Happy Days

You boys are being so nice to each other. I overheard a conversation between the 2 of you yesterday.

Rameez : Please open the crayons
Anees: Here you go my brother
Rameez: Thank you Anees
Anees: My pleasure

I couldn't believe my ears. My heart swelled with pride. You boys can be polite and good when you wanna be. Fikile says you boys never fight when you're with her. I'm assuming the fighting is a call for my attention.

Dad had some stuff to do around the house today. He didnt need little helpers so I decided to take the 2 of you out for the morning.I was anxious wondering if I would manage. Rameez you're quite adventurous and free spirited,as you should be. It's just difficult to keep up with you especially since you don't want to sit in your pram.

I had some errands to run but Anees managed to persuade me otherwise! We ended up at Serendipity.

Serendipity is not as busy or big as the other kid friendly places. It's intimate and has lots of helpers to give a guiding hand should you need help up the jungle gym or trampoline. The dress up area is well stocked with costumes to fulfill any child's fantasies. Anees chose Batman. (Of course, he's obsessed with superheroes and good guys and bad guys)

I enjoyed some time in the sun, walking barefoot with you guys, indulging in your fantasies and remembering what it's like to have not a care in the world.
Chocolate was the order of the day! Chocolate milkshake and chocolate covered crumpets too!

I love you boys.

He's decided he is ready

On Saturday night Anees announced that he was not going to drink a bottie anymore. Yes you read right! He's 4 years and 2 months old and still enjoyed a bottie of warm milk before he went to bed and another on waking in the morning. I've always adopted a passive approach to all things attachment and comfort related. Hence I breastfed both boys until they were 18 months old. We co slept and still do so. I'm not one for 'crying it out'. I'd hate for someone to take something dear away from me and then just leave me to cry about it.

Anees sucked his dummy until close to his 4th birthday. My attempt to take it away from him earlier was unsuccessful. I succumbed to pressure and bribed/motivated him with a Hot Wheels Car set. Somehow he thought he was ready too.

I told you tales of the 'dummy fairy' who took your dummy to other babies who needed it. You retold the story to others but i could see that you weren't really buying it! The enticement of the cars kept you happy during the day but night times were hell. You went from sleeping through to waking 2 to 3 times. Not just waking but crying in the middle of the night, whining and clingy. After 2 weeks, against everybody's advice, I decided to give it back to you. I'll never forget the smile on your face! You said 'Mom, I missed my dummy. My heart is so happy now' . I cried that day. Cried because I tried to force you to do something you weren't ready for. I vowed never to do that to you again. I vowed to let you listen to your intuition and let you do things at your own pace.

You were teased about your dummy and made to feel ashamed of it. It infuriated me. I tried to tell you that you should just be who you are even if people tease you. You need to put yourself first and do what you are comfortable with. If you are happy sucking your dummy people need to accept you for it.

You eventually bit a hole in it. You then decided to throw it in the bin. That was that! You asked for it and then said ' oh the dirt truck took it' There were no tears, no sadness in your eyes this time. You were ready to let go of it and I was proud of you.

We were lying in bed this morning and I asked you if we should throw the botties away and you said yes! I'll hold onto them just in case you change your mind because you are allowed to. I hope you learn to always be true to yourself. That's the one thing I admire and envy most in your Dad. He doesn't conform, he is who he is. I hope you'll learn that from him.

Kids are naturally intuitive. We should teach them to listen to their gut feelings, I think it would make them happier as adults, more confident and more fulfilled too.

Happiness

To be without desire is to be content.
But contentment is not happiness.
And in contentment there is no progress.
Happiness is to desire something, to work for it, and to obtain at least a part of it.
In the pursuit of beloved labor the busy days pass cheerfully employed, and still nights in peaceful sleep.
For labor born of desire is not drudgery, but manly play.
Success brings hope, hope inspires fresh desire, and desire gives zest to life and joy to labor.
This is true whether your days be spent in the palaces of the powerful or in some little green by-way of the world.

Therefore, while yet you have the strength, cherish a desire to do some useful work in your little corner of the world, and have the steadfastness to labor.
For this is the way to the happy life; with health and endearing ties, it is the way to the glorious life.

Max Ehrmann

Happy Monday!!!

Mishky Moo

I don't think I spend enough time alone with Rameez. Yesterday I was alone with him for 2 hours probably for the first time since I went back to work. I have difficulty coping with both of them if I'm out of the house. If I need to go somewhere and if one of them really needs to go with then I always choose Anees. He takes instruction well and is just more fun because he's older.

