30 Days Of Me - Day Nine

Something you're proud of in the last few days:

That's a tough one. I should have really thought this one through in advance so I could actually do something worthy of recalling here.

But while I've been sitting here pondering my lack of proud moments, one has fallen into my lap.

I am proud of my boys ability to reconcile their differences and grievances against each other. This scenario just happened:

8yo squashed 6yo on the trampoline to the point of hurt limbs and bruised ego. We dashed outside to the screams of anger and pain. After separating them both we told them to stay clear of each other until they had calmed down were able to talk. About 5 mins passed before the 8yo entered the room and the following conversation commenced:

8yo: "Are we friends yet?"

6yo: "No."

Me to 6yo: "How about you tell him what happened and how you feel."

6yo: "You squashed me real hard. I've really hurt my arm, head and ear. There was no need for it."

Me to 6yo: "How did getting hurt make you feel? Tell him."

6yo to 8yo: "It made me feel 2 things. I feel angry and sad."

8yo: "Ok. I feel empathy for you."

6yo: "What's empathy?"

8yo: "I hear what you've said and I feel sorry. Sorry."

6yo: "Ok."

Me to 6yo: "Will you forgive him?"

6yo: "Hmm. A little bit.....O.k, it's ok, let's go play again."

This is a huge skill to learn. Forgiveness is a process. I am proud that we are teaching our children a dialogue of honesty and grace. These are just the small seeds of learning. But my sons are growing into men day by day...

30 Days Of Me - Day Eight

Short term goals for this month and why:

1. Bake 2 birthday cakes and get birthday party sorted for my soon-to-be 7 year old son. We're heading to Megazone in the school holidays to engage in lazer battles. Little boys and lazers and cake and lollies and superheroes...Getting the picture? My goal will be to rock the party.

2. Get my time management sorted and get these 2 research essays completed. I intend to do well. Hope to keep my A student record. Fingers crossed.

3. Attend a family wedding "incident" free. But I'm a lover and a fighter, a red head in a blonde's body, so I am making no promises. My goal is to be a gracious as my mother.

4. Lose weight. But I'm not going to implement a plan. Just hoping that writing these words will be like some sort of magical spell. That's not a goal really is it? That's more a wish. My goal will be to attend the gym more. There.

30 Days Of Me - Day Seven

A Picture of someone who has had the biggest impact on you:

My husband.

I met him just after his 18th birthday. We are now in our 30s. We have therefore known each other for over a 1/3 of our lives. We've grown up together. Shared our heart aches and failures as well as our joy.

He is extra-ordinary. Someone who does not blend into the masses.

Lovable beyond words.

30 Days Of Me - Day Six

Your Favourite Superhero:

Never really paid much attention to superheroes...Until I became a mother of little boys. My 6yo LOVES both Spiderman and Superman. When he gets home from school, he strips off his school uniform and promptly dons his superhero costume. (Depending on who he feels like being on any given day.) He has other costumes and masks as well, but he particularly loves the 2 "S" men.

Here he is watching one of the Spiderman movies. On this occasion, when Spiderman told MJ he didn't love her, I heard him mutter under his breath, "He's lying." Then, when Spiderman finally revealed who he really is to MJ, my 6yo simultaneously whipped of his mask and lurched expectantly and wide eyed at the screen.

Therefore, my 6yo is my favourite superhero.

30 Days of Me - Day Five

(Yes this is my second post for the day...thought I might try and catch up a bit.)

A place I've been to:

I've been to few places. I have literally thousands of photos. But here are a few that are randomly sourced. (All my own pics)

Family walk on the West Coast, Napier, Jaipur India, Te Mata Peak walk, in bed in Wellington, at the Pakistan/Indian border, road trip through the Rajasthan desert, New Year's eve Napier beach, under the xmas tree, North Shore coast walk....

30 Days of Me - Day Four

A habit I wish I didn't have:

Going to bed too late and being constantly tired! Isn't the definition of insanity repeating the same behavior expecting to get different results? I know I should take better care of myself and go to bed earlier but when you have young kids, by the time they finally go to sleep, you want a bit of "me" time.

I'll try and break this habit. Tomorrow. I guess the root of this bad habit is procrastination. : )

-MM in bed. Sweet dreams....

