This Week’s Word Of The Week and Cheerful Thoughts #WOTW #R2BC

By | July 30, 2015

I don’t tend to mention my first marriage on here, there’s no need.  I moved on a long time ago but I need to in this week’s WOTW, because it’s relevant.

Here’s my word:

  
(Image thanks to coachingoodles.com)

That would be me this week and here’s why (the #R2BC bit):

It’s the school holidays and I’m at home with T and D.  I’m very fortunate that I can be.  

When I was married to C’s dad, I went back to work when my little baby wasn’t even 3 months old, because I had to.  Because my ex had a habit of jacking in a job at very short notice, therefore my wage was the constant and vital to keep us going.

It was difficult, working full time and then going home to a young baby and the chores.  And the guilt, so much guilt.  Guilt that someone else would be holding my child as he went to sleep after a bottle, the feeling that I was always running from A to B, that I’d be missing smiles and laughter from a child that had been much wanted.

Unfortunately after 2.5 years, I was a single parent, the responsibilities would seem to have been all too much and I was relieved in a way.  Now I knew where I stood, with an occasional £35 a week contribution towards everything!

We carried on like that, just us two, juggling child care in the holidays, wishing I could spend more time with my son, until we met Hubbie, when C was 6.

We married and poodled along as a happy threesome, me still working until T came along.  I knew I wanted to stay at home.  I was earning a good wage but the pull towards my family and knowing I was fully supported emotionally by Hubbie was the decider.  Just as well because D arrived 18 months later!

Okay, we don’t have the super-duper holidays or the ability to just take off to a mega bucks theme park on a whim, but I don’t need all that.

The children have been happy in their home environment this week, we’ve laughed (I’ve been told off by T for smiling too much!), we’ve cuddled and we’ve enjoyed not having to dash off out of the house for school.

I childminded for a good few years and this is the first summer since D was 18 months old that it’s been just us.  No waiting for the door to knock, no need for record keeping or constantly wondering if I’m doing the best I can.

It helped that I had been a career mum, I could identify with the guilt and the wondering if a snuffle would turn into something more, which may mean time off work for them.

T prefers to stay within our house and garden during the holidays, so getting him behind that is a challenge, but I’m so grateful that it’s me to has to make that choice, to start the negotiating, rather than my being in a work environment wondering how they both are.

You never know, the swimming pool might make an experience too sometime in August, that would be nice!

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12 Comments

Louise George on 31st July 2015 at 7:44 am.

That’s a lovely word for the week and agree that you are very lucky to be able to be a stay at home mum. I love how happy your holidays have sounded so far – to the extent of being told off for smiling too much. Hope the rest of your holidays are just as happy 🙂

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Jeannette on 22nd November 2015 at 10:47 am.

Thanks, it was a good time 🙂

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mommyslittleprincesses on 31st July 2015 at 7:58 pm.

Aaaàh *hugs* such a lovely #wotw! I’m so glad that your holiday has been so good so far and that it’s got you smiling…Haha that’s a good one being told off for smiling so much.xx

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Jeannette on 22nd November 2015 at 10:47 am.

Indeed, never thought I’d get told off for that 😀

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xOjox on 1st August 2015 at 2:56 pm.

I understand this, I was a working mum, now I stay at home. I don’t know how I would’ve copied with the ups and downs I get, if I’d had to leave them xx

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Jeannette on 22nd November 2015 at 10:47 am.

Same here xx

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Jocelyn (@ReadingRes) on 1st August 2015 at 5:45 pm.

So glad you’re having a good summer, great word to choose, too. I feel lucky to be able to be at home with my two, too, and yes we’ve less money this way, but the cuddles and just being here make it worth it, don’t they? Thanks for sharing with #WotW x

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Jeannette on 22nd November 2015 at 10:46 am.

They definitely do, I’d hate to think of D or T sat in childcare needing a cuddle and having to wait for me to collect them x

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Merlinda Little on 2nd August 2015 at 5:42 pm.

I just had a talk with a mom fr my son’s school and she needs to work too. This makes me feel lucky to stay at home with my son and have some time blogging too. We dotn do holidays and we cant buy many things but I think us being together is so worth it as well. This is such a lovely read =) #wotw

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Jeannette on 22nd November 2015 at 10:46 am.

Thanks, the positives do outweigh the materialistic potential benefits 🙂

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LakesSingleMum on 5th August 2015 at 10:01 am.

I was lucky to have 2 years as a SAHM after the guilty years of sending babies to nursery. Glad I get school holidays off to spend time with the children

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Jeannette on 22nd November 2015 at 10:45 am.

Me too, so glad I get this time with them 🙂

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