Welcome to the bloggy home of Claire Chadwick. I'm the face & designer behind Scissors Paper Rock Designs, a wife to Chris, Mummy to the Divine Miss Ella & our newest addition; Baby Ryder. I'm a Primary School Teacher by trade, but recently shut my classroom door to pursue other BIG dreams of Freelance Writing. I am also excited to announce that my first Children's Picture Book {So Many Sounds} will hit stores in June 2013.This blog is my little online space where I weave together my reflections and stories of Motherhood. I illustrate with photos.... and drink plenty of coffee to keep me going. I'm on a mission to turn the mundane moments of motherhood into MAGICAL ones.
Join me in seeping as much goodness out of life, {whilst I continue to drink way too much coffee & take way too many photos} and together we can make the most of our WILD & PRECIOUS LIVES!
I'd love to hear from you....comment on my posts or send me an email. Buckle up, Enjoy the ride!
This week, I did something for the '52 A Portrait A Week' project that I said I wouldn't do - I've used iPhone / Instagram photos instead of 'better' quality shots from my DSLR. But, it's been a week that required my attention and focus in other areas, and my camera hardly got used. However, my iPhone is always on hand and had these great captures of my 2 little Loves.
Today, we woke early, but it felt good. I passed out at 7:30pm last night putting Ryder to bed. I woke in a panic at 8:30pm; to discover Chris had put Ella to bed, and all was right with the world :) I was exhausted though....and fell asleep a few minutes later on the couch, until Chris dragged me upstairs at 10pm.
As explained by my specialist, my immune system is working overtime in attempt to fight off a disease - a disease it is unable to fight off alone! Therefore, mixed with general life, adulthood, sleep deprivation, parenthood and working while being a stay-at-home-Mumma - I'm tired.
But I'm getting better at listening to my body. I'm not ignoring the symptoms or warning signs anymore. I'm succumbing to rest much easier now, and not feeling so guilty about it. This means, blog posts aren't daily and writing jobs are sometimes delayed by a day {or several}. It means my linen cupboard isn't organised and the gardens need a serious weeding. But hey, I'm keeping on top of the most important things - my health, my sanity, and my family.
Today, was ANZAC day. A Thursday which felt more like a Sunday.
We lazed all morning in pj's and bed-hair. And baked Anzac Cookies, of course...
Best enjoyed still warm, with a side of cold milk...
Then after Ryder had a nap, and we were showered and presentable to the outside world....
We headed out, the four of us. Lunch at the Coffee Club followed by a wine top-up at Dan Murphy's.
Next year we'll head into the city and watch my Dad march in the parade. But this year, with a toddler {who has an ear infection.....ugh} and a big, emotional day ahead of us tomorrow....we didn't stray too far today.
The local park called......a perfect sunset play was to be had....
Park trips seem to be an almost daily ritual for us. It's always the perfect way to burn off energy, get some fresh air....and have some fun!
Tonight has been quiet. A home cooked dinner, a few glasses of red wine {I'm gorging a little before my fasting begins at midnight} and listening to Ella pump out her home-reader book like an old pro. Followed by some writing. I've been writing A LOT lately - biography paragraphs, reviews, emails, informative articles, interview questions, more emails, media releases, learning activities, dedication pieces, more emails etc etc. But tonight, this writing - blog post writing, felt good. Felt easy.
I head to hospital tomorrow morning to undergo surgery. And then it's time to look up, and move on...
And as I sign off for the night, I'll leave you with this YouTube clip. Written and performed by my inspirational Father. A man of many talents.
To the ANZACS....or really for anyone lost, fought, sacrificed or survived in any form of war...
Last week presented a hugely exciting moment for me - my book's front cover was revealed!
What do you think??
Seeing my name in print - the hugest of ticks off my bucket list! This truly is a lifetime wish - a dream come true! And I hope this is just the first of many, successful children's books - written by me!
Trevor, my illustrator is finishing up the colour on each page and then we're all systems go to get this baby formatted and printed! I literally can not wait to hold a copy of this book in my hands.
So Many Sounds will be available in paperback, and in an eBook version.
I am so excited. I hope you too are looking forward to seeing this little dream of mine unfold?!
I have been busily working away here, behind the scenes - organising my book's online tour, making educational activities & resources to go with the book, emailing contacts, plotting Author visits and readings, putting together press releases and contact information packs! I'm learning so much, and am just dying to have this all out into the world!
Have you subscibed to my newsletter on my site? If not, I recommend you do :) No, I won't SPAM you or share your personal info. But I will keep you up to date with the book's launch and special deals/giveaways I will be running!
My second book has been written, and assessed by my editor. She loves it. I love it. And hopefully if all the stars align, it will also be published in the next 6-9months!!! One can only dream.....and dream BIG!
Thanks again for the support. The emails, comments and social media interactions have been fueling me along. I hope you and your kids enjoy this book - it's gonna be a hoot :)
{A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013}
Ryder: Insisting of wearing his sister's shoes around the house, even though they're too big {and pink}. Sporting yet another little bruise to the forehead from one of his recent stumbles and his ever-cheeky smile.