30 Days of Me - Day Three

A picture of you and your friends:

These are hard to find. 2 reasons: 1. I like to take photos of others but hate photos of myself. 2. I am from Generation X not Generation Y. We oldies don't like to have 1000's of self takes in various states of disarray. It's just not my bag baby.

Alternatively here's me and some of my best mates poising by a fence and some sheep in the central city. (Cornwall Park, Auckland) (Poached this pic off my friend's Facebook page. Hope she doesn't mind.) These are my girlfriends from high school. My closest friend is the one taking the photo so she's absent from the shot. (typical!) We went to school in Warkworth, 40 mins north of Auckland. We might all live in the Big Smoke now, but if there's grass, by golly we'll find it! You can take the girl out of the country....

I love my friends. They are the salt of the earth. They see me, know me, love me. I have other very wonderful friends also.....Just no photos of us all together.

30 days of Me - Day Two

The Meaning behind my blog name:

Originally I thought this blog would be anonymous. And whenever I don't want to use my real name I have always used the name "Sally". I've been a bit of a scaredy cat in my life. Unsure of who I really am I didn't want anyone else telling me who I am. I didn't want others giving me their uninvited opinions as I was not confident I would be able to defend myself if I had to.

But then recently I thought fuck it. I'm now ready to fight for me. I've lived a little, I think things through, I'm a woman not a child. So I've changed the name of my blog in attempt to be more transparent and accountable. And yesterday I even put a (my) face to the page.

@kittengloves is my Twitter name. People often ask me about where that came from too. Again it is a type of veil. I chose it because my real last name begins with K and I wanted to keep that. "Kittengloves" refers to handling with care. A few people have mentioned that the name sounds a little bit kinky. While not my original intention, I've decided I don't mind that fact. : )

30 Days Of Me - Outline

I should have really put this up first. Here's the guideline I will be following along with everyone else doing this....I am about 5 days behind.

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name

Day 03- A picture of you and your friends

Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to

Day 06- Favorite super hero and why

Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why

Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days

Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad

Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends

Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one

Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

Day 14- A picture of you and your family

Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play

Day 16- Another picture of yourself

Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have

Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them

Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future

Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else

Day 23- Something you crave for a lot

Day 24- A letter to your parents

Day 25- What I would find in your bag

Day 26- What you think about your friends

Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge

Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?

Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned

Day 30- Your favorite song

30 Days Of Me - Day One

Since I haven't actually blogged like a said I would (surprise, surprise) I thought i'd jump on this bandwagon too. Good practice. We'll see how far I get...

A recent photo of me. (Today infact)

15 Facts about me:

1. I love bird songs and most birds. Hearing the Tui's birdsong makes me feel connected to the land, like I belong.

2. I fear ignorance more than offense. Ignorance is not bliss for those close to the ignorant.

3. I have a younger sister and brother. I love both immeasurably. We have been through a lot together.

4. I love finding new and good music and think it's just as important for the soul as 5+ a day is for the body.

5. I wish I never quit art at school after 4th form. I also wish I did dance and drama.

6. I can be painfully shy and awkward at times. I drink to combat this. This doesn't always benefit me and it often results with attacks of paranoia when I'm alone later.

7. I have very strong nails. They don't break and I have to cut them. I've never had a manicure. But I do love pedicures.

8. I am a mother of 2 boys. 6 and 8 years old. They are so much fun. My 8 year old recently dyed his hair bright pink. Yes I'm one of "those" mothers.

9. I married my husband over 10 years ago. We were just kids. It's been hell* but I have never regretted it. Ever. He is an extraordinary man. I love him so.

10. I feel like I am a red head trapped in a blonde's body. I have hated men for misunderstanding this about me.

11. I am an anthropology student.

12. I love what Atticus Finch said in To Kill a Mockingbird, "You can never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." This influenced me in my youth and I am forever reminded of it now that I study anthropology.

13. My mother grew up in India. In 2007 I traveled back there with her. I cannot put into words how important that experience was for me.

14. I have a butterfly tattoo on my wrist. No regrets no matter how cliche.

15. I have relapsing/remitting MS. Amongst other annoying auto-immune diseases. But really, it's not that bad. Truly.

* Clarification: It's been "hell" not because of who I married but when I married. (so young at the time - and hurt from our own childhoods) We have an amazing relationship but we didn't get it through "good luck".