Zaid took Anees to the movies yesterday. I opted to go with them and walk around with Rameez while they were in the movies. I was pleasantly surprised that I actually coped with him. (I unfortunately get less patient with each child) Not only did i cope but we had absolutely no altercations. (Yes it could be because we only looked at toys and then i gave him Niknaks for lunch;)) We had no agenda so we strolled the toy stores and Rameez was delighted. He had fun on the slides and swings in Toys 'r Us. He cuddled all the teddy bears that he could. I even let him rock the teddy bears in the baby swings that were on display. After a good 30 minutes there we went off to the next toy shop and played and looked at all the stuff there.

I was amazed at his level of understanding. He played with stuff and gladly put it back on the shelf. When I offered to buy him something he said ' I don't want that' . So we left all toy shops with not one single purchase! He only asked for chocolate and chips LOL. His diet is not the greatest at the moment. A staple diet of strawberry pops, fish fingers, toasted cheese and cake doesn't sound nutritious at all! I can't recall if Anees went through this phase too. I'm hoping as they say that 'this too shall pass' ;)

Rameez, I promise from this day forward to make a concerted effort to spend more time alone with you.

Love Mom

The photo taken below is courtesy of Rameez. Lol

Didnt know this would all come back to me so vividly

Yesterday I visited a friend who had just given birth. The baby boy is 2 weeks old. Holding him took me right back to when the boys were little. I really don't do the baby stage well. Holding him brought back all my feelings of inadequacy as a first time mom. I did not know what to do to help soothe their discomfort. It left me feeling frustrated and disappointed in myself. I struggled to bond with both my boys.

I didnt feel an ounce of broodiness as I held him. I was eager to pass him back to his mom. I wondered how I had managed to cope in those lonely days of maternity leave. Thats what it felt like for me, lonely.I remember the silence in our house being deafening. I remember feeling like a cow. Lol. I remember longing to be amongst adult company. Longing to talk about something other than how the breastfeeding was going or how many soiled diapers there were during the day.
I remember watching the clock for when Zaid would get home.

I remember feeling like something must be wrong with me because here I was with this beautiful baby boy yet things didnt feel right. I wasn't feeling all fuzzy and warm and giddy inside like I was supposed to. That added to my loneliness. I couldn't tell anyone I felt this way. What would they think of me?

As I type this tears come to my eyes because it all feels like it was just yesterday.

"You look at me like I'm normal,
But inside I'm feeling scared,
Tonight he kept on screaming,
And tonight my anger flared.

I feel like I'm not coping,
With the jobs that motherhood brings,
I try my best to do it all,
But I can't do so many things.

I look at him sometimes playing,
And feel happy that he is my son,
But other times I can't be near him.
And don't want to join in the fun.

I feed him because I have to,
Not because it brings me joy,
I wish I didn't feel this way,
So I could appreciate my baby boy.

I'm waiting for the day I feel normal,
And everything just feels right,
Instead I'm stuck in this black hole,
Struggling to see the light."

Found this at : http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/advice-support-40/antenatal-postnatal-depression-55/499766-poem-post-natal-depression.html

Thank you Mr Photographer

I'm the sentimental type bit I've never been one to take photos. I would rather capture memories through writing. That was until Zaid came into my life. I've never truly appreciated his obsession with capturing the moment until we had the boys. Now I am eternally grateful to him. The boys love looking at old photos. Sometimes when we're bored we spend the afternoon looking at all Zaid's home videos too.

It is a source of sheer delight for the boys. Rameez is always transfixed and asks us to repeat videos over and over again! Especially the birthday videos .

I know I haven't said this to you before. Thank you babes for leaving a lifetime of memories for our boys to enjoy.

Xxx

Food for thought...The Enneagram

Anees attends My World in Parkwood. They offer parent workshops during the course of the year. The February workshop was held by life coach Michelle Bennets. She presented on the enneagram. She is a lively and dynamic speaker. We left the workshop empowered and our communication levels have never been better. We understand each others personality types and core motivations so we are better able to empathise with each other and understand why each responds to situations in a specific way.

This site is worth checking out: The Enneagram Personality System

Its a fun thing for couples to look at together. You can help identify each others personality types and i have no doubt it will enhance your relationship.

