Are we as parents always too strict on our first born children?

My mom and I had a bit of a fall-out this afternoon (okay, more a screaming match) when I disciplined Quintus for interrupting conversation but not Jason.  Although this is not about proving a point (I was right lol) I'll explain what happened.

My brother and Maggie was here to show off their brand new car (congrats guys!) when Quintus interrupted.  I asked him not to.  Then Jason interrupted.  I asked him not to.  When Quintus interrupted yet again, I disciplined him and sent him to the bathroom (time out in our home).  As he walked away my told me that I was wrong.  That I should discipline Jason as well.  I felt that Jason listened after I told him not to interrupt the first time.  My mom disagreed and hence the word fight.  The fact that she told me how to discipline my kids IN FRONT OF  my kids just made me more upset.

Okay now I have gone WAY of track.  Do we discipline our first born kids more?  Probably?  Although I try my utmost not to.  I try to discipline them according to their ages. Which would mean that I would expect more of Quintus at his age.  I don't discipline my kids much.  (I suppose that depends on who you ask hey?) but some people feel I discipline Quintus more than Jason.  Would be nice to have an INDEPENDENT outsider share their views on that.

Anyway on that note - here's my folks and THEIR first-born son.  Who apparently was discipline more than the others. This from very reliable sources.

Today was probably the nicest visit we have ever had with my in-laws.  If it could be like that every time I will visit there SO much more.  It was great.  I actually didn't want to leave when Tommie said we should go home.  (who knew?)

For the first time ever we took a family photo of the enitre De Bruyn family.

BACK:  Tommie's brother-in-law; Jason; my father-in-law; Zander; Quintus, my mother-in-law

FRONT:  Tommie; me; Ockert (nephew); Rentia (Tommie's sister)

Then just a photo showing of Zander's beautiful eyes.

Last night after coming home from work, we went for a walk.  It's such a great way for all of us to de-stress.  We love it.  We walked around the track at the school close to us, while the boys played rugby.

As we were walking, Tommie's phone rang.  It was his golfing partner who wanted to know if they were playing on Saturday.  He said he would phone back after talking to me.  He wanted to go and I told him I would be disappointed if he did.  After some discussing and sulking (lol) he decided that he would give up his golf this weekend.

This morning we went shopping (I'm expecting a call from my bank manager any second!).  Tomorrow we are going to my bestest of friends in Johannesburg.  It will be lovely to just relax there.  We are all doing a scrapbooking course which will be lots of fun.  Now if only I can find photos to take with.  I'm no good with keeping photos.  OR maybe I should get some of my folks old photos (from when they were still dating) and scrap that.  I'll see.

Now we are off to the in-laws.  Which us luck!

Today my sweet little baby boy is 6 months old.  I can't believe how time has gone by.

Sweetcheecks

You came into our lives just a mere 6 months ago.  You were tiny.  You seemed so frail.  I was so scared your brothers would hurt you, even though they just wanted to love you.

We came back to work way too soon.  Even though you spend your first three months in my office, with me all the time, it wasn't enough.  We should have been home, just staring into each others eyes. 

While my pregnancy with you seemed to go on forever, this first six months have flown by.  I looked at you in the bath last night and I couldn't believe you are so big already.  In my eyes, you should still be that newborn with the floppy head. 

You are not though.  You are sitting up.  You love your food.  You adore your brothers.  You have eyes just for me.  I love how you follow me around with your eyes when I'm in the room with you.  Not taking them off me for a second, until I come join you on the bed.

I will make up for our missed time together.  Mommy promises you that.  I love you.  Every fibre of you. 

You are very much loved little guy.

I'm feeling better.  This can be because the tax season ends Friday or because I booked us a long weekend away at the end of the month or both. 

The end of the tax season most definitely doesn't mean the end of my busy work schedule but not seeing so many clients a day does help to reduce the stress level.  We are all going away for Jason's birthday at the end of the month.  He loves the place we are going to.  It's his absolute favourite place.  I even tried to bribe him into going to the sea but he would have nothing of that lol

Some things I'm doing to reduce my stress level:

• Say no
• I am trying to force myself to only think/worry about one thing at a time.  I have this thing where I have a zillion thoughts running through my mind, things that need to get done.  Now I am trying to teach myself to make notes of all the things and only concentrate on one thing at a time.
• Stop trying to force so much work into one day.  I push myself to complete whatever I'm busy with before I go home in the afternoon.  I set goals for myself and I work at it as fast as possible to get it all done in my time frame.  Which is most often only mine and not my client's. 
• Spend more time doing fun things with the boys.  It always relaxes me.  Instantly.
• Take my time nursing Zander as my time.  Where I sit back and think of nothing else but nursing him and stroking his little chubby hands.

I have an eye infection.  I wore no make-up today.  I wonder what my clients thought of me!  Well, I normally don't' wear much anyway, so maybe no-one noticed?  One can only live in hope hey!