Mother | But I Smile Anyway...

Phew Phriday! A Little Update

28 Sep 2018 50 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Busy, Family, Life, Mother, School, Writer

The weekend is upon us, and it’s been a whirlwind of a month to be honest!

What with the start of the month being back to school time, for me, and my children, to my birthday, the welcoming and settling in of my new nursery and reception class, family functions, initiating my school councillors, getting a nothing response for my manuscript, walking a half marathon and raising over £2500 with my Tootie Frootie group, having teen/tween crisis, then ending with a host of open days as my littlest baby will be stepping into Secondary education next year, it’s been quite a hectic one!

But I can honestly say I haven’t spent it looking at each week as a step closer to half term.

Usually, by this time of term, I am on a countdown. This year, however, I was pleasantly surprised when someone mentioned three weeks to go until the October half term!

Let’s break it down a little… School first.

Yes, I am split again this year, teaching 2 days in reception and three days in nursery, which is a tough task. But as I experienced it already last year, I am more prepared. This time last year, I was honestly contemplating giving up teaching as I was so stressed.

The children are settling in beautifully, with a mixture of abilities, as is always the case, and a rainbow of languages too. But, aside from the little pickles that are inevitable, things are pretty good.

I stepped down from governorship as we moved to an academy and there was only space for two, rather than three staff governors. That has lessened my stress levels too!

And I am still heading the School Council, where I have already made a couple of minor changes, so hopefully it will work much better over the year, bringing the desired impact for the pupils in the school.

Honestly, I do think that Art Of Brilliance workshop put me in the best frame of mind for the start of the school year, and that Pants-tastic board I created? It’s filling up with praise-filled undies!

There will always be little moments of stress, and a few teething problems, but I do feel I am handling them much better!

That Manuscript…

Some of you may remember that I submitted my age-old WIP in for a competition, the Daily Mail and Penguin Random House First Novel Competition. Well, I had to wait until the 21st September to see whether I heard anything from them… and it came and went, with no response.

I know.

First submission and all that, but I was really down for a few days, It helped to get messages from those who were with me on the journey.

“Hey, come on lovely. It’s a great story and you are a fabulous writer. Send it to agents!”

And

“I just know that you are going to be a huge success though, your blog alone will give you a massive outlet for it and your personality shines through and new readers will love that.”

Then

“I have faith in your writing, too, Ritu! Believe in your book and keep pushing your writing. Magic will happen! “

I feel better now, and maybe in the holidays I’ll reread and edit in earnest before submitting to some agents!

That Half Marathon…

Yup, after not really training, as such, my Tootie Frootie group trudged through the rain-soaked streets of London, raising lots of money for Cancer Research!

So proud of my girls!

Of Teens and Tweens

I haven’t really written much about this the last month, as I am trying to stay positive, but having a ten-going on 16 year old daughter, and a newly teenaged son has been a battle in itself! God, they would try the patience of a saint, honestly!

There have been arguments, and laughter, tantrums and hugs.. oh my!

But with a combination of compromise and reward charts, and pocket money initiatives, (not bribery, no!) I think we may be getting somewhere!

Secondary School

What with Lil Princess being in the last year of primary school, we are fast approaching the time where we need to apply for her secondary school, and I’ll need to give up the overprotective teacher/parent hat, as I become simply a teacher at my school, and a parent at another!

We have been to our first open evening, have another open day tomorrow and another couple next week…

Really?

Is she ready to go to secondary? Actually, I think I should rephrase that… am I ready for her to grow up?

It’s inevitable, I know, but I still can’t quite comprehend that this time next year both my children will be in secondary school! EEK!

So, there you have it… my busy September!

I’ll be sure to enjoy this last weekend, then on we go to an October packed with more fun and games!

