Why blog?

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Ever wondered why you blog? As a brand new blogger, without any actual readers (except for my sister bless her cotton socks) I find myself questioning;

1. What is my blog actually "about"? (This uncertainty has led to a few name changes already!)
2. What do I want to achieve with blogging?- (writing skill?, blog friendships?, world domination? )
3. Do I want to connect with other people or keep things private? ( and how would I get anyone to read it anyway?)

After some thought, I have decided I really only have one goal for blogging at the moment;

To be writing on a regular basis.

I also have a "non goal" goal of;

Being open to possibility.  

Sounds too simple doesn't it? Well perhaps for most people it is, but I know myself. I have a habit of beginning tasks with incredible enthusiasm, energy and even obsession, only to "burn out" within a short space of time, task never to be carried out again. I am not keen on this pattern. Unfinished business lacks satisfaction.

So I will write and I will write at least once or twice a week. I hope this process will help me find my "voice" as a writer, will help me develop a "direction" for my blog and will improve my blogging and writing skills.

All the other bloggy "stuff"
can wait for the moment :).

Pet rocks and Productivity

On this glorious autumn day I find myself having to sit at home to write a PowerPoint for a conference paper. Tedious as it sounds I must confess to actually enjoying this type of stuff- I think it is the "writing" that appeals to me most- or is the opportunity to voice my opinion? Anyway, all would be well except for the fact that I have to have this finished today but I am also at home with Miss Muffin and she needs to be parented! Muffin is a very energetic little thing and only takes the barest minimum of daytime naps so juggling my responsibilities is the order of the day.
I had planned to wake at the crack of dawn and get in a good two hours of writing before she woke. Unfortunately last night Muffin decided a three a.m party would be a good idea which meant I was so exhausted I actually slept in! What to do? Well I have taken a deep breath and this is how I have tackled things so far;
1. Pretty much given up on perfectionism with this project. This pains me no end as I love a creative presentation! Sigh. There will be no pretty fonts, fancy animations or inspiring music on my PowerPoint- just cold, hard written content. Perhaps on the day I can muster some amazing charisma to keep everyone interested?

2. I am writing in "blocks"which is a fancy way of saying I am grabbing five minutes at every opportunity to type out a sentence or two. There is simply no hope for the luxury of uninterrupted thought.

3. I have quickly thought up a few activities which I hope will capture Muffin's interest so she remains cheerful throughout the day. So far we have filled an old metal tea pot with water and transferred the contents to a cup multiple times, played with some bubbles and made some pikelets together (which she refused to eat!). However, the best activity was making pet rocks as it kept her entertained for a good twenty minutes or so. I must say it was very cute as she collected enough rocks to represent our entire family. Bless.


A little while later...
Believe it or not this routine of writing, then playing, then changing nappies, then writing, then repeat has resulted in a completed, albeit "minimalist" presentation! I now have a happy boss and a happy child- who knew that could be possible? Admittedly the breakfast dishes still haven't been done but, hey, you can't achieve everything!

Are you someone who works from home with children? Any tips to share on getting stuff done to everybody's satisfaction?

How to play when you don't really feel like it

You and I both know that play is critical for helping our children develop right? I'm sure this is not "news". After all, T.V shows, books, websites, blogs and Pinterest boards are devoted to the topic- so really it is pretty hard to escape the message!
This is all good news- it's good for children and it's good for parents. Except for one thing- not every parent likes to play!

stop reading and come and play Mum!

I can relate to this, surprisingly, even though my whole career seems to revolve around play. Admission- Sometimes (O.K.maybe even often) I just don't feel like playing with my children and struggle to be properly "present" during the process. I find it so hard to truly focus on the moment when I know that there are a million and one things that need to be done around the house. And don't get me started on the thought of "crafternoons" Uggh just another mess to clean up!

And do you know what? I don't even need to apologise for that because those sorts of feelings are so common and normal for parents. But (there had to be a "but"), my kids still need to play- and for part of that play, they need to play with ME. Luckily, over the years, I have found a few strategies that are really helpful in meeting both my needs and the needs of my children for play with me. Maybe they will help you too.

1. Remind yourself of the benefits of play- sure children learn almost everything through play- social skills, thinking skills, emotional maturity, creativity, motor skills, independence skills, the list goes on....but did you know that you can benefit too? Regular short bursts of truly engaged play with your child can help them feel secure and may lead to them learning to play independently for longer periods while you get on with other things you have to do.
2. Schedule play in- Have a daily routine and pencil in play time with your child. Write your routine down or put a reminder in your smart phone- whatever you prefer. Sometimes it is easier to get yourself in the groove if you know when you are going to be expected to pretend to be a princess or get dirty in the sand pit.
3. Set the timer- It can feel less daunting doing things that are a bit of a challenge when you know you have a time limit. Some children respond well to a timer too and it helps them "transition" to their next activity or accept that you need to move on to doing other things.
4. Fit a little play into every day routine tasks. Try to think of the play opportunities in everyday tasks- deliberately choose the "wrong" outfit when getting your child dressed, make slurping noises with your drink and then pull a funny face about how silly you are- it doesn't have to complicated or lengthy- just playful!
5. Fake it till you make it- Playfulness doesn't come easily to many of us but that doesn't mean we cant learn! If you don't know where to start- observe your child and take their cue. Copy what they do, join-in with things that interest them (even if you find it mind numbing), exaggerate your facial expressions and make an extra effort to sound enthusiastic. You may feel ridiculous at first (or even always) but your child will benefit. Who knows you may grow to love play!

What are your tips for getting in the groove of play?