The school holidays have ended and looking around my house it appears as if the last three weeks have been one long party... it will take me at least another three weeks to get the place back in order. I'm also noticing how very quiet the house is all of a sudden, even with Miss Maddison here. Having one child in the house is quite different from having three on holidays, plus extras visiting, for weeks on end.
I'm enjoying having just my "baby" by my side again and pottering through our days at a slower pace. Yesterday we walked to the shop. (I know! Breaking news people!) On my own the walk would take about ten minutes total - with a two-year-old in tow it took over an hour. We had to stop for butterflies; pick a pretty purple flower, observe a lawnmower; comment on birds and find feathers, etc, etc... Important things. Today we've been baking - savory muffins for school lunchboxes (and some to eat now.). This has taken up most of the morning and I find it's noon already...
I actually love going at the pace of a two-year-old. It does take a fair bit of commitment for me to let go of the anxious, niggling feeling that I should be doing something "more important" out there in the world - but once I let myself relax into it, I love it. This baby of mine is my very last, and I'm going to make the most of our time together.
Next week I start a new writing project for the paper and I'm looking forward to it. It's something that I'll be able to do at my own pace - while still taking care of my young child. I've let go of my previous roster which involved working every weekend and had Alex and I tag-teaming it with rarely a day off to be a family together. Working like that is unsustainable from a family relationship point of view. I've got my fingers crossed the new gig will work for us all. A wise mother I know (herself a great journo) said to me recently: "just keep your hand in there while the kids are young"... Keeping my hand in there, as opposed to drowning in the attempt to juggle three kids, childcare and f/t work is sound advice, for me.
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But that's ahead... right now, I am here. At home. Discovering a mandarin tree in my backyard that has, for the first time ever, decided to bear fruit (working at its own pace, too!). We've been planting some garlic into tubs (recycled milk bottles) while I decide upon a spot in the garden that I can dedicate to the six months the garlic will need and trying my hand at growing coriander from the roots of a bunch I bought from the shop.
Soon my girl will wake from her nap and we will head off to greet the littlest "big" sister from school... Not the most eventful blog from me, but that's the pace life is today and I'm happy it is so.
Have a great weekend all, and thanks for visiting The Byron Life.
x
Megan
I so understand about both the rewards and challenges of moving at a child's pace. It's a skill we master if we're lucky. Your photos, as always, are just stunning.
ReplyDeleteHello K! Thank you for these kind words. So lovely to find your name popping up here xo
DeleteI wish I was gentle enough to go at the two year old pace... I am far too impatient and unengaged sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've found a more suitable project. A family needs time together, as often as possible. x
I am not always that gentle about it, believe me, certainly not so much with my older girls, but this third little one has tamed me a bit ;) I'm all too aware that I will never have this time over again. xo
DeleteYou write beautifully Megan.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend at a two year olds pace up there in beautiful Byron. x