Hello darkness my old friend

It's been a while since I've blogged.

I am really enjoying this.

These days, in our wonderful called Queenstown/Komani, there are frequent power outages. Not loadshedding for 2hours, this is the whole day.  From 3 in the morning till 10 at night.  I have been told that it is a cable that should have been replaced 25 years ago, but they just patch it everytime.

So this how it effects our household.

I get up, try and switch the kettle on, but nothing.  Luckily we have a gas stove, so I can at least have my coffee fix.

I have to blowdry my hair, which looks terrible if I don't.
So I have to pack my hairdryer, blowdry machine, straightner and a mirror and take them to school, so that I can look decent.

Our nanny LOVES doing washing so her day is completely thown out if she can't do washing.

During the day it is fine, because it is light and nobody is at home, except poor Julie who can't wash.  Haha

Come night time then everybody goes into a complete tizz.  Caleb can't watch Paw Patrol.  I can't mark.  The wi-fi doesn't work.  All our devices are flat.  Complete panic.

My husband, Jared, has a generator, but it is never at home.  Last week it was in Lusikisiki.  My nerves were shot, because I had marking to do.  I don't want to fall behind, because to catch up it a huge mission.

This is where the photo comes in.  We found a headlight.  Problem solved and I managed to mark a set of books and a set of tests, before it died.

Ten o'clock comes and the power comes back on, but it doesn't really help anybody as we are all off to bed.

Oh, the joys!!!!

Just a reminder

So today I had a rather unpleasant experience.

I shared a photo of Caleb where he was a year old that came up pn my memories on Facebook.  He is sitting naked on a step, but all the private parts are closed, so all you see is his little fat thighs, his tummy and face. .  It is one of my favourite photos of him.

This afternoon I get a message in my inbox, asking me whether I am not aware of the dangers posting photos like these and that I am putting my child in danger.  If I posted a photo of him stark naked, by all means attack me.

First of all, I would NEVER do anything to put my child at risk of anything.
Second of all, my Facebook profile is on the strictest setting.  I know people hack accounts and that anybody can get into it.

Now, I know this incident is minor, but what ticked me off is the fact that somebody who knows that I am a teacher and a mother, who is well aware of the dangers, could insinuate that I am putting my boy, whom I will protect with my life, in danger.  I wont ever a post a photo if I don't think it is appropriate.  I am sure if he had pants on it wouldn't of been a problem.  Fact is, everything that would of been covered by the pants you can't see anyway.

I thanked the lady for her concern, because I do understand where she is coming from and deleted the photo.  It was a good reminder, though.

So, people please take "safe photos" of your kiddies as there are a lot of sick people in our wonderful  world.

Single mothers

Okay, so I am sure you are wondering why my blog is called "The life of a married single mother".

I am indeed very happily married, but my husband works away from home quite a bit.  So this is where the single mother part comes in.  We have a lovely little terrorist who is four, Caleb, who obviously stays with me, while his father is working all over the country.

Luckily I have a wonderful mother-in-law (for real), who lives with us. I do not know what I would have done without her.

So my day starts at half past 5.  Get up, Coffee, School.  WORK, WORK, WORK.  Go home to "Ivan the terrible"  who then needs my full attention.  I try not take work home in the afternoons as I want to spend time with Caleb, who is growing up toooooo fast.

Sometimes, most days, I am really exhausted after a day at school and then when I get home I have to go jump on the trampoline or pretend to be a Superhero and the list goes on and on and.

At 4 my helping hand arrives.  My mom in law, then she will play with him so that I can at least cook in peace without the contents of the grocerie cupboard being on the floor.

By eight he goes to bed and sometimes me too.  Then only can I start with my prep for the next day or marking or whatever.

Now this is where I feel sorry for single mothers.  They have to this all by themselves without any help.  When my husband is t home he entertains Caleb in the afternoon and then I can at least get some work done.  When he is not home, I have to feed, bath, play, take care, cook, do my work, feed the dogs, be mommy and be daddy etc.

 I admire single mothers.  You goooooo girls.