NOT BEING ABLE TO BLOG

That's right this blog is a short one just to say what it was like not being able to blog for 3 weeks during EQC repairs.

At first it TOTALLY SUCKED having no internet connection 'cause I was so used to having it. Over time I just accepted it and did other stuff like reading, I used to read a lot so it's good not having internet to encourage me to read ;) 
I spent more time with my sons getting out and enjoying the warm sunny days, with daylight savings we can stay out later.
Last week I used the library to email replies for a book I've written, I have email access on my cell phone but not total access so I can receive but not view attachments properly. Wow my battery lasted 1 hour and man did it go FAST!  Before I knew it my battery died so end of session :(  I was grateful to be able to use Wifi at the library to help me sort my book to be published.

Not having internet I watched Dexter a programme that was downloaded ages ago and became obsessed I watched every season I had and it wasn't till after I had finished I felt encouraged to read again, I read at night 'cause reading makes me sleepy ;)

While not being able to blog I realised how much I rely on using the internet not just for games but blogging, emails and general research especially with my book, I'm hoping it will be a success to become a children's book author.

 

THIS IS COVER PIC FOR THE ADVENTURES OF VINCENT AND BATTS BOOK



LICE

That's right not a subject any of us Mum's want to hear but LICE is common especially in schools and after being at a PTA meeting with public health nurse I found out some very useful information to pass on, sorry I'm only talking about Canterbury, got no knowledge of anywhere else.

The main problem with lice is when children have it there's always one parent/caregiver who doesn't treat their child and despite all our best efforts the one untreated child remains a problem for our kids to become re-infected and our FRUSTRATION BEGINS. I found out at the PTA meeting that you can get treatment free of charge through your GP (you still have to pay for consultation). If you need serious help you can contact the public nurse through Canterbury District Health Board she will arrange an appointment to see you in person.

Ways to PREVENT LICE from spreading is to do LOTS OF BRUSHING/COMBING EVERYDAY, this helps to hurt any lice present and actually break their body parts so they can't lay any eggs (yes it's gross hearing about this but better to know how to break the lice cycle)

My personal experience with lice on my two sons was so bad. At the start I bought treatments from chemist and they were awful to use, smelled so bad and painful too, I really felt for my sons especially since the treatment had to be repeated a week later. One infestation my two sons had to stay at home during school holidays (this was at another school not the one they are at now) just to get rid of their lice and sure enough they went back to school lice free only to be re-infected.
Over time I became FED UP finally I saw a  remedy on Facebook and it's a blessing 'cause it not only removes lice it removes their eggs too.

Lice Treatment

Mix equal parts Apple Cider Vinegar and Coconut Oil, use as shampoo in shower on child's hair, while Apple Cider Vinegar and Coconut Oil mixture is in hair be sure to comb it too (use a lice comb available at Chemist) then rinse afterwards. Best thing is no need to reapply it kills everything. Then comb afterwards.

To know how it felt I did it and it's not painful and doesn't smell bad either and it makes hair shiny too.

Since I did this Lice treatment last Easter April 2014 my sons haven't had any lice even when it was going around their school, that's how FANTASTIC this simple treatment is.

More things I learned at PTA  Lice meeting was you only treat the person with lice not everyone else and not all bedding needs to be washed or vacuumed  just things that come in contact with your head need washing. It's important to teach your child NOT TO SHARE HATS or anything that comes in contact with their head too e.g. bike helmets, dress up hats, school regulation hats, I've had to tell my sons not to share their hats knowing how kind they are thinking of others who don't have their hat, its not mean to protect my sons from lice and it teaches their friends to have their own hat too.

At the start of PTA meeting the public nurse said how years ago they used to come into schools and treat children's hair for lice, but they only had 15 minutes with each child and that isn't enough time to properly treat it especially when most treatments need to be reapplied the following week. So that's why they don't do public health treatments for lice in schools anymore.

