Publisher's Synopsis
So here begins our story ...I hope you enjoy, for this is an expression of my heart, the primary purpose is to encourage and have fun, to share tips and hints, and life as it is done here is South Africa raising "the big 5" children - 3 girls and 2 boys.Please don't "mark" me or judge me, but rather read, have a laugh or maybe a cry at times. I want my life to count and the input I have into these little lives that are entrusted to me, is HUGE! We all need encouragement or if nothing else just good old plain realness, vulnerability and trusted friends.It is on-going, this learning of being a mum to these precious 5, at the University of Parenthood in the season called LIFE. But I am not alone, as I have a great family, an extended family (who don't all live too close to me sadly) and a wonderful "hands on" loving husband who adores his children, and but MOST importantly, I have the best parenting reference in the world - the Bible!I will write what I feel in my heart - it may be deep, it may be light-hearted. Whatever it may be, I see it as an "offloading", or as an easy, fun way of documenting all things practical, funny and possibly a good idea. There may be very serious times too - times of reflection, times of recalling and times of expressing the treasures of God's word.My daily cry or prayer to my Heavenly Father, is to help me see what you see, love like you love and to lift my vision higher! In the moments of chaos, noise, whining (my worst!) and sibling teasing, I try to breathe - DEEPLY - and look to Him for wisdom, grace and lots of patience.So often I wonder how 5 little people can come from the same gene pool yet be so very different. It amazes me! I often watch them play and interact, and I think, oh my goodness, these children are mine and yet all are so unique. I dream for them, and wonder what they will be and do one day in the future, then I stop as I don't want them to grow up. Being a mother has brought out so many different facets in my life - things I already knew were there all along, and other things I didn't ever expect.As I am quite a perfectionist, my standard is high - both on myself and those who are in my life. This is both a good and bad thing. I have learnt, and am still learning, that some battles are worth fighting and other are not. For example, in our home there is zero tolerance for ugliness, nastiness or fighting and hurting one another. It does happen - let's be real, BUT we "nip it in the bud" asap. I always tell my children, "do you see mom and dad fighting like this, being nasty, name calling etc." - and of course the answer is no. Children do model what that see and not what you say. You cannot fool them! I once heard a great saying that the best gift you can give your children is a happy secure marriage.
