This week has certainly been a very busy one. We had quite a lot happening over the Jubilee weekend, which made for a lovely end to the half-term even if it did feel somewhat hectic at various points.
Since Sophie and Thomas have been back at school and preschool, I’ve had a mountain of tasks needing to be ploughed through and there have definitely been moments this week when I could have done with having 36 hours in the day instead of 24! I’ve had a few too many nights this week of having to stay up late to try and get the more urgent things done. I’m feeling quite tired heading into the weekend, not helped by the too-few hours of sleep also having been quite broken ones with Sophie and Thomas both being less settled sleep-wise this week too. I’m definitely in need of an early night at some point over the weekend!
What I’ve been grateful for this week:
- Day 154 – I am grateful that Sophie enjoyed performing on stage with some of the other dancers from her dance school at the Jubilee picnic.
- Day 155 – I am grateful that the rain stopped before the start of our 5k sponsored walk for Halo Children’s Foundation this morning. Thank you to everyone who sponsored us.
- Day 156 – I am grateful for a lovely Platinum Jubilee weekend with my family. Back to normal routines tomorrow!
- Day 157 – I am grateful for getting to see Sophie’s classroom for the first time and her school work at the school open afternoon.
- Day 158 – I am grateful for days that start with beautiful moments like this.
- Day 159 – I am grateful for friendly chats in playgrounds. Sometimes when we’re not at a local playground, I’ll get chatting to someone and when the question of “is he your first? How many children do you have?” comes up I’ll simply say that he’s my third and I have two older girls and leave it there. And if I’m unlikely to encounter that person again and I don’t have to lie, I’ll never mention anything about being a bereaved mum. And for a few blissful moments, I’m just an ordinary mum of three with a small boy who has two older sisters who are doing their own activities or at school and for a brief time our family is normal and complete and I’m the mum I wish I was in reality, which is such a beautiful gift. It’s not that I’m uncomfortable to talk about Jessica or about what it means to be a bereaved mum, but sometimes it’s just wonderful to have that glimpse into what our world might have felt like had that not been our reality and I’m so very grateful for moments like that.
- Day 160 – I am grateful for the joy this little boy gets from bouncing on the trampoline at the park.
Other things that have made me smile this week:
- Putting on my tap shoes and having a go on the tap board that Sophie’s dance teacher had on her stall at the Jubilee picnic. It’s been a long time since I last did any tap dancing!
- Having a cream tea after the Sunday service at church to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.
- Having a cuppa and a catch-up with friends.
- Picking the first of the raspberries and wild strawberries growing in the garden.
Ahh! I have felt the same, sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. I hope you manage to have a rest over the weekend.
Gorgeous photos! That one of Sophoe and Thomas snuggling is just adorable.
Those chats at the playground sound lovely. x
Thank you, I did manage to get some downtime at the weekend which was much needed!
I really hope you get some rest this weekend, don’t go burning yourself out. Your paragraph about being grateful of being seen as a ordinary parent of three not a bereaved mother really touched my heart. I love the photo of Sophie and Thomas snuggling together x
Thanks Anne. I did manage to get some time out at the weekend which helped a lot.
It just never stops, glad you had a restful weekend X
Indeed – that to-do list is never-ending!
I always wanted to try tap but didn’t have time because it clashed with brownies, so did modern dance instead – which I wasn’t that great at. I think I’d have been better at tap. Glad you were able to get into the classroom for open day. It’s so nice to be able to do that again isn’t it.
I wanted to do ballet as a child but ended up doing piano lessons instead and didn’t really take up dancing until I was at university. It’s lovely to be able to watch Sophie enjoy dancing though.
I used to tap dance, apparently I was quite good, but I don’t remember much. Would love to have another go. That snuggle photo is super cute
I did adult tap classes for a while but haven’t done any since I was pregnant with Thomas.
I hope you’ve caught up with your sleep now. Good to hear the weather cleared for your charity walk and I hope you all enjoyed the Jubilee picnic
It was such a relief to have the weather clear up – wasn’t too hot either which was nice.
Agree that there aren’t enough hours in the day!
Well done on the charity walk!
Thank you, we enjoyed taking part.
We’re getting our first raspberries and strawberries but I think most get eaten during the harvesting… I hope you enjoyed seeing Sophie’s class and work, it’s strange not going into school often due to covid but maybe next year restrictions will be gone. #project365
It was lovely being able to see Sophie’s class and her school work. Hopefully we can continue to have another more normal school year next year.