Home.  Where is home?

I have been thinking a lot about this.  I have had my Isle of Wight family over for a three week holiday.  What a fabulous time it was, and I was so sad for it to be over.   It was like a piece of Dad was with me again, and it felt wonderful.  A friend observed that I wasn’t just deeply connected to my cousins but also to the Isle of Wight, the birthplace of my Dad.  I talked as if I had been born there too.

My Mum’s family moved to the Island when she was a child, but my Dad’s family were born and bred there.  Dad, the youngest of five siblings, was the only one to leave his island home and immigrated to Australia when he was 23 years old.

Growing up I remember the odd occasions the Isle of Wight was mentioned on the news or a random TV show.  Dad would fist pump the air and let out a little cheer.  As my brother and I got older, we too would acknowledge with pride the mention of his birthplace with a cheer and a smile.

We travelled there together as a family when I was 7 years old.  My memories at that time are confined to the cousins who bought me the most lollies and my beautiful Aunt’s kind voice in a room crammed full of family, all unfamiliar to me.

I wouldn’t return until I was 28 years old when Andrew and I visited for three days as part of our first overseas holiday together.  It was a fabulous experience, and we immediately regretted not having allowed for more time there.  We roamed the places Dad had talked to us about, and it was nice to finally be able to see for myself that the Island was as magical and beautiful as he had conveyed and as I had imagined.

So having never been much of a crier I was at a loss as to how much I broke my heart when the time came to get on the ferry to leave the Island and say goodbye to my family.  We certainly had a fabulous long distance relationship via phone calls and letters, which I still have to this day, but the feeling of being wrenched away from them, the island, was overwhelming and deep.   I felt like I was leaving my home. We made promises that we would return sooner rather than later but two beautiful baby boys came along, finances changed, and well, life just gets in the way of the best-laid plans.

So I didn’t return to the Island until 2016 when Andrew and I took my beloved Dad’s ashes back to his home a year after he died of Leukaemia.

It was a very bittersweet time during which I feel we may have covered nearly every step where Dad had once walked.  I found myself gazing across the green fields he had explored as a lad or staring out to sea from the Esplanade at Ventnor, really taking in every vista.  I said to Andrew that one day I would like to live on the Island for a few months and just “be.”  I feel very strongly about doing this.

So, back to the question of where is home?

Is home a place?

Is home a person?

Is home a feeling?

Home is the place that I feel I want to go back to after a long day.

Home is sitting with my cousin’s reminiscing about our childhood.

Home is the smell of the aftershave my Dad always wore.

Home is lying on the bed with Mum talking.

Home is hearing my brother laugh out loud.

Home is hugging my brothers in law after a long time apart.

Home is catching up with a friend where you come away feeling happy.

Home is wherever my boys are.

Home is sitting by a fire.

Home is loving and being loved in return.

Home is lying in bed, listening to the rain on the roof, Andrew asleep next to me and the boys both home, safe and sound in their bedrooms.

Home is the smell every Sunday morning of Andrew’s cooked breakfast.

Home is wearing no make-up, a warm jumper and thick socks – no shoes.

Home will be the Isle of Wight when my life here is complete – for home is where my heart is and a large part of it is there.  With my Dad, his memories, my memories.  A strong connection.  A deep feeling.

Home for me is a feeling.

Where is your home?

In his last year of High school, today will be Matthew’s last ever Sports Day.  My last one supporting on the sidelines was actually a few years ago. It seems in High school parents watching is not needed nor wanted.  “Mum, NO-ONE’S Mum comes.  We just hang with our friends.”  It got me reminiscing about the Sports Days where to have many family members watching was an actual requirement and enabled them to perform better for their “audience.”

 Sports Day 2006 – Matthew.

In the early years both Mum and Dad came to watch the boys but as time went on poor Mum couldn’t sit or stand for that long so it became another treasured time with just me and Dad.  I know Dad not only loved this time with the boys, cheering loudly from the sidelines, but he also LOVED the attention from fellow school Mums as the majority of parents there were Mums and Grandmothers.  Seeing the boys run to their adored Pop so openly drew much admiration.  Dad basked in it.

2006 – Jesse, not competing due to a sore wrist, my Dad and Matthew. 

So, I was not surprised to feel a little emotional as Matthew left today without me, without Pop.  You see a client’s husband who came into work the other day came from Southampton, England and we have had a few conversations about my Dad and the Isle of Wight.  He sounds so much like my Dad and it’s really unsettled me.  Funny the things that set you off. What you hear and smell are such powerful, emotive triggers.  I hadn’t thought about how long it’s been since I heard his voice……………..how much I miss it.

Also, for me, this school year seems to be flying by.  We have had Matthew’s school formal, Parent Teacher Interviews in just a few weeks (always a delight lol )and then the Year 12 school retreat.  BANG!  Term 1 done.  As Matthew got his driver’s license the day before school went back I am no longer required for drop-offs and pickups.  It is a very strange feeling.  A feeling of freedom – absolutely?  But also a feeling of becoming redundant.  Not in a bad way.  I think as he is the “baby” I just feel it more deeply.  With his own car, girlfriend and a huge circle of friends, he is out a lot now and it leaves Andrew and I sitting together with a glass of wine and Netflix, clinking our glasses together and saying, “Just you and me.  Aaagain!”  It is nice, weird, and quiet and takes some adjusting.  I am certainly not running around the house fist pumping and declaring, “We have our life back.”  I liked family life with my boys.  But I guess if he was home all the time and not going out I would be worried about that too.  So I will just fist pump the air when he comes home each night and enjoy that he is still young enough for a curfew.  And with cooler weather returning soon the regular Sunday roast dinner will be back.  A family night we can count on……………most of the time.

Anyway back to Sports Day. His house colour is blue so he and his friends were dressing up all things medical and there seems to be as much attention on “costume” as there is in practising for the events.  So Matthew left the house clad in blue scrubs, and looked very nice too……….a future Dr Fidgeon maybe?

And, after 12 years of sports days, he still set off with sunscreen applied and a good luck hug.  Some things don’t change.  (Fist pump!!!!)