Why? #FlashFiction

04 Jul 2018 30 Comments

by Ritu in Family, Fiction, My Writing, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Child, Flash Fiction, Mother, Tiredness

“Why?” a whiny voice behind me continued.
I had no need to turn around.
I knew exactly who it was.
The voice had been grating on my nerves all day.
Everything I said or did elicited the same response.
“Why?
“Pudding pie.” I answered, calmly at first.
“Why?”
“In the sky.” This rhyming game was quite fun.
“Why?”
“Flying high.” Plenty of words to use yet.
“Why?”
“With a guy.” Huh, what?
“Why?”
“In a tie.” Scraping the barrel here now.
“Why?”
“Beginning to cry.” (So am I).
“Why?”
“I cannot lie.” I really can’t.
“Why?”
“He may just die…”
“Why?”
“And so might I…”
“Why?” A pause. No reply.
“Mummy, why?” Still nothing.
“Mummy? Mummy! Please don’t die!”
Her sobs brought me back to earth with a bump. I rushed to embrace her.
“Don’t be a silly sausage! Of course I won’t die! Sorry sweetheart, Mummy’s just a little tired…”

A little piece I wrote the other day, dedicated to all those mothers of young children, who plough on, regardless, trying to keep their kids happy, and not show the world they are exhausted.

In the end, it starts to creep into life, that tiredness, but the love of those little beings, devoted to you, gives you the energy to keep on…

Could it be? My Blo-Jo is coming back…?

Ramblings Of A Sleep-Depraved Mother #ThursdayThoughts

15 Mar 2018 145 Comments

by Ritu in Family, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Family, Ill, kids, Mother, Stream of Consciousness, Time of the Month, tired

“Have an early night,” they said.

“You’ll feel much better!” I was assured.

Lil Princess told me to make sure the last thing I say to her at night was “Promise to stay in your bed,” as apparently that works….

Yeah right!

So, I managed to drift off around 10 pm, and all was quiet around the house.

I fell into the peaceful sleep of a person who no longer had the pressure of observation on her head.

Oh yeah, thank you all for the good wishes yesterday, things went really well, and the kids shone in the class too. My head teacher was really happy with how the lesson went, and said she really enjoyed time in the nursery. Phew! I was so worried, after an awful observation pre-Christmas (due to terrible timing of a lot of things, resulting in a really bad lesson, where nothing really flowed!) but now I can relax until the next one !

Then at 2.30 am I heard crying…

Lil Princess.

She isn’t a crier.

“Mummy, my tummy really hurts…”

There are bugs going around again at school. The place is rife with snot, coughs and sick buckets – had she caught a bug?

Two hours of encouraging going to the toilet, massaging tummies, even getting fruit down her in case it was more constipation…

And in the back of my mind I am thinking… “Could it be ‘time’ for her?”

As a mother of a girl I have to remember that she is getting older, and soon enough will join the club, so to speak, of females with PMT! In all honesty, she’s perfected the hormonal mood swings already, they were in evidence from around the age of seven!

We’ve talked about the changes that will be occurring obviously. She tells me she knows everything already because they talk on the playground, and well, YouTube teaches everything too, doesn’t it!

Obviously I have corrected certain misconceptions, and we have the joys of that talk happening in her year group this academic year too, but I can’t help but wondering if that may be part of the reason for the tummy ache…

We are all up now. She is teary and tummy still aches a little, but I have made some herbal concoction, recommended by my mum in law, to help tummy aches, in case it is sickness or digestion related (boil cardomom pods, fennel seeds and ajawain (caroway) seeds in water until the liquid colours. drain and sweeten with a little honey for kids, and sip while warm. Should help loosen anything inside, or ease aches).

We will attempt school, and if things don’t look good, I can drop her to her uncle who is working from home today.

She’s also getting a cold – great. Lil Man is blowing his nose (with his unbruised left hand – did I tell you he caught it in the car door the other day?) and my throat is starting to hurt…

I’m praying there is no sickness – hoping we can crawl to the weekend, then all just slob out on the sofa and recharge batteries and get better….

Oh well, off to school for another eventful day ending in a Governors meeting (that finishes at 8 pm, if we’re lucky!).

Catch y’all later Peeps!