I'm a Type 6 . Once I understood the Enneagram it gave me insight as to why I had made certain decisions in my life. It certainly opened up my eyes to a whole new perspective on how i understand myself and the people around me.

Have fun.

My giggle for the day

I remember the days when we were dating. We'd do silly little things to express our love and devotion. Zaid created an entire word search puzzle once. I found it adorable. (Thats one other thing i forgot i used to enjoy) He also used to make custom cards. (Being a creative in the ad industry helps) He melted my heart when he took a pic of his 5110 and e mailed it to me. The message on the screen read 'Happy Birthday My Queen' I'll never forget that! I still have a copy of it.

Boys I hope you too are as creative and romantic as Dad. (Sorry babes hope I'm not ruining your street cred! ;))

Sometimes when you're all grown up you tend to forget to show the people around you that you care and appreciate them.

Zaid is busy watching the soccer so this is what I got up to. I loved the smile it brought to his face and the little giggle that we shared.

It's about quality not quantity

So I awoke to more whining and fighting this morning. When the boys get like this it puts me in a 'funk'. I find myself pining over care free pre-kids days when spontaneity was the order of the day. When we could just be and not worry about how our actions are moulding personalities that might or might not end up having issues as adults one day.

When I'm feeling this way I know it's best to keep my interactions with the boys to a minimum. I prefer to retreat to my safe haven in my head where I don't have to be teaching them to share or shouting at them for fighting. If I spend an hour with them today without any shouting then my mission is accomplished. I know my limits these days. I know when I need to withdraw before I become that mother that is grumpy and would rather be somewhere else.

I'm so glad that I'll be at work for a full day tomorrow. I've even rewarded myself with a day off work so I can indulge in all things Nasima. Thursday will be 'Me Day'

By Friday I should be liking the monsters again. Just enough to get me through the weekend as a Happy Mom ;)

Yours truly
Nasima

Just one of those days

My job is emotionally taxing. I have patients booked back to back every 30 mins and each person requires something different of me emotionally. Not only do I need to provide a good service I also need to have a good bedside manner so that I can create a good rapport with them. Some of them are easy going and some just literally suck the life out of me. They walk in with a brick wall around them and a negative energy that permeates my surgery and drains me.

I leave work most days happy. I love what I do. It's challenging and rewarding. Some days I just leave there not wanting to engage with anyone else. Well this poses a problem as I have 2 kids you see. Anees talks non stop once he gets in the car. The fighting starts when we walk in the door. Rameez has a few new toys and as you can imagine the one wants what the other touches and vice versa. It's enough to just make me want to scream and actually wish that I was still at work. So I watch the clock anxiously waiting for 6pm when Zaid walks through the door and I can escape to the gym.

I remember watching the clock when I was on maternity leave with Anees too. Being couped up with a baby all day drove me insane. Yes they're cute and all that but I'm a verbal person and would much rather have you tell me what you want then try to decipher your needs by your different cries. I don't do the 'baby stage' well. With Anees I took 6 months maternity leave and with Rameez 4 months. I've decided that 2 months will be sufficient with the next child. LOL.

A patient of mine is pregnant with her 5th child. I'm happy for her but I feel physically and violently ill if I have to think of myself pregnant 5 times. Why the need to have 5 children? I don't understand. A family with 2 kids feels complete. If I had my pigeon pair I think our family would be complete. There is an equal parent to child ratio and things are manageable. The only reason we want a 3rd is because of my yearning for a daughter. When we got married we initially wanted 4 kids. That was until we had 1 and then 2 and then realized how much work they are.

There I said it. Sometimes it feels like work.(No, I lie! Its actually easier to be at work, amongst adults) They're asleep now. Thank Goodness. Lets hope tomorrow is a better day for all of us ;)

A Prayer

Let me do my work each day; and if the darkened hours of despair overcome me, may I not forget the strength that comforted me in the desolation of other times.

May I still remember the bright hours that found me walking over the silent hills of my childhood, or dreaming on the margin of a quiet river, when a light glowed within me, and I promised my early God to have courage amid the tempests of the changing years.

Spare me from bitterness and from the sharp passions of unguarded moments. May I not forget that poverty and riches are of the spirit.

Though the world knows me not, may my thoughts and actions be such as shall keep me friendly with myself.

Lift up my eyes from the earth, and let me not forget the uses of the stars. Forbid that I should judge others lest I condemn myself.

Let me not follow the clamor of the world, but walk calmly in my path.

