Taking Some Time Out

The best thing about the summer holidays in Australia is that you are actually forced to take some time out. It's time to catch up on things you wished you could have done throughout the year, like catching up with friends, going to the beach, reading a book, finalising the taxes, looking up study courses you might be interested in, starting a fitness/healthy eating regime, and most of all, giving your kids as much time as possible while you all have time to enjoy each other.

The last few weeks, we've done a bit of everything - lots of sleeping in, lots of staying up late watching movies, catching up with old friends, spending time up at our lake house with new friends, the boys spent time individually with their friends, we started walking our puppy to get him used to a lead and everything was done without worrying about the time, worrying about when the next appointment was and worrying about when meal times were (as we just snacked or had a meal when we felt like it). It was all just cruisy.

So with only 4 more official days of relaxing before work really starts up for me, I reflect on the fact I could incorporate some more of this relaxed nature into my work day… and I know one day I will… but it won't happen for another 12-24 months…. well, that's the plan.

But for now, we have to work ourselves up to the fact that my oldest son starts high school in less than 3 weeks, my youngest son will be at school without big brother by his side for the first time, and while I have my finger in three business pies (my copywriting, my holiday house letting & the promise of cutting a book deal this year), we know we will be extremely busy, especially with juggling a puppy in our lives.

The sad thing for me is, that since my oldest son is starting high school, it's also the start of him being truly independent… the days of going to the movies as a family are numbered, the days of taking a day trip somewhere, going to the city together, or having a family board game night will be considered lame by a teenager, but then I hope I have raised him right and he mingles with the right types of friends, and he will value all the good things that makes our family worthwhile. Hence, the reason why we need to make the most of these last few days.