nap time bliss

It never ceases to amaze my sleep-deprived brain (insomnia not child induced) how babies & preschoolers can sleep so very peacefully. I am currently in the car waiting patiently for a wee babe to wake...although as her first birthday approaches I suppose she is 'wee' no more.

I have caught up on emails, read my favourite blogs & am now typing this. I suspect next I shall lean back & close my eyes myself, if only for a moment. Happy nap time everyone!

when normal is awesome

Oddly last Thursday we had nothing planned. No playdates...nowhere to be and no agenda. Daddy went to work before 7 (I'm loving the new job and its hours!) and Teddy, Evie and I prepared ourselves for the day ahead.

After a walk to the local cafe for a babycino, we wandered home to put Evie to bed. Teddy got out the playdough and for the next 40 minutes we rolled and cut and played Spiderman with the amazing stuff. After Evie woke, she fed then Ted started the vacuuming while us girls attacked the bathroom and toilet (Evie sucked the rubber ducky clean!). I should mention that this is the first time since Evie was born - 10 months old soon - that housework has been accomplished home alone with both of them*. By 11:30 in the morning I had finished! (I waited patiently until Ted had finished 'his turn' before whipping around the rest of the house with the vac)

We had lunch then chilled out together while Evie slept. Off to the shops for some bits and pieces then home to cook dinner and play. Magic.

Magic in the ordinary. The unremarkable day that flew by smoothly even when Ted was melting down and Evie wouldn't settle.

Pure magic.

*This is no small feat for me as I have struggled since I was pregnant with Evie. One day I'll share more.

day one...working mama // daddy daycare

As is often the case when we travel, plans are made and in-depth discussions had about how time will be spent directly following the trip. That is exactly what happened during our recent holiday to New Zealand...unfortunately, the most well laid plans can go awry and for us that came in the form of a nasty bout of flu that laid us flat for the fortnight after our trip.

Today, though, sees the beginning of the new regime. The 'get the PhD done' regime. It sees me at my desk reading, typing, sorting, thinking, drinking litres of tea (concentration blend - so yummy!) - taking notes of what I have accomplished and what I still have to tick off the list. It sees the children packed up and off with their daddy for some errands and a picnic in the park. Hours of work will go into this thesis, so many hours I try not to think about it. I'm starting small, with a goal of 5 hours of uninterrupted thesis work per day, six days per week. I've just ticked over 2 hours of the 5.

Of course, daddy has gone and found himself another job - start date unconfirmed but we are planning for next week - and thus the new regime will shift slightly again. Days will look like this: mama up before children, typing away for an hour before the day has begun...mama on duty until 4ish, when daddy will arrive home and allow another hour to be squeezed in before dinner...bedtime routine, then at about 6:30pm mama will try to work for another couple of hours before bed (which needs to be early to facilitate brain function). On days when Teddy is in school and Eve naps, more can be done. Just writing this system down makes it seem doable and I imagine many women make this schedule work for them.

So on that positive note, I'm off to take advantage of this week's daddy daycare - while it lasts!

Much love,
Audrey xox

first publication

I think when the whole academic road is as twisty and bumpy (and downright frustrating) as mine feels like it has been, it is easy to forget the end game. My end game? A decent job at a decent school in a decent place where my kids and husband will be happy.

I just received news that my first journal article will be published without any minor or major revisions...accepted as it is. In a good journal. This was so unexpected and lovely that it has come as a complete surprise. I didn't dare dream of this outcome, preferring to be realistic and figure a 'revise and resubmit' would be awesome. You know what?

Forget realistic. From now on, I dream big. The standard has been set. Paper #2? It needs work. But boy, what a blast of motivation to crack on with it. It too will be submitted somewhere good. It may or may not go through the (perhaps lucky) process of the first...and it will probably need revising and resubmitting. But not in my dreams - in my dreams I will receive another email along the lines of "...we have decided to publish it as is."

Because, at the end of the day, that unconditional acceptance of your work, your effort, your tears...that is the dream.