Monday 1 January 2018

So long, 2017

I don't usually count a day, a week or a year as good or bad. I usually try to get through the tough stuff and enjoy the good stuff and don't make any grand statements.

2017 saw the introduction of Harry to the household and what a ride he has given us. There has been some fear aggression from him resulting in some expensive training, a few times people have misread him and been rather gung ho, resulting in some scarring around the wrists. There was the day our rabbit dug out of his safe enclosure and was swiftly dispatched in full view of the family. He has also given us so much joy and laughter that we can't imagine what we did before.

I have had more clients this year than before but oddly not seen a single baby born. I have attended long labours and then been excluded as my clients have been whisked to theatre. I have had a client whose baby arrived so quickly she didn't have time to call me and another who said she slept easier after hiring me but had an elective caesarean and didn't feel the need of my attendance. I never even met any of the babies and I can honestly say it doesn't matter, I am happy to be there for the parents and not to distract in any way from their first hours with a new little one.

My church amalgamation resulted in me becoming responsible for the seniors group. I think I have unintentionally broken a lot of expectations but it's me or nobody so they adjust and if you are ever in the business of amalgamating churches, talk to me about some of the things to do or not do!

My oldest son Liam received some bad news which will alter the course of his life more than I would like but it is his life to manage as he sees fit and I can be proud of his maturity and grace in difficult times.

My second son Keaghan completed his undergraduate degree, was accepted for honors, proposed to his sweet, long term girlfriend and started a full time job in a laboratory. I think he will have a lot of average years before he has another to rival this one.

Daughter Briony was devastated when a few days of very badly timed flu prevented her from doing her first placement as a student teacher but  a three week stretch in February will catch her up on that. She also took up indoor rock climbing, fell and dislocated an elbow, avoided end of year exams due to the injury and worked hard at her rehabilitation.

The youngest of them, Caitlin, slogged away on her student budget to pay the damages from a car accident she had as a very new driver. She attended court alone, in a successful bid to reduce the amount of the debt. She has also worked hard at her studies in chiropractic. She has had good results in a demanding course and we didn't see any pre-exam melt downs this year. We continue to have coffee together every week so altogether a character building year for her!

We saw the ridiculously expensive and unnecessary same-sex marriage survey tell parliament what we already knew: it was time. I am very happy that  the first same sex marriages in Australia have now taken place, some of them the official recognition of a lifetime of care between partners who have limited time left.

I'm sure 2018 will bring more challenges, joys, achievements and rough spots. My current client will birth one way or another in the next  ten days, I wonder if i will meet her wee miss?

L-R back Liam & Catherine, Keaghan & Liz,  Caitlin & Brendan
L-R front Briony, Kylie, Kent

27 comments:

  1. Nice post Kylie. Keep it up. It makes for fascinating reading.

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    1. Thanks Terry! It's good to have you commenting again! Happy New Year!

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  2. Your year, and that of your family has been full. Full to bursting.
    I am hoping for a kinder, gentler year. For us all. And for the world.

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    1. PS: I hope that this baby is one you will get to meet and greet.

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    2. i would really like to see a kinder year for the world, too!
      I would enjoy meeting this baby but if not, I have met her older brother who is a delight

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  3. It's well worth while to look back at the year. Nice summary. have a great 2018 and keep on bringing those new babies into the world.

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    1. Thank you, Red. Attending a birth is an honour I don't take for granted and I hope to do it for some time to come :)

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  4. I had no idea you had four kids, but they all seem to be doing okay. I really enjoyed reading your roundup of last year, and I hope you get to see the baby too!

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    1. I had two boys then surprise twin girls. It was very, very demanding but now it's nice.

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  5. Well done Kylie--that's all, simply well done.

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    1. Thank you, Mark and my best wishes to you for the coming year

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  6. Eventful year indeed. I send you best wishes for a great 2018 for you and your family.

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  7. Well it sounds like it's been some year for you. As you know I became a grandpa immediately before Christmas so that was a Good Thing. I think that, overall, I agree with you about not calling a year a bad one or a good one although there are temptations to do that. In my experience most years contain some of both and it's a question of how one deals with the good and the bad that makes the difference. Having said that I hope that 2018 is a Good Year for you!

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    1. With young adults, there is probably a lot happening every year but I dont usually list it :)

      I wish you good health and lovely baby snuggles this year!

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  8. An interesting insight Kylie.
    Here's hoping 2018 works out well for you and yours!

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    1. Thank you, Dave! My warm wishes to you for the coming year, too

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  9. What a lovely family picture! Thank you for sharing it Kylie. What you said about Liam intrigued me but I am not one to pry. Happy 2018 to you and your happy family.

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    1. I don't like it when there is an untold story but with Liam's news, I am under strict instructions not to talk about it.
      What I can say is that he was studying a music/ science double degree and has now decided that he wont complete the music, which happens to be his greatest talent. I understand his reasoning but I grieve for his loss

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    2. Also, thanks for the compliment on the photo. It was taken on Mother's day 2016

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  10. That was certainly a busy year for you and your family; may 2018 treat you well, kylie. Great photo - beautiful smiles from everyone!

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    1. Thank you, Jenny o. I hope your 2018 is good, too.

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  11. A lovely post, kylie! I do like the names you gave your children. This was a nice introduction to your family. I don't know why I haven't read your blog before...or maybe I have and just have forgotten doing so because of my advancing years and deteriorating brain.

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    1. Hi Robert,
      Snowbrush has told me to read you numerous times and I have but i never put you on my blogroll to find out when you posted new stuff and therefore I kept forgetting to check back.
      I gave all my children Irish names, after the first I just wanted to keep going with the theme.

      It's good to have you here

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  12. "I think I have unintentionally broken a lot of expectations but it's me or nobody so they adjust..."

    Maybe their expectations weren't that high to begin with--or do I project based upon my own experiences with being made a leader...

    I admire your parenting style of letting your kids learn from their screw-ups. I have nieces and nephews now who are a constant burden to their cash-strapped grandparents (it was their grandparents who raised them) due to fines and lawyers fees. All they learn from it is that they have someone to allow them to evade responsibility.

    I have been thinking about that religion blog. I will get there. Are you familiar with the writings of the desert fathers from about the fourth century? Every now and then I return to reading about them and things that they supposedly said. Probably nothing hurts a religion more than becoming status quo the way it is in much of America, nowhere the moreso than the part that I left--the part that is called the Deep South. It was this state of affairs that the desert fathers abhorred above all others.

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    1. I know that Peggy was touched by your note to her, and I think she responded, but I never go to her mail folder unless specifically invited. Just know that she's not a person to write much, but that she did make a point of letting me know that your words meant a lot to her.

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    2. Hey snow, it's been a while! i hope that means you are feeling better.
      My comments on leadership relate mostly to the fact that I took on a group I wasn't familiar with. I had no idea of their normal expectations and routines and therefore just did what i thought.
      In all honesty I felt sorry for Caitlin over her misadventure with the car but I can't pay for her damage and eat so I choose to eat.
      I know nothing of the desert fathers, my religious knowledge is woeful and I have no real idea where to start with fixing that. My 22 year old was recently talking about the reformation and i realised that at 22 I probably hadn't even heard of the reformation.
      Religion as status quo is dangerous and devoid of meaning, I hope my religion is something I think about and engage with properly.

      Peggy did reply and sounded upbeat. I hope you have both seen the back of hospitals for a while!

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