Hey, she's 5!

She has been protesting strongly insisting that she is still 4 whenever anyone has the audacity to say that she is 5 this year.  Well, she is the year end baby and probably wanting to remain a baby in every way, if she has her way.  Sometimes she does baby talk which infuriates us or would just prefer to shout and scream which also infuriates us - a lot!

Seems like the problem is getting worse lately.  She practically shouting most of the time.  I am not sure what to do really to deal with this. We have tried ignoring whenever she asks for something by shouting, which works for the time but she will revert to shouting again when the need arises.  She, of course, shouts whenever she wants to get her way with her sisters.  I have tried time out but she will probably be going into time out numerous times in the day the way she goes.  And I doubt my mum would bother to continue on with it.

The other thing I worry about her is that she has yet to read on her own.  She can read small words but nothing beyond 4 words or those that somehow does not follow the phonetics rules.  I know she will catch up soon enough.  She does show herself to be incredibly smart other times, clearly outshining her sisters when it came to thinking on her feet and coming back with smart ass responses!!

I cant believe my baby has turned 5, oh gosh!

My cuzzie came down from Australia with his 2 sons and we had a blast with 4 families enjoying our time at the theme parks in JB. It brought back memories of how we were when we were growing up, going out for excursions together. The cousins really enjoyed ourselves and we were close because we grew up and played together.  I really want that for my kids too.  I know they cant get cousins from my being an only child but I was hoping that my brothers in law would start having kids too, soon enough. But watching my kids have fun with my cousins' kids allows me to hope that they too would benefit from the strong family ties that they can turn to in times of need.

Looking at the photos remind me of the photos we cousins used to take, all in a line from the shortest to the tallest, maybe we should ask our kids to do the same!!

I read about the shooting in the US that killed dozens of small kids aged 6-7 years old and how a mother grieved for the loss of her child and I can only cry as I feel her pain.  As a fellow mum, I can empathise with what she feels though I may not have lost a child or ever want to experience such a loss.    I have always felt that when a person dies, the greatest pain is felt by those left behind, especially in such senseless killing when you have to grapple not only with the loss but the meaning behind it all.

Watching my children play, I can only pray that they be protected from harm and that God will grant them a long life, allowing for them to experience happiness and joy in seeing their dreams come true.

Happy Birthday Daniah and here's praying that God will give you many more years to come.