More information available Public Health Nursing Service

I REALLY HOPE THIS POST IS HELPFUL AND ENDS YOUR FRUSTRATION DEALING WITH LICE :)

GRIEF AND LOSS FOR OUR FUR BABIES

2 AUGUST 2014

Yesterday we buried our much loved kitty cat Zack, yes we had a proper burial and small funeral too. He died the day before and we had to wait to be able to bury him. It was a sad moment seeing our kitty dying, so distressing seeing him in pain. On Zack's last day he had his last bath, and moments before he passed my sons read him a story, Zack LOVED us reading to him, every time we read a book Zack would be there too. We had a vet appointment but Zack wouldn't hold on that long he chose his last moments to be with US HIS FAMILY. Zack died in my arms :(
Zack was bought at SPCA in Blenheim long before I became a Mum and he lived with us for 14 years, he was a fighter liked to get into cat fights and his last cat fight decided his fate.

 R.I.P ZACK 2000-2014

We want to get this to put on Zack's grave.

4 AUGUST 2014

It's been 4 days since we lost our kitty cat Zack and it feels weird not having him around. I think I'll hear him meow or feel him jump on our bed to sleep with us. The other day I was in supermarket and was about to get some cat food. Zack was with us for 14 years so a long term habit will be hard to break. I've ordered the pictured Memorial Stone so we can have it on Zack's grave to know he's with us every day especially for my sons to see Zack too. I've got Zack's pic on my background on cell phone and Notebook and Facebook Profile pic too MISS HIM SO MUCH :(



Found this kitty video very cute and true too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-InDy_7yXNk#t=34

5 AUGUST 2014

My 9 year old son had a cry missing his Zack cat. I tried to use reincarnation that Zack was now his leopard soft toy but it didn't work. We had a bunny and after he died found a look-a-like soft toy now trying to find a look-a-like soft toy like Zack. WE MISS ZACK LOTS, amazing how a kitty cat has made such an impact on our lives.

ZACK LOVED SLEEPING IN THE SUN.

6 AUGUST 2014

No tears tonight from my 9 year old son and he cuddled with his leopard soft toy too :)

7 AUGUST 2014

While doing reading with my 6 year old he became upset and wished Zack could be there to listen to him so I said I'll get a toy and pretend it's Zack. I got the leopard soft toy and it made my 6 year old happy to pretend the leopard was Zack. It has been one week already since Zack passed away.

Zack LOVED MARGARINE.

9 AUGUST 2014

We got a sympathy card from our vet really made my day and they had this message with it too called Rainbow Bridge.

I have to say this Rainbow Bridge story is helping my sons with kitty cat Zack being gone, THANKS ANIMATES VET PAPANUI.

13 AUGUST 2014

It's almost 2 weeks since we buried our kitty cat Zack. The weird feeling I have is I feel he's still around. Sometimes I hear him meowing and think he's sleeping on sons bed like he did and even though I know he's gone I still feel him alive, it's not surprising since Zack was in my life for 14 years, habit I guess and I think it's a nice one too :)

We got our Memorial Stone today and it's not as good as I thought. The photo is just a photo with no glass frame so will need to think how to improve it, once I do figure out what to do I'll post Memorial Stone with Zack's Photo. WATCH THIS SPACE.

20 AUGUST 2014

19 days since we lost our Little Man, our nickname for Zack. MISS HIM LOTS, REALLY MISS PATTING HIS SOFT FUR, MISS HIM COMING IN OUR ROOM AND SLEEPING ON MY SHOULDERS. Although Zack's gone and it hurts, better for him to be at PEACE :)

25 AUGUST 2014

The other day was looking at pics and home videos of us and saw ones of Zack, it made my 9 year old a little upset, still missing Zack :( 

Did reading with 6 year old and we had a leopard soft toy we use to remember Zack, we had it to pretend it was Zack listening like he used to.

Leopard Soft Toy

Fridge Magnets

MISS OUR KITTY CAT ZACK

:(  EVERYDAY :(

 

22 OCTOBER 2014

Grief of a loved pet is a funny thing just when you think you're okay about your loss something happens to make you feel upset and miss your pet. The other day we got a cat biscuits sample in the mail and knowing our kitty cat Zack is gone it made us sad and we started grieving all over again, I guess its the 5 stages of grief and loss they can be set off by a trigger like the cat sample in the letterbox. My sons want another cat but while living with Mum we can't till we live on our own again and that's okay :) Not meaning to be insensitive but without a pet it's made our moving for EQC less stressful not having to worry about our little man Zack he never had to go through this stress so it's a good thing for him and us not worrying about him too :)  We'll get a pet someday when the time and situation is right :)

Our Kitty not shy to show it all.

