A New Start {The Ordinary Moments}

Three days a week I’ve been taking the children to school, putting on their coats, holding their hands and making sure they have everything they need when I drop them off in the morning. Then, I pick them up again in the afternoons, getting to see that happy face they do, that look that comes on their face the first moment they see you – and getting to walk home with them, talking about their day.

But the other two days a week I’ve been at work and I’ll walk with Dave or my Mother-in-Law half way to school before parting ways and going to work. Each time the children give me a kiss and a cuddle and get briefly sad before leaving me until I see them again, hours later, minutes before dinner time.

But a while ago I realised something had to change. Working around Dave’s shifts was hard for all of us and I couldn’t really give my best to anything, constantly juggling work, home, kids, blog. So yesterday I wore my work uniform for the last time, I made my colleagues a last cup of tea and I then walked out the doors at 2pm to a new start for all of us.

Today is the start of the rest of our lives and tomorrow is a brand new week and a brand new routine. It’s a week that will see me doing the school run each day, not having to leave the children half way again, and being able to spend those precious couple of hours in the afternoon with them.

I’ll no longer be juggling the children, emails and everything else in the afternoons and will be able to spend quality time with them – maybe even going to soft play for a treat after school and a junk food tea or popping for an ice cream on a Friday. Or, we may even just go home, put our pyjamas on and snuggle with a movie for an hour or two – just enjoying the quality time and just being, having a slower pace and being able to appreciate it a little bit more.

Somehow I spent the last two and a half years with so many plates spinning and I’m proud to say that I didn’t drop them often. But, it’s time to spin less plates and to focus on the most important ones. I’m looking forward to being able to make memories with my favourite people each day and not just having to wait for a weekend away, an odd day together in the school holidays or another special occasion. From now on each day is right there for the taking and we will definitely have the time to take it.

A New Start {The Ordinary Moments}

Author

  • Donna Wishart is married to Dave and they have two children, Athena (13) and Troy (11). They live in Surrey with their two cats, Fred and George. Once a Bank Manager, Donna has been writing about everything from family finance to days out, travel and her favourite recipes since 2012. Donna is happiest either exploring somewhere new, with her camera in her hand and family by her side or snuggled up with a cat on her lap, reading a book and enjoying a nice cup of tea. She firmly believes that tea and cake can fix most things.

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11 Comments

  1. I’m so happy and so excited for you lovely – I’ve called you a machine before and I really mean it. You’re so super organised and the most effective plate spinner I know! I cannot wait to see everything you achieve in this next big step – congrats and YAY! x x

  2. I really want these ordinary special moments. Since S started school in September I’ve never taken the girls to school or picked them up and it is tearing apart. I agree these moments are precious and I so want to have those moments back again, and I know I will soon enough.

  3. How lovely for you and your family! I’m so grateful everyday for being at home and it’s been 3.5 years now! even more so now I have my daughter. Congratulations to you!

  4. This sounds amazing and like you’ve made the right choice. I work 4.5 days a week – 4 full days and an evening on Wednesday which leaves me a full day with J. For me that Wednesday is priceless, and I look forward to doing school drop offs and pick ups then x

  5. It sounds like such an exciting time for you and your family! Its amazing that you can now spend more time with the children, they grow fast and the years just fly by don’t they? Good luck, although I am sure you won’t need it!

  6. This is fantastic. Well done you. It must be so nice for you to be able to spend more quality time with your little ones! I wish you all the luck in the world with your new adventure!

  7. Lovely post Donna, and it must be so nice this week to be enjoying more time with the children. I can’t imagine it was an easy decision for you to give up your job, but I have no doubt that you will be amazing at blogging full time. I also think you must have been a machine to blog, work, look after the kids, the home, all whilst hubby works shifts. Best of luck to you all in the next phase of your life xx

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