The Blended Family

On the 24th of March I married my best friend. I knew I wanted someone I can laugh with. Someone sentimental, sensitive and kind. We have been engaged since forever and a day (December 2015). This was more out of necessity. One: Getting married is crap expensive and I wanted the white gown/aisle walking/flower explosive affair. Two: My health hit a speed wobble and I didn't want to be low at my wedding! So at last we set a date. It was a small affair. 30 people. So I decided to organize everything instead of getting someone. 30 people ain't that stressful...right? Well the week leading up to the wedding I felt like I put enough kilos on my car to take me to Cairo. Nitty, gritty little details that needed working out. First things first we went venue hunting. My husband (I have been running around calling him "my man" in Afrikaans every time I spy him). Anyway, he had an event with his running club and the food was AMAZING. The spicy sauce they made for...

Valentine's day or Independence day, whichever way you see it, has never been a big thing for me. I enjoy attending the Valentines 2km fun run held in my town with Sam. This is our little special time together. I waddled the 2km when I was a glorious 7 months pregnant. Sam was in the pram the following years and I think we have only missed one since. Now I mostly spend it jogging after Sam as she blazes ahead full speed and I'm trying to avoid my pants falling off. Ladies what is up with putting on weight and your pants being an annoying pull up story! I swear I'm going to invest in suspenders. Anyway, we get around the field (at the same time a 10km is run around the town for those not minding children and the fitter of the community.) It was lovely and cool, just had to use some mozzie repellent or you may finish it covered in bites! One year it threatened to rain and as we entered the last 500m lightning started to blitz. Michal ran this one with us and he deftly p...

Are you realistic when you say you are going to lose all the weight? Are you realistic when you say you are going to eat that salad? How long did it take for you to put on the weight in the first place? And if you can't stomach salad last year, what's going to change this year? Determination? Hey, no judgment. I am there. I am in the same place. My goal is to look after myself. That includes the weight. But will I be pre-pregnancy weight before the end of the year? No! It took me 7 years to steadily put on weight. There can be a lot of reasons. I definitely believe woman's metabolism slows after pregnancy. And getting older. Being with an emotionally abusive partner didn't help. Leaving a very active job for one that involves mostly sitting by a computer doesn't help. Medication definitely contributed to my biggest amount of weight gain over a short period of time. I can point as much fingers as I want but what have I done to counter this? Not much. I sti...

I am a sucker for Christmas. I remember it being my favourite time of year when growing up. Then I had a few years from my teens till when my daughter was born that weren't so magical anymore. I guess it was part of growing up. After my daughter was born, the spark of Christmas ignited once again and it is the one time of year I like to go all out. We put up the tree before my daughter went off to visit her dad for three weeks. Yes, three! She will be back just after Christmas so we will be celebrating it twice. The first few days I spent wondering what to do with my life. Then I got motivated to climb into my hobbies that get neglected with the roller coaster of motherhood. Any mothers suffer severe guilt if they start to enjoy their alone time? I like to call this motherhood psychosis. We really can't give ourselves a break! The tree has its honored place in the lounge and I can glimpse it every day as I type. I always get warm feelings. Except that it is 30⁰C in ...

We are a blended family. What does blended mean? Well, divorce, separations, or death can cause a speed wobble on our way in life. And many times from this suffering and dark moments, something new can be born. Hard lessons are learnt and we are off to learn new lessons with new people. In our case step parents, children and adopted pets! Currently, our "little" family consists of a little girl, her step father Uncle Michal, myself, 2 little dogs and 2 littler hamsters. Her biological father lives in a town about 2 hours from us. He has remarried and is a step dad to a girl and boy. I would say our setup is good but that is a whole other topic for another day. Michal has a son from a previous marriage, but that situation is somewhat more prickly. I have managed to glimpse the boy at school sporting events. Let's start with the girl who'll tell you she's almost 7 years old. Of course a mother will brag. She is bright and has such a vivid imagination with...