Honesty and Art

I feel like I should begin this post with, "Hi. My name is Simone and I'm a blogaholic..."
I try, I really do, to keep my blogging to the hours when the baby's asleep and the kids are at school. But sometimes I just can't help myself. It's my slightly addictive personality at work, you see. Pre-kids I was a workaholic. I burnt myself out, living with no boundaries. I learnt the hard way to chill, baby, chill.
But the tendency to go too far is still there.
Just five more minutes, OK?
Just one more paragraph, OK?
Just one more photo upload, OK?

Too often my kids are tugging at my sleeve and pleading, "Mum, get off that computer!!"

We were driving in the car the other day and Dash was complaining, "Mum, you spend way too much time on the computer. You never play with us!!" Awwww, you cut me deep, Shrek!
It was a wake-up call. I had to apologise to them, there and then.

I ate humble pie and admitted to them that I don't always know when to stop. I told them, if you see me going on the computer too long, you can say, "Mum, you're doing too much, you have to stop..."


And seeing that it's the school holidays at the moment, that's a tough one for me to keep. But I am trying to turn over a new leaf and really focus on the kids and do more stuff with them (not that I completely ignore them all the time and let them run wild while I bloghop - no, really. Hardly ever!)

Right now I am sneaking in some computer time while Miss Fab is at gymnastics, Scrag is asleep and Dash is watching a new Star Wars DVD. (Actually no, right now he is standing here looking over my shoulder and reading what I am writing. He wants a "special coffee". And for me to come and watch the DVD with him... which I will. As soon as I have uploaded these photos of the kids doing their Art...)

So after turning over my new improved creative-mother-leaf, yesterday, I took the kids for an "Art Class", at their request. In other words, I was their Art Teacher. It was great!!
They paid for it with chores (teehee): tidy rooms, folded washing, emptied dishwasher... My classes don't come cheap.
Then we painted some canvases together.

Miss Fab did hers all by herself (of course).

Dash (who's new passion is Star Wars) wanted me to do a space picture for him; he watched and gave advice on colours and object placement while I painted; then he added the finishing touches - fire shooting from the spaceship's guns.


We had a lovely non-computer day. (I was absolutely drained and done-in at the end of it. Withdrawal??? Do I need professional help?? A Blog-atine patch to wear on my arm??)

Oh well. Only one more week of School holidays, then I will get my regular computer time without the guilt.
I'm off to watch Star Wars now with my son. I never did get to see how Anakin turned into Darth Vader, so I'm really looking forward to it.

But I'll be seeing you... you know I can't resist for long!