As the year heads for the final stretch I have spent some time reflecting on it.  In many ways its been a year of lots of small and big milestones.  I turned 40 this year, and had a wonderful 2 nights away with Duncan which was so good for both of us. A time to just be and chat and connect in a way we seldom get to.

I stopped breastfeeding in July, which maybe doesn’t sound like a biggie but it was the end, the final chapter in that book of babies.  I loved breastfeeding my 3 kids, I loved the time together, I loved that in the crazy of life I got to be still and just enjoy the little person, watching them be happy, content and falling asleep.  Okay to be honest that definitely wasn’t all the time, I also had wriggling and squirming, distracted and talking to me with a breast in their mouth, but I mostly loved it and found it such a privilege.

Adam started school this year and moved from the toddler class to the 3-6 class.  When he celebrated his 3rd birthday in October it wasn’t a massive milestone in my eyes, what I was more acutely aware of, was the fact that I wasn’t pregnant.  When both Grace and Eli turned 3 I was pregnant.  I definitely don’t want any more children and feel our little family is complete, but again it was that reality that my days of babies are done.

With Adam being at school it has given me the opportunity to focus more on me, Donné the individual and less on Donné the mom and wife.  It has been good for me and I have started using my OT / mom learnt skills to do two things I really enjoy; helping with handwriting and offering cooking classes to the children at school.

Although both Eli and Grace move up to new classes next year, bringing Grace’s time in lower elementary to a close, I think the most difficult thing for me this year has been coming to terms with Eli going to Grade 1 in a few months.  Sometimes I close my eyes and still picture the little 2 year old he was when we moved to Somerset West.  I am so proud of the little man he is, he is a kind, sensitive, happy and lets not forget loud soul and is able to argue his way out of anything even if it follows no logic whatsoever.    I love him so much and enjoy that he still wants to be my cuddle bunny.  I am excited for his new adventures next year in lower elementary, which he is so excited about it, but come 5 December (his graduation ceremony) and this mommy is going to shed more than a few tears.

Grace has decided that she is ready to stop ballet and would rather learn to play an instrument, so Saturday was her last demo/recital. She started when she was three, so six years later this era is coming to an end. She enjoys it, enjoys shows and performing, but over the past few months she has had a dip in her energy to go to classes and practice. It just seems like her time for this is now done.

https://youtu.be/W3BKMxOMu2w