A Beginning

Recently, the Catchlings returned to school, after a ten week Christmas break.

Every day of the holidays was full-on. We watched movies, cooked, swam, ate, dressed up, played Barbies, danced, crafted, sang, played the Playstation, made art, shopped and visited friends.  We had a beach holiday where we surfed, swam and water-skied. We also celebrated a couple of significant birthdays with our whole extended clan. Did I tell you it was busy?

I loved the early morning snuggles and lazy days in our pyjamas. Special chats and happy, crazy days of play and laughter. The time went too quickly.

Except for the last week. The last week was like banging my head on concrete. Hard. My little people were antsy, itching for activity and this activity-generator-person was tired. And longing for some time alone. You know how that ends. It was not pretty, is all I will say.

Today, I can be found sprawled on the couch. In a daze, induced by so much peace and quiet. Eating crackers all by myself. And no, I'm so not sharing. NOT EVEN ONE.

Tomorrow though, it will be back to battle stations. There's a busy year ahead.

Middle Son has returned to school, his battle with leukaemia getting further and further behind him. Eldest Son is commencing University as well as pursuing his rugby. And gah! The other kids are finding new sports to enrol in every time I turn around. I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO LEAVE MY CAR.

But, what is really making me nervous is that I'm going back to study too. I'll get to indulge in an orgy of literature and writing classes. Wallow in the deliciousness of words. If I can keep my head above water and not drown in a sea of swimming lessons, sporting pick-ups and school meetings.

It was hell on earth getting my application ready. Not because I had to write so much. Or that it had to make sense. The difficulty lay in the surreal experience of writing stories, then having to stop - to feed and water children, to smooth any choppy waters and be the finder of all lost things - to be a Mum in other words. Afterwards, I'd run back to the computer and my fantasy world, trying to pick up my train of thought. Rinse and repeat. All day.

But I did it.

In related news, I've discovered that Writers need big rubbish bins. There's a LOT of paper.


Yours in anticipation,
Mrs Catch
xx

Are you having any beginnings this year? Do tell.