Zack in his younger years and yes that's a mouse in his mouth.

17 NOVEMBER 2014

Its been 4 months since our kitty passed away and I MISS HIM EVERYDAY :( There are moments when I feel Zack is around like sometimes I think I hear him meowing or feel him cuddle with me while I'm sleeping like he used to.



 

28 NOVEMBER 2014

Yesterday I was playing soccer with my 9 and 6 years old and the ball kept landing on Zack's grave like he was playing too. Last night I dreamt Zack was alive and I could pat and cuddle him again. Zack was the best kitty cat and almost 5 months gone I still feel he's alive and when I'm outside hanging washing I talk to Zack's grave like he's still here.

Yesterday my 9 year old said "can we dig up Zack's grave?" Of course I said "No!". My son watched a movie called Frankinweenie about a boy who loses his dog, digs his dog's grave and brings his dog back to life like Frankinstein. Of course my son was only joking he knows Zack's gone and isn't coming back like the dog in Frankinweenie ;)

Yes Zack hated baths but needed them ;)

8 FEBRUARY 2015

Last night my son had trouble with his eye and I gave him a damp face cloth to help him and minutes later my now 7 years old came into my room saying his brother was crying. I went in to see my 9 years old and yes he was crying and then my 7 years old cried too. The face cloth I gave to use for his eye was named Zack I used to use it when washing him, naturally knowing it was Zack's it brought tears missing him. I gave them both cuddles and left them with two cat soft toys to cuddle through the night. I won't give them that face cloth again.

11 FEBRUARY 2015

The other night my 7 years old cried missing Zack cat and while he was crying I saw the next door neighbour's cat, a tabby similar to Zack only bigger. I opened the door and walked out to pat her. Then I got my 7 years old to pat the neighbour's cat too, this make him feel better :) I told him Shadow (neighbour's cat name) heard him crying so she came out and let him pat her, he believed me ;)

3 MARCH 2015



Yes we still miss our 'little man' as we nicknamed him and what's been helping us is our neighbour's cat, she comes over nearly everyday for us to pat her.

Tonight she came over and let my 7 years old give her a hug and butted his head which is a sign the cat likes the person. Shadow is her name and like Zack she is a tabby sightly bigger than Zack and  is more  cute when we pat her and hear her purrrrrrrrrrrrrrr :)

25 DECEMBER 2016

















24 OCTOBER 2017

 

Sadly we lost our adorable funny lovable bunny Gandalf the Grey, he was poisoned by eating Rubarb leaves. So our grieving begins for another fur baby :(

 

                             Yes my sons are using his mini me to help mend their broken hearts.

 

R.I.P GANDALF THE GREY

2016-2017

 



WHAT I DID BEFORE BECOMING A MUM

I did many jobs before becoming a mum. My first job was working in a dairy shop and it didn't work out I wasn't there for long and at the time it was part of the New Zealand Employment Service now known as Work and Income New Zealand.

In my early 20s I was a Teacher Aide another part of NZES where I was paid my benefit and topped up $20 from the school. I LOVED BEING A TEACHER AIDE but my heart was stronger and I left being a Teacher Aide for the man I fell in love with now my hubby.

I found work as a Home Carer just helped a Client with their housework mainly and the one-on-one social relationship is what I enjoyed most.

A year later me and fiancé (now my hubby) moved towns and we both ended up working at Talleys, he did forklift driving and I was on the production line during corn season which lasted 10 weeks, I stopped eating corn at this time seeing it 6 days a week made me sick to my stomach. While me and hubby were at Talleys I worked day shift and he worked arvo shift which meant hubby would drive me to work with my bike, I would bike home from work (10km) get home and hubby would have already left to start arvo shift, he would come home late when I was going to bed so not much time spent together and after the corn season finished so did I. Hubby continued working there many years later.

I became a NZ Post Postie delivering mail and 'cause I LOVED CYCLING (Still do) delivering the mail was my favourite part except for rainy windy weather those days sucked to be out. I did it for a year then left since my health really suffered in winter and I got flu often being out and about delivering mail in god awful weather, my immune system too weak and took ages to recover from flu relapses.

