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You are here: Home / ADVENTURE / Journeying off the sofa

Journeying off the sofa

November 13, 2013 by Molly 15 Comments

walk

Do you ever have days where you just can’t wait until bedtime?

I had a week like that recently. As soon as daylight pierced my eyelids it was all I could do not to dive back under the duvet. I was tired, overwhelmed by a few things and a bit stressed. My 3 year old was having tantrums and, well, it was just one of those weeks.

On the Sunday evening I sighed a sigh of resignation as I mentally prepared for the week ahead, expecting more tantrums and exhaustion. Rather than start the week with a feeling of doom, I decided to write a list. I’m good at lists. They help me order my brain and have a calming effect. 

For this list I used felt tips and little pictures. It was titled: THINGS WE WILL DO THIS WEEK.

When Frog woke up the following morning we trundled downstairs (after the usual squeaks of “I don’t want to go to pre-school, I going to watch CBeebies all day!”) and found the list, stuck to the living room door. I told Frog that it had details of things we would do that week. CBeebies was not on the list.

For Thursday, I had ambitiously planned a trip to the park AND a nature trail. My advice to you if you do your own list, by the way, is to aim small. When Thursday rolled around we ditched the park and headed straight home after pre-school. Once there, we collected a bucket and only paused to put on our wellies. We set off in the opposite direction and, what do you know, we found open countryside at the end of the road.

We’ve never had cause to venture to the end of this road before, as town is in the opposite direction. As we walked down the lane and found an old stile leading onto a public footpath I couldn’t help but smile.

This place had been waiting for us all along.

 

We found a stream and jumped in it. We collected different shaped leaves, acorns and the odd twig, squirrelling it all away in the bucket. We squelched in mud and ran and… there were no tantrums. Not one.

At bedtime that night, Frog turned to me and said, “Can we go back to the big field soon Mummy?”

We’re going back this week.

Filed Under: ADVENTURE, PLAY Tagged With: adventures, outdoors fun, play

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Comments

  1. Northernmum says

    November 29, 2013 at 10:29 pm

    Love this post ladies. X

    Reply
  2. Grandma from the North says

    November 17, 2013 at 7:47 pm

    No matter who we are or how old(!) we all have BIG FIELDS! It’s all about having spirit and eagerness to explore – with SUPPORT from those we love. Ask me about my BIG FIELDs I could write a book!
    X

    Reply
    • Molly says

      November 20, 2013 at 10:51 pm

      Couldn’t agree more! xx

      Reply
  3. The Fool says

    November 14, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    I love it! My favourite thing when I have the kids on my own at the weekend is to get on our waterproofs and wellies and go for an explore. We rarely get more than 100m from the house but the street we’re on is basically the countryside and full of trees, leaves, sticks, bushes, mounds to conquer.
    Just perfect and amazing what fresh air can do for you.

    Reply
    • Molly says

      November 20, 2013 at 10:53 pm

      You’re so right – a bit of fresh air goes far!

      Reply
  4. Mummy to boyz says

    November 13, 2013 at 10:51 pm

    I just got goose pimples!

    My boy goes a bit stir crazy indoors and we find getting outside does the world of good too. I love your list idea 🙂 #CountryKids

    Reply
    • Molly says

      November 14, 2013 at 12:30 pm

      It works for me – if I have time to do it!

      Reply
  5. Coombemill says

    November 13, 2013 at 10:36 pm

    I LOVE this post, it is like you just found out what I keep banging on about with time outdoors. Physical exertion really does have a calming effect and that is true for you and Frog! All that at the end of the road without even having to take the car out? A perfect playground. You go and enjoy and make sure it stays on your list.

    Reply
    • Molly says

      November 14, 2013 at 12:30 pm

      We’re going back today. It’s definitely going to be a regular thing.

      Reply
  6. brinabird and son says

    November 13, 2013 at 10:15 pm

    Awesome! I am honestly going to try a list for next week I think. We have been having amazing tantrums and to say that things in this household are a little bit stressed is an understatement! I will remember to aim small though 🙂 Irony in the fact that getting out, even just a walk down the road, is small but it’s effect are huge!

    Reply
    • Molly says

      November 14, 2013 at 12:31 pm

      Tantrums can be SO stressful – especially if they’re incessant, which ours often are! Getting outside is a great way to relieve the stress (apart from when the tantrum continues down the street, which is no fun at all).

      Reply
  7. Mums do travel says

    November 13, 2013 at 9:57 pm

    Lists are great, I love them! I’m glad you managed to get out and about, it looks like you had a fab time.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Country Kids from Coombe Mill says:
    July 31, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    […] Mother's Always Right has a 'light bulb moment' about the joy of being outdoors as Country […]

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  2. Getting Outside and Off the Sofa (Again) Mother's Always Right says:
    November 28, 2013 at 8:53 pm

    […] us was the stream we discovered a couple of weeks ago. The path threaded around the side of a steep hillside, with views right […]

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  3. Running Down Hills - Hypermobility Loses Again Mother's Always Right says:
    November 14, 2013 at 7:39 pm

    […] then, the other day on our walk, Frog found a huge hill (Dartmoor is good at hills) and ran towards it like a bee to a hive. […]

    Reply

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Hello and welcome! I'm Molly Forbes - podcaster, presenter and blogger with a passion for positivity, confidence and body image chat. Regularly writing and vlogging about empowering female issues from a motherhood angle, I also cover lifestyle and fashion topics for like-minded mums who want to rediscover themselves after having children. Thanks for stopping by! Read More…