9th March 2018 – Matthew and Chandler, friends since they were 3 years old and the winners today – Boylan, their house won.  They popped home a few minutes ago before heading off to a party.  Apparently, no need for showers as they are all going to jump in the pool.  Oh dear.  

It’s coming up for our 25^th Wedding Anniversary next month.  Silver I believe, although white gold is lovely too ha.  I remember going out to dinner with my Mum and Dad to celebrate the same anniversary milestone for them and thinking what an achievement it was to be happily married for that LONG.  And now, here I am too.  Pretty chuffed about that.

I met Andrew when I was 19 years old.  He was a friend of a friend.  My first introduction to him was when we called into that friend’s house on the way to a party.  He was sitting on a couch peeling and eating fresh prawns.  He was very handsome, very, very tanned, long hair (which has always been my “thing”) falling across his face and he was wearing a white tank top which provided a full view of a series of nasty scars on both shoulders.  We were introduced and chatting about I don’t know what when I asked him about his scars.  Even as I type that I’m thinking I wouldn’t dream of doing that now – how rude really. Anyhoo he deadpanned replied, “A shark attack.”  And I, wide-eyed believed him.  Gullible?  Smitten? Probably a combination of both.  (They were, in fact, scars from multiple shoulder operations but I didn’t find that out for quite some time.) The die was cast there and then as they say even though I was married at that time.  (That’s a whole other story.)  But by my 21^st, and with my divorce finalised we were living together.

One of my favourite photos of us.  Late 1980’s and no we were not on our way to a “hippy” party.

The happy ever after or even happy thereafter came along for only intermittent periods of time.  When things were great, they were awesome.  Weekends of seeing no one, just happy being together venturing out only to get food.  We would stay up all night talking about anything and everything.  It was very intense, romantic and unstable.  You see, at that time Andrew could not plan further than a week ahead which was in direct contrast to me wanting to know that we were going to at least last longer than our 12-month lease. He was unsure if he wanted children, I was ready to have them there and then, and they were certainly not in his 10-year plan because he didn’t have a 10 DAY PLAN! The more I sought reassurance or any type of long-term commitment the more he resisted.  Having a 21-year-old son of my own and seeing how he thinks it is oh so clear to me now.  I would be totally understanding of his inability to know the answers to such questions at this time.  But………………I was young, in love and very insecure.

So you can imagine this was not a match made in heaven.  I could not “go with the flow” any more than Andrew could “stay still.”  This resulted in very loud arguments which led to very dramatic breakups. On one occasion our arguing started as we ate breakfast.  Losing my very quick temper, I hurled a bowl of soggy Weetabix at his head.  He managed to duck (thankfully, although I was not hoping for that at the time) and the bowl smashed against the wall behind him.  He turned to survey the mess, smiled back at me and said “Seeya” pausing on his way to the front door to pull my favourite bunch of dried flowers out of a vase and stomp on them. I was furious.  I loved those flowers. On his return, I declared that I was going to move out.  Of course, I didn’t want to, but he replied with an offhand OK.  Honestly, I cannot recall the exact number of times I moved out, took on a new lease somewhere else, only for us to be back together again within weeks.  Both of us too stubborn to back down, apologise or just have the maturity to talk things through.  Young, hotheaded passion at its worst.

One time I moved it was to a unit on the second floor of a block the other end of the street we were living on.  Two big burly removalists loaded up their truck and could see I was upset.  I was happy to tell them what a bastard Andrew was.  They listened and empathised and when myself and furniture were finally relocated to my new place they both stayed and hung up my pictures on the walls.  Got my fridge all sorted for me.  Just made sure I was ok.  So imagine their surprise when I called them back a month later to say I was moving back in with Andrew.  “You are kidding?” they said.  “Are you sure?”  Oh yes, I replied, he really is wonderful.  Oh yes, wonderfully uncommitted he still was. This kind of dance we did continued on and off for 4 years.  I became an expert at breaking leases as I continued to move out in dramatic fashion, but we were never apart for very long.

After yet another breakup and reunion we got engaged.  Andrew proposed over a lovely, romantic lunch and we couldn’t wait to share this news with our friends and family.  Well, some reactions were that of overwhelming surprise as many hadn’t realised we were back together again after the previous split.  It all sounds somewhat comical now.

So not too long after this, we decided to look to buy our first home together.  We found a maisonette in Torrensville that we fell in love with and we were lucky to be successful at Auction and become its new owners.  Dad loved to tell the story of the different reactions on mine and Andrew’s face the day of the Auction.  Mine was one of delight and excitement whereas Dad observed Andrew looked paler with each bid.  $98,000 it cost us which sounds like nothing now, but it was back then.  We moved in, and Andrew renovated it to perfection.  He improved it so much, and we made a really lovely home there.  We were very happy and very settled.

We were married while still living in this house.  It was Saturday, February 20^th, 1993 at 11am (I was way too impatient to wait for an afternoon time) at Confetti Restaurant in Stirling (no longer there.)  It was a very cool summer’s day.  We were married in the rose garden of the restaurant followed by a lovely lunch.  We then headed to the city with a few family and friends and partied on at The Terrace on North Terrace where we were staying that night.  It was a perfect end to a perfect day.

Our Wedding Day – 20/2/93 (Please note nothing on Andrew’s jacket, just the flash from me taking a photo of this photo.)

Fast forward to 25 years later.  We have bought and sold four more houses, had a few more cars than that, had wonderful holidays near and far and of course our greatest collaborations, Jesse and Matthew.  We have had so much fun, our share of bad times that eventually come to us all and we can still stay up all night talking just as we did when we first got together.  I think that is some kind of wonderful.

Late 1990’s and yes we were on our way to a hippy party.

Who knew, that the hard to pin down surfer would turn out to be the ultimate family man.  There is no one more dependable, reliable, thoughtful or committed.  We have led a pretty charmed life together but then with the last three years being nothing short of challenging he has been as solid as a rock.  He is who I retreat to when times get tough.  He is who I still talk to late at night when my worries seem worse.  Our vows in sickness and in health have been challenged, probably more so these last 6 months than ever before but still he remains kind, caring and patient. A recent visit to the hospital with the plan uncertain as to what would be done the next day; I said to him that I would ring when I knew what was going on.  But no, bright and early with a bag of all the things I might need he arrived just to keep me company.  Translation he sat there by himself, holding my hand as I dozed on and off.  It was so nice knowing he was there.

