Not to sound repetitive but I am very much over these public holidays. I am looking forward to getting back to our routine next week. I need the routine as much, if not more, than the children do.
Glimmers
(Glimmers are micro-moments of joy that make us feel happy, hopeful, and safe.)
- Emma and I had a joint therapy session a while ago and created a painting while we chatted. I wanted to do one for my new office and we finally made the time on Monday. I love how it came out.
- I only managed 2 walks this week which was a bit frustrating but both of them where with David which was nice.
- The kids were both out on Tuesday evening at friends, so David and I tried out something different for dinner and made calamari. We don’t eat as much seafood as I would like, so this was a nice treat.
- Eve gave me a set of windchimes for Christmas last year. I didn’t have the right spot for them, until now. They are hanging in our new office and make the most beautiful sound.
- Jack and I went to Culture on Tuesday after missing for 2 weeks. His girlfriend met us there and they sat outside while I got a lot of work done inside.
- Eve and I visited Hobby-X on Thursday. It is the first time in years I have been and we had such a great time. I stocked up on some Cricut goodies and splurged a bit on some scrapbooking supplies.
My Weekly Wisdom..
When you have a lot of kids and/or kids with a big age gap parenting gets very interesting. Our kids span two different generations. Cameron and Kiara are Gen Z’s and Jack and Emma are gen Alpha’s. I never really felt the difference when all four of them where in the house but now that it’s just the younger two in the house, I really feel it. But that’s a story for a different day.
Today I want to talk about the almost empty nest, sort of. When all 4 kids were living at home, there was always one of them with us. We were never (ever) alone at home. Then Cameron moved out but Kiara’s friend Niki moved in for the year, so still 4 kids in the house. This is Kiara’s 4th year out the house now and Jack and Emma are now bigger and a lot more independent. Jack has a girlfriend who has a sister that is becoming one of Emma’s close friends, so they are often visiting together. It means that David and I now have a lot of time alone. Even when the kids are here they are often busy with their own things in their rooms, meaning David and I find ourselves sitting downstairs watching TV alone regularly.
I am absolutely loving this new season.
The time we spend together as a family is intentional and more meaningful. We plan things to do together and are all present and engaged when we do them. I am enjoying the calm evenings David and I can watch TV or chat or even go to bed if we want to.
When we got together I came with Cameron and Kiara, so him and I have never really had the opportunity to be just us without the intense, responsibility of young children. Our home was chaotic from day 1, it felt like there was no time for calm, indulgent afternoons – someone always needed something. This new, slow, calm life is just what we both need. It is like a reward of sorts for all the years of chaos. It is also very healing for us both. There are days we sit, watch TV, both sad, deep in our grief. Those moments are hard and intense but I am grateful we are in a season where we can take the time to feel the grief and aren’t to busy with every day life to process our loss.
If you are deep in the trenches with toddlers and babies, know that the chaos does calm, the wheel does stop spinning and you will have time to breathe again. It can be hard watching your nest empty but the new season can be fun.
Picture of the Week
I have decided to change this section up and add in my favourite photo of the week.
Wise Words of the Week
Words of the Week
I am joining up with the Word of the Week link party this week so my word for the week would have to be MUNDANE. Nothing out of the ordinary happened this week. It was a pretty mundane week with simple, every day things happening. Sometimes the beauty of life lies in the mundane, right?
Until next week!
We don’t mind the bank holidays as it’s my fellas usual day off work and my youngest days off college anyway.
The painting is lovely, what a great thing for you and Emma to do together.
I get it with family time being more meaningful when the kids are older.
I like a mundane week, when everything is calm and just the ordinary things happening.
You are exactly right, the beauty of life really is in the mundane. Those lovely, peaceful moments when you can just sit and think and be grateful.
The picture you created in therapy is lovely. I’ve heard that art is a brilliant form of therapy.
I have big age gaps with the kids, too, so I know exactly what you mean. When they are small, it seems like you will never have time for yourself again, but it does happen and quicker than you think.
I’m glad you and your husband have the time and space to grieve for Cameron.
It doesn’t sound so mundane for me! I’d love to do some art and go for walks. I found it interesting what you said about the generational gaps in the kids. I have children that are old enough to be the parents of my younger children (2 different marriages) but they are all very similar. The weird thing is the older ones say the younger ones have had their childhood ruined by tech, But they were late getting into it and spent hours and hours outside playing, but the older ones didn’t notice because they were one their computers! There was no computers in our house when my older ones were young but they loved their games consoles as much as playing out. So they have all had very similar upbringings. And yes, we all still live together, although officially only one of the five is a child now.
I do love a trip to a craft shop, although I do avoid it as I have enough projects on the go at the moment. Your joint painting is beautiful and I’m sure it will continue to give you joy. Made me wonder how you start a joint project like that. Vision or material led? All my children are close in age, so they too have friends that are siblings, which makes it interesting. Two are away now, but they come back and I love this new stage in our lives. Your hound is beautiful.
I love your painting. How lovely to have the windchimes hanging in your office. They have such a soothing sound. I’m glad you and David are enjoying this season of your life with life being a slower pace and family time being more intentional and meaningful. I agree with you that sometimes the beauty of life is in the mundane. #WotW