I went back to Home Care and studied to achieve the National Certificate in Support of the Older Person which allowed me to do personal care as well as home management, I mainly dealt with independent clients that did shower themselves just needed me there in case they fell.
I left Home Care work at 18 weeks pregnant with first child and me and hubby left town to move to Christchurch to stay with Mum till we found a place of our own.

In Christchurch I applied for Home Care work but you needed to drive and I didn't so I stopped working during the rest of pregnancy.

After 8 years being a stay-at-home mum just volunteered as parent help at my sons school I finally got work delivering newspapers twice a week, have been doing this for 9 months now and recently have another delivery job for Homecare catalogues dropping off and picking up.

ANY OF YOU MUMS OUT THERE WANT TO SHARE WHAT YOU DID BEFORE BECOMING A MUM?

FACING MY FEAR FROM CHILDHOOD

Yes some scary experiences I had as a child still scare me as an adult, it sounds stupid but stuff that happens to us as kids can later affect us as adults.

My fear of spiders happened when I was in Australia with Mum and siblings and we were at Mum's friend's place and I was playing on their piano. I looked around and saw this BIG BLACK SPIDER on the curtain beside me. I WAS FREAKING OUT! I was 12 years old at the time. Firstly I was PETRIFIED I just STARED AT THE SPIDER thinking it was going to JUMP ON ME. I just sat there not moving scared if I did move the spider would get me. Knowing I was in Australia made me FREAK even more 'cause this spider may've been poisonous so this knowledge didn't help my FEAR. Finally someone came in the room and I was able to move. Mum's male friend went to get the spider with a glass but missed and the spider fell to the ground! I was out of there FULL ON FREAKING! Eventually the spider was caught. After this experience any spider I saw FREAKED ME OUT remembering what had happened.
Years later Me and hubby were at Christchurch Museum and saw some Tarantulas and it was now or never to face my FEAR OF SPIDERS or ARACHNOPHOBIA. There was the spider man and we asked him if we could touch the spider, yes I said WE ASKED TO TOUCH. He was happy for us to not touch the spider but HOLD THE TARANTULA. Tarantulas are very timid so can't pat them instead have to hold them. Again I was FREAKING OUT inside my mind that is. Hubby held one of the Tarantulas and showed no fear and it gave me confidence to hold one too and I did. My hands were so warm the Tarantula just sat in my hand felt like a kitten very cute. I felt PROUD FACING MY FEAR OF SPIDERS, I thanked hubby for helping me too.

 Hubby did it first

Gave me confidence to do it too.

 

 



EMBARASSING STUFF THAT HAPPENED TO ME AS A CHILD AND ADULT TOO

Yes us mums have done something embarrassing and have had unfortunate stuff happen to us during our childhood.

As a girl I was sitting on a swing at home and on both sides had a triangular shape so I put one hand in one triangle and crossed my arms and fit my other hand in the other triangle and yes I got stuck, it must've looked funny seeing a girl sitting on a swing with her arms crossed and wondering how the heck she would get out of this one. All I remember is yelling for help and I think my Dad helped free me :)

Another silly and embarrassing thing I did as a child was sitting in church on a pew and at the end of the pew was a horseshoe shape and curiosity got the better of me so yes I put my head in the horseshoe shape and again got STUCK. I'm sure my Mum was embarrassed after all this did happen in church. All I remember is getting stuck and nothing else, maybe that's a good thing ;)

Me and my brother were dressing in our church clothes and we got bored waiting so played tag and started running around the house. Mum told us to stop before we had an accident and us being kids didn't listen. Next thing I know I tripped over my brother's foot hit my head on armchair and it became serious. I remember being dressed in my church clothes and just seeing blood all over me. I ended up at hospital and I distinctly remember being pushed on hospital bed and someone said 'Who did this to you?"  I replied "My brother". This must've sounded so bad but as a child I just told the truth. I ended up getting stitches on my head and stayed overnight in hospital.

