tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:08:06 +0000parentingUniThe ramblings of a mother, wife, student!!!http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Caz)Blogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-9021160249285780073Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:38:00 +00002012-02-08T16:08:06.957+10:00 I have a horn and I'm not afraid to use it Okay, I'll admit it...I'm a honker.  While I consider myself to be a very considerate driver, if you break the rules and cause harm to everyone else, I'll give you a honk! The school drop off is the worst.  Parking on the very corner of the street, blocking all other traffic because you can't be bothered parking further away and your kid might get http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/-_RK9-T-uvw/honkers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/-_RK9-T-uvw" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2012/02/honkers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-8112370400376443104Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:44:00 +00002012-02-01T09:48:00.057+10:00Having scrubbed the house from top to bottom this morning, I am absolutely exhausted and utterly over being a 'domestic goddess'.  My hands smell of bleach and any thoughts I had earlier about getting it all done and then sitting in front of my books have gone out the window - my motivation is zero.  I've been doing house work for almost twenty years and I don't want to do it any more!  I'm thehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/EEGWyhEKXFs/slavery.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/EEGWyhEKXFs" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2012/02/slavery.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-2290343918580665986Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:01:00 +00002012-01-25T10:10:26.608+10:00UniDon't worry, I'm not going to regale you with my never-ending parenting wisdom (and lack thereof!) - God, how utterly boring I've been!  My summer semester is almost over and now the kids are back at school (oops, there they are again - sorry folks!), I have the whole day to myself to catch up on reading, writing and posting.  I have enjoyed my Gender, History and Culture course immensly and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/yxsqVsynPes/alls-well.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/yxsqVsynPes" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2012/01/alls-well.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-4474828806700964872Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:41:00 +00002012-01-14T12:04:14.071+10:00parentingToday my eldest is 18 - an adult!  Instead of being known as TD No. 1, she'll now be AD No. 1!  She can now drive (technically she's been able to do this since she was 17 but still won't get her licence!), vote, drink (legally!) and get herself to work!!  She's also just been accepted into university.  It's hard to believe I have a child who is an adult and it's occured to me, we both have some http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/LZE4QCDLyWM/today-my-eldest-is-18-adult-instead-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/LZE4QCDLyWM" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2012/01/today-my-eldest-is-18-adult-instead-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-5301577932752659097Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:20:00 +00002012-01-13T11:57:37.305+10:00 Ali's got nothin' on me In accordance with my self-regulated rules of the Year of Caz and having spent eighteen years trying to get my children to pick up and clean up after themselves, it's time the gloves came out - time to enforce some pretty simple Rules of the House: 1.  You leave it lying around - it's gone 2.  You refuse to clean up after your pet - you suffer the consequences 3.  Youhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/F52fANHrNSs/tough-love.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/F52fANHrNSs" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2012/01/tough-love.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-9181693708056400079Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:18:00 +00002012-01-05T07:36:57.805+10:00Waking up the other morning after returning from our glorious Christmas by the beach, I declared, 'I hate it here' - which in woman speak means, 'I'm not happy'.  True to male form, when I explained the house just represents being a slave to it and everyone in it, SH No. 1 said, 'Well, that's what life is all about'.  Not the answer I was looking for but it certainly got me motivated to start http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/ZKmjqdbjna0/its-all-about-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/ZKmjqdbjna0" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2012/01/its-all-about-me.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-7796019093173469285Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:52:00 +00002011-12-22T07:52:25.739+10:00  Take it from me - deciding to study two subjects in the middle of Christmas is the stupidest thing you could ever decide to do.  Not only am I furiously trying to finish an essay which is due on the 30th, I also have to read about a dozen sociology articles and maintain two online posts regarding those atricles, each week - as well as do all the Christmas shopping, wrapping, ferrying kids fromhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/9QiUO998TYk/yeah-merry-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/9QiUO998TYk" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/12/yeah-merry-christmas.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-8214417975542855329Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:44:00 +00002011-11-19T12:44:33.414+10:00Yesterday, TD No. 1 graduated from high school, today, she's driven away with her friends for a week on the Coast.  I can officially no longer smother her with sunscreen, order her to wear a hat or demand she be home by a certain time. Although the last couple of days have been quite emotional as I slowly come to grips that my little girl is no longer a little girl, I feel quite okay with it all http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/5dT_llqlraU/smother.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/5dT_llqlraU" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/11/smother.