Life Changes

walnut cake (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Since my youngest started full time school, I enjoyed a year of being child-free for the first time in 12 years and wiled away the days (well, 9.30am to 3pm) visiting friends, having coffee mornings in and lunches out, shopping - an ideal life it seemed.

Actually, in the first month or two I really missed the sounds of a toddler pottering about as I got on with chores and found it difficult to motivate myself to do anything without the push of hearing a cry or "Mummy..?". There was no more need to prepare lunch or a bottle, to change a nappy or put a child on a potty, or get baby/toddler ready to fetch an older child from pre-school/school.

On occasion I would literally sit, mind blank, knowing I needed to get on with something but not having any real reason to do so. I had been so used to reacting to a child's needs, all day everyday, I no longer seemed capable of doing anything without them! I knew it would be an adjustment to this new part of my life but I didn't realise how long it would take to adjust.

Fortunately, my lovely fellow Mummy's realised that I was free to go with them wherever they fancied going (and be an extra pair of hands to help them with their baby/toddler!) so after several invitations to random places and realising I would go to the opening of an envelope if it meant coffee or lunch out, we settled into a lovely routine of making last minute arrangements for the day ahead, either with a text received early morning whilst shouting at various children to get ready for school, or even in the playground on the school run.

After many months of thoroughly enjoying my new lifestyle, I begun to feel a little guilty (as we female species are so good at!) - should I be thinking about going back to work?
I knew lots of friends and fellow mums who had done exactly that and managed to juggle work and childcare, but I wasn't sure that was for me. Yes, I was child-free for the middle part of the day, but what about school events, sharing assemblies, sick days, phone calls for forgotten PE kits, after school activities and homework? I wanted to be there for all of things still, so decided it was better to have most of the day for me so that I felt enthusiastic and 100% there for the kids when they needed me. Luckily, DH has a good career and, whilst we are by no means rolling in it, we can get by with just one breadwinner and I am happy to remain a full-time mum.

About 6 months ago I volunteered to help the local village school, where my youngest two still attend, as a dinner lady. Well, that's what I call it, but in the interests of being PC, I'm an MSA, or Midday Supervisory Assistant! I do two days a week, sometimes a third if there aren't any important lunch dates arranged, and, although I don't get paid a fortune, I get to be a fly on the wall and see my children at school, and feel like I'm helping the school whilst being a working member of the community.
So that's where I am at the moment, hope you enjoyed it and continue to read my blog.