It's the Little Things #2

This week's Little Thing is actually quite a big thing.  Little Man attended his nursery 'Graduation Prom' on Friday night. It's not nearly as grand as it sounds - it actually consisted of a local village hall full of pre-schoolers (and their siblings), lots of crisps, cakes, sausage rolls, squash, balloons and a predominately CBeebies soundtrack. Little Man went all shy and decided he would prefer to spend most of the time with mummy and daddy as sadly his best friends from nursery weren't there, although his face lit up everytime balloons headed in his general direction.

The staff at the nursery had created little leaving packs for all the 'graduates' - a bag containing the childs progress report, some art work, a drinks bottle, a disk with photographs they had taken of him throughout his time there (we had to sign a consent form that none of this picture would be shared on Social Network sites due to their privacy policy, which is a shame coz there are some crackers!!) a ticket to the local cinema (timely - he has been nagging to go and see Ice Age 4 for weeks) and an achievement certificate.

Little Man's certificate said he was the class genius. "Quick to learn and retain information. Can intelligently talk about things he is interested in"


I cannot tell you how much this made me smile :-) not to mention the picture I took of him with his playleader, beaming from ear to ear proudly showing off his certificate (no, I'm not allowed to share that one either...)

Obviously this marks the end of an era. My Little Man is growing up. In ten weeks time he will no longer be a pre-schooler but enter the realms of formal education (all be it at Reception level which, if the school's 'Reception Entries Parents Evening' the other week was anything to go by, seems to be a whole lot more fun than staying at home!)

It hardly seems like yesterday that we first said hello!

1 day old and FULL of attitude!

What little things made you smile this week?

A New Year Promise

Now I know, what with it being two thirds of the way through February already, it's a little late to be blogging about New Years resolutions and all, but as I have only had my laptop back three weeks I think I have a pretty good excuse...

Most of the first half of January was spent catching up with my paperwork. Unlike the Other Half's business paperwork which I deal with every week, mine tends to get put to one side to sort out 'later'. Well the pressing matter of tax return deadlines reared its ugly head so I couldn't ignore it any longer.  As I sorted through I was pleasantly surprised at the volume of sales I had achieved through Folksy, Facebook and Twitter plus sales from bricks-and-mortar shops and craft fairs. Not to mention the special commissions from friends and friends-of-friends. But (there is always a but) despite having brought in a modest income from my work I had also spent a great deal of money on materials.
Yes, I made a profit (woohoo) but only a small one and the more I thought about it - about the stress of fulfilling orders whilst keeping a toddler occupied; of keeping up with the forums and promotion on social networks; of the OH dropping barbed comments about the amount of time I was spending with my head in my laptop; the late nights editing photographs, listing and tweaking the website/online shops; and most importantly, the frustration I felt because the Little Man just wouldn't let me finish one (more) little thing.  And, you know, actually, I wondered if it was worth it. Really.

Something else has also been playing on my mind recently too. The Little Man - he's not so little anymore. On a daily basis he proudly tells me he is getting bigger like daddy, "I am nearly four now!". In seven months time he will be starting school. Part of me is really looking forward to this. He's a smart kid, he is inquisitive and genuinely wants to know about everything. I know he will love school, but (there it is again) part of me is aghast. Where has the time gone? How can we possibly be thinking about school already? Why am I spending all my time fretting and stressing and worrying about my fledgling business when I should be making the most of every moment I have with him before SCHOOL takes over...

So I have made a promise to myself.

This time I have with the Little Man is precious. It is important. Once gone, I will never be able to get it back. So for the next seven months the business will be sitting on the back burner, gently simmering, while I get on with the important task of properly enjoying the spring and summer with my special little pre-schooler...