And in a flash, it is 2016

And in a flash, it is 2016.

I barely had time to breathe and say Happy New Year to friends. We’ve been hosting and attending gatherings, dropping kids off at camps, catching up with old friends who happened to pass by our way again, like busy bees flitting from flower to flower, collecting nectar.

Apart from the feasting, December provided some moments of reflection for me and I’ve been awfully quiet on the blog. So many thoughts brewing and emotions stirring, but I couldn’t find the space to pen them down. Until now.

Vera starts school tomorrow. In the wee hours of the morn, we will clamber out of bed eager to send her off with our hugs and kisses. She’s all ready, my little one no more, to flap her wings out into the hallways of her new school - the big school. Once she’s on the bus, the hubby and I may turn to each other and smile or cry. Or both.

Little Josh starts school too. We tossed the idea here and there and decided to just wing it and let him try it out. He’s only just starting to talk, I know. He’s so little, I know…

Well this little fella just turned 2, and he’s started to be a lot more vocal and disagreeable too. He’s also very very cheeky and is usually not up to something good. He has no sense of danger, and is prone to bumps and bruises. He also copies everything that we say these days, so we’ve got to be very careful.

As for JJ, dear JJ…2015 has been all about my middle boy. The ups and downs, the curve balls, the surprises. We have largely emerged unscathed, stronger even, as a family. We’ve started to enjoy him as he is, and he’s started to be more himself than ever - cheeky, witty, observant, sensitive, instinctive. I’m just thankful that the OTT tantrums has simmered down to a more manageable level, and the anxiety behaviour has been stilled.

He’s now a lot more confident and adventurous, and tries to express his emotions verbally instead of with tantrums and/or whining. While we’ve put in a lot of effort working with him, and with ourselves, I must say the best thing we’ve done for him is to pray and trust God. He never lets us down.

Going forward, I’ll continue to help him work through those emotions, and build his social skills by having his friends over to play regularly. I believe these are the best gifts we can give him at this stage of his life.

What a year it’s been. In 2015, I learnt about:

- Not comparing my children

- Choosing the right primary school

- Becoming a SAHM

Now that the kids are all in various stages of ‘school’, I hope to be able to take on more freelance writing projects. (Who knows, maybe even work on a book!) I will also continue to organise parenting workshops so do keep a lookout for them.

In 2016, I will work towards becoming a wife and mum who’s more joyful and fun, and who gives thanks even for the smallest of things.

Leaving you with a quote that I’ve been thinking about:

Faithfulness is not showing up day after day; it is showing up day after day with a good attitude and an excellent spirit. God will reward that kind of faithfulness. - Joyce Meyer

Wishing you all a 2016 filled with more love, grace and hope!