Give me a few friends who will love me for what I am; and keep ever burning before my vagrant steps the kindly light of hope.

And though age and infirmity overtake me, and I come not within sight of the castle of my dreams, teach me still to be thankful for life, and for time's olden memories that are good and sweet; and may the evening's twilight find me gentle still.


By Max Ehrmann

More birthday love

Birthdays are never just one day celebrations with us. We celebrate as a foursome and then with the family and Anees has a party at school too.




Rameez isn't at school yet, so he had a small celebration on his actual birthday. The day starts with us decorating a small cake and then singing and having cake for breakfast. What better way to start your birthday(especially if you're a cake-a-holic like Rameez) We then like to watch the video or look at photos of the day the boys were born. I always love the fascination on their faces as we look through old photos and I love the conversation that ensues as we discuss the day. Rameez was thrilled with his chocolate cake that 'I made self'. He giggled everytime we blew out the candles. We probably had to do it like 10 times. There was more requests for blowing out the candle when I got home from work and I was more than happy to oblige.

Today we spent the day with all the family. What a lovely day. The highlight for Rameez was definitely his Teletubbies cake baked with love by Gran. The look of sheer excitement on his face when he saw the cake was priceless. He kept wanting to taste it so we put it high up on the ledge and while we ate lunch we caught him just staring at it longingly.

Me and my nieces

The family feels quite big, when we're all together we're a rowdy bunch. It's always nice to have everybody together at the same time. We might not see each other often but every effort is made to get together for someone's birthday.

Cousins

Familia

Taz and Deen

Anees we are very proud of you for letting Rameez enjoy the limelight. You are already counting down to your next birthday which is almost a year away. We just love how you are such a kind brother that you are willing to share all Rameez's birthday toys with him. LOL.

Rameez you looked like you had an absolute ball! Your wish for 'cake and toys' was most certainly fulfilled.

Love Mom

Who are you and what have you done with Nasima?

It was a cold, wet gloomy day in Jozi. It's been raining since yesterday. I awoke this morning to the sound of a steady flow of rain on the window. I thought ok I'm not going to gym. A second later I knew I would later regret my decision. So I jumped outta bed and got ready and went to gym.

It was an amazing session. 75 min spin class with one of my favourite instructors Lynette. It's the kind of session where there's sweat dripping off your face and body. You leave the gym drenched and damn does it feel good. It's the perfect way to start your day especially in winter when the cold air is a welcome relief.

I wasn't always this gym bunny. In high school I wasn't athletic but I did participate in sports. Namely netball and volleyball. When I left school gym was the last thing on my mind.

After Uni when I started working I joined the gym purely to avoid traffic! Work was 45 kms from home and this journey could take up to 2 hours in traffic. So I went to gym after work and got home in an hour.I can't say that I thoroughly enjoyed it though, it was fun but I hardly ever worked up a major sweat or felt my heart racing.

In the throes of my depression I would get frustrated when people told me 'oh why don't you just excercise you'll feel better'. I didnt want to exercise. Yes I'd heard all the stories about the endorphins and feel good chemicals blah blah blah. But I hated the treadmill, it's kinda like running nowhere slowly. I remember having a conversation with Natasha about whether a healthy mind or a healthy body comes first. I couldn't figure it out. My mind certainly wasn't healthy and as a result my body didnt feel healthy either. I felt tired all the time and sluggish.

A visit to the Gynea was an eye opener for me. I had the shock of my life when I stood on the scale. Certainly I can't weigh that much! I realized an intervention was necessary. So off I went to join the gym. I knew I hated the treadmill and all those other ghastly cardiovascular machines. On my first trip to the gym I tried a spinning class and I was hooked immediately! The evening classes are intense. The lights are off and there's music and nothing else exists except yourself and the bike. For the first time in years my mind actually completely shut down. You have the benefit of a 'group' class but at the same time you're actually going at your own pace, the added bonus of a yummy spinning instructor, to motivate you, was the cherry on the cake for me.

I set myself a 12 week spinning challenge in Jan this year. I had to go to gym 6 days a week for 12 weeks. It was more to test my mental strength than anything else. Much to my surprise I was and still am amazed at how much fitter and stronger I felt after each class. Much to my delight I've managed to lose 7kgs. So now I know that a healthy mind and a healthy body go hand in hand. I'm going to gym now because I actually enjoy it. I never in a million years thought that those words would come out of my mouth! Lol!