In Picton we saw some kid motorbikes and I was with my brother and sister and Dad. My brother was keen as to ride the motorbike and I wasn't at all but my Dad convinced me to HAVE A GO and reluctantly I did.
I was so anxious riding the motorbike very slowly and my hands became really sweaty so sweaty I went to put on the brake but my hand slipped on the accelerator instead and I did one lap racing and ended up crashing into tyres lined up in front on a fence. I was so MAD WITH DAD he said I'd be okay and I wasn't. I think my brother laughed and if I had seen it happen to someone else I would have seen the funny side too. After this accident I never touched a motorbike again not as a kid anyway.

This next one is GROSS so make sure you're not eating when you read this one.
Me, my brother and two sisters were at youth group and I felt really sick so off to use loo. While in loo I did number 2s and puked on the floor, told ya YUCK. Afterwards I had to bike home and on way home I soiled my knickers, DOUBLE YUCK. Dad was at work he worked out of town and Mum didn't drive and my sister and brother weren't old enough to drive so this is why I had to bike
home. I felt for whoever ended up cleaning up my mess.

I was 12 years old and had come back from Australia after seeing my relatives along with Mum, brother, and 2 sisters not Dad he had work. It was my first day at Intermediate form 2 (Year 8) and I was feeling very ill, just jetlag. I couldn't hold it any longer so right where I was standing I puked on the concrete, I felt so much better after and embarrassed too.

Now this next embarrassing and unfortunate thing happened to me in adult hood on my paper run. There was a car in the way to deliver paper to letterbox so I decided to bike off the curb, BAD MISTAKE! I misjudged how high the curb was and when I turned to go down my bike flipped in the air paused for a second and then I fall with the bike landing on top of my leg, OUCH! Thankfully no one was around to see how foolish I looked. I let out a YELL, picked myself up and carried on delivering papers. Here's the bruise that followed that fall

OUCHY!!!

Funny thing was the same thing happened on my last paper run, there was a trailer in the way to deliver a paper so I started heading towards the curb dejavu only this time I learned from the previous mistake and got off my bike and walked around. See I do learn from some mistakes ;)

HOMEMADE CAKES

As Mums we all sometime in our lives have made a birthday cake. Here are cakes me and hubby have done. Enjoy :)

Supposed to look like Lego Bricks, his favorite.

 

This cake was all done by me.

Again this cake done all by me except both sons wanted to put on Happy Birthday candles. It was for my 7 years old son.

 

 

My son's 10th birthday. I baked and iced, hubby decorated. It's a Creeper from Minecraft.



DEALING WITH HYPERACTIVE KIDS

Yes my 8 year old is a non-stop active boy from dawn to dusk and I found a website with tips to help me understand why and what I can do, mainly related with  nutrition.


HELPING US MUMS TO UNDERSTAND HYPERACTIVITY IN OUR KIDS

DEALING WITH NIGHT TERRORS

I've been dealing with my son's night terrors on and off since he was 2 years old and he's now 8 years and still having night terrors. I hope this link below helps other Mums dealing with their kids night terrors too.



TIPS TO HELP WITH YOUR CHILDS NIGHT TERRORS

DEALING WITH STRESS

Hey Mums Out There. Here are some things that help me when I need it when dealing with stress. ENJOY ;-)

 

THIS IS MY FAVOURITE.

 

 

 

THIS IS MY BIBLE TO PARENT MY SONS.

 

 

Pharrell Williams Songs are Great for Stress Pharrell Williams 

 B            R         E         A       T       H        E

http://blog.theanimalrescuesite.com/hamster-mansion-life/

 

JUST LET IT GO :)

 

 

When ANGRY write down all the stuff that's making you ANGRY. Screw up the list and throw it away. This is Writing Therapy so it's like you are throwing all that anger away. Do this every time it also helps you to know why you're angry too.





THE JOYS OUR KIDS BRING US

Yes our kids can drive us Mums crazy at times they also can give us LOTS OF JOY TOO :)

Joys like:



 

Their FIRST SMILE.

 



When suddenly they become quiet and you wonder where they are.

 

 

  

Watching them discover.

 

 

Kindness to animals.

