What did people do before....

What did people do before they had computers and mobile phones?

Lately I have been thinking about something quite a bit. More in a reflective sort of way or a wondering way. Not all depressed and sigh-worthy.....

Anyhow, I'm already going on too much.

A part of me doesn't want to ask this question cos I feel like I might seem pathetic (one last time for those up the back this is not a pity party post). I think I am just FINALLY getting it outta my head and out into the web so it can get tangled up there and not in between my ears. :)

Here is my little story.....

I wondered the other day. "What did I do before having the internet and a mobile phone". Let's break this up into 2 parts shall we.....

1. The internet (emphasis net)

I get up in the morning and feed Levi whilst going online. Basically every feed I am on the net. Plus a lot of time snuck here and there. At night when the kids go to bed.....on.the.net.till. bed.time.....sigh

I am finally at the stage where I feel like I have 'read it all'. BUT yet I am snared.....it is like I have to be on the net!

I do know when I am not online I do get a lot done but still I have this niggling 'just quickly jump on the net' feeling.

So, how to do I re-train myself and not go online so much? I feel I got into this terrible habit of 'escaping' to be online. Some reasons/past experiences that I know led me here but how do I lead myself away. I guess more importantly how do I stop thinking about this? Now it is this ingrained habit.

Getting it out now and semi re-reading I think it may seem like I should just stop.

Stop....

Hmmm suggestions have been made "Limit yourself to when the kids are in bed only". Tried that.

Time yourself....been there, done that.

I wish we didn't have a computer at all but that really would be foolish. I need to have the self discipline and not just remove the opportunity therefore I would learn nothing.

The main thing I keep thinking about is the kids. I do have the added disadvantage that they play so well like soooooooo well together so they kinda keep each other occupied but I am worrying about the lasting memories. Mummy always on the pc :(

Plus, I can't just 'snap' out of it and suddenly be this switched on mummy go, go homeschooling doing fantabulously wonderful HS projects from 9-3 then cooking these wonderful homemade healthy meals. Having family sing-a-longs after dinner. Ha! Am I just dreaming?

So I am trying to 'snap' out of it now rather than waiting till the 11th hour (bad habit I got into in school) when the children simply must have my all the time busy with them.

Ramble over, share your thoughts please.

p.s the 'old' me (when I was living at home and only dad had the computer'......I think I did watch a lot of tv but I also read and did crafty things i.e cross stitching, old fashioned hand written letters to friends etc.

Shamed to admit but if I did get into those things again. I still sit there thinking about the stupid computer!!

2. Mobile. Ben and I sms a lot. Not necessarily a bad thing

But those 2 things combined I feel very 'successfully marketed' in a way.

Entertainment driven. I really hate that and that would be the thing that annoys me the most. I give Ben a hard time about this but I am probably worse in some ways.

Don't get me wrong. I am busy with the kids, washing, cooking, tending to the yard (pooper scooping and my raking obsession)....you know the list.

Seems like I have lost sight of what I want to do and what I am actually doing.

I honestly sit here and think 'those who are much more self disciplined....what the heck do they do?'

No tv, timed or limited pc time and no mobile or only kept for safety......what do you do! Please share and now realize I am really obviously not busy enough and I do have too much time on my hands!

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My biggest baby is 5 tomorrow and we are surprising him with Puffing Billy.

Levi has cut his first tooth so is starting solids now (goodbye sweet smelling poos *sob*). Also commando crawling and up on all 4 all the time. Sooooo cute!

The girls are very cute and amazingly so Ashley is now in size 3 pants (her waist is still size 1 though).

Brothers and sisters.....the real life kind

I love how at such a young age my kids seem to have a genuine love for each other. Maybe they now know mummy isn't a push over.....they have started sorting out their own differences, treating each other with compassion and genuine concern. They are big in the 'huggling' and 'kussing' each other. I know time will pass and when they are older the whole repetitive hugs and kisses on the 'wipps' will get a bit old and maybe even become 'yucky' but for now......I will enjoy watching them (and encouraging them).

The 2 girls share a room.....