We are very different people, opposites attract is certainly true for us but we work.  We still argue, we still challenge each other, but we work it out under the same roof now thank goodness. (Leases are not so easy to break these days lol.)  We laugh often and a lot. I could not have asked for a more kind, involved, devoted father for our boys and I know that he loves us all with all that he has.  I am his top priority always which makes me a very lucky girl.  He is quick to compliment me and has never made me feel anything but pretty in his eyes.

Lately, the demands of a new puppy, playing weekend taxi service to a 17-year-old and my health have seen many a quiet night spent in just the two of us, a bottle of wine and Netflix.  We couldn’t be happier.

Here’s to another 25 years of doing this life together.  It is never dull.  And I am so glad that when Andrew finally did make plans, it was with me, and it was forever.

2016 – Very happy at our nephew’s wedding.

For my last blog for the year, it is only fitting that I start off by thanking all of you.  You who have supported my first foray into writing.  Be it with a heartfelt comment, sharing my stories with others, to sharing your personal stories with me, each one of you has spurred me on from week to week.  I appreciate you all, and I am really thankful for all the encouragement.  May you stick with me next year as I continue.

It was cathartic to put my thoughts on paper and deeply helpful to have them so well received.  My most popular story to date is still “Mental Health Days.”  I always get people reading that and then sending me messages to say that they will now do that with their children.  If I am remembered for nothing else I will be so happy, it’s for that.

I have had quite diverse “traffic” to my blog web page too.  Bulgaria, Mexico, South Korea and France just to name a few, made it very exciting for me. The power of social media is always incredible.

So looking back on this year a lot of good things have happened.

My boys have had really successful academic years.  Jesse has finished his three-year Uni degree.  He worked really hard and did so well.  We celebrated his 21^st birthday the day after his last exam and for many weeks afterwards.  It was the party that kept on going (nearly killed Andrew and I, but what a way to go!)  He now plans to take 6 months off and do some travelling and just revel in having nothing to study for, no deadlines, no pressure.  Very well deserved.

Matthew completed Year 11.  He did hardly any work and did so well.  (Insert facial expression that is an eye roll, restrained smirk, frown and gritted teeth!)  He says he realises he will have to change his approach to learning for Year 12…………………..watch this space.  Until then he is “living the dream” (his words) with a gorgeous girlfriend, his own car, less than 5 hours driving until he has his license, and 7 weeks of school holidays.  Lucky boy.

My health has improved so much since August.   Other than my hands and feet, most of my bone pain and in particular all the issues I was having with my shoulder have gone.  Yep.  Gone.  Nausea is gone.  That really is beyond awesome.  The downside is that this is all because I finished my hormone treatment.   The treatment thrust me into menopause and all the crappy issues that came with that, and, my body………………..well it has now decided to come out of menopause and go back to where it was before breast cancer came along when I was 49 years old and interrupted it.  Surprisingly I am still sane and haven’t had mood swings that would cause me to kill or maim any of my men……..yet.  This means that I am producing oestrogen in a body that had an oestrogen positive cancer.  Should be doing my head in but I am not going to let it.  I have complete faith in my specialist, I am back to 3 monthly checks, and I am so bloody happy to be feeling good again.  Here’s to that continuing.

There have been babies born this year, one darling little boy to my cousin who really has lit up social media with his infectious smile.  I love starting my day looking at him.

There are babies to be born. Namely, a baby girl I affectionately refer to as “whatshername” in my quest to trip up her Mum, my friend I work with, in accidentally telling me her name.  Mum has had a very challenging time before and during this pregnancy so February cannot come soon enough for everyone.  What a happy time that will be.

My friend Tracey who spent many months in hospital this time last year has made a fabulous recovery to good health.  She is a living, breathing miracle woman who was last to leave Jesse’s 21^st birthday party.  Who would have thought?  She is the absolute highlight of 2017, and we will kick off 2018 with celebrating her 21^st anniversary of her lung transplant.  What a day/night that will be.

We have had a Bali 50^th birthday celebration for my much-loved brother in law, and a dear friend had his 60^th birthday on one of the “Unforgettable” houseboats up the river just a few weeks ago.  Significant milestones that came with heartfelt tributes from their respective family and friends.  Lovely to be part of such special occasions.

Then just three weeks ago we got Remy.  A black and tan German shepherd pup full of sass and mischief.  It has been wonderful (and tiring) having a puppy again.  You may remember we lost our beloved Izzy suddenly back in April and our house has had an enormous void since.  The saying, “a house is not a home without a dog” really rings true for us.  She has already brought much joy to us all, and she is a beautiful focus for us as a family to enjoy.  Many evenings already we have all been outside together really relaxing and watching her explore her new world.  It will be great when she stops biting our ankles because other than that she is pretty perfect.

There has been some really sad news this year too.  A friend passed away quickly and unexpectedly in September leaving her beautiful family shocked and devastated.  A more beautiful, kind lady you could not wish to meet.  I feel privileged to have known her in the small way that I did. There were three of us Mum’s who met through our three boys when Jesse started in Year 6 at Cabra.  Now as those boys each turn 21 I am the only Mum left, both lost to cancer.  Unbelievable.

I still have friends fighting some serious health battles one of whom was diagnosed only last week with breast cancer.  My wish for them is that 2018 brings good news and respite.

For the rest of us, may the New Year bring continued good health, lots of happy times and lots of time out.  Let’s not get so busy that we don’t take the time to do nothing – just be.  For years I have put lines through weekends in my diary.  It’s to make me not plan anything.   To have a weekend at home with family or to do whatever with no pressure. “Mental Health Weekends” for adults I guess.   I plan to have lots of those in 2018 and together with Andrew and Remy we plan on heading off in the car and doing lots of walks.  Exploring what we have in our own backyard so to speak.

We are also looking forward to my cousins coming out from England/Wales early next year and spending a few weeks with us.  Can’t tell you how excited we are about that.

