Harassed Mom

I have just received this email from the JHB Child Welfare about the plans to keep children in Soweto safe during the World Cup.

It actually made me a little sad that we have to put these measures in place to ensure our children are not harmed But at least there are people out there making plans and trying to keep as many children as they can safe!

Plans for our holiday programme in the Soweto Fan Parks are taking shape. We will be setting up child protection stations in Elga Stadium in Soweto and holiday programmes in a school in the area. Here, volunteers and social workers will be working around the clock, literally, to ensure that children are safe from potential traffickers, from alcohol abuse and are kept entertained, well fed and protected during the entire Soccer World Cup.

I think this year I was the most disorganised in terms of the planning and organising of one of my kids parties!

And then the rain arrived and ruined the plans I did make. So we ended up spending her party at Spur with her best friend. It was a lovely day despite the rain and cold.

Angel made the cake and cupcakes for us and they were STUNNING!!!!!

I didn’t get a pic of the actual main cake Just the lion that was on top – isnt it amazing?? The actual cake was apparently divine

And Kiara and her best friend Kaylin!

We are house hunting! We have been for a few months now.

Jeanette summed it up perfectly yesterday

“Mind you it’s similar to the disappointments that come with bikini shopping :/”

Too right she is!

We have seen what feels like every 3 bedroom simplex/duplex/duet for sale in the Pretoria East area and while we came close none of them have felt like THE house.

It’s not even about the price because we can get a wide selection to choose from within our price range and in the area we want. It’s just that we can find nothing that caters for our needs or that we like I suppose.

We saw one house that I honestly do not know how the design was every approved. The kitchen was so tiny that you could only fit one person in at a time. There was NO space for the fridge. The couple living there had their fridge pretty much against the grocery cupboard door because there was simple no where else to put it. Surely when you are designing a kitchen you make space for an average size fridge?

Taking kid’s house hunting is also not really advisable. Kiara asks at every house “Are we buying this one” and if you say “We aren’t sure” then she asks “Why don’t you like it” and if you have met my child you will know she doesn’t really have a soft voice. Cameron cant quiet grasp the concept of buying/selling houses so he asks “Will the leave the TV? As them to leave the TV please”

And estate agents! Heavens alive they are a different breed of people. Our requirements are simple – 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms – on that we are not willing to budge. The rest is open to negotiation. We got shown a TWO bedroom house with a loft that was the only lounge area that led out onto the balcony. Very smart but TWO bedrooms. The agent then suggested we split the loft in two and make it into a bedroom as well as a lounge! Maybe if I had midgets it would work but I don’t so really don’t waste my time. We receive texts offering to show us the following houses – when I checked the reference numbers one was a one bedroom and the other a 2 bed one bathroom. WHY? What are we going to do in a one bedroom anything? When you say my price range is R100 they say “Ok so R150” – NO dumbass I said R100. True’s bob the house they show is for R150 and then they get annoyed when you suggest an offer of R100.

Seriously as exciting as the prospect of moving is the actual process leaves a lot to be desired.

I need some help!

We have to make a decision about whether we want to remain in Pretoria or move to Joburg.

I have made a list of my pros and cons for each and Pretoria was a clear winner for me but with my parents move now definitely happening by the end of the year it removes one of the biggest pros – support.

I need you guys to help me figure out which city is better – Blue Bull country or Lion land??

I am not putting up my list because I want to get a different view on this!

Just want to add – I work in Pretoria and David works in Fourways!

So off you go tell me which one you would prefer and why?

The truth about shopping is that it SUCKS!

Firstly the idea that having a girl child is awesome because you get to go shopping and do your nails and all sorts of other stuff is NONSENSE! It’s a legend told by mothers who have ended up in mental institutions trying to make their daughters happy (or at least trying to keep them warm in winter).

Kiara got some birthday money from my mom and brother for my birthday for winter clothes since she has none. So off we go to buy some clothes. This is how it went.

Walk into Jet

Kiara: Nothing here!

Me: Just have a look. What about this?

Kiara (walking out the door): NO!

Just before she gets to the door “WAIT!” and she points to the most hideous shiny tracksuit you have ever seen. I pretend I don’t hear and walk out!

Walk into Mr Price

Me: Look at this Kiara it’s lovely

Kiara: No its ugly.

She scratches through the sale rack and comes out with a pair of shorts and declares her love for them.

This happens at Edgars, Ackermans and a few shops in between.

Eventually I admit defeat and buy the shiny tracksuit and shorts because at least they fit her.

It is an exhausting process. One I do as seldom as possible. I am not ashamed to admit that she still has shorts in her cupboard that she wears now that are size 2-3 (she is 6). They are the only pants she will wear at the moment and honestly I pick my battles!

Yesterday my most awesome boyfriend gave me some money to do some clothes shopping – for which I am so very grateful!

But let me tell I need a bottle of prozac, a few counselling sessions and subscription to Weigh-Less after my 2 hour trip to the shops yesterday.

I avoid clothes shopping because it is a reminder that I am no longer a size 34 (ok I was only a 34 for a few months but STILL) and that I know have to shop only at shops like Edgars and Mildays – you know for the more mature women!

Anyway so I start my little trip at Ackermans. They have some lovely jackets (pretty much the cost of my entire budget) and a few jerseys that I really think need to be in the Donna Claire section. No pants, no tops. The only winter work top is a so short that even the xl barely covered the tyre around my middle.

But I was not to be disillusioned so marched on to Jet where I did manage to find 5 items that didn’t make me look like a whale in a condom. But being Jet I still had more than half of my money left over so I headed to Legit and Identity.

