1. I absolutely hate spiders – I am scared of them .. ever since I was about 10 and dreamt they were crawling all over me, under the bed sheets. It truly scared the life out of me, and I ran out of my room and staying in the living room for over 2 hours. When I went back into my room I turned on each and every light and flicked the blanket off to expose the spiders hiding underneath. I honestly thought I would find a billion tiny spiders all over the place – but there were none! So I went back to bed {with all the lights on} but shortly after I swear I could feel them crawling on my skin. Ugh, gives me the shivers just thinking about it!
2. In October every year I put plastic spiders all around the house for Halloween. Yep I like to torture de-sensitize myself like that. I am a little queasy at first and then seem to ‘get used’ to them being around – I guess maybe because I know they are plastic? Prior to the incident above I loved spiders and had a pet one.
3. I met my husband when I was 20 and moved in and became a full-time stepmum before the age of 21. Three weeks shy of my 23rd birthday I gave birth to our gorgeous boy. I hid my age for a very very long time and wanted people to think I was older than I really was because I wasn’t treated very nicely for being young at my stepkiddos’ school pick ups. The other mums also enjoyed spreading rumours that I broke up a happy family. But if they ever bothered to talk to me they would have learnt that I met my husband 2 years after they separated.
4. I love travelling, experiencing different cultures and seeing new things but I don’t like air planes and am a petrified flyer. I am much more comfortable when hubby is with me and am doing a lot better now that I am a mum and have to keep myself together when flying alone with my kiddos! {I still sit there and pray my butt off, though!}
5. I have this overwhelming love for New York. You know when they say the first 3 years of your life are the most important? I spent nearly 2 of those first 3 as a ‘New Yorker’ and although I don’t remember it I think it’s ingrained somehow in my psyche. This might sound a little ridiculous but I actually feel homesick when I read about New York or see it on TV. But it’s true and I can’t wait to go back there and to experience it during Christmas with my family. The photo above is me in NYC in 1985.
6. I grew up as an expat overseas – with drivers and a cook, a laundry lady, cleaning lady, gardener, night guard and a full time nanny. But I also grew up in a country where children die from lack of medical care and many don’t get the chance to finish school. Coupled with down to earth parents who wanted us 4 children to be grounded and refused for us to be spoiled by having what we had and I have an immense understanding and appreciation for just how very lucky I am, in every way. Sure, my husband and I work hard for what we have and for our future, but I am acutely aware that I am lucky that I even have the opportunity to do so in the first place.
7. I can’t sleep with socks on and I also don’t like my feet covered up by the blanket or sheets – if it’s really cold I’ll settle but if it’s not absolutely freezing then at least one foot needs to be uncovered.
8. I have a sewing machine and I don’t know how to use it. My hubby had to show me how to do that threading bit with it.
9. I have a funny accent. Americans think I am Canadian and Australians think I am American. I also have a very kid-ish voice and when calling for a taxi once at age 19 I was asked if my Mum and Dad knew I was ordering a taxi.
10. I can’t sleep when any cupboard or drawer around the house has been left open. In summer my hubby likes to leave the en suite door open for airflow and I struggle with this! I am better than I used to be … when living alone I was not be able to sleep if a cushion was not straightened on the couch or if there were any cups left in the sink or laundry in a basket needing to be folded. But when you’re a busy mum and you don’t live by yourself you have to learn how to let some things slide.
To keep the fun going I am going to tag
Gemma from My Big Nutshell
Liz from BizzyDayz
Beck from Buddhaful Journey
Haha – I had to laugh at being asked if your Mum and Dad knew you were ordering a taxi!!! You could make some great prank calls!
What a fantastic culture and upbringing – to have experienced such variety!
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for playing a,long – loved your ten things.
I am a New Yorker and I would recognize that sidewalk anywhere – I miss sidewalks and how connected they were to my childhood (we did not have to go to a park to ride our bikes, we just hit the pavement, biked, roller-skated, played jump rope, hopscotch etc all without having to cross a road!
I love how you have the plastic spiders to “de-sensitize” yourself LOL
I hear you on the spider front. and I think you need to vlog now so we can put the voice to the face. lol.
Ohh I hear you about the spiders! Blegh YUCK!!
I am an adopted New Yorker … I feel like it anyway. We travel to New York every year for the past 7 years. Can’t get enough of that city 🙂 We spent Christmas and New Year in NY in 2007 and it was the most amazing 3 weeks of our lives. It didn’t snow but the cold was still bone chilling! The window displays in the department stores, the Christmas decorations everywhere it was amazing!
Natalie I can laugh now, wasn’t so funny at 19! I actually still don’t like calling people up because I’m afraid they’ll think I’m a child!
Deb + Jen I will definitely be hitting up up for travel tips and advice when I start planning our trip to NYC! I wanted to wait until my kiddos are a little older as I know theres a lot of walking involved and I want them to 1. be able to endure it a little and 2. REMEMBER the magic.
LOL Mandy I was just thinking today about how I would NEVER do a vlog!! Haha. Although it might prove very entertaining for all of you x
Hehehehe Sorry to laugh at your taxi call! I have made the mistake of “asking is your daddy there?” turns out I was actully speaking to his wife! Very embarrassing from my end 🙂 The school pick up sounds horrible 🙁