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-7510799819130945050Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:27:00 +00002011-11-18T14:51:39.660+10:00What would you say to your sixteen year old self if you could go back in time?  That's the premise for this great book by Joseph Galliano, Dear Me.  It features the letters of 75 well known personalities, writing letters to their sixteen year old selves. Check out the website and make your own contribution.  I did and boy, what a cathartic experience!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/44tP2rUTSf8/catharsis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/44tP2rUTSf8" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/11/catharsis.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-6708855846851079097Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:12:00 +00002011-11-10T14:09:15.116+10:00   A big thank you to my mate, Sarah, over at The Secret Life of an Unknown Housewife for giving me a Liebster Blog Award and my apologies for not acknowledging this award sooner!  The Liebster Blog Award is given to blogs with fewer than 200 followers (I'm lucky to have 34!), containing good content and warranting more support.  Yep, that's me.  Although, I must also say that through myhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/PRKiCXvAxLY/liebster-blog.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/PRKiCXvAxLY" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/11/liebster-blog.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-2929411261175970774Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:17:00 +00002011-11-07T09:39:09.243+10:00In  my last post ''What's in a name?', I explained how my dog Bindi was named because I heard Steve Irwin had a crocodile named Bindi and I thought it sounded like a cute name for a dog.  Yes, I know his daughter's name is also Bindi, who doesn't?  He named his daughter Bindi Sue, after both his crocodile and a pet dog.  How do I know this?  An interview he did on ABC years and years ago called, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/XSr-_sQJBPI/wrong-moi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/XSr-_sQJBPI" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/11/wrong-moi.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-2190173254561978728Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:12:00 +00002011-11-01T11:23:29.428+10:00 Bindi girl This morning as I was sitting on the deck trying to get my required daily dose of vitamin D, I was watching my little foxy, Bindi, as she sat there turning her head from side to side at the early morning sounds going on around us.  Bindi will be 9 in December, which isn't too old but it's getting up there.  She's starting to go grey around her face and eyebrows but apart from that http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/XU6Uye6L6nQ/whats-in-name.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/XU6Uye6L6nQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/11/whats-in-name.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-152826880795693378Sun, 30 Oct 2011 01:36:00 +00002011-10-30T11:45:28.292+10:00  Yes, I know it looks lame but it was fun!  TD No. 2 turned sweet 16 yesterday - 'and never been kissed?' I asked her, which was met with her almost chocking into her drink.  Don't want to know.  She decided months ago she wanted to celebrate with her favourite (American) tradition and have a Halloween party.  It continues to amaze me how sociable this current generation is.  Though it http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/NRieNe-8v20/sweet-16.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/NRieNe-8v20" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/10/sweet-16.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-5899390315877667857Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:49:00 +00002011-10-26T15:40:52.607+10:00Yesterday morning during breakfast, I went on a rant about how all I do is run around after everyone and I'm so tired and how on earth am I going to do anything over Summer Semester with the kids home on holidays - it'll be 'take me here, take me there' and why am I even bothering trying to get a degree, what's the point?  I'll never be able to use it anyway, I'll be too old, no-one will want me,http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/V4lzPpIdSyc/all-aboard-guilt-trip.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/V4lzPpIdSyc" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/10/all-aboard-guilt-trip.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-1818019310579450741Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:58:00 +00002011-10-11T10:11:12.484+10:00Usually all I do is walk around thinking about how much I hate being at home - driving kids everywhere, preparing meals, doing washing, cleaning, vacuuming and wondering WHEN IS IT ALL GOING TO END?!!!  Yesterday was my birthday and I went and had a two hour guilt-free pamper - facial, hot rock massage and manicure.  I walked out of that spa feeling as if I was walking on air.  Why don't I treat http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/6PBVTbZ1U-I/blue-skies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/6PBVTbZ1U-I" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/10/blue-skies.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-7073656991198242735Sat, 08 Oct 2011 01:04:00 +00002011-10-08T11:04:10.500+10:00 ...it's just that I finally feel confident enough to do whatever the hell I like! Each star represents each of my beautiful children and I may add colour later but for now, I'm quite happy with its subtlety.  What's even cooler is that my 62 year old mum got one too - a question mark on her left thumb.  I don't think the tattoo artist knew what hit him when we walked in.  He was pretty unfazed http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/2rgHdZfsWc0/its-not-mid-life-crisis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/2rgHdZfsWc0" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/10/its-not-mid-life-crisis.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-847114282564729483Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:15:00 +00002011-10-06T17:15:29.773+10:00In an effort to become a more disciplined blogger and make regular posts, I thought I'd fill you in on all the exciting projects I've taken up.  'Exciting' is a little tongue-in-cheek - I'm trying to build it up for you! I finally finished my ballerina cross-stitch for my neice.  