“You’re just like your mum.” The biggest compliment in the world! #MothersDay #SundayBlogShare

11 Mar 2018 93 Comments

by Ritu in Family Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Family, love, Mother, Mothering Sunday, Mothers Day, mum, Thank you!

Mothers day, or Mothering Sunday, is here in the UK, on March 11th this year.

It’s a time to show your appreciation for that wonderful woman who put you here on this earth.

But like Valentine’s Day, why should there be just one day when we show our love, and gratitude to these fantastic females?

I would like to celebrate my mum every day. She has been a rock throughout my life, and I’m sure will continue to be one for many years to come.

Recently I have had many people comment on how much I am looking like my mum. I don’t just want to look like her, I want to be like her too!

There is usually a bit of a thing from hubby to wife isn’t it? “Your getting like your mother!” Well Hello!!! If I am anything like my mother, you are one lucky man!!

She is the calmest person in all situations, she’s handled some crazy ones, and always carries herself with great aplomb.
She is a most amazing cook! I feel privileged to have grown up with her cuisine, she has encouraged my brother and I to try and learn from her too.
She taught me simplicity is best. I credit my good skin to her not smothering herself in makeup when I was little, and so not being too fussed about it myself, on a day to day basis.
She brought us up with fairness, and though there was the chance, she didn’t spoil us. Instead both her and my Pops made sure we had all we need to life a comfortable life.
Her patience is never ending!
She’s kinda cuckoo, in a good way, she knows how to laugh at herself!
She is a marvellous grandma to our children too!
Her way of talking to people means that almost everyone is at ease with her, and she is a confidante to many.
She knows how to handle family!
She is a wonderful Mother-in-Law, ask my Sister-In-Law!
She has an infinite amount of love for us all.

When I was younger, I’d look at her and be kinda mad, jealous, even. Her eyes are this beautiful light brown, and mine, that plain old dark brown of your average Indian. Instead of me inheriting them, her niece got them!

She had the long straight hair which my brother got, I got the wild frizzy curls courtesy of my Pops.

She got the naturally amazing shaped eyebrows, I got caterpillars. And she had non existent hair in legs… Me… The opposite!

But I did get her curves. And for that I am grateful!

And, even without certain physical features of hers, I really do look like her! In fact I was looking at old pictures from her school and college days, and had to do a double take. What was my picture doing in her old album?! She laughed and said ” No beta (child), that was me!”

Now I’m a wife, daughter-in-law and mother myself, I fully appreciate how much my mum has given of herself, how much of herself she has devoted to her children and family. I don’t think I am capable of doing all she has done but if I am half the mum she was and is, I know I’ll be amazing!
So thank you Mum,
For all you’ve done.
For all you’ve helped me through.
I couldn’t find
Another kind
Of mum, like you, it’s true.
Ritu 2015

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 117 – Mums…

14 May 2017 23 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Calm, Mother, Mothers Day, Mums, Quotes, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“A mother understands what a child does not say.” Proverb

Seeing as it’s Mother’s Day in many other parts of the world, including the US of A where Spidey hails from, we thought why not celebrate it again!

I think there aren’t enough days in the year to truly celebrate what a mother is to us all.

The proverb above couldn’t ring more true for me anyway.

No matter where I am, what I am doing or how old I am, my mum always knows.

Whether I am feeling high as a kite, but haven’t said anything, or so low that I feel the ground will just rise above me, she knows.

It’s that mother’s intuition.

And she wont go rushing in hammer and tongs, asking me “What’s up? Why? Who? What? When?”

She just has that knack of saying the right thing to either allow me to open up, or to soothe my feelings.

She knows there are things I can’t tell her sometimes, or that I won’t, yet she still won’t push for information.

No interrogation.

Just that silent support.

She’s there for me. She always is.

And just as she can read my silence, I can feel her silent support.

Thank you Mum! ❤

Happy Mother’s Day!

Enjoy your Sunday Peeps! If you’re a mum, I hope you get appreciated for all you do! If your mum is still with you , make sure you show her how much she is loved. If your mum is being your silent support from above, look up, and thank her for still caring, even though she isn’t here.

For mums everywhere 🙂