I have my off days like anyone else, but mostly I have to say I adore my job as a stay-home-mum. It suits me down to the ground and I consider myself very fortunate to be able to do this job, a job I love with all my heart. I'm not a worker really, no not really. By nature I'm far too idle and ditsy and free-floating to be a good employee, I do pretty much hate being told what to do. I like to feel free, I like to feel that (within reason) I can pick and choose what I want to do each day, set my own schedule according to my mood and the weather.
That's not to say that I don't like routine, cos I do. I like to have some basic structure to my days, and certain things do need to be done each day, and I do need to be in certain places at set times each day. But that all balances out with the deliciousness of being able to free-float in and out and inbetween the must-do's and must-be's. Like I say, it suits me down to the ground.
I'm really enjoying this stage of Motherhood, I like the playgroup/nursery years a great deal more than the baby years I think. We get to have quite a bit of fun, Little B and I, he is terrific company. I'm enjoying the pace of our days and weeks and feel we're finally achieving a good balance between together time and away time, catering for each of our needs pretty well I'd say.
Thursday is the one day which I leave open without plans. No music groups, no toddler groups, no playgroups, no arrangements. Sometimes my in-laws come across and look after Little B so I can skip with my bag to knit and natter at the cafe. Sometimes I take Little B with me to knit and natter, where I spend much of my time trying to keep him away from the coffee machine which he is obsessed with. But lately, we've just been hanging out together at home on Thursday's, and it's been lovely to enjoy a bit of quiet down time together.
Yesterday though, well yesterday was declared (by me) to be a day for Going Places. The sun was shining and I suddenly thought how grand it would be to walk down to the station and take a train ride. I ran the idea by Little B, and he responded with a great big Yeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! and an excited kicking of his legs. So down to the station we went to get on a red, shiny train.
Little B had selected suitable reading material for the occasion, and we chatted about various forms of transport for the whole fifteen minute journey. Actually, no that's not true as we did look out the window quite a bit and pointed out things we could see. Sheep and tractors and lorries and the such like.
We journeyed to a nearby town in search of essential clothing supplies for my offspring who will not stop growing. Destination Large Supermarket. We got to ride in a lift. I bought Little B some incredibly dinky-sweet Fireman Sam underpants and new pyjamas with dinosaurs on. New socks and jammies for the Little People too. And one or two wee things for Mummy which snook into the basket, I'll show you those in a bit.
Once all the shopping was done with, we walked the few minutes back to the station and jumped on the train back again. But instead of going all the way back to our home town, we got off a stop early, at the village we visited a month or so ago, the one with the fabulous play park. What a grand plan that was, Little B was all smiles, and I felt all puffed up and pleased with myself. Doing a Good Job today I thought, what a happy day of Going Places and having fun being Mummy!
Unlike last time we were here which was during the school holidays, today the park was deserted when we arrived. Totally empty and all ours. It was great.
We had the whole run of it, even the giant sandpit which is usually full of kids on busy days.
It was a beautiful day yesterday, still quite chilly, but unmistakably an early Spring sort of a chill and not a late Winter chill.
I was delighted to see some early blossom, it looked so very, very pretty.
And full blown pussy willow too, a sure sign that Spring has most definitely sprung in my patch.
After a good while playing at the park I began to feel peckish, so I persuaded Little B to pause and come have lunch. He was devilishly busy collecting up handfuls of wood chippings and shoving them through a hole in one of the little stone walls, but at the mention of food he came running. We sat at a wooden picnic table in the sunshine and ate some sandwiches, biscuits, bananas and grapes that I'd bought with us. How I love to picnic eat outdoors, I really do love it. So simple and so satisfying. I did have a little bit of picnic envy as a family arrived at the next table and the other Mummy had thought to bring a flask. Damn, I slipped up there, I suddenly felt most desperate for a cup of tea when I spied her pouring smugly from her flask.
The sky was a hazy blue, the sun a sort of pale, watered down version of it's usual bright self. But it was truly blissful to have hazy blue and pale yellow shine down on me as I ate lunch.