Ella: The winter pj's have come out - all snugged up one coolish morning - with her toy cat in hand, of course.
P.S. Sorry if my photo quality looks a little crapola this week - I did something to the file size when uploading them and my kid's faces have become a little blury. Will try and fix later :)
As Sunday rolled on and I became more and more exhausted, I scripted a blog post in my mind about how tired I am and how hard I'm finding the smallest of jobs lately. I was planning on writing the post later that night once the kids were in bed. I was going to be honest and open about how hard parenthood can be at times and how mentally drained I am at the moment.
But then I saw this segment on Sixty Minutes. And realised how whiney and ungrateful my post was going to sound. How pathetic my train-of-thoughts really were....in the big scheme of things, I really have NOTHING to complain about,.... when it comes to Motherhood.
Yeah, parenthood is hard sometimes. Yeah, I'm tired and mentally drained and a little sick of cooking meals to have them sprawled all over the floor and ending up in the bin. I'm quite over the lack of sleep. I'm finding '17months' mixed with 'boy' quite stressful. And yeah, I sometimes feel lonely in this motherhood journey and basically......just run down.
And then I see a true life story of a dying boy, and the torment his parents are going through. And I think of Rachel and her living nightmare. These parents would do ANYTHING to have sleepless, tiring, busy toddlers. ANYTHING!
It throws things into perspective doesn't it?
Yes, Ryder is keeping me on my toes and draining a lot of mental and emotional space out of me. He's a toddler! Toddlers are exhausting! And then on top of this, I get riddled with guilt about how much time and attention he requires right now, compared to Ella. Finding that balance and dismissing the guilt is what I'm finding hardest!
But I know it's a phase! And, like all phases, I know it won't stay like this forever.
And I need to realise it's just a lull - a crazy concoction of school holidays, toddlerhood, a recent diagnosis, an upcoming book launch and Chris being couch-bound with a severe leg infection. Things will change soon. I'm sure of it.
Yet more importantly....and where I need to shift my thinking back to.....is all the blessings I'm so grateful for. I have two amazing little Souls. Who I love more than life itself. Who I want to give the best possible upbringing to. They are healthy and alive and although, exhausting, they are both amazing balls of positive energy. And although this post started whiney, I will finish it with love. Because my kids are LOVE. And to be honest, I wouldn't change a thing about them. They are the epiphany of perfection - in my eyes. The happiness they bring me - far outweighs the stress and exhaustion.
And then Monday......as a new day greeted us and I made an effort to let things slow down, take shape and calm...... I find this:
YEP! A four leaf clover!
I took Ryder out front to play on the plastic slide. As he climbed slowly up the steps, I breathed in the fresh Autumn air. I looked down at the cold clover patch under my bare feet and pretty much saw it straight away. Four cloves of luck staring back at me :)
Couldn't have come at a better time! Seriously!
Yesterday - I could already feel a welcomed change in the air - in our home. Yes, Chris's leg is still bad and Ryder is still climbing, falling, throwing, running, sooking and challenging, and work still sits unattended awaiting my attention. BUT....a new perspective and sense of calm has crept in. I hope it sticks around for a while.
Happy Wednesday All.
Tell me.....do you have any four leaf clover stories to tell me? How do you Mothers of boys do it? Are you as excited about my upcoming book launch as me? Are parenting lulls normal? And.....how's your week rolling?
The Autumn School Holidays are almost over. Monday will see school resume and routine restored.
The past two weeks has been lovely. Yes, that big fat elephant has been in the room all the time, but more importantly - we've had our girl home fulltime. We've managed to cram a lot into this past 2 weeks. No vacation trips away or extravagant adventures. But plenty of friends, and family and simple days of joy....
These past two weeks contained:
10 trips to the park, 3 indoor playgrounds, 1 Mummy/Daughter date, 1 trip to the cinemas, 1 family day-road-trip, 1 full carload of loud hypo kids, 3 morning craft sessions, 1 trip to the library, countless hot chips, 4 picnics, 1 day at the Rock Pools, 7 playdates, 1 tea-house-mountain-drive, numerous coffees, 5 trips to a Doctor or specialist, 2 packets of 'espresso' brown hair dye {goodbye blonde....you lasted a month!!}, zillions of books read and examined, 1 drawn-on wall, 2 eggs on the head {Ryder}, 1 severe injury {Chris}, many litres of rain, 2 beach trips, 14 'goodnight moon - driveway' sessions, 5 new pimples on my chin {easter egg overdose!}, 0 full night sleeps, 1 new story written {my next children's picture book}, a few too many toddler-tantrums, a zillion "I-love-you's", 1 website built, 1 song written/composed and 3 tanks of petrol in my car.
I hope your Autumn has been wonderful.
Winter is starting to make a debut....I can feel it in the air. Winter PJ's are being dug out and the windows are getting shut at dusk. I'm trying to load us all up on extra vitamin C and healthy-packed dinners to scare off any nasty winter bugs. I DO NOT want a repeat of last year! C'Mon immune system - you can do this!
Back to school next week. Ugh. I kinda like having her home. The house is going to be so quiet next week!
Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 7:06PM 