I've already decided that my next challenge will be to run a 5 or 10 km race. Will keep you updated on that!

I've never felt fitter or healthier in my life. I don't just mean physically I mean mentally too. I'm actually considering cutting the umbilical cord by not seeing Natasha anymore. The blogging is cathartic for me and the exercise can be my new form of therapy. (Will see how this pans out)

My body is my temple. I finally get it.

Toodles

Wish you were here

My dad lost his battle to Cancer in 2000. I've adjusted to not having him around but on special days like this I miss him madly! Wish he was here to see me walk down the aisle as I married my soulmate. He wasn't even around to meet Zaid but I know he would've been proud of the man that Zaid is and the husband and dad that he's become.

Wish my dad was here to watch these little monsters grow. He was a 'kids person' and would've been beside himself with joy as we now have 4 littlies under 5 in the family.

A lot of people that see Anees say that they can see my Dad in him. I've shown Anees pictures of my dad and he's asked where is he. I've told him that he's in heaven. I don't know why but I've painted this picture of heaven where there's sunshine and flowers and butterflies and bunnies. Anees says when we go to heaven we must not forget to wear our sunglasses so that we don't get sun in our eyes. ( you just gotta love him)

Anees was lucky enough to have his great grandmother 'Mama' look after him. She too unfortunately passed away and it was his first encounter with death. He was still quite young and I told him that she had gone to heaven. He was very attached to her as she looked after him from 5 months old until she broke her hip when he was 18 months old. He still asks about her when he sees pictures of her and that's where my elaborate descriptions of heaven originated. I even told him that she comes to visit him at night while he's sleeping and she kisses him at the back of his neck as she fondly used to do. He always ends up in giggles as I kiss him on the back of his neck and tickle him a bit. I can see the love he has for her in his eyes when we talk about her.

I miss you Dad, so much so that it hurts today.

I understand that death is part of life and I know that I'm an adult but I too will rejoice in the image of you lying in the sun amidst the flowers and butterflies in Heaven. (Hopefully with your sunglasses on)

Love Nasima

Happy Birthday Rameez!

We definately wanted a 2nd child but we had no idea that you would come along so soon. We found out at 12 weeks that you were a little boy.

At 38 weeks we visited Dr Bothner and she asked if we'd like to wait for nature to take its course. I'm unfortunately not the patient type, so a C section was scheduled for a week later on the 19th April 2011.We prepared your brother adequately for your arrival by reading 'I'm going to be a big brother' ad nauseam. It helped that the main character looked a lot like Anees.

Dad chose your brothers name so I could choose yours. I was on FB one day and saw a post by Tasneem's (www.mumdrum.blogspot.com) brother Rameez Hendricks. I fell in love with the name immediately. Rameez means : noble and dignified. So it was decided that you would be named Rameez.

On the day before your arrival I went to the hairdresser and had my hair done as well as a mani and pedi. I wanted to be wheeled into theatre looking all glamorous for when I meet you. This wasn't my first rodeo as I had a C Section with Anees as well. There was absolutely no anxiety this time around , just sheer excitement.

We awoke early on the 19th and left for the hospital at 6 am. This is a pic of us before they prepped me for surgery.

By the grace of God everything went smoothly and you were in our arms before we knew it. I must admit that even the 2nd time around it still felt surreal. I knew you were there inside of me but to hold you in my arms just left me speechless and in awe of how perfect you are. I cant honestly say it was love at first sight. My love for you grew over the days and months that followed as you morphed from 'blob' (newborn) to human. Lol.

You're brother was besotted with you from the time he laid eyes on you. We are so proud of how gentle and loving he was with you. (this is not currently the case, we having boxing and wrestling matches now)

If there is one word to describe your personality it would be spunky ( showing courage; fiesty; spirited; displaying animation, vigor or liveliness; brave) Your skateboard and capoeira antics have us giggling all the time. At 2 you are more than capable of communicating your needs and your vocabulary astounds and surprises us everyday. You're a little parrot and we've even heard you say 'sharp homie' and you yell 'Yeahhhh buddddyyyy'
You're at the 'I do it self' stage and are enjoying your new found independence as
we allow you to do more things for yourself. We just love how you burst with pride when you accomplish something.

May Allah protect you, guide you and keep you in good health, always.Happy 2nd birthday Rameez.

