To DVD or to not DVD?

When I was a kid, I vividly remember Dad's roadtrips to the Gold Coast: We'd leave at 2am to get up the majority of the Pacific Highway early enough to miss the traffic.

In those days, it was a single lane goat track the majority of the way: Landmarks included (but were not limited to) the Big Banana, the Big Prawn, the Car in the Tree, the Big Clam and Ayer's Rock (well, a replica of it at Leyland Brother's world!).

My sister and I would be camped in the back of the sedan with pillows, books and magazines. As we got older, we were lucky enough to get walkmans. I first molested my ears with New Kids on the Block and Ace of Base, watching the scenery of New South Wales scream past.

My sister and I would fight non-stop.

"She's on MY side"
"That's MY Dolly magazine!!!"
"You can't I-Spy in the car, that's cheating!"

But unless we were using synonyms for trees, sky and road, she had a point.

My dad always had control of the radio. I learnt all the words to Gene Pitney's "Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" and the ocatives required to perform Julio Iglasias' " Me Olvide de Vivir" and Roy Orbison's "Crying"... songs I always swore I hated as they were Dad's music but strangely I find myself downloading more and more onto CDs for myself!

And with the beginning of our own roadtrip looming, I begin to think about the kids, their comfort and entertainment... as well as mine and hubby's sanity!

So off to JB Hi Fi we went to look at Dual Screen DVDs. Never mind we already have a single, working portable DVD player at home. That was purchased when we had one child. It was used once, two years ago, when we first drove from Sydney to Townsville.

On looking in our third store, I explained to hubby that we didn't need new DVDs for our kids. They can read, play with small toys, draw (pencil ONLY in my car thankyou!) and enjoy the ritual of the family road trip.

They must endure Big Mangos, waterfall lookouts and Cassowary spotting. They will come to loathe Linkin Park, Jack Johnson and Pink. We will be able to eventually tune out the whining, bickering and taunting, allowing them to sort it out for themselves. They will learn the art of conversation, playing games like I-Spy and Alphabet.

We will take the single player, but they can share it... and only as a treat if they behave.

New Year, New Me...

A funny thing happens at New Years... seeing as my birthday rolls around the same time, I often forget about the whole resolution idea and continue to do all the naughty things I always do anyway...

But this year was different. Maybe it's because I'm getting older. Maybe because I'm a mum and I realise I need to grow up and get my act together. It could have something to do with the fact that for the first time in 2 years, my husband is here to celebrate with me and help me out with my grand plans.

You see, this year, I made goals. Not only for the year, but for my life and myself as a person - to become a better one.

I know they're achievable. If I lay the foundations.

It's quite simple really. This year, I want to find balance, peace, happiness, clarity and success. In all aspects of my life. I want to have a sort of Zen-like calmness happening.

I'm getting there... maybe it's the enthusiasm talking, but it's only day 3 of 2009 and I have so far co-ordinated all of my required subjects for 1st semester to co-incide with my childcare arrangements. I have relegated 2 days I can officially work that are also in line with my childcare requirements as well.

This morning I had an epiphany - the realisation that my best friend, who is due to have her baby around the time I am due to return to Uni will be able to watch my kids, should the need arise (in return I will provide care for her little one when needed).

I am practising good time management and doing things immediately, rather than procrastinating. I am taking matters into my own hands and blaming nobody but myself if things don't get done.

I have remerchandised my wardrobe to be sleek, co-ordinated and organised: Cleaning and gardening clothes together, Fitness clothing together, sleepwear, swimwear, daywear, evening.

I am budgeting and strictly adhering to lists, menus and schedules.

But in all this, I am allowing myself to live on a whim for my children. All this organising in the background, while they sleep or are at Kindy or School, means that when I am with them and they have one of their childish desires: to go for a swim, ride bikes, walk the dogs, play cricket in the yard... I can literally drop everything and say "YES!" and do it knowing life will go on around our fun for the moment.

I need to work on the saving money side of things... always my sorest point. I try. Boy do I try. It's not that I buy expensive things everywhere either - it's just that like my husband says, I find bargains - but I find too many of them.

But as my organisational skills improve and my procrastinating ways dissolve, I will utilise Ebay, Trading Post and Freecycle to rid myself of the unnecessary clutter, make some cash and feel more balanced and worthwhile.

Here's to a New Year. May 2009 be the year I see clearly, love deeply and create magic.