Father son bonding over classic Zelda

My wonderful son, Master 11 has downloaded the original Legend of Zelda and... He... Loves... It!!! It is just so much fun playing this classic Nintendo title and seeing my son just keep getting better and better at it.

I should not be too surprised though. Master 11 has always been I to the old school games like Frogger, Donkey Kong and Pac Man... Like the C64 games these Nintendo titles have dodgy graphics but the absolute best in game play.

So good!

Trying to put family first

I have always thought of myself as someone who puts family and friends first every time. These are the people close to your heart whom you would do anything and everything for. My personal expectations of what I aim to do for these people who mean the entire world to me are sometimes so high that I feel like I am letting them down all the time. Working for a local council library is a wonderful job where I get to work with a terrific team. Sometimes though (like now) we have organised lots of community events, some still needing the final touches and some still needing lots of community members to book in and come along. The closer the dates of these events become the harder I am finding to destress and switch off from work at home. Sadly it is then my wonderful friends and family who suffer.

I am trying to put my family first and stay true to who I am and who I want to be. Is there a secret way that I don't know yet where work and life can be balanced with ease? If so would someone please share it with us all? I am sure I'm not alone but I would love to find the solution soon...

I love my family and I recharge when I spend time with them and our amazing friends. Just not liking my cranky self right now... Trying to get my priorities right...

The lucky husband

How lucky am I?

I was outside this afternoon hanging sheets with my darling girl. The kids were on the trampoline and Miss 9 looks over. "Are you two doing washing together? How romantic!!" and she seemed serious. Is that romance now? I don't think so and I hope that my two daughters don't settle for a romantic date night or weekend of pampering consist of doing the washing together or sitting side by side glued to our phones or the TV screen.

I admit I have been very slack in the realm of romance... Plenty of amazing ideas flow through my mind but (like many people I am sure) I don't follow through... A weekend escape where I get to shower my gorgeous wife with all my complete attention and we get some quality alone time seems to be but once a year and is always a surprise for me (my angel has everything arranged). I don't know how she does it but it is not fair.

This has come from our discussion around the washing line that with Mother's Day just around the corner this seems to be the only day my wife gets told to relax. This is your day... Do what you wish (as long as it involves us)... Master 11 suggested that the birthday of each of our children should be marked as a Mother's Day as well as this day we became parents (once, twice and finally thrice) but what he does not understand is a child's birthday is a day of behind the scenes stress and chaos as the rush occurs trying to make everything happen smoothly, look effortless and perfect... No a birthday is not a relaxing day, especially not for a mother... Master 11 is right though... There should be a way to honour the amazing things mothers do for their children and partners do for each other and not just on one day...