We are almost half-way through the school hols already and I don’t know how I feel about it. It’s been a bit of a struggle to readjust to being a working mum and billeting out the children to make the holidays work. Holidays are not happy times for working mums. Unless we happen to be on hols as well.
Otherwise it’s just a bit sad.
So, the kids are having a great time. They’ve had their dad home a couple of days, they’ve been at friends or family a couple of days and they went to a big Bush Challenge day in the rain today. They were excited about it, but I just felt really down as I scuttled off leaving them dripping. Gosh it can be hard.
I think mostly I just miss them and miss the fun and slow days we usually have together in the holidays.
We really can’t have it all, can we?
Other things that had me this week:
Reading – Belle Gibson’s The Wholefood Pantry. It was quite tough getting through the introduction, but the recipes and cookbook design are all so lovely. A sad story really.
Writing – lots of proposals.
Making – a list of all the ways I distract myself when I’m trying to break a habit.
Wishing – I was on holidays too.
Loving – Tina Rubie’s Insta feed The Forever Farmhouse
Wondering – If I finally care enough about the visual angst that orange wood causes me to repaint my dining table this weekend? Stand by…
Happy reading and have a lovely weekend.
x
Do you care a lot what your home looks like?
Let’s talk!
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THANK YOU for joining the Weekend Rewind list, hosted by Maxabella loves, Life, Love and Hiccups and A Quirky Bird. To join in simply link up your favourite post and visit a few other bloggers for a read and a chat. A link back here on your post is appreciated.
Sara | Kid Magazine says
I love your distractions poster. Lots of great ideas! I used to love school holidays with my mum. The first day we would always do something special and the same on the last day. Mum says she looked forward to them each term but by the time they were over she was glad we were going back to school! I hope you get some time this holidays to enjoy your gorgeous kids xx
Maxabella says
Ah, see, this is the kind of thing I feel I’ve given up! 🙁 x
Denyse says
This is the first school hols you’ve had to do the juggle for a while isnt it? I hear you on it but understand that ‘for the greater good’ you are working for all the right reasons and shall I remind you again “we cant do it all’ OK, lesson over. Love D xx
Maxabella says
Thanks D. And yes, it’s the first one in ages and I’ve got a bad case of FOMK (Fear of Missing the Kids). x
Malinda @mybrownpaperpackages says
I am in the midst of choosing a new paint colour for my bedroom before the ugly feature wall we bought it with a year ago does my head in. We have spent so much time and energy on every other part of the house that I finally cracked it and demand we do something for just us in our own personal space.
Maxabella says
I feel I need to crack it and just paint the darn thing. It has hurt my eyes for almost 10 years now!! What a procrastinator I am. x
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid says
I love that distractions poster as much as I love the pictures of the kids in all their medieval get up, which is, a lot! You might have missed out on the holiyays but you’ve got the weekend to enjoy as the fantastic five! Have a good one x
Maxabella says
This is true. The weekends definitely have true meaning now and that’s a good thing! x
Charlene @ Teacher by trade Mother by nature says
Our School holidays are just starting!! Woohoo! No school drop off and pick up for two weeks! I wonder if i will get a sleep in? hmmm that would be nice (and dreams are free)
Most of the time I do care about what my home looks like (tidy and organised), even more so since we moved in to our new home almost 2 months ago. I take pride in my home. but there are other times when I just can’t be stuffed doing anything, and get sick of having to do it all…until it drives me crazy and I end up doing it anyway!
Maxabella says
Man, that sounds EXACTLY like me. x
Charlene @ Teacher by trade Mother by nature says
forgot to say…thanks for hosting and have a wonderful weekend!
Maxabella says
My pleasure always and you too! x
Min@WriteoftheMiddle says
No we can’t really have it all. I do remember how torn I always was when the kids were little and I was working. They were hard days. Big hugs to you Bron! xoxo
Maxabella says
Thanks darling. x
Jody at Six Little Hearts says
I bought that cookbook too – more as a souvenir really.
It would be hard not spending time with the kiddos. I am the other extreme – drowning in kids. If I have to put the milk away one more time I’ll scream! X
Maxabella says
We really can’t win!
I borrowed the book from the library, but I like it very much and may buy it if I see it. Never thought I’d say that. She’s a charlatan, but the eating ethos is spot on for me. x
JodiGibson (@JFGibsonWriter) says
Hope you get some special time with your kidlets over the holidays. This week’s been tough trying to balance working from home while the kids are here! Monday though, we are off to the beach and I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to it!
Maxabella says
Happy beach travels, Jodes! x
Mumma McD says
There’s a long weekend coming up next weekend, have your own condensed school holiday experience in those 3 days! I bet it’s tough – I’ll be in the same boat when my kids start school x
Maxabella says
A very good idea. I’m just readjusting. I’ve been here before and I know all will be well, but it’s still hard to change my mindset. x
Helen K says
The juggle is tricky (we’ve always done it and it doesn’t get easier) but I find the loss of my day off hardest. Still, holidays make it worthwhle – and you will love having worked when you are traveling at the end of the year! Btw – it was last week you were writing about IT problems, wasn’t it? Strangely I have email and Facebook but no search engines (and therefore no post to share – sigh). Enjoy the painting – that will be a great distraction for the weekend! X
Maxabella says
There are IT gremlins afoot, I tells ya! I had the Telstra man out doing the week and our cable had rusted… which explains a lot. Then Bart went and bought a brand new modem so once that’s in I will be a new me. I hope your issues get sorted quickly. x
Helen K says
All working again (a safari glitch) and all linked up! x
Lisa@RandomActsOfZen says
I do love the school holidays, especially the days when it’s all about doing nothing together. My heart was squeezed a little bit, reading how you feel, Bron,.