We have a 30th birthday tonight, Christmas with family and then a dear cousin’s wedding next weekend.  2017 finishing on a high.

So, until the New Year, its bye from me.  I will again look forward to sharing what life brings my way with all of you.  You make it safe to do so, and for that, I am so very grateful.

Much love

LoryBe

I read somewhere once that when someone seeks advice, they are actually looking for an accomplice.  That is probably true on some occasions.  Often by the time we ask for advice we have almost figured out our own answer, we just need someone else’s validation or to have someone agree with us.

Advice is one of those things that can be appreciated or resented.  Something you receive but might not necessarily ask for.  It can be helpful or make matters worse.  It leaves you open to hearing an opinion that could be the polar opposite of yours, and that can make for interesting, adult conversations or cause a divide in a relationship, particularly if the advice was given not sought.

I think as we get older we become more measured in dishing out advice and more willing to ask for it.  The young are often quick to interject a discussion with “Well, I would do this………” or, more bluntly, “this is what you should be doing.”  Not really advice when delivered in this manner, just one forcefully stating their opinion. A gentle, measured approach works better and will be listened to and reflected upon.

So let’s clarify the difference.  Opinion = “This is what I think.”  Advice = “This is what I think you should do.”  Be sure to differentiate between the two when giving or receiving “help.”

Some of the best advice shared by some of my friends has been;

What is meant for you won’t pass you by.

Whatever you do make sure it makes you happy.

No is a complete sentence.

If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all.  An oldie but a goodie that we have all heard many times.  I remember my Nan saying that to me.

When cleaning the microwave remember to look up.  A friend told me this, and I would have been in my late 20’s.  I remember going home and opening up my microwave door. Admittedly it was on a shelf at hip height, not eye level but sure enough, the roof of my microwave could have fed a small child for a day lol.

Focus on what you are good at and do it brilliantly.  I say this to my boys a lot.

Slow down.  Better to be late in this world than too early in the next.

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.  I have a friend who says this a lot, but I actually think it came from Gandhi himself.  Maybe she too is a guru.

The best advice ever given to me I received when I was a nervous new Mum.   I have passed it on so many times and continue to do so even now.  You have so many people telling you so many different ways to do things with your baby from how to feed when to feed and when they should sleep.  The list goes on and on, and it is really overwhelming and confusing.  So my friend’s advice to silence the “critics” was to always say very firmly, “I may not be an expert on all babies, but I am an expert on my babies.”  They are young men now, and yes I am.

What is the best advice you have received or given?  Please share. It may be just the thing someone else needs to hear.

We are almost “done” in the teaching your kids to drive phase of our life. Well, I say done but my Mum, who hasn’t driven for 12 years, still has advice to offer me on occasion, so I guess parents never stop “teaching” when they are passengers in our cars.

Our youngest son, Matthew, saved his own money and, like his brother, paid cash for his first car.  And, again like his brother, bought a Subaru.  Next doors son has one too, so our side of the street probably looks quite worrisome to our neighbours with much younger children sharing the road space.

Never one to take the easy path Matthew decided on a manual car.  We tried to steer him away from this as my car, the one he primarily was learning in, is automatic.  And, ridiculous I know, but I have never learnt to drive a manual.  So this made teaching him and getting his driving hours up limited to Andrew as once he had his own car driving mine lost its appeal.  We thought that once he got his license and with that gained some confidence and improved skills, then go and buy a manual.  But his mind was set.

His dream first car came along, and that was that. I think Matthew thought that after a few minutes he would get the hang of driving it and away he would go.  Well not quite.  He isn’t afraid to admit that it has been really challenging and frustrating.  He has come back some days feeling entirely defeated.  Andrew has come back many days feeling quite stressed and big brother has unintentionally made him feel less than competent. I empathise with Andrew, encourage Matthew and slap Jesse.  We have all had a few headaches.

So this week he asked me to take him out in his car.  It’s no secret that I love Matthews car, and he loves that I do.  And now that he just needs to practice getting the gear changes “smoother” I feel ok going out with him.  A month or two ago I hadn’t wanted to be in the position of having to take over and drive and not be able to.

So off we go. His driving was perfect, and I could see he was chuffed I thought so.  He had a plan for our drive.  We went to Le Cornu’s carpark, and he was going to teach me how to drive a manual.  Yikes! He gave me a fabulous run down before we started of what to do and what never to do, “Never change from second to first Mum.  Never!”  For a boy that Dad and big brother didn’t think listened to them all his instructions started with “Dad said…………….” or “Jesse said…………………….”  He was kind and incredibly patient as I finally took off after stalling the car twice.  This was way harder than it looked and he shot me a knowing glance.

Well, I’d like to say that I then proceeded to master the art of gear changes.  I managed to get from first to second gear and then failed in my attempt to get to third, instead revving quite loudly in neutral.  I “forgot” to put the clutch in once and overreached for the gear stick twice.  But it was so much fun, and his confidence on the drive home was clearly elevated. He was the more experienced and knowledgeable driver, and it reflected in his demeanour.  He was more sure of himself and so glad that I was complaining how hard I had found it.

I have said all along that Matthew will be a much better driver when he doesn’t have someone in the car watching his every move.  It makes him very nervous and kind of like a self-fulfilling prophecy he then makes mistakes he wouldn’t usually do.  Having a supervising driver is not reassuring for him at all.

So today I learnt that I really love my automatic car but should have learnt a manual when I too was 17 years old.

I learnt that Matthew does listen to our instructions and advice a lot more than we realise.

I learnt that an impatient child by nature can have all the patience in the world.

I learnt yet again that saying “me too” is unifying.

I learnt that reversing the role of parent/teacher, child/learner does wonders for both. Enlightens, empowers and brings a lot of laughs.

I learnt that LeCornu’s car park is not big enough lol.

As you all know I have been having a bit of a love-hate relationship with social media.   Mainly love.  A lot of love.  But the little bit of hate I received made me take a big back seat from Facebook.  From Instagram.  The ripple effect of that was I used my phone just to text people.  Just to ring people.  Imagine that.  Using a phone only as a phone.  In doing so, I honestly felt my stress levels go down.  My world did not cave in from not having my phone within a 10cm radius of my body.  The need to check my phone the second it vibrated or “pinged” to alert me to a new post was gone.  At times, it was left in a whole other room.  Unheard of I know!!

