Thursday, September 15, 2011

RELAXING THE RULES. WHAT IT MEANS FOR US.


There are so many things I've done in the past two weeks that could be considered new, and different. Even, unusual.

Like last week's White Tee Challenge. Where I wore the same tee for five days, five different ways (don't worry, I washed it every night). It was lots of fun and great way to shop one's own wardrobe. I'm a big believer in using what you have, rather than buying new stuff. Because despite thinking you have nothing to wear, you know it's not true.

Or perhaps completing the Global Corporate Challenge last week. I've stopped wearing a pedometer after four months of my tight fitting clothes looking a little strange with that pedometer bump protruding out of my middle regions. I kind of miss reporting my steps each day, but I'm satisfied in knowing that I do on average 12,047 steps each day without even trying. (I think I can thank those energetic lads of mine.)

Some other step trivia includes:
  • My personal best step count was 23,394 (yes, that was a very busy day).
  • I walked 856km in four months.
  • In my organisation, I was fourth ranking.
Not too bad for an amateur walker.

But this week's Something New happened just tonight.

Would it surprise you that I'm a stickler for The Rules?

Like when we were renovating, we had no kitchen benches, no sink, no oven and no stovetop. My husband casually mentioned the words "takeaway" and "tv dinners" while the kitchen was being finished.

It sent me into a flurry.

Of course, most people could think of worse things, but it certainly is hard for me to get my head around it.

Why, fast food means minimal nutritional dinners for my kids, money we didn't need to spend (um, did you just read we were renovating our kitchen?), and setting a precedent. TV dinners means eating in front of the telly, which means we don't eat around the dining table, talk or bond as a family. We don't think about the food we are absorbing, we don't communicate in any way, and we get into bad habits.

After all, we spent my teenage years around the dining room table. We'd groan, we'd complain, because we really just wanted to watch TV.

"It's good for us as a family", my mother would say. "Besides, when else do we talk?"

She was right. Because I really do have lots of great memories sitting around the dining room table.

Like teasing our step dad, or laughing at fart jokes (I have brothers), we'd complain about the weird vegetarian thing that mum had just dished up, and we did lots of learning and discussing there too.

Now it's me making multiple requests for the kids to come to the table, rounding up the husband, and warding off comments about the "iffy" meal.

So, why am I scared about TV dinners? After all I loved them so much when I was growing up. When we stayed at our grandparents over the Christmas break, they even had trays we could use to eat out breakfast while enjoying commercial cartoons (we never had this sort of TV in Darwin).

Now, the kitchen renovation is over. Apart from tiling and painting, I've had a functioning kitchen for more than a month. And the whole time we had take out just once, and never had a TV dinner.

But tonight, I was working, making calls. Hubby is away, the kids were ratty, and In The Night Garden was on.

It must have been a moment of weakness when I heard myself self say: "C'mon kids. Let's eat our haystacks in front of the telly".

You cannot imagine the whoops of excitement.

And I know I've just put a rod in my back which is enough to know I'm going to be very sorry later on.

What happens in your family when you relax the rules?

Have you tried some new this week? It might be as simple as eating dinner in front of the television, or changing your routine or mindset.

Why don't you join in? All you have to do is follow me, add your Try Something New post below and add a link back to me in your post. You can also include the lovely button (below). Then pop over to visit other bloggers who have done something new this week. 


a day in the life of us


10 comments:

  1. Once upon a time I used to make nachos on a big baking tray and my boys and I would eat (right off the tray) in front of the TV. It was an occasional treat and we loved it!

    Now they are grown ups, and in and out of the house at all hours, it's rare for us to eat at the same time. Cherish those special moments, TV or table... they are fleeting! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. My something new at the moment is not blogging! sorry, can't join in if I'm not blogging about it :(
    But seriously, when I relax the rules around here everyone has way too much fun - and we can't have that!! No smiling allowed. Just kidding. I'm enjoying not having standards at the moment. Just a little break from structure for a few weeks until I get back on my feet. I'm really loving it actually. The kids were even late to school on wed and the world still didn't end :-P
    But I do love it when they get so excited about something so small - it makes me smile when my kids get overcome with hysteria because I offer them icecream. I love that such a little thing can be such a wonderful and appreciated treat.
    xxxCate

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  3. No, you won't make a rod for your back. Your boys will appreciate that it is a special treat and only done sometimes.
    Must have been the night for it though, I came back from collecting girls from ballet and homme was feeding master x in front of the telly. At least it was nutritious and to be honest if homme wasn't home then he would have been feeding himself in his carseat on the ballet run.

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  4. Your boys will understand it's a special treat. I feel the same way about TV and dinner time, but just this one time, when you're busy and daddy is away, that's fine.
    Those haystacks look delicious! Yum. I love beetroot and pineapple and avocado, and I never would have thought to put them together. You are a clever cookie! x

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  5. Oh Kymmie, you're a fab Mama, these things I can just tell. It doesn't matter if you relax the rules now and then. I'm a bit of a stickler for eating at the table also... but I do have moments of weakness when I let Mr3 take his little plate to the lounge. Usually if he's not feeling 100%. It's like a bit of a break for him, rather than having to sit up at the table.
    And 856km!! Wowzers Kymmie, that is huge. What an interesting stat. You must have felt like a bit of a wonderwoman with those results... and so you should :o) xo

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  6. The family that eats together, stays together.

    Mentioned at least once a week when my parents had three teenagers in the house.

    Now I am a Mum, I wonder when I will say it first!!

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  7. Well, I am guilty of relaxing the rules in our house. I think breaking it once in a while and with good reason (the renovation is a good one!) can also be a bit "fun".

    ReplyDelete
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Thank you for your thoughtful and positive words and taking the time to comment. Love Kymmie. xx