UNDERWOMAN

I am trying to embrace my Underwoman at the moment.

This is not a woman running around with a cape and undies on her head (although this would be a good tension-reducing look for one night when everything's going jellybelly-up). No, this, is a woman who is currently trying to slow things down in her life, to UNDER-achieve, shock horror.

A week in the life of Underwoman involves missing the kids haircut appointment (but the hairdresser understood and still took us back the next week); forgetting important school events (but the other beautiful school mums remind me); driving to school in my slippers (but my kids pointed it out...loudly...at the school gate...); a lot of takeaway food (which anyone privvy to my cooking knows is only a good thing); and asking for help (revelation of all revelations - you get some! Which makes life easier. I know, surprising).

I always toss up between these two sayings:
"Life should not be a journey to the grave
with the intention of arriving safely
in an attractive and well preserved body,
But rather to skid in sideways,
chocolate in one hand,
wine in the other,
body thoroughly used up,
totally worn out and screaming
"WOO HOO what a ride!" "

And

"Don't hurry. Don't worry. You're only here for a short visit. So don't forget to stop and smell the roses"

Much of my life I have been the opposite to Underwoman - an over achieving, ten-to-the-dozen woman. Skidding in sideways, was me. But, of late, a few things have made me realise its time to stop and smell the roses.

Like, the fact that Little Blue is our last bubba. Must. Breathe. Him. In. And. Enjoy. Every. Millisecond.

And, being sick for a long time, which now makes me want to enjoy all the little things I have been unable to recently.  All the little things in my life are all my little human beings. Who won't be little for very long.
And, I sometimes wonder, if I wasn't rushing and rallying to be the perfect Wonderwomum when our third bubba was born, maybe I'd  have caught her illness earlier than I did (not blaming, just wondering what if). Was I too busy taking Wonderwomum compliments rather than taking note?
And because, as my little ones become big ones, it will be less about major meltdowns, having a fully equipped organic superfood lunch box and getting four kids to their 3 afterschool activities each, and more about a teeny mood shift or slightly downcast look in the eyes, which will dictate where I'm needed.
And simply because, well, what's the point again Wonderwomum?  I can't see past your flapping cape. Or is it my flapping undies?