Career change

Do people do this? Change their careers in their mid 30's? I feel as though I should be grown up now, I should be settled in my profession of choice.

Thing is, I'm not. 10 years into social work and I'm still not sure whether this is really what I want to be doing. It's a tiring job. At times it's highly emotional. It's poorly paid (our sector earns about $15000 less than others). The expectations on us are beginning to exceed what is actually possible. A starting salary in Child Protection is what I could expect as a manager in my organisation and yet the jobs of child protection are gradually being shifted onto services like mine - without the remuneration to go with it. Court literally does my head in. The idea of court produces such anxiety in me that I doubt my effectiveness on the stand. Yet the foster care worker is one of the main witnesses, after the protective worker.

I was in Dusk yesterday picking up a few more of my favourite melts (If you haven't tried these I recommend that you do - standouts for me are Honolulu and Passion) and while standing at the counter I picked up a card which read 'RECRUITING NOW'. Walking out of the shop with card in hand, I began to seriously contemplate whether I should send in my CV. I often find myself fantasising about a job where I can go, earn money, leave it all there when I go home. Where I don't have to manage family dynamics and the behaviour of traumatised children. Where I don't have to supervise the sometimes fraught access visits between children and their birth families. Where I don't spend 80 per cent of my time sitting in front of a computer - in a job I took because I wanted to work with people - and worrying that I haven't seen my client enough this month.

Dusk would be a perfect job for me right now. I adore their products so I would have no issue selling them. I could work less than 3 days a week if I should so desire (a luxury my current position does not afford me). I would work at work and be a parent at home, a novel concept!

My concern with taking the step out of my chosen career path is that I will end up standing behind a counter somewhere feeling like I'm not doing a worthy job. Because all my life I've been geared up around helping people so it makes sense that it's what I chose to do for a living. Would I feel unstimulated and bored? Would the conversations I have seem a bit superficial?

Regardless, I think I will forward my CV to Dusk. I can always go back to foster care after my children have grown a little more and don't require so much of my attention. It'll be a good move for the family. And me.

Thermomix

I want one. You'll have to google it to read more if you want to. But I want one. They are AMAZING and I'm convinced I would cook much more if I had one of these on my kitchen bench.

R.I.P Peppa

We said goodbye to Peppa last night. Her ailments associated with old age just got the better of her in a matter of weeks. At 15.5 years old we think she had a pretty good innings.

See ya Pep. You and I were never the best of friends but you were a lovely dog to have around for babies and small children. And Matt is missing you a whole lot.

Who's a happy girl?

It isn't even my birthday until tomorrow but I have been thoroughly spoilt this year. Family dinner last night, breakfast with girlfriends this morning, and a day off tomorrow (nobody should have to work on their birthday, I am passionate about this). I know birthdays are not all about presents (a conversation repeated at least twice a year leading up to Feb 10 and Sep 15), but CHECK THIS OUT!

I know this beauty will stand unrivalled as the Best. Present. Ever. Isn't it magnificent? I am studying very hard to ensure I use every single feature and use it well. Matt also purchased a telescopic lense as an extra so that I can take pictures of his nose hair with perfect clarity. Well, maybe not for that purpose alone...

Now to the next beauty below. For those of you who don't know her, allow me to introduce Superstar Barbie. She was my first Barbie, released in 1977 - given to me by Santa in 1979. I took her to school early 1980 and foolishly left her on a seat outside. Needless to say someone else took a liking to her. By the time I realised I was without her it was too late and I never saw her again. This year Barbie celebrated her 50th birthday, an occasion marked with a re-release of the most popular dolls, Superstar Barbie being one of them. I casually mentioned it to my mother in passing a little while back and she, being my mother, secretly bought one for me.

And lastly (lastly meaning photographed here - not of the gifts I was showered with last night), are my short blacks. The proper deal, these Ugg's should last me a long long time. Matt thinks they would be appropriate attire for The Presets concert next week. They are so new and clean that I could almost wear them to our local supermarket, except I have an awareness of how awful they look when they're not being worn as slippers. And I do actually need to make the distinction between pyjamas and day clothes otherwise I'd never get dressed.

Random who made what questions

On the way home from swimming:
Mieke: Did God make trees?
Me: Some people believe that, yes
Mieke: Did God make birds
Me: (same as above)
Mieke: Who made roads?
Me: People make roads
Mieke: Does God make houses?
Me: No, people build houses
Mieke: How?
Me: With bricks or wood usually
Mieke: Did God make bricks?
Me: No people make bricks
Mieke: How?
Me: (after trying half fabricated explanation...pause...) I think that is a great question to ask Dad.

By this point I'm over trying to provide worthy answers! Love the questions though.

Three year olds and tantrums

So Quinn is fairly oppositional and defiant at present. Oh, did I say fairly? I meant totally and absolutely, wholly and completely. His first one of the day occurred at 5:30am this morning and we are enduring up to eight tantrums a day (that was his score today). They can range from 5 minutes to about half an hour.

Some of the range of things which currently unhinge him - in no particular order:
putting shoes on
putting coat on
taking coat off
having his seat belt on
getting out of the car
eating lunch
washing his hands
drawing
not drawing
being refused permission to eat lollies every 2.7 minutes
being refused permission to drink cordial
being offered a mandarin
being offered a cuddle
not being offered a cuddle

Some of the things he says to me nowdays:
why?
i don't want to
no
no
no
why?
you're a bum bum (shouted at me in a rage - I involuntarily laughed at the comment/him/my impending insanity and it distracted him long enough to break the tantrum)
no
why?
i'm not your favourite boy anymore
no
don't look at me
no
no
you are mean mummy

There are many more, but I won't bore you. Suffice it to say I'm a bit frazzled and a bit cranky. I must say that this is not turning out to be my favourite age for Quinn, give me his compliant clumsy toddling, his slobbery kisses and one word requests any day.

What worked for Mieke at the same age does not have the same desired effect on Quinn. Mieke has always been more responsive and sensitive to moods of others. She is highly attuned to Matt's and my emotional status whereas Quinn seems a little less concerned. He is so content to be his own person and do his own thing that if it means going against the flow, then so be it. And I think that will be a most positive character trait in his adult life, we just need to work a way around it now so he will comply with our Very Mean, Bum Bum and Not Favourite Boy everyday routines and rules!

Look at that photo over there on the right. It seems incongruent with what I've written above doesn't it? Bless him. It's hard being three.

Run Melbourne 2009

I did this last year with a friend. The Run Melbourne has different events, the 7km was a run/walk. I think we did pretty well, walking a fast-paced 7km in around 45 minutes. Man I was sore and sorry afterwards!
So this year the run/walk on June 28 is only 5kms and I'm feeling pretty confident I can lick it in around 30 minutes. Though it will certainly require extra exercise and I anticipate I might have to do my pathetic shuffle which slightly resembles a jog.
I've recently been walking with another friend and we are currently completing just over 6kms in 50 minutes. We indulge a bit too much in natter and not enough in dedicated goal-getting. I'm hoping she will sign herself up for the Run Melbourne this year, she is threatening to but so far there has been no evidence to back up her statement of intention.
To those who are reading this and thinking "crazy woman, what on earth is she thinking" (because not only am I voluntarily running 5km in the middle of winter but it starts at around 8:30am on a Sunday morning in the city), I'm raising money for Australian Childhood Foundation by taking part.
Here is my page should you wish to sponsor me, or you could enter, choose your charity and do it with me. The more the merrier!