It took a lot of persuading to get Little B to leave the park, we were there quite a long time. But eventually I really did kind of Need To Go if you get what I mean (no facilities at the park unfortunately), so I scooped him up (literally) and trotted the few minutes to the little station to wait for the next train back.
I sat on the platform bench and crossed my legs (getting desperate for Facilities), and Little B sat and crossed his legs too. He has new pumps this week look, dinosaur ones, very cute. Already well worn in.
By the time we arrived home, Little B was flat out asleep in his pushchair, worn out from the mornings excitements. I had about an hour and a half before the school run so I quickly chopped and mixed and got the dinner on to slow cook (a curry, this recipe but made with red lentils and mixed peppers. It was delish). Then I set about playing with my new purchases.....
This is what I bought for myself from the Large Supermarket, I just couldn't resist their happy, carefree, colourful charms. They were only £1 each and I felt so giddy putting them through the checkout and stashing them away in my bag.
I spent a while jigging about in the back yard, clearing away the dead things from some of my big pots so that I could satisfactorily "plant" my windmills. Oh what fun! They look so charming!
I can see them from my kitchen window, spinning round and round in the breeze. I love them.
After all that, I had a weeny window of time left to make myself a brew and sit out in the sunshine a while. I've positioned a chair and cushion right outside my back door for just such occasions as that's where the afternoon sun hits at this time of year.
I sat and thought about our day, and what a good time we'd had together, Little B and I. In fact, our days and weeks are really full of simple pleasure I have to say, we've settled in to a very lovely weekly routine. You may remember I told you he had started going to playgroup two mornings a week? Well the first fortnight was hideous and I felt constantly wrung out with the emotional strain of leaving him when he was crying so much. But then on the 5th day, his lip wobbled considerably, but he Did Not Cry (oh joy!!), and on the 6th day he was subdued but no quivering lips. And by the time we hit the 7th day (which was last week), he positively beamed with happiness when we arrived, waved goodbye to me and ran in to play. Such a humongous relief, I can't tell you.
Right, all this talk about Doing My Job is making me think that right now I should not be sat at my desk chatting to you. Sorry, I do need to go now. Need to scoot off and attend to the business of cleaning. It's Friday morning, Little B is happily at playgroup (yiipeppepeeeeee) and I've got some Home Blessing to do.
See you soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Posted by: how to get the job | July 27, 2012 at 12:36 PM
Oh I love windmills so much! My balcony's full of them - well it was but I've had a look out and I think a few are missing! Time for my own trip to le supermarket!
I can only imagine how excited little B was about a train trip that most of us just take for granted. A lot more fun than the car! :-)
Posted by: Nicole | April 01, 2012 at 09:23 PM
Hello Lucy,
I like your blog, it looks like my life - colorful, varied, no boring time:-)
And - a bit off this topic - I´d like to thank you for your neat ripple pattern for the blanket. Today I finished one big blanket with great result.
Jana
Posted by: Jana | April 01, 2012 at 07:02 PM
Lucy Thank You so much for your help - I got some! I could have kissed the man in the supermarket who went and got more from out the back of the shop for me (there was only 1 left and it was my 3rd visit - so I bought 6!). I think he thought I was a little nuts when I told him he had made my day but they make me smile every single time I look at them. I could kiss you too! Thank you for being a constant inspiration and for sharing your knowledge. Who knew something that cost £1 could give so much happiness!
Helen xx
Posted by: Belmont Yarns | March 30, 2012 at 03:31 PM
Hi Lucy you certainly are a happy Mummy these days. I'm absolutely loving all your posts. It just makes me smile to read what you are up to and gives me a lot of inspiration. I was wondering if you might tell me where you got the lovely and cheap as chips windmills as I have been trying to find them. I don't really have a garden and like you I try to use a few pots here and there to brighten the place up, I would love to get some of these happy happy windmills so any tips on where to look would be very much appreciated!
Helen xx
Posted by: Belmont Yarns | March 29, 2012 at 02:29 PM
Good luck with the sweet peas, pinching out the growing tips makes them wonderfully bushy, strong and plenty of gorgeous smelling flowers :)
Posted by: Clare J | March 28, 2012 at 09:15 PM
What a delightful day out! I always LOVE your photos of places - and train stations - in Yorkshire.
