On the weekend I was looking back on my Vietnam trip photos that I went on 2 years ago.  I remember when I booked and the departure time was approaching I thought, 'Am I being selfish leaving my kids for a week just so I can holiday?' I really struggled with that concept and my ultimate decision to go.

But you know what? It was a 10 days .....ten days out of  11 yrs of parenting. And really, what was the downside?  I got to see a city I've yearned to see for a very long time. My kids got to spend some quality time with their  grandfather that lives far away and they see only occasionally. My father-in-law got to spend time with the grandchildren he loves and wants to spend as much time with as he can.

It was win/win. All around. It hurt no one.

I don't want to get to my mother's age and feel the way she does. I WANT to look back on my life and remember all the wonderful things I did, and just as much, I don't want to waste my life filling it with unnecessary commitments. Life is far too short.

So, sometimes I'll say no. Sometimes I won't go to that lunch I don't really want to attend. Sometimes I won't take my kids to sporting / school committments  if we feel like spending an afternoon playing Monopoly. Sometimes I'll get a babysitter, and mark and I will head out on a date.

You know why you should do this too? Because before you know it, you're in your sixties (God willing) looking back on your life wishing you had taken evry opportunity life has to offer.

M

At 40...

"Ahhhhh40! the half-way sign of life! It is at this point that I have decided to put it all out there! Stop prov\crastinating and write it all down" so here I am documenting a life that you too might relate to. My life has been very full - school, illness, travel, adventure uni, career romance and marriage. But the most important turn came when I became a mother  - everything I was has been questioned and put aside for the role of mother. My  daughters are angels and everything I ever dreamed of. But now they are becoming more independent and have interests of there own - where was I before they came?? Each morning I drops them for school , say goodbye to husband  then grab the dog walk the beach do laps of the pool - then sit with my coffee and contemplates what the day will be filled with. How can I gain as much as I can from the next 6 hours of solitude! Or on every other day spend the day at school as classroom teacher  influencing and entertaining other peoples children. The adventure of daily moments is in my hands....