Hello 
Although as you get older you tend to forget how many times you have gone around the sun, COVID has made it harder and it still feels like 2019. Am I right?
We have two kids a 4 year old little miss and a almost 12month old little bloke, I don't feel comfortable sharing their real names on the block chain as I'm not sure if they will appreciate it when they are older.
Mind the mess we were cleaning the garage gym tonight but both our children are extremely adventurous and love to pick up on what we both do. I've always been a fitness freak and used to compete in races for charity events and I've always been extremely active in life. COVID has been really hard on me as I'm sure it has with others as I was always out exploring. Lil bloke was born pretty much to the start of our lock downs so doesn't know anything other than home which is sad.
Lil Miss is an avid adventurer and now that she is 4 she is in-between having those early memories of always going out and now being stuck at home in lock down. She always asks "daddy, why don't you take me anywhere anymore?" She is aware of the virus but at such a young age can't comprehend. I tell her, soon it will be over.
How awesome is little bloke though, I turned around and there he is with a 1kg dumbbell picking it up like it was paper! Oh o I have to be careful, I won't want to get into arguments with him when he gets a bit bigger. Little miss is the same she trains with me too and I had to stop because snatching things off her became a challenge. 🤣
My wife is currently an elected politician so that makes me a Partner of she is also our first ever elected Indigenous politician in Melbourne's Western Suburbs a magnificent achievement and a wonderful role model for our children. She's been very popular and has been achieving significant out comes for our community. People were shocked when she got elected because we live kind of on the fringes of the City and people anticipated that the Inner City progressives would have been the first to achieve this outcome. They were not and we we're 😍 we love our community and we love living here.
But her work as a local elected politician and a nurse (local government doesn't pay much) means she is never really home and she's always out helping people especially through COVID. She is such an inspiration to me and I'm very proud of her.
I wish that before having kids I knew how hard it would be, I tend to remember as a kid I used to play alot outdoors alone and with friends but my mum tells me I am similar to my children. Always around the adults playing games and annoying people 😅 it's OK for most part but I find it hard through lockdown trying to get work done but I am fortunate to still have work to get done. 🙏
I don't find it too hard to teach the kids new things I will say it is easier to teach Lil bloke because he watches his big sister and tries to copy everything she does! He has been learning at such a faster rate than what she did. I do think I was a little too cautious with her when she was younger and didn't give her much credit. This year in lock down I couldn't have family over to help make the salami and I was going to do it. But little miss wanted to, I've done it each year with her since she was born. She is only 4, she remembered how to do it and we had an absolute ball doing so.
I've also found that lock down has also provided some opportunities for growth, I work in a professional field and constantly having zoom meetings. Lil Miss overhears alot of my meetings and has learned to debate me! Further to that point while we're discussing this topic, as you recall That's a bit subjective and she uses many of them in context! Oh no look out world I'm creating a monster!
Oh tantrums! How do I deal with them? I can't and I don't. I just walk off and now Lil miss is copying me. If I tell her off or ask her to do something she turns her back to me and walks off. I guess this might be a valuable lesson in the future. If someone is disrespecting you and giving you a hard time, just walk away. I have honestly walked off on her in shops when she has a melt down. I get maybe 3 steps away before she springs up and stops crying and runs to me. She has learned at home that I will not tolerate these behaviours.
My mother in law has a difficult time with her and her tantrums, my mother in law always tried to talk to her and calm her down. But you can't with young kids, they can't always understand that you don't have money to buy what they want or that they have enough junk food at home or simply no. So Lil miss' tantrums last longer with my mother in law and she very rarely is able to settle her.
I don't really have any major behaviours of concern nothing outside a typical 4 year old who is energetic and wants to explore the world. But I am sure I will have plenty of issues when she grows up..... not looking forward to it.
Couple time is definitely hard to come by and with lockdown not many people are allowed over to help mind the kids but we do try to make time. We will often go with the kids or on our own to our favourite local Cafe Latin Foods and Wines which is owned and operated by a Latino family who make traditional Latin food. They have the best emponada's in Melbourne. We were here every weekend at one stage before lock down but now only go when lock downs are lifted to get our Latin fix!
I love being a dad and I love having a family, even with all its hardships I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Thank you for organising this blog challenge, it was wonderful!