How did you know?

Thank you to my nearest and dearest who sent me messages of comfort after Tuesday night's post. As one friend chuckled: "We always know when you are going through tough times because that's when we start getting lots of blog posts in our inbox!"  Too true! My safe space to get it out!

I have to do an update on the maths test. I held it together on Wednesday morning, took Luke to his early lesson, came home to find Adam heroically revising a few maths concepts. Got a call from Adam after dropping Jess at school to tell me about the conversation they had in the car on the way in. More or less the following...

Adam: "So Jess, good luck for your maths test today."

Jessica: "HOW did YOU know I had a maths test today? (peeved)"

Adam: "Mom told me."

Jessica: "But I didn't tell Mom."

Adam: "Why?"

Jessica: "Cos I didn't want her to know. How did she find out?!" (unimpressed look)

Adam: "She's Mom. She always knows."

Me: Grin! If only she knew that I didn't actually know about that one...

Jessica got 80% for the test - her teacher was so thrilled that at least one kid in the class was listening as apparently the marks were a bit dismal. Whew. Sigh of relief. This parenting thing is aging me!

(All those who prayed for me and Jessica - thank you from the bottom of my heart! And thank you God for somehow bringing all those maths concepts back to mind.)

Hoo boy.

Just seen what I posted last time. I think I'd better start reaching out for His kindness and grace because I feel like going BOOM.

Maths test. Tomorrow. It's 21.24. PM! How did I miss it? How did she not tell me about this test that is THE Maths test for Grade 4 final marks? Why did I assume the "maths test" mentioned in emails is the bonds test on Friday.

Please God, extend your kindness and grace to her and help her remember and work things out clearly tomorrow as she writes that exam. Because if it was up to me, I would wake her up at 5am to start studying. And right now I am considering removing every book from my house (and her room).

Grace. Kindness. Not anger. Mommy-fail moment. Overwhelmed at this miss. Annoyed at the note found tonight at the bottom of the book bag that came home over 2 weeks ago with a list of all there is to learn. Angry at the attitude.

Grace. Kindness. Not to destroy with my temper.

Grace. She is just 10 and struggling to find her way through life and school.

Kindness. Push aside the disappointment.

Kindness.

#HelpMeGodBeGraceAndKindness

Let me...

A good prayer to pray at the beginning of two weeks of events and good craziness that includes birthdays, astronauts, ballet practices and performance, parties, art, school meetings, family, homework, tennis trials, client meetings, cooking, stationery, work, music practice and more.

Selah. Pause. Reflect.

Thank you God that you are kind... and that you offer grace. Please hold onto me because I know my hold on you might slip.

boring!

I don't want to be boring. Which is why, when challenged to leap into Dalebrook Pool last month on Spring Day - Friday, 1 September, 8.30am, no wetsuit - I said yes.

For once in Cape Town it was not raining on Spring Day. Because it HAS rained on every Spring Day for the last 7 years, to my recall. I don't recall before that. Probably because I was dealing with 1-3 year olds (hee hee).

It was darn cold. Very cold. Exceptionally cold. I froze. It was worth it. Fully alive and shivering. And so not a boring thing to do at 44!  Especially the bit where I stood on a sea urchin and had to wait 2 weeks for the spine to come out on it's own.

Do it again? Yes. With wet shoes? Definitely. Oi vey! Here's to the not-boring me!

Let me look.