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m the friend that when we go out to dinner puts her phone on silent on the table.  The boys are out and about a lot now, in town, in cars, at parties, and I want to be contactable if needed.  I also sleep with my phone next to my bed in case I am needed in the middle of the night by Mum or the boys, if they are not home. Those reasons are what we all have phones for.  But we are not spending large chunks of our time texting or talking on our phones.  It’s the social media apps that seemingly are “controlling” us.

Since the boys were little, we have always tried to have a family movie night once a week.  Favourite snacks in bowls, pillows and quilts pulled off beds we would all snuggle up and get comfy and be completely together.  This was very easy to do until both boys got to high school.  Then the task of finding a night they were both home, homework-free and a movie they/we could agree on became a bit trickier.  Still, we managed to do it and quite often it would be one of them who would make the suggestion, “Let’s watch a movie together as a family.”  I usually took that request as a sign that they needed to just chill out and relax from whatever stress was affecting them at that time.

The last couple of years though with Uni, high school, and their social lives getting busier by the day, the movie nights are few and far between.  And, when we do settle in, I have noticed that their phones come with them and are checked.  Constantly.  “Get off your phone,” we say.  Phones get put face down, placed millimetres from their hands.  We then hear a buzz and with lightning speed that phone is turned face up to check, whatever!!  Honestly what could be so important?  Oh, and just to clarify, I know the tones, beeps, buzzes of all devices and what apps they belong to.  Facebook and Messenger and Snapchat work overtime I am here to tell you.  Our family movie nights are not their “time out” anymore.

I get it.  I have thought I have lost my phone, dropped my phone and forgot my phone and, on all occasions, I was hit with high-level panic.  “My whole life is on that phone.”  Is it though?  I get my photos printed off and put into albums on a very regular basis.  The old-fashioned past time of looking through photo albums is alive and well in our house, and I love it.  Handwritten notes next to much-loved snapshots of fantastic memories……………………just feels nicer, to me, than plugging in a USB or scrolling through photos on a computer screen.

My contact list.  Well, yes that would be a bit trickier to retrieve if I lost my phone, given I only know 5 mobile phone numbers off by heart but in reality, I just probably “need” those 5 anyway.  The rest I could retrieve when I actually saw the person.  Texting is not the only form of communicating; face to face chats are fantastic too.

Don’t get me wrong, without social media none of you would be reading this so for that I am a grateful subscriber.  To be able to keep in touch and up to date with all my family and friends overseas is a beautiful thing as is watching cute babies grow up all too fast.  But without sounding “old”, I am extra grateful that I didn’t get my first, very basic, mobile phone until the boys were in primary school.  I didn’t use it to text for months and, as for having an iPhone that had apps installed on it, my first was from my brother in law who kindly gave me his old one.  By that stage, both boys were in high school. So luckily for me when I took the boys to the park or watched them kick a soccer ball around I was actually watching all of the time.  My head was up not down.

Only the other day I went for a walk, and there was a family of four at the park, the two youngest on the swings.  Mum was on her phone, and the older sibling, around 14 years old was engrossed on her iPad.  It was such a beautiful day, and the two on the swings were laughing in delight, but no one was watching.  They were missing out on real life because they were potentially absorbed in another’s.

A friend was telling me the other day that at her son’s childcare centre they have a sign on the wall that says “Get off your phone.  Your child is happy to see you show you are happy to see them too!” I am sure that is there for the minority, but I know my jaw dropped open when she said it.  How sad that some need to be reminded to do that.

So I am going to try and live in the moment more, rather than share the moment.  Use the phone to take a photo, as we have all been doing since forever with cameras, and not upload quickly for all to see.  Savour a particular time for my eyes only, not all eyes.  And, try not to take ten photos to get the perfect shot.  Go filter free.  Ala natural.

Today we went and looked at some German shepherd puppies.  They were beautiful.  Black balls of fluff, eyes shut, we gently held one as their Mum anxiously watched us, pacing and nudging our leg with her nose.  As I held this sweet, sleepy girl it brought back lovely memories of our dog Izzy at the same age, they both had that distinctive puppy smell.  We went on to spend a fun hour or so with all the other dogs in the backyard from previous litters.  And, deliberately, not a phone in our hand or pocket.  It felt so good to consciously detach from an instinctive reaction to “post” and share.

I’m feeling less stressed already.

What are the most appreciated words of comfort?

I am here.

You are loved.

You will be Ok.

You are not alone.

I think it is just two little words with big impact that bring the most comfort; they certainly have for me over the years.  When they are said, you find out you are not alone.  That your struggle is someone else’s struggle.  That others feel the same as you do.  Two words that can make you cry with relief, shriek with joy or laugh until your sides hurt.

The two most powerful words one can say.

Me too.

I remember the regular sleepovers I would have at my cousin, Kellie’s house.  Treasured memories.  We would swim in their pool, stage concerts in the living room.  Dance to our favourite songs.  Climbing over the back fence and down a tree, we would visit the good natured neighbours who never seemed to mind our unannounced and frequent visits.  Then, after a day of fun we would go to sleep in her room and in the safety of darkness we would talk about “stuff.”  The boy stuff, the friendship stuff the stuff full of the angst that teenage girls possess an oversupply of.  On more than one occasion, and me being more “angst filled” I would pour my heart out and share my deepest secrets or fears.  Kellie has always been an excellent listener, but she would make everything ok for me.  Her response of “Me too” made me feel relief.

Then there was the night out with school friends in Year 10.  I had liked the same boy for quite some time, but one of his friends had caught my attention.  I hadn’t shared this developing feeling with anyone; I was biding my time to see what might happen.  I finally decided to confide in one friend, “This may surprise you, but I really like ***.”  We were in her lounge, and she looked up, mouth wide open and said, “Me too.”  Ok, that might not be an example of comfort, but boy did we did shriek and laugh.  As it turned out we both went out with him at different times, he didn’t last, but our high school friendship did.

