It wasn't long ago that myself and my extended family were out for dinner, and my beautiful niece, who is Autistic and has other special needs, was making quite a kafuffle.
You see, to the average bystander, she looks like an undisciplined child. She yells. She throws things. She cries. My sister-in-law (her mom) has the patience of a saint and is super-mom. We were trying to enjoy our dinner, avoiding the stares of others as my beautiful neice carried on.
Moments later, this old lady came up to our table and yelled at us to "keep our child quiet" or something to that degree.
Needless to say, I was furious. Normally I mind my own business...I am very socially aware. However, for some reason, this really struck a chord in me this time. How dare she?? She doesn't know us! Does she think that my niece is just a bratty kid that is undisciplined, or moreover, that her parents choose to ignore her behaviour and carry on like it's no big deal?
The answer is NO on all accounts. This woman was totally off side. She had no idea how difficult it is for my sister and brother in law to take my niece out to a restaurant, let alone any public place. Some people are very judgemental and for the most part, rude.
I jumped up from my seat to confront this lady. I was steaming angry. But my hubby gently grabbed my arm and stopped me. He told me that perhaps, just like my niece, this lady was suffering from a mental illness or special need as well. Maybe that was why she approached us in anger. Maybe she doesn't have the strong social filter that I have. He calmed me. He consoled me. And our dinner continued, in a very nice fashion, as we promptly ignored the old rude lady.
He reminded me that you never know what is happening in someone's head, or why they behave the way that they do. It also reminded me of a customer that I used to have at my workplace who would come in and scream, yell, and fuss at us from all angles. She would swear at us. She would call to us from across the room, and if we didn't answer right away, she would swear at us again. We hated this lady!! Her rudeness, her uncouth behaviour, was just that straw that was about to break the retail camels' back on many an occasion.....
But then I found out that she had a brain tumour and that was why she yelled and carried on the way she did.
The moral of this story, and my mantra for every day?
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone is going through something.
Cheers
Melly
Friday 21 October 2011
Saturday 1 October 2011
Bargoons!
Good morning!
I have recently discovered the joys of on-line shopping....and it's good. In fact, it is so good, so fun, that it is getting bad :p My visa has been getting a little bit too much exercise these days, if you know what I mean!
However, there is much to be said for the great swap meets out there, as well as the kid's swap, buy and sell site on facebook. It is a community site that allows moms to post pics of their new and or gently used clothing, toys, baby gear etc. and sell it. Let me tell you, I have scored some deals on this site! I have so many cute outfits for my little peanut now, and they're all barely used. After all, these kidlets of ours grow so fast that they often only get to wear an outfit once before it's too small!
So.....this newfound passion of finding deals on-line makes me happy. It's reusing old clothes, which is good for the environment, which makes me happy :)
gotta go...the baby's whining. Have a good one!
Melly
I have recently discovered the joys of on-line shopping....and it's good. In fact, it is so good, so fun, that it is getting bad :p My visa has been getting a little bit too much exercise these days, if you know what I mean!
However, there is much to be said for the great swap meets out there, as well as the kid's swap, buy and sell site on facebook. It is a community site that allows moms to post pics of their new and or gently used clothing, toys, baby gear etc. and sell it. Let me tell you, I have scored some deals on this site! I have so many cute outfits for my little peanut now, and they're all barely used. After all, these kidlets of ours grow so fast that they often only get to wear an outfit once before it's too small!
So.....this newfound passion of finding deals on-line makes me happy. It's reusing old clothes, which is good for the environment, which makes me happy :)
gotta go...the baby's whining. Have a good one!
Melly
Saturday 27 August 2011
Navigations
Good morning all
One of the reasons I decided to create this blog was not only to vent, but also to provide support to all those other mommies out there that have inevitably felt overwhelmed at one point or another.
I marvel now at all the books, websites, blogs etc that are dedicated to prenatal care and advice. The section at Chapters is huge! However, I find that the literature and support for post-partum care is much more limited, and albeit, a little trite and condescending. For example, you will read that childbirth is a beautiful and magical experience (which it is), but no where is it mentioned that you will need a good 2 week all-inclusive vacation in the Carribean afterwards, sans baby, to recover. You might read that your post-pregnancy hormone shift is a little drastic, but that you should bounce back within 2 weeks or so (and if not, contact your doctor). Once again, there is nothing that I have found that says that the plummet of your pregnancy happy hormones will leave you feeling like a weepy mess, looking at this crying newborn thinking "what have I done??"
Do I sound harsh? Well, if you've done it - given birth, I mean - then you are probably agreeing with me. I remember 2 days after giving birth, I recieved a message from a friend. She asked me "have you hit rock bottom yet?" I chuckled at that, thinking "I won't hit rock bottom. I'm made for this, I'll be fine"
Wrong!
Every first time mommy hits rock bottom. And if you don't, I think you're fibbing. Sorry to sound insensitive, but let's face it. You're exhausted, especially if the doctors made you push for 3 hours like they did me. Your hormones have been through the gauntlet. Your milk is coming in. And you are completely, utterly SHOCKED that you made this little snuffling, squeaking person that is attatched to your boob/bottle 24/7. I kept wondering when the real mommy was going to come and pick my daughter up and let me return to my previous life!
