Thank you lovely ones! Hugs to you both after an intense week... it’s been similar for me even though I’m on ‘holiday’... loved reading Sarah’s words too! Adore the work you are doing. X
Ahh the juggle. Yes so we are SUCH a holiday destination now it’s so busy as soon as any schools are off.
This morning I had both kids out for an impromptu breakie before grocery shopping and they took over 35 minutes to bring it - we’d blown bubbles, done drawings, plates noughts and crosses, read two books, played with the salt and sugar - what an uplevel and as I drove away I thought - that’s less than an hour of my day. I’m spent! The rest of the day was less intense but wow that was hard! Cx
Lauren that's so kind - intense is so often the word. I love it when I get some childcare...equally sometimes we have a few really itchy and scratchy days at the start of the holidays and then suddenly all relax into a rhythm with each other - fingers crossed that happens in this holiday and the older kids don't just bicker! x
Beautifully honest post. I’m inspired to join in and will return to some writing this week ✨
Looking after small people, in the heat, in the holidays is a lot. I mirror back that what we need is deep compassion and empathy for one another. And to help each other along the path...motherhood can be so lonely (in my experience) and having a health condition that means you have to stay in or local doesn’t help that. So grateful for an online spaces like this.
Wishing you, and your families, a peaceful start to a new week 🌹
Thanks Louise. Yea - I hear you. One of my bug bears at the min is not being seen and supported in public - it’s like everyone is all of a sudden out for themselves and when I’ve got both kids I really feel like we take up too much space or something. If I’m on my own and there’s a little one and a flustered mum I’ll always smile and or chat with the little one... there’s a member of staff in one of the local shops who does that too and I can’t tell you how precious it is. Our neighbour has just been today to play with my toddler - she’s studying childcare so what was feeling quite an intense day got alot easier this afternoon. Sending sparkles for you week! ✨💖
Ah Louise we must meet IRL one day! Helping each other along the path is essential. Quite simply I always start with a smile, which often leads to a chat. Equally have to accept that some people just want their own quiet or to stay in their own space some days. Our holidays haven't yet started and in truth I am craving them - I want some time with my kids without any appointments (but we need to get outside!) x
Thank you so much for featuring me! It was a pleasure to write for your community and helpful to acknowledge how much I’ve pivoted in recent years.
And a wholehearted YES to having deep compassion and empathy for one another, and ourselves. We’re two weeks into the summer holidays here in Scotland and my goodness it’s been a juggle. Trying to keep a 6 week old and 8 year old happy hasn’t been easy. Going gently where possible 💛
Thanks again Sarah and yes it’s that bit of the holidays where it goes slow isn’t it - at the start and then all of a sudden it all speeds up. Hope you are settling into postpartum ok and alls going ok with night times. Our eight year old wanted to help a lot with Luna when she was small and we also relaxed around screen time which seemed to help. I missed doing his bed time I really struggled letting his dad take over. 💕
Sarah it is so lovely to meet you here! Claire is the prolific Substack user and I'm just dipping in and out at the moment, but I found your words so soothing and they resonated so much. I'm certainly going to look into your course. I have similar age gaps (although have two older ones) and had a 6 week old at such a similar time this time a year ago. Essentially he spent his life in the sling and I miss that time so much already!!! It's so wild how much we miss it even when it's hard...
Thank you for sharing so honestly here! I think a lot of us feel "in the thick of it," and it's harder to wonder sometimes if it's just a season or the rest of our lives? 😂I have a one year old who is doing so much better these days but the past few months my husband has been under the weather and so it seems like life is always a little lopsided. I'm learning to embrace it and let go of the elusive balance- it's honest and heartfelt spaces like this that help remind me to be human and unapologetic about it.
I honestly feel like between 1-3 was hardest for me after the new born bit first time round. My toddler is fierce and my spirit is very tired! Sending lots of love and thanks for being here! ✨💕
thanks for writing so truthfully Mariah! I can't speak for you and wouldn't wish to but I certainly recall 18 months being a "lively" time with my older two (who are now 7 and very nearly 9!), and who in so many ways are easy (and in other ways are turning into independent people and all the complex feelings that accompany that are exhausting and wonderful!)
Thank you lovely ones! Hugs to you both after an intense week... it’s been similar for me even though I’m on ‘holiday’... loved reading Sarah’s words too! Adore the work you are doing. X
Ahh the juggle. Yes so we are SUCH a holiday destination now it’s so busy as soon as any schools are off.
