A year later ...

                            

My Facebook memories reminded me this morning that I published my first blogs on this site a year ago.  I reread that blog post this morning, (serendipitous timing), and reminded myself of a lot of things that I'd half forgotten over the past few months as life became different for all of us.  

In the past year, I've moved house twice.  Yes, I know!  But, that was less stressful than being pregnant, giving birth and then having a tiny baby in the middle of a global pandemic.  Nothing was as expected.  It still isn't.  But, hopefully, we can start interacting with our families soon.  

In May this year I celebrated having worked for my employer for 10 years.  My job has changed dramatically over those years, but, I can honestly say that I enjoy my job.  I like and thrive on the variety of challenges and experiences it brings.  Many of my colleagues have become friends.  This time, whilst I am enjoying my maternity leave, I am also looking forwards to returning to work, albeit in its post-COVID form.

I'm also older (not necessarily wiser) than when my eldest was born.  This time, I'm going to do the things I want to do with my little girl, not the things I think (or anyone else thinks) I should be doing.  Especially as this time, it's inevitably going to involve at least some form of home-teaching the material my eldest's teachers prepare and put online as well.  I'm actively looking forward to walks, picnics and tea stops.  To playing in the sand on the beach.  

This time though, I'm not craving me time on my maternity leave ... This time I have more help.  I'm not afraid to ask for it.  And I don't think that Pinterest and Instagram are places I need to go to know what I should be doing (if anything I am actively avoiding them and other social media sites that try to tell you what you need to be doing with your mini human).  This time, is precious.  And its for us, as a family to use to set the routine that will form the basis of the next years of all our lives.

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