Letter from your toddler 'Because I LOVE YOU!'

Happy Friday :)

If your toddler had the words there's a few things I reckon they'd like to say to you...

Dear Mummy,

Because I love you, I like getting up at 5am and our middle of the night cuddles. It means I get you all to myself when everyone else is sleeping.

Because I love you, I want to help. If you could push the supermarket trolley just a tiny bit closer to the shelves I'd be able to reach everything for you. Also if you could fix the kitchen cupboards so they opened I could help make dinner. Remember there's no 'i' in team.

Because I love you, I only pretend to be naughty. Its just I like your non smiley face and that silly low voice you do makes me laugh.

Because I love you, when you ask me to show other people what clever things I can do I won't. Those are special things reserved especially for you.

Because I love you, I share. But please note I've seen you stuffing your face behind the fridge door. I hear the rustle, I smell the chocolate. Nuff said.

Because I love you, I don't want you to be bored so I hope by mixing it up things are exciting for you. Red cup fine one day, not the next. Baton carrots acceptable today not tomorrow. Variety is the spice of life I've heard you say.

Because I love you, I'll be honest. I'm not quite sure about that Iggle Piggle character and watching Upsy Daisy makes me sleepy. But I see that you enjoy it, particularly the ending so I'll put up with it, just for you.

Ps. Did I tell you that I love you?

Your amazballs toddler xx

More Arse-ing About Please!

Happy Friday :)

An arse-ing about Montage

I border on obsessive about having a plan and everything running to plan. I feel panicked when people want to make loose arrangements. Using words such as 'around' 'maybe' and 'probably'. Just like my working week I have a Friday-Sunday to do list. I dislike disruptions and spontaneous alterations. However, a few experiences of late have given me hope that I may be, just may be learning how to go with the flow.

One Friday my husband arrived home early. As the sun was shining he suggested we all go to the pub for tea. I could see the glint in his eye, challenging words to a woman who plans each evenings meal a week in advance. I forcibly clamped my mouth shut, banished away the image of defrosted chicken and ignored the uneasy feeling creeping over me. With a strained smile I took a deep breath and heard myself saying "yes that would be nice". It was nice and we had the chicken the next day.

Last bank holiday weekend I had a vague plan but had to keep it on the low so my husband wouldn't cotton on as he does have a tendency to rebel. A mix of domestic chores, family time and a curry night out with friends, perfect. Facebook was over run with families checking in and selfie pics of car journeys. A day out with a 5 year old is easy. Chuck a 20 month old into the mix and it can be hard. Chuck a busy bank holiday into the equation and it's tears before bedtime, not only for the kids. So we opted for staying home in the garden. At the time it made me feel a bit mean and tight as surely we should be going somewhere? Anywhere? After speaking with friends who did venture out the reality of the 'are we nearly there yet?' car journey, no parking spaces, no eating spaces, queues, queues and more queues, crying toddlers strapped into pushchairs, laughing toddlers running away made me feel quite clever for going Nowhere.

Last Saturday I didn't even have a plan. It felt like one of those lost 24 hours of your life in between Christmas and New Year. Breakfast was a continual graze which then merged into lunch at 11.30 when the kids spotted some leftover pizza. To be fair I wasn't going to give them this, well not cold anyway but that's how they wanted it, who am I to intervene. Morning Activities for my 5 yr old consisted of watching the Ipad, watching the Ipad and watching the Ipad. While my 20 month old enjoyed unrestrained access to the kitchen tupperware draw. Mid morning we moved on to emptying a bits and bob toy box all over the lounge floor. Trying on comedy glasses, throwing balls and generally arse-ing around. By noon I thought I should get dressed. By this time I was really embracing the relaxed vibe so I showered and chucked on my 'staying in' comfy clothes. 2.30pm en route to my parents I realised that I hadn't yet brushed my teeth, ooops.

So while I reckon it is important to make the most of each moment and live life to the full. I've come to realise that not all moments need to be the most, sometimes the least is best. It's good to have a little time without a plan and essentially arse about. Lunch on a sun lounger and PJ's till midday, I think my kids would like me to have quite a few more of these days too!

Keeping it Real

Happy Friday :)

Unflattering angle, no filters, no poses, no second takes, no warning. Just real, how we are, how we look, how we live. (Although I'm not always in my swimming costume pouring Prosecco) Don't get me wrong I love a flattering angle and to be honest felt a tiny bit sick posting this. But I think we've all become a little too selective. Photographs use to be spontaneous, reflecting the moment. A week later you saw how they looked, good or bad. Life has become somewhat staged now, filtered and manipulated to only show our best bits.

Being a mum with small children I have little room or motivation in my life for vanity. Hearing the office girls discuss their regimes for a night out is now not just hours of beautifying but days. Spray tans, fake nails (and toes), false eyelashes finished off with a visit to Mac. Entering mumsy mode I implore them not to. I truly believe they look better without a £30 Mac mask, spider eyelashes and orange bods. On Facebook there's a ton of make up artists promoting their skills with before & after shots. Some of it is scary viewing. Arguably verging on deception & fraud as the transformation is so staggering their own mum would fail to recognise them. Just be warned, what you like tonight you might not recognise in the morning. I wonder what drives this generations love of looking so different from who they really are? Geordie Shaw, Ex on the Beach, The Kardashians may be a good place to start. All obsessed with the external and shamelessly so.

Maybe I'm forgetting what it's like to be young. Reminiscing with foggy goggles 27 years on. I do remember wanting less freckles and more boob (Baywatch influence). But I'm pretty sure real was still the norm. Fakeness was reserved for mocking on Eurotrash and The Word. I know I'm treading dangerously in old fogey territory. I know times change but it makes me a little sad that pouting selfies from over made up faces have taken over the world.

So raise a glass with me tonight to less is more, pale and interesting rules and keeping it real!

A few of my favourite things

Happy Friday :)

Just a few of my favourite things!

Excitingly for me, I'm off to do one of my favourite things this weekend. Meeting up with my lovely University bessies. Due to geographical challenges, work, children and life in general we don't get to meet as often as we'd like. So in homage to doing more of the good things in life I've penned an alternative version of a few of my favourite things. 

Bathtimes at sixes and bedtimes at seven

First spoken words and in merlot heaven

Excitement and joy of what Christmas brings

These are a few of my favourite things

--- 

Boys ruff and tumble with snuggles at bedtime

Big family dinners and lazy bath me time

Crazy nights out and chilled evenings in

These are a few of my favourite things

--- 

Crackling fires and stars in the sky

Giggling children and eating steak pie

All of the seasons from Winter to Spring

These are a few of my favourite things

 ---

When I'm out of wine, when the school rings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favourite things

And then I don't feel so bad

  



Wishing you all a fabulous weekend, hopefully doing lots of your favourite things.