This morning I had both kids out for an impromptu breakie before grocery shopping and they took over 35 minutes to bring it - we’d blown bubbles, done drawings, plates noughts and crosses, read two books, played with the salt and sugar - what an uplevel and as I drove away I thought - that’s less than an hour of my day. I’m spent! The rest of the day was less intense but wow that was hard! Cx
Oh gosh yes those moments are hard work!!! I’m looking forward to a bit of childcare this week I have to say! Xx
it is so hard when "spontaneous fun activity" becomes "now I'm getting impatient and counting down the seconds until somebody loses it..."
Lauren that's so kind - intense is so often the word. I love it when I get some childcare...equally sometimes we have a few really itchy and scratchy days at the start of the holidays and then suddenly all relax into a rhythm with each other - fingers crossed that happens in this holiday and the older kids don't just bicker! x
Beautifully honest post. I’m inspired to join in and will return to some writing this week ✨
Looking after small people, in the heat, in the holidays is a lot. I mirror back that what we need is deep compassion and empathy for one another. And to help each other along the path...motherhood can be so lonely (in my experience) and having a health condition that means you have to stay in or local doesn’t help that. So grateful for an online spaces like this.
Wishing you, and your families, a peaceful start to a new week 🌹
Thanks Louise. Yea - I hear you. One of my bug bears at the min is not being seen and supported in public - it’s like everyone is all of a sudden out for themselves and when I’ve got both kids I really feel like we take up too much space or something. If I’m on my own and there’s a little one and a flustered mum I’ll always smile and or chat with the little one... there’s a member of staff in one of the local shops who does that too and I can’t tell you how precious it is. Our neighbour has just been today to play with my toddler - she’s studying childcare so what was feeling quite an intense day got alot easier this afternoon. Sending sparkles for you week! ✨💖
that neighbour sounds like a guardian angel! x
Ah Louise we must meet IRL one day! Helping each other along the path is essential. Quite simply I always start with a smile, which often leads to a chat. Equally have to accept that some people just want their own quiet or to stay in their own space some days. Our holidays haven't yet started and in truth I am craving them - I want some time with my kids without any appointments (but we need to get outside!) x
Thank you so much for featuring me! It was a pleasure to write for your community and helpful to acknowledge how much I’ve pivoted in recent years.
And a wholehearted YES to having deep compassion and empathy for one another, and ourselves. We’re two weeks into the summer holidays here in Scotland and my goodness it’s been a juggle. Trying to keep a 6 week old and 8 year old happy hasn’t been easy. Going gently where possible 💛
Thanks again Sarah and yes it’s that bit of the holidays where it goes slow isn’t it - at the start and then all of a sudden it all speeds up. Hope you are settling into postpartum ok and alls going ok with night times. Our eight year old wanted to help a lot with Luna when she was small and we also relaxed around screen time which seemed to help. I missed doing his bed time I really struggled letting his dad take over. 💕
Yes I felt similar but i knew it wasn't forever and I think we're lucky when they're older that we can explain x
Sarah it is so lovely to meet you here! Claire is the prolific Substack user and I'm just dipping in and out at the moment, but I found your words so soothing and they resonated so much. I'm certainly going to look into your course. I have similar age gaps (although have two older ones) and had a 6 week old at such a similar time this time a year ago. Essentially he spent his life in the sling and I miss that time so much already!!! It's so wild how much we miss it even when it's hard...
Yes! Just what I needed to read and that sketchymama post is genius!
Isn’t it! I felt ever pen line! I’m really trying to be kind to myself this summer! ✨💭💌
Yeah same here, gonna set a couple of lose aims for vibes rather than concrete things I want to achieve!
Loose aims I love that - the kind that could just accidentally fall on the floor in a summer haze 😆✨✨💭
I think I'm going to go for both loose aims and something definable with a tangible outcome - that feels good!
Yes! Exactly!! 😆
Thank you for sharing so honestly here! I think a lot of us feel "in the thick of it," and it's harder to wonder sometimes if it's just a season or the rest of our lives? 😂I have a one year old who is doing so much better these days but the past few months my husband has been under the weather and so it seems like life is always a little lopsided. I'm learning to embrace it and let go of the elusive balance- it's honest and heartfelt spaces like this that help remind me to be human and unapologetic about it.
Thanks for being here.
I honestly feel like between 1-3 was hardest for me after the new born bit first time round. My toddler is fierce and my spirit is very tired! Sending lots of love and thanks for being here! ✨💕
thanks for writing so truthfully Mariah! I can't speak for you and wouldn't wish to but I certainly recall 18 months being a "lively" time with my older two (who are now 7 and very nearly 9!), and who in so many ways are easy (and in other ways are turning into independent people and all the complex feelings that accompany that are exhausting and wonderful!)