Ashley is very loving and 'motherly'. Ashley is also very independant. She rushes off after breakfast and puts her dishes in the sink and then promptly dresses herself. She then asks Grace is she needs help getting dressed and of course Grace's face lights up! A bit of a struggle usually ensues. You know, the old needtotakeglassesoffBEFOREshirt part?

Grace is showing signs of being just as loving and 'motherly' as her older sister. She has graduated from saying 'Wawwy' (her version of Larry) to saying 'Weewye' (her version of Levi). There was a bit of confusion when we decided to ditch Levi's dummy cold turkey as she loved *giving it to him (*read shove it in his face at every opportunity).

This is such an encouragement to me. To think deliberately about my actions. Cos they are learning from me and watching everything!

Grace has taken to her new glasses like a champ. Keeping them on all the time. Oh and boy oh boy is she funny! Always hamming it up for us! She really is so funny.

Grace looks very much like me (but exceedingly more cute and with devine blue eyes). I love it for many reasons. One reason is the joy it gives my parents. Grace is a good version of me as a little child. I was grumpy, she rarely is. I think I got away with being grumpy too much! She is also at this young age showing a major preference to using her left hand. I am left handed as is my dad. Time will tell!

So these little girls have each other for sisters for life! What a blessing to each other and to us! They like to chat in their room. I find it so funny how Ashley says they 'talk to each other'. When I ask what they talk about I get all sorts of exciting responses. I feel like I have gone on a journey with them. Into their little 'sister world'.

Brothers.....ahhh! These little guys melt my heart! A nearly 4 year old and a 7 month old to be such little buddy's already! These two little guys share a room too. On a side note I am a huge fan of siblings sharing rooms. Ethan and Ashley actually cried when I told them they wouldn't be sharing a room anymore in the new house. :( I am not opposed to boy/girl siblings sharing a room and have even thought about putting E,A and G on the same room but Ethan said 'Levi will be lonely, I will stay with him'. Melt my heart!

The similarities between the boys are amazing. Well least to me. Having Levi is like having a baby Ethan all over again, just with a different eye colour. Both boys have such tender hearts. They love cuddles (especially Levi who looooooves mummy and no, not just for my milk....although that helps). Ethan only sparingly gives out 'kusses' now. I savour each one he gives me!

I was going to say....

Something! Then I forgot!


Ok, I will talk about something else....

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Had a new friend come over today. The children insisted upon calling her "Mrs. Gracie a different one from little Gracie" allinoneword.

A seasoned homeschooler of 4 kids (aged 18-8). Oh sweet home Alabama! It was so good to be around a like minded person. Encouraging, insightful and settled a few fears I had. Notice the HAD!

Prior to her arrival...I did get a bit worried when I googled "Homeschooling requirements in Victoria". I had noticed on someone else's blog that the QLD government requires a run down of what you have taught your child in the form of an actual report. So got me wondering about Victoria.

Nothing too, too scary but still has me thinking. Thinking is a good thing though. I do think at the end of the day I can't expect the government to fit with my morals and standards but I am soooo not going to just fall in line with their ideas. Shhhhhhh don't tell them. :)

So I continue to go as I have been going. Enjoy my kids. Let them ask questions, answer their questions and ask them questions. Not only do I receive HILARIOUS answers it also cements in their mind what they have learnt and encourages them to be confident in their answers. This is something I have struggled with along my school life. I always suppressed how 'smart' I really am.

Still have to get myself off to the library. I know, I know......did you think I went there all the time? Bah! No but obviously I will end up knowing the place like nobody's business. Just the logistics are a bit tricky sometimes. I think I am too used to being chill and relaxed with my time. Not all bad but can't be at home all the time.

Funny quote of the day from Ashley

A: "Well done, good girl Ashie".
K: "Oh sorry Ashie, well done".
A: "No mummy, I say it....well done, good girl Ashie".

Oh babies you are sooooooooooo cute

Grace, blue texta drawn all over windows and doors not cute. Showing me your blue mouth (outside and inside), hands, arms and then lifting your dress up (also with blue tinge) to show me those delicious legs....you guessed it blue too......yeah ok maybe a little bit cute