 

 

Today my two sons did something so heart warming. My 8 year old found a boy who had lost his Mum in the mall and stayed with him till the boy's Mum found him. My 6 year old was in a kids ride that had room for two and he shared it with another boy a lot younger than him probably 3 or 4 years since he could talk. IT'S MOMENTS LIKE THESE THAT MAKE ME SO PROUD OF MY BOYS :) (No pics taken to protect identity of the two boys, I only take photos of my kids and other kids we all know)

 

The other day I saw my 6 year old with a kids watering can and asked what he was doing he told me there was a flower dying and needed water. HOW ADORABLE :)

 

 

Both my sons brought joy to me when we were at BMX track and a boy fell of his bike and both my sons saw the boy off his bike and went straight to see if he was okay, such caring sons I have and so proud so see it in person which tells me I'm doing well as a parent :)


Watching how kids interact with each other is a joy in itself. The other day I watched 2 toddlers with one sitting in a highchair and the other crawling on the ground. The toddler in the highchair  had a toy in his hand and dropped it to the ground, the other toddler crawled to pick up the toy and stood up to give the toy to the toddler in the highchair, it became a game and they did it over and over again. I was amazed how well the two toddlers understood what I was saying, very impressed :)

 Watching my 6 year old stepping on coloured dots and yes I did it too :)

 

MY GREATEST JOY IS SPENDING TIME WITH MY KIDS



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+

 



First time experience Virtual Reality at Amageddon

DEALING WITH OUR KIDS TANTRUMS

Yes dealing with our kids tantrums. My 6 year old son had a tantrum wanting to ride a bike that was too small for him and it had to happen as we were leaving for school. When my 6 year old has a TANTRUM it can last a while for him to calm down and move on. This situation was he wanted to ride a bike that was too small for him was resolved pretty quickly knowing if he was late to school he'd be in trouble, so having to be at school on time helped him get over his tantrum. It happened yesterday and today I was thinking the transition my son has been through and looked at things from his point of view. I saw my son leaving preschool to starting school that's a HUGE CHANGE where things done at preschool are different at school and the changes that have to happen. His tantrum with his bike he used to ride a lot and now he's grown too big to ride it anymore that's a change too and a sad one for him. It's great I do see his point of view to help me understand what his tantrums are about :)

Today my other 8 year old son had a tantrum 'cause his ball went over the neighbours fence (second time) and I said just leave it we don't want to annoy the painter (first time we went over we met our neighbour's painter and had to walk through the house to find my son's ball and knowing this I wasn't having us annoy the painter again). My son got really angry, so angry he started throwing things outside, I locked the door for our safety and walked away to sort my 6 year old for bed, yes ignored my 8 year olds naughty behaviour, I learned this from a parenting course I did 2 years ago and it's stuck with me since. After getting my 6 year old ready for bed I went to see my 8 year old to see if he had calmed down. I unlocked the door and said "Have you calmed down?" his reply was "No!" he grabbed something then went back outside. Eventually he calmed down and was able to tell me why he was angry, it was 'cause the neighbours have a dog and my son was worried the dog would eat the ball. I said just let the dog have the ball, balls are cheap as chips and we'd buy him another one. He calmed down and felt reassured that although he lost a ball it was going to be replaced and that made him happy.

DO ANY OF YOUR KIDS HAVE OUT OF CONTROL TANTRUMS TOO?

GETTING READY FOR BED

Hey Mums Out There :)  yes getting ready for bed. I have two sons and my 6 year old is good at getting ready for bed and sometimes puts himself to bed too. My 8 year old son is relentless, he's good at getting ready for bed, put on pjs, brush teeth, bedtime story, hugs, nite nites and then lights out, I sing The Dreamcatcher song (my son has problems with nightmares so I use a Dreamcatcher, been using it for many years now) DREAMCATCHER.

Yes my son for many years has never been one to settle well at bedtime, the time when I'm SO TIRED happy to read a story, yawning lots and do Dreamcatcher song to help my sons sleep, my 8 year old doesn't sleep! He comes out wants a drink, something more to eat, talk, try to watch TV anything to avoid getting to sleep. I don't know why but my 8 year old no matter how much energy he uses from dawn to dusk he always has energy at bedtime, a real chatterbox when his Dad's out, but very good when his Dad's home ;)  Yes he plays up with Mum ;) Just recently I've been making my 8 year old a hot chocolate before bed and it helps a little, sometimes not always though. I've tried baths with a small amount of Lavender Oil to help relax him but not successful  :(
For whatever reason my 8 year old has TOO MUCH ENERGY AT BEDTIME, yes I've looked at his diet but it seems whatever I try he stays awake till very late and he's very active too. Does any Mum Out There have a child like this?

