Morning

The baby is crying.

It is still dark.

I pick him up from his cot and bring him to my bed. We snuggle in close together so he can feed as I go back to sleep. I doze off to the sound of Hubby breathing beside me.

The toilet is flushing.

It is still dark.

I hear MasterL moving quietly around the house beginning his morning routine. He is always first to be up. I think he likes to start his morning routine in the dim light and silence of the sleeping house and just stirring neighbourhood. He follows the same routine every morning. I doze off to the sound of the garbage truck in the next street.

The shower is running.

It is still dark.

I remember that Hubby is working a morning shift today. I will be getting the 3 little kids ready on my own today. I hope MissG slept well and is not starting the day in sensory overload. I really should wake up and start organising my thoughts, but it is so warm in here and the baby is sleeping on my arm. I shouldn't disturb him yet. Just a few more minutes. I doze off as Hubby turns off the shower.

The blender is whirring.

It is still dark. Except for the stream of light coming through the bedroom door from the living room.

E is making her breakfast smoothie. What time is it? I can hear Hubby's voice, so it must be earlier than 6.45. I reach for my phone and check my calendar. Only one appointment to keep, and its the Psychologist, so I have an easy day today. I might even have time to do some reading for Uni while the baby naps around lunch time. Hubby comes in and kisses me goodbye. Baby stirs. I hug him close and drift off again as I hear Hubby drive out of the garage.

The girls are giggling.

Light is filtering through the curtains.

The baby coos at me as I meet his gaze.

Spoons are clinking in breakfast bowls.

MasterI is making his lunch.

MissG raises her voice..... something about the cereal box being in the wrong spot.

I sit up and reach for my robe.

I sigh a little.

It is morning.

This post is part of the Blogfast Club Challenge. Head over to kate says stuff to find out more. 

Difference is normal

I got to thinking this weekend about how we seem to like sameness. You know, we hang out with people who have similar interests as we do. We like to talk to people who hold similar opinions to us. 

A lot of what is reported in the news would seem to confirm we are afraid of situations we are not familiar with and people who seem different than us. 

But really, when you think about it, we are all different from each other in one way or another. In fact we are all different from each other in many ways when we really look into it. 

to have a closer look at this image, click on it

It seems to me that if we are honest with ourselves

difference is normal.

So what are we afraid of?

*Not* losing my writing mojo

So, I'm getting back into my psychology study, it's week two of semester and I'm already behind! Life continues to march along, even if I have extra things on my plate. Never mind.... I'll get into a new routine and things will fall into place. I am thinking I'll make myself a weekly routine of sorts so I don't forget anything important. Then today I saw a good idea to help me keep blogging regularly. I was visiting kate says stuff, and saw she is running a challenge for bloggers. So I'm going to join in. Now I am guaranteed to post a blog at least once a week for the next month! Yay! And I'll hopefully have time to read what others who join in are posting and get to know some new blogs. Double yay!

So each Monday you'll see this picture and a post that fits whatever topic Kate sets. I'm looking forward to it! 

While you wait for next Monday to roll around to see what the first topic is..... why not head over to Aussie Mum Network and read my July article over there? It's a follow up on the story of BabyR's birth I posted back in February. 

And don't forget you can click the links at the top of the page to see what I am writing about Autism and Bipolar, and to check out my new Facebook page, Square Peg Pictures, where I share photos of things that catch my eye and make me happy. 

See you next Monday!

At the end of my comfort zone...... again

Image source http://dailypositivequotes.com

At the beginning of 2012, I had completed half of a degree in Psychology. I was doing OK, making reasonable grades, but had reached a point where I needed to improve my grades if I was to be considered for an honours year when I finish the degree. 

2012 was the year MasterL started High School, and the year before MissG started school. They are both Autistic and this sort of change is hard for them. In order to have time to properly support them through these big transitions, I decided to apply for leave of absence from my studies. 

It turned out to be a really good thing, as during 2012 I fell pregnant, and my oldest, E, became ill and was diagnosed with Bipolar. Hubby also suffered a back injury at work during 2012. It was a pretty full on year. 

The changes to Disability Support funding in our state schools left everyone even more nervous about MissG's school entry, and Baby R was born right at the beginning of the school year, so I extended my leave of absence through Semester One of this year as well.  

It's now been 19 months since I did any study. 

MissG is doing well at school, with the help of a wonderful teacher. MasterL has successfully navigated 1 1/2 years of High School (not without problems, but with some tweaking of the arrangements at school he's now doing really well). We've settled MasterI into High School as well. E is learning to manage her stuff with great maturity and grace. MissK continues to float happily through life. And BabyR is a very content 5 month old. 

So, it's back to some study for me. I'm looking forward to learning some more about Psychology, and to thinking about things other than what goes on in our house. I am also nervous! I've not studied with such a young baby to tend to at the same time. And I still need to get good grades. Yet, here I am facing the decision.... "do I just keep going along, finding a good excuse to put off what I want to be doing because I am nervous about it, or do I  get on with my life and chase my dreams?". So, it's toward the end of my comfort zone I inch.... again......and hope that life moves on in a way I can manage. 

Wish me luck!