It only took me about two and a half years and in my haste to give it to her for her sixth birthday, I forgot to takehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/siyns0kYWuI/ho-hum.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/siyns0kYWuI" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/10/ho-hum.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-8290853220165726127Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:23:00 +00002011-09-27T13:50:14.379+10:00Somehow I've gained new followers and I'm not sure why - I've been so slack.  Sorry to all my fellow bloggers for not keeping up with all your posts.  I'm going to get in and read them all today, I promise.  Since my last post, I've been wallowing in self-doubt and resentment and feeling kind of gloomy since deferring last semester.  It just makes me realise how much I love going to school and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/dbUoBYjr5O0/bad-blogger-award.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/dbUoBYjr5O0" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/09/bad-blogger-award.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-6994555643552482499Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:07:00 +00002011-08-19T14:16:02.207+10:00I knew it would only be a matter of time before 'life' and its myriad of problems caught up with me.  As many of you know, life with children and a partner can be quite challenging and in some respects, it gets more challenging as we all get older. With one child just barely making it through year 12 and another one hot on her heels, formals (proms), semi-formals (semi-proms?  I know, how http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/M437vCo4F8M/thats-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/M437vCo4F8M" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/08/thats-life.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-5221931441085693553Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:45:00 +00002011-07-29T06:45:59.648+10:00Well, my 'I know I can and I will' mantra faded somewhat the day before my first class, when I suddenly decided I can't do four subjects after all.  I withdrew from Prose Writing the day before the class started, mainly because it meant an early start and conflicted with SH No.1's work commitments.  Anyway, I feel happy with the three subjects I'm doing and the first week back has gone well.  http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/vg8YeNE0paI/not-off-to-flying-start.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/vg8YeNE0paI" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/07/not-off-to-flying-start.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-4412591500722430191Thu, 21 Jul 2011 06:18:00 +00002011-07-21T16:26:00.776+10:00The mid-year break is almost over and I'm back to uni next week.  I don't know where the time went!  Yesterday, I went to Officeworks and picked up a 4 lecture note book which for some reason I was very excited about.  Probably because it means I won't have to keep swapping lecture pads every time I go to a different lecture.  It's complete with pockets and I spent last night gluing relevant http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/UJ0zmEpQgeg/im-so-excited.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/UJ0zmEpQgeg" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/07/im-so-excited.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-5537098336048276724Tue, 19 Jul 2011 01:18:00 +00002011-07-20T17:32:40.914+10:00I don't know about you guys, but I'm having a hard time accepting abbreviations/acronyms.  Fair enough when sending a text or posting but now my TD No. 2 has started saying them out loud!  Instead of laughing she actually says 'LOL'!  Telling us a funny story someone had told her the other day, she said, 'OMG, I LOLled, so much'!    But most bizaare of all is that now she has abbreviations for http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/mMy0sBeOToQ/omg-lol.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/mMy0sBeOToQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/07/omg-lol.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-4989574366850909760Mon, 11 Jul 2011 04:47:00 +00002011-07-11T15:04:06.547+10:00 Why is it that every time I have a parent/teacher interview, I start thinking I should have done teaching?  I've just come back from my year seven interview and heard nothing I already didn't know about my son.  He is the politest, most well-mannered young man in the class; his presentation leaves a lot to be desired; and academically, he is capable of more.  Exactly the way he is at home!  Fullhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/UkFQ2WeTOCs/dilemma.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/UkFQ2WeTOCs" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/07/dilemma.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-7081203566267430244Sat, 09 Jul 2011 06:08:00 +00002011-07-09T16:12:02.066+10:00I wish the title of this post referred to my weight loss but alas it does not.  It refers to my academic results, which have been more successful than the latter!  I received a High Distinction and a Distinction, which would usually bring elation but even my husband commented on my lack of enthusiasm at such good news.  Hang on a minute - I don't want to sound so dull and ungrateful about it.  I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/d3JXW83THS4/results.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/d3JXW83THS4" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/07/results.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299768793587838880.post-1840806224098863511Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:31:00 +00002011-07-07T08:24:36.824+10:00Picture this if you will.  It's a beautiful crisp winter morning with not a cloud in the sky.  I decide to take my son and his friend to the park for a kick of the footy.  The park is a hive of activity - people are everywhere walking their dogs; kids are running, cycling or scooting; the cockatoos are in their hundreds, screeching and swooping in their search for their favourite seed.  Okay, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~3/P5yJKkWmlYA/well-bully-for-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Caz)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyLifeAsAMatureAgeStudent/~4/P5yJKkWmlYA" height="1" width="1"/>http://mylifeasamatureagestudent.blogspot.com/2011/07/well-bully-for-you.html