CHALLENGES STAY-AT-HOME MUMS WHO DON'T DRIVE FACE RETURNING TO WORK

Hello and welcome to all viewers out there :)

TODAY I'D LIKE TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE AS A STAY-AT-HOME MUM TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

I've been a stay-at-home Mum for 8 years and it took awhile before I finally found some work that works around my two sons, it's a paper run for THE STAR owned my Mainland Media. This paper run is a godsend for my sanity, I have depression/anxiety and yes on medication and having a paper run gets me out and about at least twice a week, it's 5km of cycling from start to finish, exercise helps ME A LOT :)  13 years ago I worked as a NZ Post Postie in Blenheim so I'm familiar of what's expected of me being a STAR DELIVERY PERSON. To find this work I had access to internet and emailed THE STAR and after 1 month of persistence THE STAR employed me knowing of my past Postie experience would've helped too. I've never meet anyone from THE STAR in person, just have had email/phone contact.
I've learned when you're a stay-at-home Mum YOU NEED PERSISTANCE to get back into the workforce, more so when you live in a city e.g Christchurch, so many job applications so need to persist to have employers REMEMBER YOU.
I faced barriers finding work after being a stay-at-home mum for 8 years. I applied for whatever I could and my major barrier was in the job application form they want 3 referees, for a stay-at-home mum for 8 years that wasn't going to be easy. I ended up using someone I do volunteer work for and a co-ordinator from a parenting course, it's all I had that was recent. I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH VOLUNTEERING IT'S WORK THAT'S ALWAYS THERE, it gets you out and about and recognised for potential paid employment too. VOLUNTEERING IS A GOOD START TO FINDING PAID EMPLOYMENT AND IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD TOO :)

                                                     

                  AFTER 8 YEARS AS A PROUD STAY AT-HOME-MUM FINDS WORK AS STAR     DELIVERY PERSON

                            VOLUNTEERED FOR SAFE AND INVOLVED MY TWO SONS TOO



21 MAY 2014

Hey Ya'll. Yes I've been facing challenges getting work after I've had the job interview. I applied for a Community Home Carer position with HCNZ and the interview went great and after 2 days I got the call I didn't get the job because I couldn't commit to the hours they wanted, so being a stay-at-home Mum still having to take my 6 year old to and from school and not being able to work weekends having kids home was my barrier to getting this Home Carer position, they wanted at least 10 hours work and my current situation can't commit to these hours. The interview was good practice and it was pretty intense. I'll reapply when my hours of work meet their needs.

I applied at Pack n Save for a Night fill position because working nights gives me flexibility not needing care for my sons when everyone would be home asleep. I got the job interview and a week later still hadn't heard back but my gut told me the Night Fill position had already been filled. I called left a message, got a reply later that day and no didn't get the job. I feel my barrier was my age maybe they gave it to someone younger so they didn't have to pay as much, and having a past back injury knowing back injuries do occur and it would've been a risk to employ me.

Now that paid employment isn't happening besides my paper run I'm getting back to Proof reading. I'm already qualified and just need more practice and know how to find work. I'll be going round places to see if there's a Proof reading via correspondence course available. I know of one Proof reading correspondence course but its over $2000! Don't have this not this year anyway so looking at other options. WATCH THIS SPACE :)

9 JUNE 2014

I found a website for jobs at www.trademejobs.co.nz after searching Trademe Jobs I listed All JOB CATERGORIES and found HEAPS OF VACANCIES. I found a Mail Officer position at NZ Post so applied for it. Let ya know what happens ;)

MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE RETURNING TO WORK besides having a Paper Run twice a week is NOT HAVING A DRIVERS LICENCE. Lots of jobs require you to have a full drivers licence and not having one is a big disadvantage for me, but when I was in Blenheim I biked everywhere and not having a licence wasn't a problem but here in Christchurch not having a full drivers licence is. I don't think us Mums who don't drive should be discriminated from jobs that don't involve driving. WHAT MUMS OF YOU OUT THERE WHO DON'T DRIVE HAVE FOUND GETTING WORK A CHALLENGE? LOVE FOR YOU MUMS OUT THERE TO COMMENT.