Love Mom

Quotable quotes

I found an old journal of mine. I've actually always been one to keep journals. Since a teenager. It's always fun looking through old journals and being able to look at the situations you were in and the feelings you experienced. You realize with hindsight that every experience is a lesson.

I'm enjoying the blogging experience but I have to say I much rather prefer to put pen to paper. Zaid says I'm an old soul. LOL . I am! I would rather choose listening to Diana Ross or Frank Sinatra. When I was younger I remember sitting in the car with my parents as we drove around sea point to get ice cream. Yaasier Abrahams and I would sit in the back of my dads car and Frank Sinatra would be blaring over the radio. Maybe that's where my love for 'old music' began.

Anyhoo I digress! I wanted to share some quotes I've rediscovered in my journals.

"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself" Anna Quindlen

"Every event has a purpose and every setback a lesson. Failure whether of the personal, professional or even spiritual kind, is essential to personal expansion. It brings inner growth and a whole host of psychic rewards. Never regret your past, rather embrace it as the teacher that it is... Unknown"

"Do more of what you love best"

Happy Thursday peeps!

You're more beautiful than you think

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2013/04/15/doves-real-beauty-sketches-ad-campaign-video_n_3088071.html  


Zaid sent this to me yesterday and I absolutely love the ad campaign. I love how empowering it is and how it makes us rethink the perception we have of ourselves based on the comments made by others.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did and that it makes you think about how beautiful you truly are!

Here's the You Tube link if you're viewing this on your mobile

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=litXW91UauE

Love Moi
Xxx

Meet Mr Right aka Babes aka Shnookums ;)

One day in 2001 as I walked out of my office I got a glimpse of someone who had just left the dental surgery. He was walking down the passage and I thought 'hmmmm, who might that be?' I can't say what it was but something intrigued me. I went off to reception to enquire who the patient was that just left the chair. Nadia , the receptionist then, told me his name was Zaid Joulay and gave me all his info. I forget about him until a few months later when I get a call from reception to say that Zaid Joulay is back. He is late for his appointment with the GP and will have to wait until he can be slotted in.

So I mosey on down to reception and make myself comfy while I suss him out. I like what I see. *blush* He's with 2 friends and one comes to ask me of the physiotherapist gives massages! When he comes out of his consultation with the GP I go over to hand him his medical aid statement and say that I need to verify that his cellphone number is correct. For record purposes of course. He says yes it is and leaves.

I didnt have airtime on my phone and decided to send him a 'Please Call me' lol! He calls back and I miss the call. So I send him another and again I miss the call. Eventually I call him and he immediately knows that it's me that's calling.

We hit it off right from the start. He is a fun loving, honest, witty (albeit sarcastic) guy. With Zaid what you see, is what you get and I was and still am smitten. He's my best friend as well as my confidante, nurturer and lover. I knew from the 3rd date that I wanted to spend my life with him. I've always been a romantic at heart and when you know you just know! Lol. He mocked me when I told him that I thought we are soulmates. His mom also advised him to stay away from 'girls like me' LOL. He thought I was confident and was pretty chuffed that I took the initiative to make the first move.

Boys I hope you too one day find the kind of love that I've found with Dad. The kind of love that is unconditional and knows no limits. The kind of love that still gives you butterflies after 12 years.

H&H, where my career began and I met the man of my dreams

For those of you who don't know, I'm a dental hygienist. Have been for the last 9 years. It's not the route I had planned though. I kinda fell into it. I wanted to be a hairdresser and my parents would hear none of it! They wanted me to be a doctor!

So I set off to Wits and started with a BSc, after my first year I realized it wasn't for me. So I swopped to a BA with a major in Psychology and International Relations. My dad sadly passed away in my 2nd year. On completion I decided to take a gap year. A tad late in life I know. My brother in law is a dentist and he offered me a position as a receptionist and then accounts clerk. My main function was capturing and submitting medical aid claims and dealing with queries.

During my time there I ended up assisting my brother in law in the surgery and my interest in dentistry started. I recall fainting while watching him do a surgical extraction. (Now I can very easily eat my lunch during open flap root planing) I was keen on studying but not keen on the 4 years involved in becoming a dentist. He suggested I study Oral hygiene. My brother in law has always been my mentor. I turn to him for career advice and just advice in general and he has never led me astray. I've been having itchy feet to study again and after consultation with him I have decided I'd like to study hypnotherapy. Watch this space!

