The Joy of School Sports Day

As the summer term fast comes to an end, I wonder how many mums are seeing their days just slip through their fingers.

As a child I hated sports days. It may surprise you but not everyone is good at athletics. (Now if sports day had included playing tabletennis for your house, I would have enjoyed them better.)

Not only did you have to spend weeks building up to the big day in PE and your teacher would decide what you were doing in secondary, you also had the day itself.

Now I thought my days of torture were over but now I have kids the nightmare of sports day is once again here.

Now before I have legions of you complaining at what a bad mum I am and what a spoiler, let me just explain.

I live in Scotland. Sports day is an outdoor event, so in Scotland our school has 3 proposed dates for sports day as it is weather dependant. Now I am fortunate I do not have to ask for time off, I work round my week and catch up where necessary. If I was not so fortunate taking time off to support you star is not quite so easy. You are lucky to get a days notice.

This year I think it will be fine, the weather is grand and the first date will be the day that it is on... mind you the fact that we had 2 dates this week I was kind of stressing about how to plan work this week.

Sports day used to be an hour and a half in the afternoon, recently it has been 3 hours in the morning.

Last year was the first time they tried this and to be frank it was awful. I had 2 kids at primary last year and I spent most of my time walking round a field trying to show support. The had multiple stations that the kids rotated round and due to age difference my kids were at opposite ends most of the time. (This year I only have 1 child at that school, so it will be a bit easier.)

The kids did their tasks, then the bell went and the kids were all taken across the field back to the play ground to have play time (leaving some rather bewildered mum and dads in the field wondering what was happening.) After the play time the kids came back in order to continue their challenges.

Now last year communication was not the best, so most parents were not prepared for the 3 hours sports day. I must confess I had sun lotion but no water and I could feel my head slowly burn.

Now my son has hyper mobility too so by the end of the day he was crying in pain, the school had not pre warned me the length of the programme so I could suggest a way for him to have coping strategies. So needless to say I was not best pleased he was in so much pain for the next 2 days.

So the question is how prepared will I be tomorrow? If it is as sunny as today water, a hat and sun screen will be required....maybe a book for the times we have to wait and something to sit on.

One last thing GO NEBIT GO!

The Jottings continue

So much as happened since my last blog, so much one wonders where to start.... Or do we skip the rollercoaster of events in this journey , not that I want to miss them out.. just that is quite so much.
Let's just say there has been lots of dark, hard moments. Grief, loss and heartbreak both professional and personal.

Maybe it's an age thing but I think I am beginning to stress less about what others think.

I had teased for years that I should just open a dog walking business. One day I felt God say, just get on with it!

Where I once cared for people on the autistic spectrum in order to have money for ministry, I now walk dogs.

There were lots of reason why I gave up care, largely the changes in the care system that meant after 10 years of doing the job and doing all the in house training, I was then going to have to have to get an SQA. The large amount of work required and a family bereavement that took my breath away so much I felt like I could hardly function.....well I had to change.

So the business idea became a reality. People thought I was daft, you don't need more stuff in your life right now. Then came a chance for a loveable dog!

Animals are so therapeutic. I spend a fair proportion of my time with dogs. They make me laugh, they clam me down (mostly) they de-stress, they provide space.... I have time  with the dog or dogs to chat and pray.

So out went the care job and in came walking with dogs. Ministry continues.
It is a bit of a leap in the dark as I did not have much behind me to start it up but after a year and a half we are getting there.

So where is my thinking for ministry? Well one of the books I have been reading is about the Art of neighbouring. Coming with no agenda or no lets get you to this programme... just sharing life.

When I was grieving I was amazed at who rallied round and who demonstrated love. Of course you get an overwhelming amount of cards and flowers - I even had to buy more vases.... a lovely problem to have....

One moment that really impacted me were my friends the childminders. We had a roman as one moment where they encircled me so that my child's ex childminder and I could have a private moment in public.... so much so my hubby was out of the circle.

I knew my community - that is for sure.

You see relationships matter....

God created us to be relational people. I hope people know that relationships matter to me. That is why we will drive 1000 miles in a weekend to be at a family event. (Whenever we can)

You are obviously not going to have deep connections with everyone and sometimes your connections are for a season. Some last for a lifetime and it does not matter how long you are apart, you can pick up where you left off.

There is no doubt that I have had life changing events that have meant I have entered a new season of life. Family matters. I have seen people where ministry is so important that family is affected.

I am now balancing family commitments and ministry and a business to help support that ministry.... that takes some juggling..

But the journey continues....