17 JUNE 2014

I just heard back from NZ Post regarding the Mail Officer Position and 'cause I'm unable to lift 25kgs unassisted I'm not suitable for the job. I appreciated the call back anyway. So job hunting continues.

http://jobhuntingchch.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/job-hunting-continues.html

25 FEBRUARY 2018

More on Volunteering work I've volunteered as Parent Help at my son's school for 5 years and now in my last year helping with Fruit in Schools programme. I'm training other mums to help since at the end of this year I'll be gone since my son will be leaving too. Till the mums (only have 2 volunteers so far) are trained properly and confident being left on their own I'm at school Monday-Friday and when finish fruit I walk to work, so busy and exhausting too, will be happy when I can leave the mums doing fruit on their own, it will take time since I remember how it was for me in the beginning too.




HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALL MUMS OUT THERE :)

If you read my last blog WILL I BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY AFTER I SHAVE MY LID FOR A BRAVE KID referring to CHILD CANCER FUNRAZOR, I enjoyed blogging so much I've started another one and it's a never ending subject 'cause it's about Mums.

Let's start at the beginning when I was pregnant with my first son.
My first pregnancy was a summer one and I hated the heat it became unbearable being pregnant in summer. Morning sickness was so BAD :(  I puked so much the loo and I saw lots of each other, and sometimes I laughed at the floor too. During my first pregnancy there was just one month where I was free from nausea/vomiting in my second trimester that was it the rest was always feeling nauseous :(
In my last trimester I had to deal with nose bleeds, did any of YOU MUMS OUT THERE experience bloody nose when you were pregnant? It's the part of pregnancy when you have more blood. Anyway my nose bleeds totally sucked :#  The nose bleeds were constant and wouldn't stop till it was done, one time I was in the bathroom bleeding for 20 minutes!  I told my Midwife and she wasn't aware this could happen so I just went through it and discovered Vaseline helped sometimes.
Going back to my first trimester when I discovered I was pregnant which was at 6 weeks, ME AND MY HUSBAND SO HAPPY after trying to conceive for 7 months. I also discovered I became allergic to strawberries, yes before pregnancy I had no probs eating strawberries or anything to do with strawberries but when I was pregnant I came up with a rash on both my arms so called my midwife and yes during pregnancy SOME WOMEN become allergic to strawberries. Off to the chemist to get something for the rash, now being pregnant couldn't just use anything. Chemist gave me some brown lotion and I swear it smelt like sausages, it helped the rash and the itching too.

Another discovery during first trimester was if you experience spotting (bleeding) it can mean a premature labour/birth, yes I did have spotting 'cause I was working too hard and needed to rest, and in the end my first son was born 27 days early.

I'm going back to BEFORE BEING PREGNANT the time where you work and have LOTS OF ME TIME before becoming a MUM ;)

BEFORE PREGNANCY I was a Care Worker in the Community (Blenheim) and cycled round to Elderly peoples homes and did their housework and later after achieving NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN SUPPORT OF THE OLDER PERSON was able to help elderly residents with personal care too. When I was 18 weeks pregnant I stopped working as a Care Worker as the work became too risky for my pregnancy, I wasn't cycling anymore either.

So that's what job I did before I became pregnant with my first son at 28 years old.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TELL ME ABOUT YOU, WHAT JOB DID YOU DO BEFORE YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY AND WHAT AGE AND WEEKS OF PREGNANCY DID YOU STOP WORKING OR DID YOU WORK RIGHT UP TILL LABOUR/BIRTH. TELL ME YOUR EXPERIENCE DURING YOUR PREGNANCY, WAS MORNING SICKNESS A PROBLEM? DID YOU BECOME ALLERGIC TO STRAWBERRIES? OR HAVE NOSE BLEEDS?

This is a Blog that can go on forever so HAVE YOUR SAY AND SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH ME :)

Pic of my first baby boy Nikolas David McKinnon. 8 hour labour/birth, weighed under 3kgs, came 27 days early.

Pic of my second baby boy Vincent Joseph McKinnon, 2 hour labour/birth weighed under 4kgs, came a day before his estimated birth day.