What Does Your Ideal Life Look Like and Are You Living It?

 Are you living your ideal life? We all imagine what our lives will look like. Notice that I said "Ideal", not perfect .... be realistic. This is not the time to say "No, my prince charming did not come on a horse and swoop me off to his Castle". We are not living in a fairytale! So, when you look at the aspects of your life, right now, would you say that it is ideal?

Your definition of ideal should not involve comparing yourself or your life to others'. Ideal should involve your feelings and what you rate as important for you. An ideal life should be about all the pieces of the puzzle fitting neatly together. Ideal should feel like everything is balanced, because you have worked out what is most important to you and you have let go of things you don't rate. 

If we were to break down the areas of our lives they may include our home, our schedule, our job, our friends, our financial situation, our kids, how we parent, our attitude, our relationships, our fitness, our health, the way we deal with situations, our contribution to our community and the world ... The list could be quite long, but what matters for one may not even appear on someone else's list.

Life moves fast and we don't always have control over the way things go, but we often have choices. As we grow, our ways of looking at things often change, as our idea of ideal can change too. 

That's OK. 

What we think is an ideal life as a child, or teen, or young adult, may be very different to our idea of ideal when we have experienced life and have some knowledge of the world. Definitions change!

When you look at all of the aspects of your life, right now, how does reality compare to your ideal, imagined life?

Which bits are close? 

Which bits are vastly different?

Why are there differences? 

Do you want to reach your ideal?

What do you have to do to make that happen?

Have you sacrificed some areas of your life to build another? 

For me?

           I know that there are some aspects of my life that aren't necessarily ideal, yet they are reasonable. I can cope with the stage they are at. 

          There are a few areas that I have pondered over and toyed with most of my life. Trying to get them to a stage of "reasonable" is a struggle, with the changes within life, myself and the world always tilting the table one way or another. These areas will probably be a work in progress for years to come. 

          There are a couple of areas that have just fallen into place over time, with little effort, and continue to be easy. I dare not mess with these, and ask no questions and count my blessings.

           Mostly, I have a tendency to plod along, being swept down the stream of life and doing the best to not hit my head on the boulders on the way. Occasionally I stand back to look things over, like I am doing right now. I believe that nearly anything can be improved, so of course, there are always a few things that I note are not, in fact, ideal in my life, and that its time to get to work and change them.

I think that having an ideal(not prefect!) image of our lives is healthy. Like dreams, it gives us something to aim for. As long as the the image is realistic and achievable, why should our lives be less than ideal?

Organised Mum, happy school kids

How many things are on at your school each month that you need to remember? How do you remember all of these, or more likely, how many times have you forgotten something? With only two kiddies, I struggle to keep on top of their school and social agendas.

I have been guilty of dropping my daughter at school in full uniform, to find all the others children in free dress. I have also felt that dread, to see the library bag still hanging from a chair on library day. Or feeling I have forgotten something important, to realise it was the cut-off to return a permission slip.

So how does an organised parent keep their sanity and their "great parent" status?

My approach is attack the situation from all angles.

We have a family calendar where we write each month's appointments, special days, events, etc.

I cross-reference this with my diary, which has a permanent home in the kitchen.

I also have my trusty Android phone, which alerts me when I get up if the day involves an event at school which needs money or particular clothing.

Our school has Free dress day, raffles to be returned, cupcake day, carnivals, presentation assemblies, parent/teacher meetings, mini-concerts, excursions, annual fair, NOT TO MENTION library day, sports day, show and tell, choir, after-school sports; these are written on a magnetic planner which lives on the fridge........ O M G!

So I would love to know what your tips and tricks are to staying organised and remembering everything through the week.

Protect The Land Of The Free

The President of The United States did what he had to do. Barack Obama has used his executive powers to sign off on 23 actions, with more to be voted on by Congress, all in the effort to protect the people of his country.

In my mind, it is long overdue. The gun laws have been too loose for too long. As in Australia in 1996 at Port Arthur, it has taken the mass loss of innocent lives in Connecticut to spur the leader into action. I see no reason for high powered guns in society. There are many people who are too irresponsible or unstable to have firearms at their disposal at all.

"This time must be different" said Obama. "This is the land of the free and home of the brave and always will be".

