Sunday night is here once again and tomorrow brings me another week of the day job.

Reflecting back on my plans for last week and this is how they went:

* I made time for me most days, sometimes it was much easier than others. A few things I did for me were, a walk, read a book, had a facial (done by myself at home) and baked scones.

* Children are currently not zombies but they have been trying to convince me for extra Xbox time at all points of the day every day.

* As the boys had friends over their rooms were very tidy without any nagging. However I still cannot understand that washing ends up next to the washing bin and not in it?!

* Children made pizza and cooked brownies for tea. We did have a code red when a glass bowl containing molten liquid smashed and plastered most of our bright white kitchen with chocolate. Accidents happen and after I cleared it all up they finished making the brownies. It was very nice when we got to eat it 😜. And they did enjoy themselves so they can cook again!

* We decided to have a weekend at home and spend time with friends. This gave us a chance to recharge our batteries and enjoy our beautiful home.

How was your week?

It’s been a crazy week, I had originally planned annual leave but unfortunately had to change it. I thought that as everyone knew I was meant to be away that I could plough through a lot of work and do a load of admin that has built up. It started well but by the end of the week I was driving around to meetings again; don’t get me wrong the meetings I attended were well worth attending however I haven’t managed to get all the admin I hope to finished 😔.

And looking at the diary for next week it looks like I will not have a minute to spare for what I would like to get done; note to self I can only do what I can and that’s why I prioritise daily what needs to be completed. ✅

My work is fast paced, challenging and complex. I often need to take a look at what I have done and achieved to remind myself that I have done more than many do.

Then when I get home from work and as the boys are on summer holidays I get a barrage of:

‘Mum can I do ……’ ‘What are we having for tea?’ ‘How long until dinner’ ‘I’ve been looking and can I have this game?’ ‘Can we go see grandad?’ ‘Can you please wash my bedding as I have friends coming over’

Sometimes I don’t think they draw breath between questions! Then I have to remember to answer them all or give instructions as to what they can do to help with what they want:

‘Not right now, Pizza 🍕 your cooking remember? And don’t forget you wanted to do brownies too, I did leave the bits on the side so you could have made them today whilst I was out. Your cooking so whenever you would like your tea. I will look at the game later and we aren’t going to grandads tonight sorry. If you get your bedding I will wash it now and put a clean set on for you in a bit.’

Now I can put my bag down and try to escape upstairs to get changed!

The thing is as a working parent it’s hard to get the right balance in the summer holidays. The children are older now so most things, when I am around, are uncool, too boring or just too much like hard work for them. They do miss you though and you know inside that they would just like you around to taxi 🚕 them about or as a sounding board for their questions or woes.

I try to make sure they have something to do every day; it doesn’t have to be big but just something to get them up out of bed and off their Xbox’s!

So today after a late one with friends last night, we didn’t do a lot other than, sleep, watch tv, read and layabout together 😁🛏🛋📚💯💤