I actually left my admission interview crying. Prof Wessel Holtshousen was a horrible man. He drilled me for not finishing my initial degree. He wasn't keen on admitting me in case I decide not to finish studies again. At the time Wits only accepted and trained 12 oral hygienists per year. So it was tough to get in. I was deflated after the interview. I received a letter that I had been put on the waiting list and would be granted admission should the accepted applicants before me not be able to fill the position. Much to my surprise I was accepted! I've never looked back.

It's taken me 9 years to build a successful oral hygiene practice. I absolutely love the CBD. The people are humbling and inspiring and nothing beats the vibe of the inner city.

Boys you might not always know what you wanna do or where you wanna be, just listen to the universe and follow the signs around you and you will find your place in this world.

Will post soon about how I met your dad;) Will also post about the amazing people. I've met in the CBD and the long lasting friendships I've built.

Love Mom

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself to others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all it's sham drudgery and
broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann

Sundaze

When did life get so busy? All of a sudden it feels like I hardly ever have downtime. Between work, gym, school meetings, study groups, CPD workshops, QT with the boys and QT with Zaid and not to mention trying to fit in time with family and friends, I find that there's just no downtime. Well today I took some much needed downtime.

You boys were ecstatic this morning when I announced I wasn't going to gym. We lied in bed and just cuddled. Rameez, you love cuddling. It's the sweetest thing. All you want from me when I get home from work or early in the morning is that I lay with you. You have this obsession with my hair. You love holding my hair when you wanna fall asleep or just when I hold you. I find it endearing most times. So you lied next to me and held my hair as you're doing now.

We lied around the house and watched tv and played and then went out to get lunch. After lunch Rameez and I had a nap. Dad even took a photo of us. I love sleeping with you next to me Rameez. You lay enveloped in my arms with your hand in my hair. I'll cherish these moments because soon you'll be like your brother. 'Mom don't lay with me,just kiss me and go'

We headed off to Delta park for the afternoon. It was a gorgeous warm Autumn afternoon.You boys loved it. We ended the day at Filo frozen yogurt.

As I lay here now I know I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

Xoxo

Conversations with a 4 year old

Anees, I really think that as you age our relationship gets better.

I'm adoring you right now. Our conversations are a great source of laughter for me. Especially when you ask me things like if I think you'll have earrings or smoke when you're a teenager. You're amazed when I say to you that those will be your choices to make, and even more amazed when I tell you that Mom and Nani used to smoke. You don't realize it but I was very different before you born. You even laugh when I tell you mom and dad used to go dancing in a club. You look bewildered and then you start breakdancing and asking if thats how we used to dance. LOL . You can't understand that through time Mom and Dad have evolved to become what you see now. As you will.

"It would indeed be a sad state of affairs if I am the same person today that I was a year ago as that would mean I haven't learned anything" www.fromnearthempon.wordpress.com

You're in a such a hurry to grow up right now and I love the enthusiasm and zest for life that you have. I hope that as you evolve you never lose it.

Love Nasima

These are a few of my favourite things

The Sound of Music and Grease are two of my all time favorite movies. I know all the words from all the songs and love bursting into song on the odd occassion(much to Zaid's dismay, LOL)

"When the dog bites,
When the bee stings,
When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.." The sound of Music

This got me thinking about what the boys favorite things are at the moment

According to Anees, his favorite food is carrots, favorite drink is cream soda,
Favorite color is blue, favorite t shirt is his pink dinosaur t shirt. His favorite friend is Tegan, his favorite game to play on the iPad is Zombies. Favorite t.v show is Ben 10.

I can't ask Rameez these questions but he's really into Barney and Teletubbies at the moment. You love Hulk too. Your favorite food at the moment is fish fingers or eggs and cake! You could happily have either for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Your favorite shoes are your slippers and the blue and red moccasins your cousin gave you.

You boys are also into sword fighting amd bows and arrows.Your favorite book is definitely 'Whats in the witches kitchen' it always gets you boys giggling. You boys both love your skateboards and the Ninjagos are a firm favorite amongst the 2 of you ( for like 10 mins until the fighting begins) Talking Ginger on my phone is also a favorite. Your favorite place to go to is Boogaloos skate park and Papachinos. Everytime we get in the car the 2 of you ask to go to either place.

Love watching the two of you playing together. And I love the admiration Rameez has for you Anees. He tries to emulate everything you do and it's just the cutest considering his half your size.

Love Mom
Xxx