Certainly, too many people have had to brave the loss of loved ones, taken by the miss use of guns in The United States. Too many have had to endure the terror they have experienced in the many mass shootings across the US, being haunted by visions and sounds forever more.

The people of "the land of the free" should not live everyday in fear. That is not being free! The people they vote into Congress and as The President, to lead their country and make the big decisions, have an obligation to set this right. They must ensure the safety of the people.

I am not anti-guns, if that is your thought. I think they have their place.
My husband owns several, each with a purpose. He uses them to shoot game, which we then use to feed ourselves or our dog. He has also helped a relative cull wildlife on farming land from time to time. He has been taught to shoot and handle guns responsibly, and also that firearms are deadly weapons. We both grew up with our fathers using guns, stored in our homes. Hubby also plans to teach our children how to use guns.

The current gun laws in Australia insist that a gun holder is licensed. To get this license, you must pass the test, both written and practical. You must also give evidence that you have a reason and a place to use your firearm. The firearms must be purchased from an authorised dealer, be registered, and followed by a 21 day cooling off period. The firearms must be stored in an authorised, lockable, gun safe. These are a just a few of the hoops to jump through to be allowed to possess a firearm in Australia. All are necessary. These laws were introduced after The Port Arthur massacre in 1996, which also saw a mass buy-back enforced for all firearms which would now be unlawful, being semi-automatic and automatic guns.

I hope that the new laws for firearms in The United States help to protect the people and help them to feel safe. Guns have no place in day to day living in modern society. These are my hopes and beliefs.
Please follow this link to read more on Obama's Gun Package.

What are your thoughts on the new actions Obama has signed off on? Will they help to make a difference? What is your view on firearms? Please share your opinion, which will not attract judgement.

Joining in with With Some Grace

To reproduce ... or not?

It was never a question for me. It was just a given, always, that I would have children. Sort of the same as I have always known that Chocolate is my favourite flavour. So when hubby and I looked at whether having a family was for us, it was definitely a strong factor. I was lucky that we were able, unlike others that wish for the same and are denied. I wonder about the pressure put on those that have chosen not to reproduce though.

Just as not everyone is successful and/or capable of driving, the same applies with parenting. I actually think there should be some prerequisites to becoming a parent. I'm sure if there were, it would save some children, and families,  a lot of heartache.

I personally know people that have made the choice not to reproduce. They get all the questions of "why not?", "don't you like children?", "what if you grow lonely?" ..... So many questions! While these questions are asked, do people really take in the answers and the opinions of this minority. There are so many reasons not to have children. Some of these reasons remain the same as one hundred years ago, like the economy, family medical history, career, personal medical risk, timing, the stress of raising children... but some are reasons of this era, like over-population and social unrest.

Whatever the reason to not have children, shouldn't it be one everyone is able to make. The decision of whether to re-produce, or not, is one of the bigger choices to make in life. I would say that the ones who have chosen not to, have been through every argument in their head ... I couldn't be so confident to say that about all of those who chose to re-produce.

To make that decision to have children of your own can not be taken back once the ball is rolling. From the moment that decision is set in concrete, lives will change, decisions will need to be made, as well as sacrifices, and even though some people may feel maternal or paternal, I have not met anyone yet who has not found parenting a challenge.

There is no denying that I love my two children to bits, not to mention my nieces and nephews. I find parenting a huge challenge though, and not at all as easy as I thought.
I take my hat off to those who sit down and  admit, this is not for me, for whatever reason.

What are your views? Did you question whether to re-produce or not? Did you go with your original decision, or change your mind?

The steps to a successful kids party?

We have attended a few kids parties and also held a few parties. With the help of Pinterest and our past experience, I planned Master 5's Birthday Party to be enjoyable, simple and fun.

My first instinct was to pay outrageous prices and throw the party at a venue that organised everything, including food, cake, entertainment, party bags and decorations. This idea is so appealing as it lowers the stress factor considerably, not to mention the cleanup efforts.
We opted for the more personal and cheaper option in the end. Why? It meant that Master 5 could invite all of his friends instead of limiting the number to 10. Also there are so many discount stores now where you can buy party supplies at great prices, like your plates, cups, balloons, party bag bits and pieces, etc. We also wanted a local venue for the convenience of all guests.

So this is how the party panned out, and the parts that made it a success.

