The Slow Weeks Still Count
Because Not Every Week is Highlight Reel Material
This past week? Weird weather. Constant bickering. Allergies. Homework. So basically... parenthood. It wasn’t glamorous, it wasn’t exciting, but it was ours—and like always, we skated (a little), ate (a lot), and survived (just barely).
The Weather Had a Mood
Cape Town couldn’t decide what season it was. Overcast and hot. Which meant one thing: allergies. Sniffles, puffy eyes, and the general vibe of “I don’t wanna do anything.” The boys were feeling it too. Between homework and housework, we only managed to make it outside once during the week—for a slow roll up and down our street. Not the most thrilling session, but it counts, right?
The Skate Struggle is Real
Asher was not feeling the board this week. It’s always funny (and a bit frustrating) how the moment you want your kids to love something, they slam the brakes. No amount of coaxing worked. The resistance was strong. Meanwhile, Blake kept at it, squeezing in small sessions when he could, sharpening the tricks in his “skate bag.”
Meals That Hug (and One That We Ordered)
We fell back into our comfort zone for meals—baked chicken pasta being the clear winner with the kids. But let’s be real… we also had Nando’s one night because this mom needed a break. No shame. Nobody warns you that becoming a parent means you're basically the household’s lifelong food director. The mental load of “what’s for dinner?” could break even the strongest among us.
On a slightly more virtuous note, I did whip up one of the smoothies from our recipe book—the Banana Peanut Butter Power Shake. Packed with oats, protein powder, and actual flavour. It was a win. One small victory for nutrition!
The Constant Referee
Honestly, most of the week was just me and Justin refereeing Blake and Asher. The arguing is endless. Over toys, space, sounds, air. You name it. At this point, I respond to “Moooooooom!” with a deep sigh and an internal eye roll. Send help. Or noise-cancelling headphones.
Camera Time & Cutie Cameos
There was one sweet moment—Asher took over my phone and tripod and started filming himself making a yogurt bowl. Completely unprompted. He was a natural, narrating and all. Maybe we’ve got a little food vlogger in the making? He’s glued to my side most of the time anyway—even now, as I type this, he’s attached to my elbow like velcro.
Saturday at Battery Park
Saturday came with an early start and a change of pace. We hit up our usual skate spot—Battery Park—and finally got in a proper session. Asher, in a total 180, was hyped to skate. He told us (very confidently) that he was going to land frontflips and kickflips. This from the kid still learning to push 😆—but hey, I admire the confidence.
Blake was in his groove. Each week he’s adding more to his skillset, more to his trick bag, and it’s amazing to watch. I even got some time to push around myself—still learning, still finding my feet, but loving every little bit of progress.
And Justin? He landed a kickflip down the stairs (which definitely earned him some bragging rights). He also claims to have landed a 360 shuvit—something I’ve been hearing about for ages. Unfortunately, there’s no footage… so I guess we’ll have to take his word for it (for now).
Four hours flew by. We came home sore, sun-kissed, and totally wiped. Justin and Blake had sore feet. I was sore from running after my human tornado. And yet… it was a good day.
“Nobody tells you that when you become a parent, you're also agreeing to be the family’s full-time food director… for life.”
Sunday Slowdown
Sunday was all about the reset. Justin headed back to the park for a solo skate session—some much-needed time on the board without the chaos. Meanwhile, the boys and I embraced full lazy mode. We stayed in, played video games, and kept things low-key. No rushing, no schedules—just a soft landing at the end of a busy week.
The Not-So-Quiet Weeks Are Still Worth Telling
So no, we didn’t do anything earth-shattering this week. But life happened anyway. Between the nose-blowing, board-resisting, Nando’s-ordering, and battery-draining skate sessions… we made it through. We even smiled. (Eventually.)
Until next week,
The Skate Mom