Lucy, I thought you might like to know that I made your Mum-in-laws curry over here in Israel and it was yummy! I have just posted about it and linked back to your recipe. You might like to see the results of my efforts here:
http://lisa-handmadeinisrael.blogspot.com
Posted by: Handmade in Israel | March 26, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Lucy you are making me feel jealous, I loved the stay at home time I had with my children for exactly the same reasons. Now they are all adults and I work I find myself constantly feeling frustrated by the way work stops play!!!!!
Posted by: sue | March 26, 2012 at 08:15 AM
I, like you, loved being a stay-at-home Mom. What lucky children!
Posted by: eva | March 26, 2012 at 12:34 AM
'Picnic envy' - I love that expression and I'm going to kidnap it, I'm sure I can put it to much use! Sigh. Those windmills are so fun. :)
Posted by: idiosyncratic eye | March 25, 2012 at 09:24 PM
Lov-a-lee snaps! I too enjoy growing my own from seeds. Such a wonderful climate there for beautiful plants. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: victoria blessing | March 25, 2012 at 05:02 PM
Oh how i love your posts, i love how you tell it like a story! These are simply the best days when your children are young, times to cherish has they soon grow up fast! Happy days! xxx.
Posted by: july | March 25, 2012 at 04:46 PM
What a lovely happy post! I feel almost like I need to pin it to read when I am in the depths of Winter despair or not having a good Mummy day!!!
My big kids have a pupil free day this week so to celebrate we are off to the Museum and a picnic in the Botanic Gardens - days like that just make your heart sing don't they!
Posted by: nell ward | March 25, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Such a lovely way to spend a day :)
Posted by: Justine | March 25, 2012 at 11:40 AM
oh you have to be the most charming mummy in blogland. love reading your sweet words and especially loved having those days of my little ones brought back to me. miss them! i love that you 'snook' those delightful windmills into your cart. they look perfect in your pots.
xxx
Posted by: lori | March 25, 2012 at 08:33 AM
Hi Lucy - I just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful ripple pattern. I've made some cushions and a blanket from it which someone actually bought... see here: http://kylie-3sheets.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/our-creative-spaces-finished-ripple.html
and I've passed on some of my good fortune to your coffee fund :)
Thank you!
Kx
Posted by: Kylie | March 25, 2012 at 02:44 AM
Hi Lucy
I too have found the $1 windmills. I bought four of them to share with family members. No matter where we're from, I think we all look forward to spring. I just love each little flower that pokes its head above the ground after our snow. I too was a stay at home mom, loved every minute of it. My husband wanted it that way, thank goodness. Thanks for sharing, I love looking forward to your letters and pics.
Posted by: Rebecca | March 25, 2012 at 02:10 AM
Dear Lucy, loved coming along with you on your day out. So enjoy reading your blog you always make me smile.
NettieB
Posted by: Janette Box | March 24, 2012 at 10:10 PM
Perfect day to me!
Posted by: verónica | March 24, 2012 at 07:09 PM
Hi Lucy,
How I love, love, love reading your posts. They make me smile a dozen times while reading them.
You are an inspiration for the time I get to spend with my two lovely grandsons.
I can only say keep doing what you are doing because you are doing it soooo well!!!!!
Posted by: Nesta | March 24, 2012 at 07:51 AM
Ahh... this is what I would like to do when I have children - be a happy mum, doing small, cute deals with my daughter or son and watch how happy they are!
God bless your family and be happy!
Posted by: silkwaytomydream.blogspot.com | March 24, 2012 at 07:31 AM
Your blog is such an inspiration to me. Whenever I am having a bad day, I simply visit your blog with all its colors and immediately begin to feel better.
Thank you so much for your blog.
Debbie
Posted by: Debbie | March 24, 2012 at 06:11 AM
What a lovely day Lucy, thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Trudy McLauchlan | March 24, 2012 at 04:31 AM
What a fun-filled day! Love the bunny cookies! ;-)
Posted by: diana | March 24, 2012 at 01:10 AM