But then, all of a sudden, your baby starts smiling at you. Starts waving her arms, grabbing at things that dangle in front of his face. Cooing and showing characteristics that are familiar to you ("hey! That's my hubby's dimple in her cheek!"). And this makes it all worth it. They grow on you until it becomes a full-blown love affair quite unlike anything you have ever experienced.
So what I'm trying to say here is this: it DOES get better. And if you have encountered anything that I have written above here, then sigh with relief: YOU ARE NORMAL!
xo
Melly
One of the reasons I decided to create this blog was not only to vent, but also to provide support to all those other mommies out there that have inevitably felt overwhelmed at one point or another.
I marvel now at all the books, websites, blogs etc that are dedicated to prenatal care and advice. The section at Chapters is huge! However, I find that the literature and support for post-partum care is much more limited, and albeit, a little trite and condescending. For example, you will read that childbirth is a beautiful and magical experience (which it is), but no where is it mentioned that you will need a good 2 week all-inclusive vacation in the Carribean afterwards, sans baby, to recover. You might read that your post-pregnancy hormone shift is a little drastic, but that you should bounce back within 2 weeks or so (and if not, contact your doctor). Once again, there is nothing that I have found that says that the plummet of your pregnancy happy hormones will leave you feeling like a weepy mess, looking at this crying newborn thinking "what have I done??"
Do I sound harsh? Well, if you've done it - given birth, I mean - then you are probably agreeing with me. I remember 2 days after giving birth, I recieved a message from a friend. She asked me "have you hit rock bottom yet?" I chuckled at that, thinking "I won't hit rock bottom. I'm made for this, I'll be fine"
Wrong!
Every first time mommy hits rock bottom. And if you don't, I think you're fibbing. Sorry to sound insensitive, but let's face it. You're exhausted, especially if the doctors made you push for 3 hours like they did me. Your hormones have been through the gauntlet. Your milk is coming in. And you are completely, utterly SHOCKED that you made this little snuffling, squeaking person that is attatched to your boob/bottle 24/7. I kept wondering when the real mommy was going to come and pick my daughter up and let me return to my previous life!
But then, all of a sudden, your baby starts smiling at you. Starts waving her arms, grabbing at things that dangle in front of his face. Cooing and showing characteristics that are familiar to you ("hey! That's my hubby's dimple in her cheek!"). And this makes it all worth it. They grow on you until it becomes a full-blown love affair quite unlike anything you have ever experienced.
So what I'm trying to say here is this: it DOES get better. And if you have encountered anything that I have written above here, then sigh with relief: YOU ARE NORMAL!
xo
Melly
Monday 22 August 2011
EcoBabyBuys - one of my fave deal sites
Check out EcoBabyBuys at http://www.ecobabybuys.com/. Sign up for their daily email alerts and they will send you their daily deal on eco-friendly baby products!
Right now they have a giveaway for cloth diapers! http://www.ecobabybuys.com/blog/?p=303
Lily wears Comfy Rumps, a local company, and we love them. https://store-aca76.mybigcommerce.com/
Right now they have a giveaway for cloth diapers! http://www.ecobabybuys.com/blog/?p=303
Lily wears Comfy Rumps, a local company, and we love them. https://store-aca76.mybigcommerce.com/
My Very First Blog Post!
Wow! I've always wanted to create a blog, but never found the time or energy to put it to fruition! Well, here I am, on maternity leave, with a 6 month old baby girl that now can sit up on her own and play on the floor for longer periods of time, and sleeps for longer naps during the day, which means one thing to me: that I finally have some spare time! Let me tell you, as tempting as it is to do the five millionth load of laundry while she occupies herself with a rattle, or catnap while she slumbers ("sleep when the baby sleeps!" say all the advice-givers), I would prefer to vent some creative energies and write this blog.
I'm hoping that all of you that choose to follow my posts will find them amusing and refreshing, because I'm going to try to be candid, straight up and tell it from the heart. This journey called parenthood is a real mind-bender, and no matter how prepared you think you might be, it still blows your mind in amazing, scary, wonderful ways!
As with every day that passes in my daughter Lily's life, I am marveled by the miracle of it all. I am also finding myself scratching my head, rolling my eyes and sighing with relief (and not in that order) at what it takes to parent. Let me tell you .... everything I swore that I wouldn't do, every book that I read, every preperation that I made, all went out the window when she was born. And it's OK! There are no rules here, you just have to navigate this new journey with your instincts and learn from your mistakes along the way. I hope you all enjoy reading about my trials and tribulations as a new mom, and most importantly, have a few chuckles along the way. After all, if you can't laugh at yourself, then what?
Cheers
Melly
I'm hoping that all of you that choose to follow my posts will find them amusing and refreshing, because I'm going to try to be candid, straight up and tell it from the heart. This journey called parenthood is a real mind-bender, and no matter how prepared you think you might be, it still blows your mind in amazing, scary, wonderful ways!
As with every day that passes in my daughter Lily's life, I am marveled by the miracle of it all. I am also finding myself scratching my head, rolling my eyes and sighing with relief (and not in that order) at what it takes to parent. Let me tell you .... everything I swore that I wouldn't do, every book that I read, every preperation that I made, all went out the window when she was born. And it's OK! There are no rules here, you just have to navigate this new journey with your instincts and learn from your mistakes along the way. I hope you all enjoy reading about my trials and tribulations as a new mom, and most importantly, have a few chuckles along the way. After all, if you can't laugh at yourself, then what?
Cheers
Melly
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