Miss 2

Having survived Miss 1's special first birthday, I had the sudden realisation that I had not shared with you Miss 2.5's 2nd birthday.

Last year B and I needed to be apart (not by choice) but because he was working in WA and I had just had darling Miss 1. His work required him to be in WA for the remainder of 2012 and I had already packed up the house, popped it in storage in Qld and we couldn't really afford to be paying for us to live in two states, so after many conversations, my parents asked me to stay with them and Bryan worked FIFO out of Tasmania. When Miss 2.5 turned 1 we were in WA and had a party with all our friends, it was too far for some family members to travel. When the decision to say in Tasmania with my family had been made, I looked for things to keep me occupied and to distract me from the fact that there was a significant family missing. One of these things was organising Miss 2.5's, 2nd birthday. It was so much fun!!!

I picked a theme and location first. I googled children's birthday parties and did some searching on Pinterest. I also happen to have two amazing pages on Facebook that I liked that always have the most divine inspiration. Whimsy Petite Styling and Party Inspirations. My gorgeous sister worked at a "Fast food restaurant" and was able to book the room. I asked lots of questions about what I was and wasnt allowed to do there (regarding decorations etc) and then got planning.

Once I had found my inspiration, I then began the prop and decoration hunt. There are some brilliant party websites, that if you plan in advance will deliver to your door. Some of my favourites are actually located on the Sunshine Coast (you should have heard the squealing when I discovered the warehouse), so whilst I advocate using local stores (I believe you risk losing them if you don't support them), I understand that sometimes when you are looking for something specific (as I was) you do need the internet. I did discover that the local wholesale florist supplier had some of the things that I needed that I couldn't find anywhere...

Then began the food preparation. As I knew that the venue had food (yes it was unhealthy, but it was a once a year thing), I decided that I wasn't going to be able to redeem myself so I made some sweet treats to counteract the restaurant food.

Just a side note to everyone... make sure you arrive at LEAST half hour before party time because the most stressful thing was having everyone turning up as you were, and hovering while you were setting up... Being the perfectionist that I am, I wanted them to walk in the room and have the "WOW" factor, not be helping me set up. I was grateful for the help, please don't get me wrong, but it wasn't the way I saw things playing out...

The end result though was brilliant... Well at least I thought so...

 

Making decisions

Hope you have your drink (wine, coffee or tea) ready...

My positive journey has been... difficult. I am not a negative person as such, it is just very easy to let the actions of other affect you and make you feel like you are inferior or unintelligent. I have always been someone who has taken to heart, the words, actions or in some cases inaction of others. Those who know me (and I mean KNOW me well), know that I spend a disproportionate amount of time doing things to make others happy, worrying about what others think and giving. I don't have any regrets about my life, about decisions I've made, about things that have or have not happened.

I have, however made some decisions (after much reflection):

1. I am not going to be able to just switch off and become another person. I need to take small steps at a time. Forgive myself for slip ups and learn from them, allowing them to make me stronger.

2. I will only allow people to treat me the way my parents do. I figure that if two people that have shaped who I am today, treat me with respect, kindness and love, then noone else has the right to treat me any differently.

3. I am going to emotionally distance myself from people who make me feel less of a person or inferior.

4. I am not going to allow people to dictate the way that I raise my children or tell me that I am doing something wrong. I am not perfect, I have never raised children before, but I want to have happy, confident, kind, respectful and helpful children and THAT is how I will be raising them. Whether an action or inaction is perceived as wrong.

5. I will not compromise my values or beliefs just because people attempt to bully me into agreeing with them.

6. I will not be disresepectful, unkind or hateful, even if other are being so to me. I will just refer to Decision 3.

7. I will forgive people for their actions but I will not forget them. If they compromise who I am then I will again refer to Decision 3.

8. I will stand up for myself  without compromising my value and belief system or Decision 6.

9. Probably the most important, I will not allow people to treat my husband or children in a way that I wouldn't treat them. They are the most important people in the world to me and while I cannot wrap them in bubble wrap, I will not allow them to love themselves any less than I do.

10. I will continue to work hard on my "mindset" journey.


These decisions have been about 15 years in the making. I finally have the guts (1/3 way into my life) to implement them. I know that these decisions seem like something that in life you should already be doing but to avoid conflict, to keep the peace and because it is against my nature (and WAY out of my comfort zone) I have compromised who I am, in so many different circumstances, simply, the time has come.

Miss B, Mrs B and Mrs F have been my inspiration for this. They are the strongest women I know. Yes, they have been kicked in the guts and we have shared many tears and lots of laughter but I am very fortunate to have amazing role models and friends. I surround myself with these incredibly strong in character women and I should have made this decision a long time ago. Mrs B, even sent me books of encouragement ( I should have got the hint then).

 

 

Remember to always value yourself and have self respect. YOU are the only one who can make your life amazing.

 

Hope that I can inspire some of you to make some decisions to make your life wonderful. YOU are amazing.

 

Keep smiling.

 

Lauren

xxx