MUMMY LIFE // FINDING TIME FOR MY TINY TRIBE

I have been out of action recently on the blog front. No, its not because I have lost interest, or can't come up with content, in fact I have so many blog posts and projects I have wanted to share these past few months but can't for the life of me find the time. Find the time to listen to my children, to play with my children without any distractions, take them to football practice,  to not always be on my phone, but equallly find the time to be someone else other than mum. To have a creative career, continue with my projects, but also create a beautiful home with delicious home cooked meals. Time to basically have it all. That perfect work/life balance without feeling like you are constantly chasing time and most importantly you are giving your children the time they deserve.



I sit here writing this at 10am on a Friday morning, I have put on a classic movie (The Sword in The Stone) for H and little one is tucked up in bed having a much needed nap. Somehow it makes me feel better plonking H in front of the TV because in my eyes, the classics are more or less a cultural lesson. And because they just bring back so many memories for me that I want H to appreciate these classics when he gets older. Anyways I am rambling..

 Nonetheless I am still plonking my son in front of tv and it is what it is. A classic disney movie does not change this, and as a mother this somehow leaves me with an enormous feeling of guilt. Guilt that I am not giving my son the time he needs from me, that in our day and age we resort to technology to alleviate our responsibilities.

We used to have a nanny. She was brilliant, and gave me the time to do things for myself, work on the blog, continue with my styling work and generally feel like I am someone else other than a mother. She allowed me that time without feeling guilty because I knew my children were not being put in front of a TV, they were being entertained, heard and nagging to someone else other than me. But when a text arrived saying she had broken her wrist and that she was gonna be out of action for a couple of months, I was gonna suddenly have a hard time doing all the things I have been doing without that much needed 3 -days- a -week -help. But should we as parents feel desperate and lost when that help is gone? NOPE! I took it in my stride and in the past few months I have done nothing other than just be 100% there for both of my of my boys. I am not a blogger or a stylist, going to events, working on photoshoots or creating content for the blog. I am being just mum and I was thoroughly enjoying it. I didn't have anyone to answer to, so there was no stress other than a few deadlines on projects I had arranged months earlier which I thankfully got done in the evenings but overall I was enjoying just spending time with my boys. But after a few weeks of being just mum, it hit me, I was missing out on the little things with my boys and was happy to have gained back that time with them, but equally I was missing out on the things that I enjoyed, which was work. I was missing out on time. I couldn't find time to do my nails, or go to the gym or even find time to do a little bit of work. I enjoyed working, I enjoyed being creative and with the benefit of being able to work from home (most of the time) I was still around to make my boys feel secure in their home environment. I wasn't walking out of the door at 8am and coming back at 6pm. I was around to help with their lunch, to take a 15 min break to do a puzzle or play football with Henry in the garden. I felt like I was rich in time.

It hit me, how lucky I was. To have a husband that could support me in striving for a creative career, to effectively have flexibly working hours, and allow me to see my kids grow up and be part of their development.

When O arrived, H was only 3 and in my eyes was still a baby, but since the arrival of number 2 my time has had to be divided again. If I wanted to cuddle both on the couch, there would be hair-pulling and nose-pinching and the two of them would roll over me until one of them thought they were getting more of my tummy space than the other. I felt like the Gaza strip - either side of me fighting for me, fighting for the right for my space, my love, my time. Now throw the idea of work into the mix, and if I was to find 2 hours at the end of the day (1 hour for each) well you have yourself a very busy Mumma. A Mumma who is struggling to find time. Struggling to find time for the most important responsibilities of my life. My children.

So, I am calling out to all the Mummas out there, whose day is never over when the kids are in bed, that will continue to work until the wee hours on their laptop to achieve their dreams. To achieve that perfect work/life balance. And most importantly feel like they are giving their children enough of their time..



It's a work in progress, but I am getting there. and once I can figure out how to gain enough energy to work in the evenings once the kids are in bed you might see more blog posts from me, but in the meantime I am not gonna feel guilty because I will never get this time back with my boys and for now my life feels perfect.. Perfect that I can spend time wandering through bluebell woods with my boys and enjoying life.



Note: I read an interesting instagram post from @MotherPukka this morning about companies offering flexible working schemes. I think this is a really interesting idea. I have been lucky enough to be able to find some writing jobs that have meant a flexible income but what about all those really talented mums who wanna work in the evenings/weekends/when said child naps??. MotherPukka you are onto something. this might just be what a company needs... and hey no full time salaries to contend with and less office space needed. and mums especially in London don't have ridiculous childcare bills to deal with and are having the time with their children as nature intended!








1 comments:

  1. Hello, you explain this topic very well and your style is really unique. Good job!

    ReplyDelete


 

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LIFESTYLE BLOG FOUNDED BY MUM OF TWO BOYS AND FREELANCE STYLIST CHRISTABEL SAUL. A MUMMY'S GUIDE TO STYLE, DIY, TRAVEL AND DESIGN AND THE JOYS OF BEING A MOTHER TO TWO BOYS. FIND POSTS ON UPCYCLING PROJECTS // INTERIOR INSPIRATION // FASHION EDITORIALS // OUTFITS // HEALTHY RECIPES // DIY PROJECTS AND MORE. FIND OUT WHY HER HUSBAND CALLS HER A HOARDER.
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