under pressure…

My daughter has a ballet exam today, maybe just as you are reading this and tonight while she was going to bed there was some definate nerves going on. She was being that jumpy, silly, almost naughty way they act when underneath its all nerves and anxiety.

“you are going to be great” we re-assured her over and over again. Along with lots of ‘just do your best and thats all that matters’ type comments that we know we have to say to our kids so that they don’t feel like they are failing or not doing well.

Thing is..i know that her ballet teacher pushes them and probably does openly praise the kids in the class who get the dance right straight away or have the best pointy toes (or whatever). So there is a bit of tension i would imagine in the mind of a small child when their parents are saying in a floaty fashion ‘just do your best, we will be proud of you, whatever you do’ and then they are hearing their ballet teacher wondering out loud in a ballet lesson ‘SO who will get a distinction and do me proud then girls?’

Im never sure where to pitch it when it comes to this sort of dilemma. I read an article at work today about Louis Smith (the olympic gymnast) and he was saying that his hero was his mum. awwww. Now im guessing as the mother to a young guy who eventually went on to be part of the olympic team and then a medallist..you must have to do a fair amount of pushing…and yes, applying a bit of pressure to do well. Otherwise how to they make it? Is that just the job of the coach or do we, as parents, wade in and start applying the ‘thumb screws’ too, so to speak?

Im not sure. what do you think?

(btw, for the record I have never actually heard the ballet teacher say those words) 😉

 

themondayclub

 

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Alderley Edge – Country kids..

That should read POSH country kids i think. We haven’t been to Alderley Edge before, despite it being fairly near where we live but we ventured to the national trust property there and discovered on the way there the largest collection of cars individually worth more than our house! Holy high insurance premiums batman!

Anyway despite trying to spot football players, apparently a lot of them live there. I would have a clue tbh….they could walk right up to me and id not have the foggiest idea…

BUT! The walks around Alderley Edge were lovely and autumnal but VERY busy..so many people…i guess sunny day at the weekend and everyone is savouring it, can’t say i blame them.

Of course i took my camera..and i used my macro lens which presented a little bit of a problem for those ‘panoramic’ landscape shots…but hey ho..i think the light was lovely at times…

oh and apologies for the “movember’ I have absolutely nothing to do with that 😉

Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

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#silentsunday

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Finding the gold

Finding the gold: When old prospectors would look for gold they would take large pan and grab up huge loads of gravel and sand, shaking it backwards and forwards to encourage the heavier gold to the bottom of the pan, at the same time the lighter materials which are worthless are worked up to the surface and swept away. This process is repeated until all that is left is the heaviest most valuable material. 

My finding the gold project is inspired by this description, searching through the daily stuff of life that is ultimately worthless…the stress, the what ifs, the tantrums, the work nonsense,…and finding those valuable bits of my day, my week that are the moments i need to remember. The things that catch my eye and are just beautiful in their simplicity unbidden and untouched by the daily grind. Things that make me smile, even if sometimes that smile doesn’t linger and stay.

Some weeks it is harder to than others, sometimes the pan feels like it is only full of gravel and sand. There are weeks when its hard to keep going, searching through the detritus of this crazy, busy, frantic stage of life. Times when having time to catch you breathe seems impossible let alone stopping to look… but then you catch a glimpse, even in the darkest of darkness a small shard of gold can shine out and lift your spirits.  Even if it is just one piece.

Can you find the gold in your day…?

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Its beginning to feel a lot like…..

Okay I know, i know….its a little bit far off but it is nearly the end of October and so that, for me, is a bit of a count down. For me that means there is a really serious possibility that there may be one or two *whispers* nights out!!

The prospect of the LBD number maybe breaking out of the mothballs means that those jean and legging glad legs probably need to get a a bit of a winter airing! *insert scream type face here*

So whats the easiest way of sorting out the forestation? Razor? Imac? what is your poision?

For me..it has to be waxing. I can relate to the whole ‘why cause yourself pain?’ argument but really waxing makes life so much easier….a little discomfort for a couple of weeks of care free frizz free.

Recently I decided to break out from behind the ‘at home’ strips and venture into the world of beauty therapy. So i went to the Jersey Treatment Rooms, which is a beauty salon very near my home on a recommendation. I was met by friendly staff and directed to a lovely little sitting area and asked to ‘take a seat” and make myself comfortable. Glancing around there was tea, coffee accompanied by softly glowing candles and a selection of mints, which I imagine might be useful if you were having a facial. No-one likes bad breath! A luxiourious moment, making a drink and actually drinking it in peace, no babies crying, no toddler screaming. Bliss.

Im not really the sort of person to run toward pain. I am first with the ‘brufen and paracetamol. I believe in pain relief. Why suffer is my policy? Which may beg the question why subject yourself to half an hour of having you hair follicles ripped from your skin?….but like i said before, convenience is such a big bonus in my world…i barely have enough time to wash in my daily shower let alone razor, pluck and primp. Which is why so often the ahem ‘forestation’ is well over due management if you know what i mean 😉

So game face on and FACE the pain. Repeating over and over…’hell ive given birth to FIVE babies(with no pain relief i might add..not through choice, but thats a different story!) so a little hot waxing was going to figure low on the pain threshold. right? RIGHT? hmmmm….

Well actually, in truth, it wasn’t too bad. At Jersey treatment rooms they warm the wax and use a follow up lotion to smooth and cool the skin. It was quick and okay a little painful but I was left feeling smooth, not too plucked chicken like and with an half hour headspace, made possible by one of those wonderful breed of beauty therapist who just ‘know’ not to fill the empty space with mindless chatter. That is like little shards of gold in my frantic schedule.

I was really impressed with the Salon actually you just have to look down their ‘menu’ of stuff and i was already starting to think what i could go back for next…im thinking maybe the fake bake? 😉

So what is your poision? Go on tell me, no-one is listening!!

themondayclub

 

 

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