Cake 
I like to make the cake myself, unless the kids request something totally beyond my skills (which are quite limited). Again, there are many things on the market now to help you do this. I am a huge fan of the Cake Toppers available in different themes, ready to add to the top of your cake. I get mine from The Cheesecake Shop. I went in ready to get something around the theme of Fireman Sam or Lightening McQueen, neither of which were available. I then spied a very cool (by 5 year old standards) A4 Super Mario Bros. Cake Topper. SOLD!

We bought a large cake tin a couple of years ago, which proved to be a good investment. It was the perfect size for the A4 Cake Topper, which I positioned off-center to leave room for some candles. I used Betty Crockers Super Moist Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix x 4 and added green food colouring to the Frosting (included with the cake mix) to decorate the cake, along with some large coloured choc balls. I wrapped a board in some colourful wrapping paper to place the cake on, and my job was done.

Venue
We wanted a local park with BBQ facilities, shelter and play equipment. We chose not to go with the larger park, complete with bike track, play equipment, swings, etc. WHY? The park we did choose was smaller and less popular, which meant that we could monitor the children better. We didn't want to be searching across a sea of little heads trying to pick which kids belonged to our party. The smaller park meant we had exclusive use of the play equipment, park grounds and toilets, allowing us free reign on what activities we did and how noisy we could be. We also reserved the BBQ area through our local council for a small fee to ensure it was available.

Time
On the invitation I specifically wrote 11am - 1.30pm. WHY? People like to be able to plan their day. If a parent is staying at the party, they like to know how much of their day it is going to take up, so they can then plan accordingly. If the parent is not staying, this gives a clear indication of when they should return to collect their child. Also, giving a time allows the parent to prepare their child for the duration of the party, sometimes by giving a rest time beforehand, or by informing the child that the party will be about as long as Playgroup, so that get some indication of timing.

Supervision
Regardless of the age of the children, supervision is important. Accidents happen, children have disagreements, not every venue is 100% child-proof and children are inquisitive.
I encouraged parents to stay if they wanted to and/or thought their child would prefer. The majority of the children at the party were 4-5 years old, and while some are confident, can tend to their own needs and communicate well, not all fall into these categories, especially when in the company of strangers, in a large space, surrounded by a noisy group, and distracted with excitement. It is also a good idea to stand in front of the group and introduce yourself so the children know that if they have a question, need something or are upset, that they know your name and that you are the parent they can come to.

What comes next?
Children, particularly younger ones, benefit from clear instruction and knowing what is coming. It is good practise with children, so they can prepare and get a sense of time, to keep them informed what they will be doing, for how long, and what comes next. So, for example, you might let the children know that they will play Duck, duck, goose until everyone gets a turn and then have something to eat.

Games
The games we played were not based around a reward or a winner. A great range of Party games can be found on our Pinterest Board - Party Games. We chose games that were age appropriate and fun for a group.

Doggy, Where's Your Bone?
The person in the middle (The Doggy), hides their eyes while a person from the circle grabs the bone. The circle then sings
Doggy, Doggy, where's your bone?
Somebody stole it from your home.
Guess who!  Maybe you...
Maybe the monkeys from the zoo.
Wake up doggy, find your bone.

The Doggy then has 3 guesses which of the people sitting around the circle may have the bone, all of whom have their hands behind their backs. With each guess, the person shows their hands. The person who had the bone then is the next Doggy.

Duck, Duck, Goose
The group sits in a circle facing the centre with one person walking around the outside. This person walks around the circle tapping each person on the head lightly, saying Duck to each one, meaning that this person remains seated. The person must chose one in the circle to chase them, to whom they say Goose. The Goose then chases around the circle until they reach their original spot in the circle. The last of the two to sit in the Goose's spot, now becomes the person on the outside of the circle.

Sack Races
Sacks can be anything of suitable size and durability. We used Wheat Bags. Each child puts their legs into a sack and stands at the line. At the command of "Go" the people in the sacks jump toward the finish line. This game always gets a laugh and kids love to race again and again.






Follow The Leader
The person at the front of the line is The Leader. The rest of the people in the line must go where The Leader goes, and to make it more fun they can also move like The Leader.








Food
Wanting to keep it simple we opted for some old favourites.
We chose to have sausages and cocktails in bread, which were great to warm the belly on the windy day. We also provided colourful biscuits, bananas coated in chocolate and decorated, cake in ice cream cones, caramel slice, chocolate crackles, mini cupcakes, top hats, chips and sandwiches.

