That Mom Of Four

As we approach the tail end of the year, I’m sure many like myself will take some time to reflect back on the happenings and learnings from the past year. And 2017 has been an extremely significant one for me since the opening of Trium Fitness and finding a way to manage my family and the business while my husband is stationed overseas. From the time we opened the studio’s doors till this day, I’ve learnt so much and it’s not just about running a business, but also managing relationships and expectations, about handling major stress and anxiety, and understanding the importance of connection.  All too often we’re communicating, but are you truly connecting? As a teacher, I do make an effort to get to know my students and connect with them so they feel comfortable enough to tell me more about themselves and allow me to guide them through their fitness journey more successfully once I know where their weaknesses and strengths lie. As a working mother of four girls, I don’t just call ...

What is your biggest source of purpose for what you do? Is it family, religion or even your work. When we have meaning in what we do it buffers us against burnout and exhaustion.  As a working mother, on most days I only get 4 to 6 hours of sleep but getting to do what I love and having a meaningful impact on those I interact and deal with just energizes me and I feel better able to handle the difficult stuff. And it harder for me while my other half is stationed for years overseas for work. There is more than one way to look at a situation but when you give meaning to what you do, notice how everything changes. No matter how tired I am, the thought of heading out to play with these guys and making memories just works better than 4 cups of espresso. Family is definitely one of my main source of purpose. ❤️

In between taking care of the 4 of them, teaching classes, managing my clients and running a business, there’s not very much time left for myself but at the end of the end of the day I always feel like the luckiest girl on earth. The four of them have taught me so much about life and love and given me so much joy that I could burst. No matter how tired I am there is always enough energy to do stuff together, even if it means I have to be the sofa for the baby. Yes my hands are full and some days I literally crash into bed, but my heart is also filled with so much love and gratitude. And I wouldn’t want it any other way ❤️

Let's face it, long distance relationships are tough to maintain especially when the time difference makes it hard to connect on phone calls and video calls at convenient timings for both parties. And in our case with both of us working as well as our four little ones who go to school and come home at various timings, you can imagine how challenging it can be to get everyone together at the same time to video chat. Nevertheless we've made it work over the years whenever the daddyman or I have to travel overseas for work for weeks, months and in our current situation.... years.  And none of this would have been possible without the help and support from our loved ones especially my mum and dad ❤️. Thank you grandma and grandpa!  They say it takes a village to raise a child and I wouldn't contest that, but with four kids to raise I am nothing short of grateful for the unconditional love and support from our loved ones who have played such an important role in being such great...

Today marks the 10th year that I get to celebrate Mother's Day as a mom...... and it keeps getting better. Even though I thought I'd get to sleep in but Number 3 (Miss LaLa) woke me up at 6.30am to wish me Happy Mommy's Day because she had been waiting since yesterday to say it to me. The fact that I have children between the ages of 1 and 10 does make it slightly more challenging when I plan for activities, discipline, shop for their needs and educate them. But that also teaches me so much about adaptability, patience, creativity and communication. The best part about all this is....... I get FOUR times more of that love coming back to me! ❤   Yesterday this mob of girls surprised me with a bunch of gifts that they so thoughtfully picked out and paid for with their hard earned money from doing chores and washing cars.   One of the handmade cards that I got from the girls this year. It folds up to become a heart ❤️    Their differing personalities means my approach t...

Those who know me very well would've had in many instances heard me scream "take a picture take a picture take a picture!" And I oftentimes get teased by them for that......  Yes I do take a tonne of pictures and videos especially those of my kids, and I'm really happy that I have these home videos and pictures to share with them about their childhood. Sometimes my girls will just randomly ask me to show them videos of our life back in France or the USA when they were riding horses, picking blueberries and cherries, baking with me, camping at Yellowstone Park or just spending time at the beach making sand castles.    Nya horse-riding on the Oregon trail Memories truly are important and even though I had been blogging for over 5 years before a hiatus and only very recently did I return to blogging again, I'm so glad I printed my 5 years worth of blogging into books that my kids happily flip through once in awhile.   One of the several blog books that I got printed ...

Number 2....... Also known as Medium, The Wild Child and Mini Dawn. For the first year after she was born, it felt as though I hadn't given birth because she would be wrapped against my chest while I did all the chores, practiced, took care of her and Large and of course shopped for groceries.  When we later moved to the States, I remember how shopping for groceries was such a breeze not just because you and your sis would hold my pockets while I pushed the trolley..... but really because even at a tender age of 3 you could remember where some of the items I needed were located. Thanks brainy. Always the first one to race me up a tree and roll out the mat to practice together, stalk wild iguanas and snakes or just hang out (upside down) on our hammocks..... Medium has always gotten the hang of things at breakneck speed with a smile on her face. If only she could do that when it comes to finishing her meals 😂 Love you baby cakes ❤