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Trying this thing where I live in the moment, cele Trying this thing where I live in the moment, celebrate my wins and stop focusing so much on my fails. I’ll let you know how it goes 😬✨🤞
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[Image description: Molly in the bath with pink water, holding a glass of prosecco. She has her eyes closed and is smiling.]
The self-isolation ends today so I’m planning a The self-isolation ends today so I’m planning a hike this weekend with my favourites. I don’t even care if it pours with rain, everyone is grumpy and I can’t open the thermos cos my husband’s screwed the lid on too tight. 
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I’ve missed the outside and it’s only been for two weeks, which feels pathetic to admit given that so many people are trapped at home perpetually, either through lack of accessibility, having to shield, or having little or no support for chronic health conditions or mental illness. 
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I’m so aware of how privileged I am to be able to go outside and stand under the sky on top of a big hill this weekend. I won’t forget it, or lose sight of that, for a minute. ✨
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[Image description: Molly and her two daughters, age 6 and 10, stand on a hiking trail with a valley behind them. They all wear outdoor hiking clothes - boots, jogging bottoms and jumpers - have their arms in the air and are smiling.]
Hey! Are you a teacher in a school with dwindling Hey! Are you a teacher in a school with dwindling budgets? Or maybe you run a kids’ club or youth group that relies on donations to keep going? Then I’m looking at 💥YOU💥
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On Tuesday November 3rd I’ll be hosting a ✨FREE✨ Body Happy Kids workshop at 2pm. There are 10 places up for grabs and you can apply via the link in my bio. These places are reserved for those that can’t afford the regular sessions (which cost £25 a place / £125 a group).
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It’s a one hour, evidence-based interactive workshop giving an introduction to body image and children, how it intersects with well-being, safeguarding and attainment and what you can do to make your setting a “body happy” one to give kids the best chance to thrive. 
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You also get a free course notes booklet, activity pack and attendance certificate for CPD journal purposes too ⚡️
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So far this workshop’s been delivered to over 150 teachers, lecturers and youth workers both in the UK and further afield, since it launched back in June.
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If you do have the budget then you can book onto one of our paid sessions now via the Workshop link in my bio. (Shout out to the brilliant team helping to deliver these sessions @effinitupfaye @amysnellingpt @bodyconfidencecards & @lottie_storey !) 
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Hopefully one day we’ll be able to deliver these in person, but for now they’re all taking place on Zoom.
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Tag someone you think could benefit from the opportunity, or let your kids’ school know! (PS there’s a downloadable info doc on the website you can send them for more info 👀) SWIPE ➡️ for testimonials 💕 #BodyHappyKids 
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[Image description: A yellow slide with pink and blue patterns and the logo spelling “Body Happy Kids workshops”]
It’s been a crap day - for no reason other than It’s been a crap day - for no reason other than I’ve hit a wall after 11 days of self-isolation. (Sharing this with the caveat that I know I’m hugely privileged and many others have it far worse, but toxic positivity is a thing and I think it’s important to share the less-than-shiny stuff too, particularly on an app that can trick us into thinking everyone else is living their best life every day.)
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Today I woke up feeling numb. Literally nothing. I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed. I just lay there looking at the ceiling trying to ignore the daylight outside. Until a huge bolt of anxiety hit and stayed in my stomach all day. Usually I’d go for a walk, or a swim, or just have a chat with a pal on the school run, but that’s obviously not possible right now. 
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This year I’ve invested a huge amount of time, brain space and emotional energy into a piece of work that recently finished. I expected to feel relief when it was done but instead I feel... weird? Like, a bit bereft, lost, anxious. A bit out of sorts, and not sure what to do with myself. 
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I’ve got zero motivation to start the next big work thing on my list but also finding it super hard to just sit still and give myself some time and space. Plus, self-isolation 😬.
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So instead of trying to go all jolly jazz hands and force myself into denying the funk, I’ve decided to sit in it for a bit. Feel the feels, as they say. Allow myself to be grumpy, irritated, anxious and a bit sad and lonely. 
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It’s ok not to be happy all the time. It’s ok to feel the messy stuff. Solidarity if you’re feeling it too. ❤️ #MentalHealthMatters 
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[Image description: A photo of Molly in her kitchen, her face covered by messy hair, holding a mug. Her daughters play in the background and there’s an unemptied food bin on the kitchen counter. She is not smiling.]
(REPOST: I’m reposting this with just the body-s (REPOST: I’m reposting this with just the body-shaming tweet and without the paparazzi photo of Billie Eilish that accompanied it. Someone rightly pointed out that everyone sharing the photo doesn’t help Billie and on reflection I agree - it just gives more power to the person who took her photo without her permission.)
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That said, I stand by the sentiment of my original post. Ain’t nothing wrong with a “mid-30s wine mom body”, or any body for that matter. #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #BodyHappyMum 
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Thanks to @alexlight_ldn for originally highlighting the absurdity of the original body shaming tweet (written, by the way, by a 29 year old man hiding behind a faceless avatar, which says it all I think). 
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[Image description: A graphic showing a tweet which reads “In 10 months Billie Eilish has developed a mid-30s wine mom body. Next to it is a photo of Molly in underwear with the caption “I’m 37, a mum and drink wine. Here’s my glorious body!”]
Self-isolation uniform as standard (PS She’l Self-isolation uniform as standard ✨ (PS She’ll always be my baby. May she always know how lovely she is 💕)
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