As adults, we try to keep all the “balls” in the air.  Work, partners, home and children, there are some who make us think we are the only ones not keeping up.  Takes a little bit of bravery to let on you might be struggling in some way but it also takes courage to respond with “Me too.”

The kids are driving me nuts today.  I wish I could get in my car and just leave them here.  Me too.

She is so nice, but I can’t stand her.  I am an awful person.  Me too.

I don’t understand why I am finding this work problem so difficult.  I just can’t figure it out.  Me too.

I wish things were different.  Me too.

I miss you so much.  Me too.

I feel scared for the future.  Me too.

I would give anything to have them back.  Anything.  Me too.

Talking to a girlfriend only the other day, she too has had breast cancer, and after a few champagnes, the conversation delved into some very personal territory.  We started tentatively but then the gloves came off, and we spoke as freely as if we were talking to a gynaecologist.  It was funny, inclusive and such a relief to hear each other, amid hearty laughs, say “Me too.”

So say it.  Say it often if you feel it.  Don’t walk away from someone sharing their concern and think to yourself, “Yes, I feel like that sometimes.”  Be honest and supportive.  You will lighten someone’s load, and maybe, just maybe, a little weight will come off your own shoulders too.

And just as a funny side note, Jesse asked me what I would be writing about this week.  I very animatedly told him and that I honestly felt the most important words to hear and say were “Me too.”  Deadpan and without looking up at me he said, “Don’t be ridiculous Mum.  The most important words are I’m hungry.”

Me too.

This question has come up in a few conversations with friends of late.  Maybe we are at the age of reminiscing.  Maybe like when you are unwell and think back to the days of good health, as you get older your mind goes back to the more carefree days of one’s youth.  Watching my boys though would I want to be 17 and nearly 21 again – no way! Yes, I would love the wrinkle free face, no grey hairs hiding amongst the blonde and the waist that most belts wrapped around twice.  I would love to feel the “in love butterflies” when “that” person’s name comes up on your phone.  (I can always tell by the grin on their faces when that happens.)  I listen intently as the boys share their worries, all real and valid for them, but sometimes on the inside, I’m thinking these are the best years of your life.  The freest you will ever be.  You are going to be OK.  You are going to more than OK.  You are going to be amazing because you both are.  If but they knew it.

Anyway, I digress.  Back to the question – when was the happiest time of my life?  It takes me less than a second to answer, and I have been answering it the same for 20 years.

Andrew and I had lived in many rental places together.  We then went on to buy a maisonette in Torrensville.  We made a lovely home there, and we were really happy.

We eventually got married, Andrew needed many years to think about that, but that’s a whole other story.  We had recently been on our overseas trip and on returning had grown tired of living with a common wall between our noisy neighbours and us.  We wanted the next stage of housing.  A family home.

We found one in the leafy, eastern suburbs of Dulwich.  It was our dream home at the time and had a mortgage which made our hearts skip a beat.  Well, not mine, I was just thrilled.  I had drawn where I was going to put our furniture on the floor plan after the first open.  Andrew, however, looked a little pale when we were successful at the Auction.

We both had good, well-paid jobs and with our double income, we were financially okay. We set about making minor renovations and buying more furniture as it was twice the size of our first home.  It was so much fun.  We loved being so central to the city, and this was back in the day of Adelaide hosting the Grand Prix.  We could walk to the track, minutes from our front door.  We had cafes close at hand and often walked to the Parade for dinner.  We felt like we had “made” it.

Next step was trying for the baby I had yearned for years. It didn’t take too long really although me being so impatient made it a more stressful time.  I think I spent a small fortune on pregnancy tests each month; “just in case the first one was faulty” and I had a temperature chart that was degree perfect in its accuracy lol. After months of negative results on the “pee stick” one morning the dreaded one line turned into two.  We were thrilled.  Telling our family and friends was just the best and my Mum and Dad’s reaction, in particular, was priceless.  They were so excited to finally be grandparents.

My pregnancy however…………….well let’s just say that there are people who enjoy being pregnant.  There are people who “glow” when pregnant.  I was neither.  Nauseous the first three months and then puffy and bloated I could not wait for it to be over.  I ended up in the hospital for a couple of nights when I was 7 months along as I was fast running out of room housing the long legged baby within.  We were told that I needed rest and to avoid any stress.  Andrew stayed with me until he was kicked out by the nurses each night.  It was the AFL finals that weekend.  Think back to the 1996 Preliminary Final where Sydney was playing Essendon.  Tony Lockett marked the ball in front of goal after the final siren and went on to kick a point which put Sydney into the Grand Final.  All who know Andrew will be aware that watching that game with him was anything but stress-free!!

Two long months later on a warm Wednesday morning, November 13^th, Jesse finally arrived.  An incredibly heavy, (to me) 7lb 9oz baby who made a speedy arrival – 3 hours and 15 minutes to be precise. No time for drugs which was rather brutal for me I must say but made for a very quick physical recovery.

I would like to say that I was overjoyed to finally hold my baby in my arms but the truth was I was absolutely terrified.  After the first 48 hours of visitors, celebratory phone calls, gift and floral deliveries I crashed in a heap.  And in a heap, I stayed for about 5 weeks.  I was a hormonal mess, and the only person I wanted was Andrew.  I wanted to remain in the hospital forever.  In the room I never left, not once in the 5 days, I was there.  I had a sign put on the door for any visitors to check in with the nurse before seeing if I would see them.  The answer was always no.  I wanted no one.  My wonderful Dad came to see us on his way to work one day.  He and Mum had bought Jesse’s coming home from hospital outfit.  The nurse came in to say he was waiting outside and I just said no thanks.  Can’t see him.  Remembering that makes me feel so sad. I cannot fathom feeling so sad that I couldn’t see the Dad I adored and the mental picture of him leaving that outfit with the nurses and then walking out of the hospital back to his car……………………..Well, it just goes to show how hormones can play havoc with your mental health.

