school is back alright

The summer just ended to my kids' frustration...summer time sadness for them it is!  Back to school at the end week of August here in our side of the pond. Back to school  means  bankruptcy for us parents hahahaha  as we would have the long list of books, school materials and uniforms to purchase. and I have three  students you know :) wooooh!!!

So I have three  students all in different schools.. The eldest Deidre in 3rd year in Colaiste ( all girls school). second is Frankie in 1st year ( co-ed )   in St. Flannan's College and the youngest Liam a junior infant ( co-ed ) in Holy family School. Of all three  I am a bit worried about Liam coming from Montessori Playschool. Liam tends to be too attached so he might miss his old classmates and  school. He is under going speech therapy as well as  assessed by a Speech Therapist. I have undergone the parents program  and he did his initial assessment and we have seen progress. Thank God. I am confident with Frankie though because he knows some people in the new school. His former classmates and some friends go there. Deidre seems to be  the only excited one :)

I took a photo of my kids on their first day..and yes, posted in Facebook. I always have a keepsake on everything first and anything exciting :) All in different schools .. awesome.. seeing them all grown up ..having two high schools and having a junior infant... boy I am productive!!  and geez I   am   old! hahaha truth hurts ain't it? sometimes I have to remind myself yes I am a mom altho I can be cray .. ( crazy ) I am a mom of three .. I am not in anyway the typical mom but that is another blog :D  All different schools.. dropping them off is an adventure! Thanks to Kevin for his patience (wait till I finish my driving lessons, parking on a rush hour is hell! ) Altho Ennis is just a small town their schools are a bit far apart. St. flannan's being the nearest to our house then Holy family and Colaiste. The high schools can walk after school but the youngest has to be collected.

Two days of school everybody seems settled ..whew! I am happy that Liam seems eager to go and is mingling with his mates. His teacher Ms. Quin is actually Deidre's former teacher. The two, Deidre and Frankie had their primary education  at Holy Family as well. All McDonnell kids except two cousins go to Holy Family so I can say it is our official school hehe.

Now kids are in school .. the house is quiet. good in a sense  that I can clean and chill at peace, not good because it is too quiet that I feel lonely altho Kevin is upstairs asleep as he is working on night shifts Monday to Fridays. He needs to catch some zzz's. The stillness  though is my time to think and it is my time to write blogs or poems or read or go online. I should do something worthwhile  to occupy myself of my free time though.. back to my hobbies sewing or photography or go to the gym. The gym a must!!

 Seeing my kids now, I do hope they would grow up to be decent, fun loving people. I am lucky that there are in good schools that would mold them to be productive and have careers on whatever they want to pursue. I am always at their back for full support of course. My free time now as I am off work is more of my time for them, than time for myself. And I know in my heart of hearts that  I am doing something right and in the right path.. my first and my  most significant  job after all  is to be a mom :) 

Shout out to all full pledge moms! 

____________

image: free image school supplies

friends

"One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood"

-Lucius Annaeus Seneca

As I tumbled upon my long lost blog page, I believe it is best to open it with the one I value.. friendship. There  are literally billions of people on this face of the earth, but it seems like love, friendship is quite hard to find. Yes, you meet people but there is a certain magic as I call it that stays. Like any other relationship, it involves base of the similarities  that would make you drawn towards each other... the same interests, humour, loves and that little quirky things that is quite unique between yourselves.

Some people I know says they find it hard to build friendship as it involves time and trust. I say if one won't try to share part of themselves then it is truly difficult. One of the hardest thing for me was when I moved in another country permanently. That means leaving my family and friends behind. My close friends were  a bit worried about me.. well totally worried about me as I am quite dependent with their company and they really know me.. like really. The kind of friendship we have is like an institution ... the foundation that was tested through time.  I have loads of friends, but  intimate friends,.. just a handful. As guilty as I am  we don't communicate much now, as being tangled with our own busy lives apart.. but once we do see each other it's like we've never been away. 

After the long search and struggles I finally found friends here .. it  is actually  better to wait.. as like anything else, you don't have to search for it as it will come at the right time that you less expect. Lucky to have friends that I actually feel that I can be myself, flaws and all. Not as unconventional as I have but interestingly interesting, if I may say so. It's not perfect as nothing is, but it is something I truly treasure. They love me as I love them and that is enough and that is just what I want. 

Never thought that I would gain another bunch  friends  while just being in Facebook most of the freaking time. Never thought that there can be a connection from the people that I've met ages ago. Well we went to the same high school but never really hang out as we have different groups, so to speak. It's  funny how people can unfold when you thought you  know them. you'd be surprise that there is more to uncover. Life is more happier... more friends.. more confidants.. more chats to look forward to. I'm the type that really loves to laugh and I have a weird sense of humour that these friends have. I am indeed so happy and so lucky.

I regard friends as  the water for the soul, a keeper of your  most intimate thoughts and feelings... they may not totally understand your weirdness completely but they are willing to listen and be patient with you..and try they best  to figure you out :) There are your family extensions.. and it is not all good all the time, there are misunderstandings and disagreements along the way but it is part of it.

Open your heart and let people come in and touch your life. Live the moments  with people who will love you as you are .I hope you have found  friends..... I hope they have found you.. I hope you are one true friend ..