All of these and more can be found on our Pinterest Board - Party food

Lastly, remember that this is a kids party!
It is easy to get caught up in being organised, being responsible and keeping events on track. Remember that schedules need to be a little flexible and there should be a fun atmosphere. I am sure that if I had told the children at our party that they couldn't keep playing Duck, duck, goose for over 20 minutes, because I had so many others things on my list for them to do, I may have ruined the atmosphere and been a little unpopular.

Word for word, they are listening

When the adults are gathered around, talking about their day, going through various topics and voicing their opinions, where are the children? Oh, it's OK - they are busy watching their favourite television program, they are not taking any of the chatter in.

I have witnessed first hand that this is not always the case.

Children may be fully focused on the television screen, they may be laughing along to the antics on their favourite show, they may even not respond when you say their name several times. They are, on the other hand, still taking in parts of the conversation in the background, ears pricked and brain sucking like a sponge. Admittedly, they keep one ear cocked purely so they don't miss out on any opportunities, but it is amazing the things they remember about who said what and the exact context with which it was used.

I have various examples.

Hubby and his mates often gather in the shed, also know here as "the man cave". They sit and reminisce, telling jokes and ribbing each other. Occasionally, they may be doing something constructive as well.
They were doing this one particular day when hubby called his mate some descriptive words that he reserves for adult conversation only. But this was OK, because the children were not in the shed. They were playing in the adjacent yard. He could hear them jumping on the trampoline, laughing and chatting.
A while later the children came out of the yard, just as hubby's mate exited the shed. My son and hubby's mate got in each others way. My son, only 3 at the time was quick to say "Out of the way", but then added the descriptive words, just as hubby had phrased them awhile back in the shed.
It was unmistakable that he had heard hubby's words exactly, and had now used them in the same context. It's funny how kids learn words and where they should be used so quickly. Hubby and his mates now speak in hushed tones in "the man cave".

Another example involves my father-in-laws love of boating.
He has two boats, but loves his Huon Pine Motor/ Sail boat. He speaks with passion about his boat, mostly to the grandchildren, as they are a much more accepting and engrossed audience, as he tells stories of his hopes and dreams for himself on boating adventures.
On our way past a bridge recently, our son must have been thinking about "Pop's boat". Hubby and I were discussing our agenda for the day when, quite out of the blue, Master 4 piped up with "Pop's boat is just right you know? Not too big, not too small. Just right." Hubby and I looked at each other with a grin. It was as if my father-in-law was in the car with us. The description were his words. My son had obviously heard him say this many times in one of his raves to his friends.

Children are learning all of the time, and a great way for them to learn is through listening to others and hearing how words are put together. Unfortunately, they may hear conversation that is not meant for them. This can and should be avoided where possible. Other times, they pick up some great use of language in words and tones.

They key is to remember, that children are always listening. 

Have you found your kids have been listening when you thought they weren't? Or do they say things word for word that they have picked up from others?

My son was ready to sleep at school....

Master 4 started his school holidays, saying he hated school. Today was his first day back after 2 weeks, and he told the teacher he was going to sleep at school overnight, and it didn't matter that there was no TV.

Has he had a dramatic change of heart? Did he have such a good day that he never wants to come home again?

Well, the teacher's report was very positive. She said he had a good day.... it is very rare to hear this. Then, out of his own mouth, Master 4 declared he really did have a good day. Should I be over-joyed or suspicious? I mean, hubby and I were having chats with the teacher every week regarding behaviour, sometimes twice a week, and he only attends Kindergarten 3 days a week!

I walked Master 4 into school this morning with hesitation as to what today might bring, or what his teacher would say today. I need not have worried.

So, back to why Master 4 was going to sleep at school.
It may have something to do with the fact that I arrived late to collect him. The poor mite was the last left in class, and the only cars in the car park belonged to the teachers. So I slinked into the class to reassure Master 4 that we really do love him, and wouldn't really leave him at school forever. By this time, Master 4 had it all figured out where he was going to sleep and what he would play with.

Hubby thought this was a little funny. Not that Master 4 was late being collected from school, but that it was me who had committed the sin of losing track of time, and potentially forgetting our own child.
He played it for all it was worth too, giving Master 4 cuddles and words of comfort when he arrived home.