Andrew was fantastic.  He would come to the hospital at 6.30am in the morning.  By 10.30pm at night he would finally go home after several failed, earlier attempts which would leave me in tears.  Ironically Jesse was mostly perfect in the hospital.  He didn’t cry much and was a very cuddly boy from the get go.  I just could not come to terms with how much I loved him.  The realisation that if anything happened to him, I would die.  The realisation that he depended on me for everything.  Me, the girl who loved kids, most people’s first choice of babysitter had no confidence in her ability to care and know what to do with her own child.  Go figure!

We had a lovely male mid wife who had become a Dad for the first time 6 weeks earlier.  On the day I was going home, still crying, he came to reassure me I would be fine, “Lory, my wife and I are nurses, and we are fumbling our way too.”  That actually did help a little.

The drive home was terrifying.  The sun was glaringly bright after being in a room where I had barely opened the curtains for a week.  We got home and put Jesse in his pram.  Andrew had cooked a beautiful meal and had done all housework.  I didn’t have to do a thing except look after myself and Jesse and unpack my hospital bag.  I couldn’t even do that for another month.

Before long Jesse started to wake up and was hungry.  Luckily breast feeding came very naturally to me after the initial pain of the first few weeks, but as this was only Day 6, I was incredibly sore and in need of a nipple shield.  A dime a dozen you can get them at any chemist but no.  I needed the exact one I had in the hospital.  The exact one I had accidentally left behind in my room.  Completely irrational and convinced that I couldn’t manage with anything but THAT one Andrew said he would drive back to the hospital to get it.  “What???  Leave me with the baby ALONE???”  Yep.  I had lost the plot.

So over the next few weeks, I existed in a blurry, teary haze.  I refused most visitors, my Mum and Dad included.  I felt self-conscious trying to bath Jesse or even changing his nappy because I was unsure if I was doing it perfectly.  I would get him to sleep, and he would stir an hour later.  I was a failure.  One dear friend at the time who broke through my no visitors rule suggested that I wrap him to keep him secure and settled.  She said it so carefully, incredibly mindful of how sensitive I was.  I will never forget the kind look on her face as she gently picked Jesse up and wrapped him tightly like she did her own son.  Like I had wrapped her son.  Of course, it worked, and Jesse slept for 3 hours.  It was a miracle.  He was wrapped tightly for the next 2 years lol.

My lowest point during that time was one morning at about 630am.  Andrew was at work.  Jesse was asleep, and I was trying to decide if I had time for a shower before Jesse woke up.  Should I risk it? Should I wait to feed him first?  Should I put him in the pram in the bathroom while I showered?  Decisions, decisions.  I couldn’t make one.  Who can I ring so early I thought.  My good friend Jodie had recently had her baby boy too.  We had worked together and had shared the worries and the joy of falling pregnant close together.  I dialled her number.  She answered in her usual bubbly voice, and I just cried.  I can’t even recall what I said, but I can remember everything she had to say.  She was marvellous.  She assured me that I was the best person in the world for Jesse because I was his Mum and that I was an expert on his needs – nobody else.  She talked to me for about 20 minutes in a very calm, measured, kind voice.  She went on to send me a card with a guardian angel attached to it a few days later.  She had copied a poem about the power of the love of a mother.  I have it to this day.  She made me feel slightly capable, and I have never forgotten how she, probably unknowingly, helped me more that day than anyone had up to that point.

One morning the following week I woke up and I was quite literally, just like that, back to my old self.  I had a proper shower, did my hair and asked Mum to come with me to the CAFHS nurse to get Jesse weighed.  She was thrilled.  We pushed the pram along the lovely streets of Dulwich to the local hall, and the nurse unwrapped Jesse and weighed him.  He had put on so much weight, and she turned to me and said: “Well, you are doing an excellent job.”  I was elated and virtually skipped back home.

Clearly, I had been suffering from a hormonal imbalance of some kind, an extended baby blues period we called it.  Whatever you label it I was glad it was over and with that came complete clarity.  I was absolutely confident in my ability as a new Mum.  Jesse and I were a team and so in love with each other.  And, just like that, from that day forward the happiest time of my life began.

We were quite literally joined at the hip.  Jesse was a clingy baby and not very friendly outside immediate family and close friends.  He certainly wasn’t a baby that liked being passed around for a cuddle or having people peer into his pram.  Yet if he were on my lap he would sit happily for hours.

We would go to the park and lay on a blanket and look up at the clouds – for hours.  He was that easy and happy just laying together.  We would go for long walks or sit in the garden.  I absolutely devoted all my time to play with him.  I had not a care in the world.  He was my sole focus.  Not much housework or cooking got done I can tell you, but I would not have changed a thing. Luckily I have an amazing, understanding husband.

So after a rocky start, the first two years with Jesse were the absolute happiest time of my life.  Every single day I woke up and couldn’t wait to spend it with my little buddy.  That smile first thing in the morning…………………nothing in this world is better than that and I can honestly say I treasured and enjoyed every minute of that time.  He taught me the true meaning of unconditional love.  Love that is terrifying, all consuming and limitless but oh so rewarding and joyful.

And that dream house in Dulwich, the one with the two income mortgage.  We sold it.  I had intended on going back to work when Jesse was 6 weeks old.  Instead, I didn’t go back to work permanently until he was 7 years old.  A decision we never regretted and one forever appreciated by me.  If not for Andrew’s support I would never have had such a wonderful (eventually) foray into motherhood and the desire to do it all again and complete our family with Matthew’s arrival three and half years later.

And, just like that, the happiest of days become the most treasured memory. There have been many happy times since, and much more to come I know, but I don’t think I will ever have such an intense, special time like that again.

What was the happiest time of your life?

How good is it to laugh?  To laugh out loud till you can’t breathe anymore.  Or to try not to laugh when you know you are not supposed to but you can see your friend out the corner of your eye lose all their composure.  Or to laugh at the mere thought of a past funny memory. Great moments.  I love to laugh, and my Mum and Dad always said that even as a child I laughed easily and often.  I can also make others laugh as for some reason ridiculous things happen to me on a regular basis.

One such person with a great laugh and a great sense of humour is a lovely man I worked with a few years ago.  It was just he, and I on the desk and boy did we share some funny moments.  I am smiling as I write this as I can see his face so clearly, he wore an incredulous look like no one else.  Incredibly professional I loved that my sense of the ridiculous could crack him up.  He would laugh because I was.

