This little phrase when coupled with three kids could mean almost anything but in this instance it actually refers to me! The marathon is over and although I am still running a few times a week I am in the position of fitting it in around my life rather than fitting my life around the running! Not only that nut Pixie goes to school full time in September, so once I have survived the onslaught of the summer holidays I will in a way be a free agent.
For some this might seem their idea of heaven but after four years of looking after the kids and running around like a looney I know I’ll need something to do. Whilst running and housework can account for some of the time and the trips up to the school for music lessons and meetings as well as helping in the library and with swimming I feel I need something else to do. As a result I have been looking for something part time, feeling this would give me the best work/life balance. It then occurred to me however that this would mean having someone to pick the kids up and drop them off as well as be there for any other training days and so on probably resulting in more hassle than pleasure.
I can pick up the writing again but this can in a way be rather isolating – it is difficult to talk to other people when you’re engrossed in your own little world and whilst I do want to pick the writing back up again as well as try to catch Heather up on piano as she is now way ahead of me, I still felt I could do with ‘something.’ I considered supply teaching but even there the hours would not be compatible with the kids hours so more stress. As a result the only think I could thing was to do some voluntary work, preferably at the kids school, although not with my own ones so that I can at least get myself up to date and get back into the idea of being in the class room.
I also wanted to pick up me study as I would love to train as an education psychologist but need to finish my courses so from September I am hoping to do a couple of days in school, a couple of days of writing and some study, – I guess that should keep me nice and busy as well as keeping the house clean, doing some exercise and trying to review books as they get sent to me! That way playing the piano and cross stitch can become hobbies as well providing I am not too tired! This should result in me being more stimulated and satisfied and therefore more helpful to the children rather than us all taking each other for granted.
The summer term is now in full swing and as we approach June the list of events to observe or participate in is growing rapidly – sports day, swimming galas, dance shows and parents evening just to name but a few as well as trips for all the kids to various places. Whilst I love the busyness that leads up to the holidays it can become exhausting as well!
It struck me recently how much the kids are growing up – it wasn’t long ago that they needed help with dressing and so on and now they are in the main independent. The weekends now are filled with activities and parties but we have persuaded our elf that he is allowed to come downstairs and fix himself a bowl of cereal and watch TV if he so wishes. It also stuck me how different their childhood is compared to mine – they play outside and in the garden as well as read and colour in and play games but their lives are also filled with gadgets. Since they were small they have been able to operate various ‘i’ gadgets competently and move easily into new technology! Pixie was practicing her alphabet recently and instead of x for X-ray or Xylophone we got X for X-box! How times have changed!