Hmmmph! As if ....  My halo is a little crooked but still in tact.


I linked up with
life on planet baby

and appeared in

Who is hounding the average-build couch potato?

Damned if you do, damned if you don't! That's how I feel about this weeks article and photo of Chrissie Swan and her sons. It sure has got the tongues wagging in the debates about obesity and parenting.

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 The thing that makes me laugh is I hear so many people say they would like to see more "normal sized" people on magazines and TV, instead of stick-thin people that are well below the average size. As soon as this happens though, the critics and wannabe-critics come out in full force to tear these people and their lifestyles apart. The amount of assumptions and judgements I have read about Chrissie and her family from this one article is amazing, and a little tragic in my opinion.

Chrissie spoke about her weight when she appeared as a contestant on Big Brother Australia in 2003. This was my first introduction to Chrissie, as it was for many others around the nation. I liked her instantly for her humour, her morals, her intelligence and confidence. I have been a fan ever since. More recently, she publicly joined Jenny Craig to lose weight with the aim of falling pregnant. I am sure that diet, health and nutrition have been fore-front in her mind for quite some time.

Parents are judged on every single aspect these days at a glance. So many assumptions are made, without knowing the facts. To look at a lovely photo of Chrissie and her sons and ignore the joy and love on their faces, just to degrade it with assumptions of sugar intake, lack of exercise, portion size, and parenting neglect is wrong.

A persons weight is just one indicator to be aware of, and when you are talking about children who have not yet grown, then so much can yet change.

I find it a little stupid to make such assumptions at a glance, when some people I know and their families fall into the average build category. Yet, I have seen their lack of exercise and ignorance to diet and nutrition.
Who is hounding the average build person with questions on responsible parenting?

This topic has come at a significant time for me, as I am still waiting for a reply from Coles on their Lack of support to my health.

If you are interested in some websites with more information on nutrition or lack of for children, please see the following:

Parents Jury, Fame and Shame Awards

The Junk-o-meter for TV

Ellyn Satter - guide for children and adults on eating

Dear Coles, Your support to my health sucks

Dear Coles,
I did my grocery shopping online today. I love this system. You have done a great job implementing this tool which makes sure you are catering for people of all walks of life. Life is busy, and you get that.

You obviously don't understand the importance of eating healthy though. If you want to look after your customers and get them coming back, then I suggest you get behind the need for Australians to eat healthy. I mean, are you happy being a factor in the biggest health dilemma of our time?

As much as I love your store and your online shopping feature, I must admit, I am only loyal to you because of the specials and deals you can offer. I scanned the specials section whilst shopping online today, trying to squeeze the best out of my budget, and found myself quite disgusted at the amount of specials being offered on foods I would class as "junk" or "sometimes food".

I note that periodically through the year there are different themes highlighted in your specials, such as baby items or pet care. Have you ever thought of devoting a specials catalogue occasionally to healthy options? Have you given any thought to how expensive it is to eat healthy? Or, perhaps this would not be as profitable as appealing to the sugar addicted or the savoury munchers? Here's a tip; most of these people would eat better with a bit of encouragement from a Supermarket giant to add something healthy to their diet every couple of weeks.

I know you think you have your eye on the ball, offering recipes that appeal to families and those trying to look after their health, but with a bit of effort and commitment you could offer your customers so much more. How about highlighting the healthiest choice within a range of product? How about bonus shopper points for a trolley with a large number of healthy items? How about supporting the schools across the country trying to encourage healthy lunch box habits? How about a Nutritionist in your store to answer questions?

I am not saying that food choice is the only factor in the rise of obesity in Australia. There are other contributing factors, but the food portion is your area of expertise, and something you would do well to look into, should you wish to gain long-term customer loyalty. It is obviously not enough to make healthy foods available to the masses. People need help with making these foods affordable, with putting these foods together to get the benefits, with looking after their special dietary needs that the modern diet has contributed to, with choices and options best for their families' needs, with healthy food becoming the easy option again.

So, will you rise to the challenge? I hope I live long enough to see it happen, Coles.

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Sharing my limited wisdom

My son is a bit of an enigma - or so thinks his Kindergarten Teacher.

If you have been following for a while, then you may have already figured out that Master 4 can be a little full on. He is an action packed boy, with lots of energy and a lot of imagination.

