Last on the list

As I get into bed at 9 pm after starting my day at 6 am, I finally don’t have to think of anyone, any immediate work.  Finally everything for the day is done.

This includes dropping off boys at school, picking up Zander, picking up the boys at school.  Cleaning up the bathroom Zander after a little potty mishap.  Seeing clients.  Doing tax returns.  Working towards my Friday deadline.  Feeding kids.  Coaching cricket.  Doing homework.  Making posters for Friday’s entrepreneurs day.  Feeding.  Giving the right medication to the right child.  Yes mom they ate before they got their medication. Bathing.  Saying goodnight and giving compliments.  Hugs and kisses.

So there I am in bed at 9 pm.  Tommie turns around and says “You know, I’m last on your list of priorities”  He might be right there at the bottom but he is not last.  I am.  I would love for it to be different but there’s only 24 hours in a day and I need at least 8 hours sleep (which does not count as me time, especially after having very little to no sleep for 8 years).  Sorry about that.

After giving Zander his bath, I put on his favourite Barney pj’s and without saying anything like every other night I give him a big hug. He hugs me back (those real big bear hugs) and says “Love you too” nogal net so in Engels. 

All I needed.  Just a thank you and I love you.

 

Impulsive

I can be very impulsive some days.  Like last Sunday.  We woke up and Zander wanted to run to the living room to watch TV with his brothers.  I wanted to change his nappy first and as I took it off, I decided that’s it.  No more nappy.  Just like that.

I kinda just told him and he seemed fine with it.  There’s been many many times that he has shown that he is ready, by telling me he wants to go.  He would do it a whole day long but the next day not seem interested.  So I said, this is it little boy.  No more nappies.  Big boy undies for you.

No day-time nappies since then.  He has even woke up dry in the morning once.  It’s not all dry and clean all the time but it is going very well. 

Very proud of my little nappy-less guy.

 

One man cricket

As life is, some days are easier than others.  Since the boys’ almost accident, I have realized that I should say ‘yes’ more often.  Be more patient.  Huge more.  Be willing to throw that cricket ball just a little while longer. 

I think Zander has caught on to that though.  He is running with it.  “‘n bal gooi”  ‘Please throw the ball’, I hear all the time.  No-one else will do.  It has to be me.  When I tell him just so many more balls because I need to work, he says “no work”.  I will just manage to pull myself away from him and start to work, then he begs again.

Today while my mom went to town, it was like that.  Just cricket.  Cricket.  Cricket.  Finally I really needed to get back to work.  I am under so much stress for all the deadlines I have this month.  This is when Zander and I figured out the “one-man-cricket” game.

 

I almost lost two of my sons

Even writing this down scares me.

The boys went to play golf with my brother and Tommie.  Totally oblivious to the danger my kids were in, I was happily following their game via WeGolf.  An amazing program.  I can see exactly where they are on the golf course, see the score card and get up to date photos.  Stunning application that.  It even shows where your shots went (on google earth no less).  While playing it tells you have far the green is from where you are standing. If I played golf, I would SO have WeGolf.  (If you want to find out about this, you can get hold of Michael 082 563 7582)

Anway, I decide to join them after the first 9 holes.  This is when I found out just how close my boys came to serious injury or even death.

Jason (6) and Zander (2) was alone on the golf cart while my brother, Tommie and Quintus was nearby getting ready for the first round.  Out of the corner of his eye, Quintus saw the golf cart pull away at full speed.  Apparently Zander had fallen off the chair to get his chips and fell right onto the petrol pedal.  They pulled off right into the direction of the river.  There is quite a steep slope and long fall before you will even reach the river.

My brother, Quintus and Tommie ran at full speed to try and catch them but there was no way they would get to them before they plunged over the edge.  In the nick of time but brother thought of screaming at Jason to turn the steering wheel.  I thank God that Jason didn’t freeze but immediately did as he was told and turned into the only safe direction they could go.   My brother said there was at the most just another 3 seconds before it would have been too late to do anything.  Another older golfer ran towards them as well but by then Zander had moved off the pedal and they were coming to a halt.

Just like that… by one/two meters, I could have lost my boys. 

Thank goodness Jason was on the golf cart.  If Zander was on it alone, he would never have made it.  Thank goodness Jason didn’t freeze (as I think most kids would).  Thank goodness they are just fine.  I could have lost my boys yesterday.

This is how close the golf course to the water.  The black arrow is about where the boys were heading.

This is where the boys were going.  You will notice that the patch of green grass right by the black arrow, is already a downward slope that would have excelerated their speed even more.

We always say you are very lucky when a ladybug lands on you.  This ladybug landed on Jason’s hand at the club house between the to 9’s.  Jason, what a lucky boy you are indeed.  So are we.  You are my little hero.