I had to smile when I saw your babies in their medieval gear on IG. Your kids do the coolest stuff.
That poster is glorious, and I hope your weekend is too xx
Maxabella says
Thanks Lisa. I didn’t realise how sad I was until I went to write this post. I miss the quiet, slow days the most. Doing things can be done, but you just can’t get those easy nothing days when you’re working. x
Amy @ HandbagMafia says
I don’t think I could read Belle Gibson’s book after all she’s done- I would be too angered, I think! I’m glad to hear there is good in it, though.
Maxabella says
I was very angry reading the introduction, it’s true. But there is merit in the book and I feel a lot of people who worked on it deserve to know that it’s a good one. x
Ingrid @ Fabulous and Fun Life says
School holidays are a juggle. I’m continuing to work these school holidays also and saving my days off for the Christmas holidays.
Having a tidy-ish house does help our family function smoother and saves us time of not having to search for things.
I hope you have a relaxing family weekend with your kids.
Shannon@ my2morrows says
Oh I hear ya Bron re the school holiday juggle. It’s chaos normally but throw in school holidays and Things require military precision planning! Im travelling next week for work too… Feeling the Mumma guilt big time! Xx
Kate says
I often reflect on how lucky I am to have holidays when the kids do. We all enjoy the chance to relax the routine and I feel for mothers who have to coordinate everyone during school holidays. I hope you get to spend some quality time somewhere along the way.
Tash @ Gift Grapevine says
I lived with orange wood all over my parents kitchen for twenty years and I like to think I turned out ok. I do laugh at the fact that they did a full renovation (and got a dishwasher) once all of us kids moved out! I will follow your potential renovation adventure with interest 🙂 Have a lovely weekend xx
Zoe | A Quirky Bird says
Oh Bron, school holidays are so hard for working parents. I remember being at school, when I was teaching, and seeing the same kids at Out of hours care. They were there each day, simply because their parents had to work. I’m hoping that your proposals get finished and you get some to spend some quality time with the kids.
The Wholefood Pantry would be such a hard read. I have done some crazy things due to my mental health and sometimes do things even I don’t understand.
Zoe xx
Vicki @ Boiled Eggs & Soldiers says
Oh Bron I feel for you I hope you get a slow day with the kids today. I love the photos of the medieval kids, looks like such fun. I have to say yes I do care what my house looks like but I’m immersed in renovating the new house now so it’s front & center in my mind! X
Sarah @ Tomfo says
I feel your pain, with school holidays and being a working mum, I’m looking forward to the last ones because that’s when I take a holiday too. Yay for weekends is all I can say.
I love making a house a home, it’s one of my favourite things to do, the other day I caught my little guy reading a magazine and oohing and ahhing over the chairs and lights…
Obviously I do that a lot. Lol! Happy weekend x
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile says
What’s that old saying? You can have it all, just not all at once! How true is that! Hope you get to spend some lovely time together this weekend. xx
Kathy says
It is hard to get used to. I had the juggle this week (although hubby’s shifts always help) and next week I’m off (yeh, I’m officially on hols). Sorry, didn’t mean to rub it in.
Pinky Poinker says
I feel your pain. I only worked for six weeks away from home when my kids were young and I hated every minute of it. I was lucky to have a home based job the whole time they were growing up. I love the photos and they certainly look like they’re having a great time! At least you have weekends to look forward to and no mad organising on Sunday night 🙂
Robyna | The Mummy & The Minx says
It’s always greener isn’t it? I am enjoying the holidays with the kids, but have also been trying desperately to wrangle some time for my business, failing miserably and, very occasionally, yearning for the old office job. I am glad to spend these days with them. I think we just need to remind ourselves of our blessings as we find them.
Kim @ Land of Zonkt says
I dont know how working mums negate holidays.
I thought normal daycare was hard enough. School hours and holidays. hats off to those that work far away indeed.
I dont think any job is harder than another, its just different.
Good with bad, bad with good hey.
Just as long as your happy is all that matters. xx
Kim @ Land of Zonkt says
that was meant to be “navigate” lol
Sanch @ Living my Imperfect Life says
I highly doubt we can do it all…but then again, ‘all’ is probably different for everyone. 🙂 Your kids seem like they are enjoying the holidays though. Hope you can still have the quality time you want 🙂
jules @ Toddlers plus teens says
Sometimes it can feel a bit like juggling fire , trying to get the balance . I hope you get some cherished time with your kids bron and a couple of slow mornings . X
Vicki @ Knocked Up and Abroad says
Oh I love your little medieval warriors! How great do they look? Sorry you’re missing out on school holiday fun. It’s always a real bummer when you’re missing out on kiddy fun stuff. Can you plan some special weekend activities to soften the blow?
Julie says
I do and I don’t care what my house looks like. I spend a lot of time here so I want to appeal to me. Do I care about what it looks like for other people? Nup not at all.
Sonia Life Love Hiccups says
I hear you hun – school holidays are bitterwweet in that I love the break from school lunches and homework… but then the guilt I feel when I miss out on doing things with the kids because I am working really sucks. But then my parents worked and that didnt stop me as a child enjoying my time off from school xx
Erin says
Oh hugs, it must be very hard adjusting. And yes the ‘you can have it all’ mantra, upsets me big time because it’s not true and sets many mums up for hardship. Honesty breeds reality and a more resilient way to cope in today’s world.
Erin says
oh and my house, just as well I’ve learnt not to care too much considering it’s only half built. Though I admit I did care about the toolshed set up in my dining room and after two years finally said, ‘enough’ but husband is still not happy about that, complains that he was to walk up to his shed for tools all the time