As a parent, I have made it my job to seek information on the best methods for dealing with his energy. I have done a parenting course where I picked up a few tricks. I have tried to arm myself to help this person grow and become a man.

So when his teacher calls me in to have a "chat" about his attitude and behaviour, I think, this could be interesting. When she tells me that I need to give her the answers of how to deal with him, I think, it has taken me over four years to figure this kid out, therefore I only have four years experience. I compare this with her 30 years experience of teaching alongside the experience she had raising her own three sons. Hmmm .... what has she been all of these years?

I appreciate that every child is different, but if you sit done and analyse, they usually fit into one of several boxes. I also appreciate that the teacher is communicating her concerns with us instead of shrugging her shoulders and letting Master 4 slip into the too hard basket. I also appreciate that she has a full class of 25.

So after giving the teacher a little of my wisdom (of which I am now wondering what it could be worth on the market), and a little insight into how my little boy ticks, I hope that she has been armed with some tools, which could also enrich her teaching abilities.

My son is definitely not an enigma. He is an intelligent, active, growing boy who is work in progress.

Slave for a day or just pushed for time?

Do you get your kids to do everything themselves? I believe in teaching responsibility, pride and confidence, and getting them to try something, even if they need a little help. This morning, though when the Kindergarten teacher commented that I was being the slave for my 4 year old, I had to take a moment to assess the situation.

I am not the most patient person and sometimes a little soft, and that is often where my problem lies. I also have to remind myself to slow down when I have time up my sleeve, as I tend to move at one pace through the day. I also believe, though, that children are children and need to learn age appropriate things. I think that this learning is best done at a time that is suitable to them and you.

When I am rushing around in the morning trying to make sure 3 people are ready to go out the door, I would rather do a task myself than pull a child away from the bathroom to do it. I often start loading up the car while the kids finish getting ready. I know time is crucial when I have to stop off at two separate schools, and then make it to work on time. When I know that my son is having a shaky week coping in his first semester ever at school, I will carry his bag over to his hook and hang his hat above it. This was exactly the scenario from this morning.

Image source

Sometimes it is quicker and easier to do a task myself. I also get peace of mind knowing that something is done and in it's place.

It's not that I don't see the value of children doing things themselves. I do! And we practice and encourage this at home often. At home, we are not pushed for time and there is room to try things several times to get it right. If time permits, then I encourage the children to do as much as they can. I am such a believer in having a go.

So, while I did stop and assess this morning, I came to the conclusion that things were as they should be.

How do you manage your children and their learning?

Linking up with Singular Insanity

Tread lightly ... there are toys underfoot

I need help Mum. I can't do this by myself. This will take forever.

Oh, the arguments my daughter and I have had about cleaning her room! And she's only 8!
I know, I know .... there are many more to come.

I seriously feel we come from two different planets.  Or maybe I'm speaking a language that she can not understand.  Either way we are not on the same wave-length.

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I am not a neat freak by any means. I like my home to look lived in. I like it when friends come over and they automatically feel comfortable tucking their socked feet under them on our lounge. When you walk into our house, there are not always clean, empty benches and tables. We are a busy family ... and we live here. That is how I like it.

I do like things to have a home. Toys need a toy-box, books need a bookcase, clothes need a wardrobe. You put things away as you finish with them.  Do you get my drift? Admittedly, we have a small home, and there is never enough storage, ever. I have worked with my daughter in finding solutions for this, when it comes to her room.  I also like to be able to walk into her room, or around her bed without treading on things. I don't think that is too much to ask.

I have stripped her room bare a few times, pulling everything into the hallway, spare the bed, and bedside drawers. The wardrobe is a good sized built-in, with lots of shelving and hanging space. I see these 3 items as essentials for the room, everything else is optional.
We then go through her possessions. We slowly, and painfully add things back to the room in order of importance, and find homes for things as we go. I don't see it as rocket science.

I also set up a reward system for my daughter, where she is paid to clean her room once a week. If it is not done, then she has to pay me the same amount to do it for her. She liked this idea. It works to a certain degree. Not without the whinging and moaning, every single time.

Finally, this weekend, after the dreaded job was completed for the week my daughter came up with a great solution to her problem.

"Mum, if I don't mess up my room, then it won't take so long to clean".

She stood in front of me, I could see the glow from the light-bulb hovering above her head.

In my head, the crickets sounded really loud.  Why didn't I think of that!