He once went away on holiday and left me in charge.  The doctor we worked for commuted between Adelaide and Melbourne, so there were many days where I was alone in the office.  On such days I would have the music playing louder than appropriate through the speaker system.   This was fine as no Doctor, no patients, so other than the odd courier I would expect no one to pop in. I would bring my INXS CD’s and sing away while I worked.

“Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS is one of my all-time favourite songs and I would sing that with extra gusto.  I like to think I sound amazing but probably not.  So, unbeknown to me, as I had my back to the door doing some filing, a lovely elderly lady had walked in.  She had then sat down on a reception chair just out of my line of sight.  It wasn’t until I was singing the line, “AND THEY WILL NEVER TEAR US APART!” that I saw her out of the corner of my eye.  I was mortified.  How long had she been there?  My first thought was one of hope that she may be hard of hearing.  I quickly turned off the music and assumed a very professional face lol as she approached the desk with a letter in her hand.  “Hello.  Can I leave this for Doctor?”  Of course, I said.  Anything you want I thought.  She then smiled and stated in a very deadpan tone of voice, “By the way, lovely singing dear.”   I smiled meekly, went bright red and she left with a grin from ear to ear. It was a funny thing to happen but when I retold this to my very professional co-worker, the look on his face………….I am cracking up now.

Another time I had to ask him about our security cameras in the office.  You see I had a pair of opaque tights which were too long for me.  However, I would wear them now and then as they never felt too bad when I put them on first thing in the morning.  By 10 am though they would drive me nuts and feel like they were falling down.  So, behind the door that separated the reception staff area from the front desk, I would hoist up my dress and pull and adjust these tights several times a day.  You can imagine that there was nothing ladylike in doing this, and some days I would feel like I had pulled them up to just under my chin lol.

I had been doing this for weeks when one day I looked up, and there was a camera looking down at me from behind the door.  I had never noticed it before.  I was mortified.  I had no idea if it was a monitored camera and I was loathed to ask my coworker the ins and outs of our security system.  Eventually, though I had to ask him if I could have been good fodder for YouTube.  He assured me no as he laughed long and hard.

One of the most ridiculous things that ever happened to me though was at a petrol station.  This is ironic given my aversion to putting petrol in my car. I just hate doing it. For years I would run the gauntlet with my petrol indicator on empty in the hope that Andrew would need my car, see it was on empty and fill it up for me.  That worked for some of the time.  It used to stress my Dad out no end.  He worried more than I did about me running out of petrol somewhere.  I then got a bit more responsible and would fill up my car but only from two petrol stations.  And only from certain pumps within those said petrol stations.  If those pumps were busy as I went to pull in, I would hesitate ever so slightly but would always drive on, prepared to run out of petrol rather than go to an “unfamiliar” pump.

One such day though Andrew and I were going away with friends for the weekend.  It was a mad rush for him to get home in time after work for us to be able to head off before dark. I knew that filling up my car as well would be highly irritating.  So this thought dawned on me after I had passed my “familiar” petrol stations.  It had been a rushed start to the morning getting the boys to school, and I was running late for work already, so I was feeling a tad stressed anyway.  I was almost coming to a stop at traffic lights and saw a petrol station on my left.

Mmmmmm…………………shall I go in there I thought…………….Shall I……………………….Yes.  So last minute I pulled in but then………………………….what pump do I choose?  In my hesitation, I ended up parking quite a way from the pump I finally decided on.  I got out the car and grabbed the petrol hose and stretched it as far as it would go to my petrol tank.  I really struggled to do this, and the pump kept clicking on and off.  A man in a baseball cap and Hi Vis shirt was filling up his Ute at the pump opposite and yelled out, “You alright there?”  I replied, “Um no, not really.  I can’t get the pump to stay on.”  He grinned and came over to assist.  He managed to yank the hose a bit further and got the nozzle in the petrol tank better.  “You made it hard for yourself parking so far away.”  Yes, yes I know.  Having a bad start to the day.  I thanked him very much, and he went back to his car.

Well, I was very flustered and a bit embarrassed by this stage.  I finished filling up the tank and then grabbed my purse to go into pay.  There were a few people in front of me, so I took my place in the queue and waited.  As I got to the counter, the lovely Indian man asked what pump number I was.  No idea.  I told him how much I owed instead.  No, he advised, that’s how many litres you have put in.  OMG.  I heard a man laughing at me, and it was Hi Vis man.  I paid and as I left he caught my eye and I said: “I really am having a bad start to the day.”  He smiled back, and I walked to my car.

I unlocked my car.  Got into my car.  Shut the door of my car.  And then realised.  I was sitting in the passenger seat of my car.  The fact that I did not realise this until I shut the car door must have been written all over my face.  Hi Vis man at this stage was walking back to his car, putting his money in his wallet.  He looked up as I looked up and he cracked up.  Hands on his knees, bending over he laughed and laughed.  I got out of the car and yelled: “See, I told you I was having a bad day!”  Still laughing he replied, “Well honey, you made mine.”

This story was the cause for a terrific laugh that weekend, but it didn’t end there.

A few weeks later I pulled into the same petrol station.  I put it as number 3 on my list of petrol stations I would go to now that I had a better idea of which pump to go to and how best to park.

Walking in to pay after successfully filling up with no assistance required I was greeted by the same Indian man behind the counter.  His face lit up when he saw me, and he started calling out the make of my car “Nissan Tiida, Nissan Tiida!”  OMG, what had I done now was my first thought.  He came out from the counter with a Subway serviette and thrust it in my hand.  On it was a man’s name and mobile number with “please call me” written in black pen. He went on to tell me that the man who helped me previously had popped back the following week and had left it for me.  He was so excited, and I felt he thought he was part of a fabulous “first meeting” love story.  “I’m married,” I said.  In his thick accent, he just said very loudly “Oh nononononononononono.”  “Yes yes yes yes yes,” I replied. “Oh nonononononononononono.” He looked so deflated.   For me, his reaction is the funniest part of this story.

I asked him for a pen and on the serviette wrote “Thank you, but I am happily married.  But…….. you made my day.”

And I laughed out loud, yet again.