likely to be found resting in burrows during the day. Found is Eastern and Southern Africa, their preferred habitat is open grassy plains. At night they hunt for termites, capable of eating up to 300,000 in one night. Unlike the Aardvark they are not equipped for digging theses insects out of their mounds and instead use their long sticky tongue to pick the termites up from the Earth. Although they feed almost exclusively on termites they have been known to eat other soft bodied insects, and very rarely, small mammals and birds.

photo credit: ucumari via photopin cc
photo credit: ucumari via photopin cc

The Aardwolf is monogamous by nature, a pair will mate for life and the male will play a role in raising the young, usually he will guard the den containing the young cubs. There are usually two to four cubs per litter. They will stay in the company of their parents for about a year, before leaving to find a teritory of their own.

We have finally named the new chicks….

We have finally named the new chicks….

Thanks to all who commented and suggested names for our three new fluffy arrivals. We have had great fun collecting all these monikers.

The list was quite impressive…

The full list
The full list

 

There was plenty of debate but the panel (i.e. the three children) finally chose their favourites.

So here they are… our ever growing chicks are now called…

Batman, Tiger and Ziggy
Batman, Tiger and Ziggy

 

combo

They are getting much bigger and more inquisitive, as you can see 😉

 

Mystery Creature Revealed – the Beautiful Golden Y moth

Mystery Creature Revealed – the Beautiful Golden Y moth

Can you name it?
Can you name it?

Did you guess last week’s Mystery Creature? Although quite a common moth in Ireland I must admit I had never seen one before;

It was the Beautiful Golden Y Moth (Autographa pulchrina).

The larva feed on low plants such as nettles, ragworth and honeysuckle and will often overwinter in this state.

The moths can usually be seen from late May to August, they are commonly found in gardens, hedgerows, wasteland and woodlands.

I will post a new Mystery Creature this evening so stay tuned 🙂