It was the HUGEST MISTAKE!!!!! I tried on a jersey top at Identity in XLARGE people and it looked awful. It barely made it over my head! Legit wasn’t much better! So my conclusion is that Legit and Identity cater for bulimics and anorexics (no offense to to either of these groups of people)! Because lets be honest here African ladies are not of the Asian variety. We have curves and bums and boobs! We have shape!

I then tried Mr Price because I generally get lucky there well I eventually decided to get pjs and a bra and panty set because at least those fitted me! I did walk through Edgars but was most disappointed in what they had – many jeans and some black pants in the Kelso Petite section (if you shop in the petite anything section I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW!)

While I did find a few items they whole experience is very traumatic for me and the clothes I bought now will last me till 2020 and the clothes I have will also have to just make do!

So there you have it – the truth about shopping is that it SUCKS!

Yesterday we went to watch Diamonds and Dust at the Barnyard in Broadacres and while it wasn’t the best Barnyard production I have seen it really was lots of fun.

It’s one of those feel good moments that remind you how awesome South Africa is. It also highlighted that while South Africa was ruled by the white people it was the black people who defined our musical history. Even the white artist who sang at the time, like Paul Simon and Johnny Clegg drew heavily on the energy and life of African music.

They played songs like Miriam Makebes The Click song, Diamonds on the Souls of her Shoes and Shoshaloza which resonate with all of us and really are such a big part of our history.

It was an awesome afternoon and one that once again reminded me why I am proudly South African

I have bloggers block. For the first time since I started blogging I have absolutely no motivation to blog It’s a pretty scary feeling because my head is swimming with words and thoughts and emotions but I can not seem to get them out.

Leigh-anne gave me an award this week  - thanks Leigh!

The rule is I have to share 7 things about me which is really hard since I have been blogging for so long and done so many of these! So I will share 7 things going on right now!

• Exams are happening very soon and I am stressed out.
• I went for a job interview last week and it seemed really positive but there has been no call back and they wanted a decision by yesterday.
• Kiara is back in tantrum mode.
• I am selling Leigh-anns Tranquil Body Treats - go check out our mothers day special
• Everyday I am amazed by how much I am loved and how much I love back.
• I got most of the stuff for Kiaras party yesterday – it is the most organised I have been ever!
• I am getting ready for Journey2Joys first baby shower and it is so very exciting.

And thats that

I know I am supposed to tag 7 people but its already past my study time and I can no longer procrastinate so I give it to you all

I am disillusioned today – with the world in general.

I attended a meeting last at the school. It was our monthly fundraising meeting. There were 3 of us there. THREE out of a school of 700+ kids, only THREE parents arrived. The parents are not involved because for some reason the school doesn’t want them involved. The actual meeting disillusioned me. Last month we had ideas that were shot down, this month we have new ideas that were shot down and the ones we suggested last year were suggested (by the Principal). The school is in serious financial trouble but all our attempts to help are being blocked. We have absolutely no support from any of the management team.

One of the moms at the meeting was telling us about her plans to immigrate to Canada and this disillusioned me. I have friends who are planning this step or who have done and trust me I understand it. I understand the fears, the concerns and the desperate want for a better future for your children. Really I understand it and I know this decisions are never made lightly but honestly they make me incredible sad.

They make me sad for the same reasons that the lack of involvement from the school makes me sad. People seem to have given up hope. They seem to have stopped fighting to make things better. Our school will rather retrench teachers than let us fight for money to make it better. People will rather leave than stay and try to make it better.

What has happened that has made us loose hope?

Why have we stopped fighting for what matters?

Why have we stopped standing together?

The other night we were trying to find something decent on the 6 billion channels on DSTV and eventually ended up watching a reality type show on BBCL – I think it was called “Dont tell the bride”

A couple gets given 12 000 pounds towards/for their wedding but the deal is that the fiance has to organise EVERYTHING. The couple have no contact for 4 weeks and the bride sees her dress for the first time the day before the wedding.

I thought the fiance in this episode did a really good job but the bride hated the dress he chose. She cried and cried and eventually got her friend to call him to ask if they can change it. The poor dude was gutted but obviously let her change it.

Now I am not sure that I would cope not having any control over a day like my wedding day! In fact I know I couldn’t! I don’t even think its about trusting the other person because you could see she loved him very much and was trying really hard to like the dress and not to stress about things. I think its more about the person you are!

So would you leave everything up to your partner? Would you be able to let go for 4 weeks and trust him not to let you down?

AND does your partner know you well enough to choose the right dress?

It doesn’t actually feel like we had a weekend at all.

It was go go go the whole time! A few of the highlights.

• Saturday afternoon we had a braai with Sally and Sharon – sort of a mini farewell. It was a fun evening with laughter, wine and awesome food. I am going to miss you my friend.
• Sunday morning was a catch up with my mom and my aunt over coffee and instantly the chaos and noise was back in our house!
• Then we headed off to the Botanical Gardens for my birthday picnic. Little bit of chaos though because most of the people went to Emmarentia. SORRY GUYS!!!!
• It was a lovely afternoon. I really have some special friends. Alot of us don’t talk daily or see each other that often but when we do it feels like just yesterday when we were together. Love you guys the most.
• I got some stunning gifts – including a purse, a bag, a vase and a gift voucher and a stunning gown from Davids mom.
• We got home at about 18h30 last night after coffee and chips at Davids mom
• The only downer of the weekend was Kiara and her nose bleeds She had one in the car on the way home last night that started just after William Nicol and only stopped after New Road (and we sat in traffic). It was about the 4th one over the weekend. Not so much fun.

But over all the weekend was perfect. Jeanette has some pics up from yesterday!