Doesn’t the sunshine just make everything better?

I found myself feeling properly relaxed for the first time in what seems like ages today. I’m pretty sure it’s mainly down to the weather and the fact I spent a couple of hours pottering in the garden. Then again, it could also be attributed to the small matter of my toddler’s mammoth two hour nap this afternoon.

The last couple of days have been productive, tinged with moments of indulgence. Mornings in the gardens, fields and woods at nursery have tired my almost-three year old out, leaving her snoring on the sofa within five minutes of arriving home.

With a bonus couple of hours that weren’t planned for, I’ve been able to clear the laundry (I’m one of those weird people that actually gets a sense of satisfaction at hanging out the washing and seeing it dry in the breeze), potter around the garden, clear some work deadlines and – yesterday – have a tiny nap.

Having a couple of extra hours to myself the last two days has made me realise just how time-poor I really am. It’s a bit sad that I consider having twenty minutes to put a wash on and mop the floor a blissful luxury. Usually I’m racing about trying to hit a work deadline, entertain my toddler, answer a phone call and cook tea, all before getting to bed at a reasonable hour due to my current early starts for the breakfast radio show I’m working on.

Seeing the flowers bloom in the garden, eating a sandwich in the sun and, well, just being still, have left me smiling. And in a period of intense change, stressful juggling, scary decisions and tired-to-the-bones exhaustion, these smiles are a welcome relief.

How have you been enjoying the sunshine? Have you found it’s made you feel better?

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The post Silent Sunday appeared first on Mother's Always Right.

During the last hour I’ve already become victim to at least four violent, stormy tantrums. The Terrible Twos are taking their toll.

Having sought some cool in the kitchen I move myself and my angry 23 month old into the garden. She is hot and bothered. Grumpy.

But she spies her second favourite thing in the world. Her hat. And I bask in the radiance of her smile, snapping the moment on my phone to remind myself of this happiness when the next tantrum arrives.

The storm clouds gather yet again. A wave of darkness passes across my daughter’s face. She angrily bats away suggestion of playing in the sandpit.

The day is narrowly saved by paint, grass and sunshine.

Tantrum averted. Phew.

***

This is my offering to this week’s Gallery, where the theme is “Sunshine”. Head over to Sticky Fingers to see the rest.

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It’s 5.58am. I’m two minutes from going on air to present a breakfast radio show. I’ve already eaten a bowl of shreddies, drunk three cups of tea and checked all my emails, Twitter, Facebook and showbiz websites. A rolling news channel is on the telly above my head.

I’m ready.

But while I scribble on my prep sheet, my mind can’t help wandering for thirty seconds.

I’m thinking of my nearly 2 year old daughter, probably still asleep in her cot. I’m thinking of my snoring husband, oblivious of the sunshine and the need to get the washing on the line before he leaves to do the childminder drop-off and make his own way to work. And I’m thinking of the fact I forgot to text my neighbour and ask her to collect a parcel from the post office before it closes this afternoon.

I look down and realise I’m wearing odd socks. And there’s a sudocrem mark on my shirt. This is what happens when you get up for work in the middle of the night and aren’t organised enough to put out your clothes the evening before. Anything goes at 3.30am.

But at least the sun was shining on the way into work this morning. And at least I now get to see the sun come up as I drive along the motorway Monday to Friday.

I smile.

And then the light goes on. “Morning”, I say into the microphone.

***

It’s now 8.30pm and I really need to go to bed. But I couldn’t resist the theme for The Gallery this week. Head over to Sticky Fingers to see the rest.

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The post Silent Sunday appeared first on Mother's Always Right.

The post Silent Sunday appeared first on Mother's Always Right.