A few things make me bounce around with joy. Aside from family and friends, I can think of two things that make my heart smile:
- The first air play of a Christmas song on the radio, usually in November.
- The hop skip and a jump through the school gates in July signalling the start of the summer holidays!
The latter is always one of my favourite times. I appreciate that for many parents, 6 weeks is a long and stressful time, juggling work and finances to cope with a summer break. Although we also live on a well planned budget too, as a stay at home mum, my time is free and I never take that for granted.
Having my mini me home for the holidays is brilliant and I love it.
This July my little girl graduated from infants to juniors. From Year 2 to Year 3. From Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2. It’s a big deal. All the Year 2 parents were invited to the graduation ceremony and it was beautiful. Their pictures, poems and songs filled the school hall, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. As we posed for graduation photos, my heart was bursting with pride.
In her graduation cap and gown she beamed and giggled with happiness. Alongside her little friends, under the gaze of all the proud loving parents they basked in the glory of all their achievements so far. I felt so blessed to be there in the front row drinking in every drop of the celebration. Her Dad and I wanted to freeze that moment. Still so little yet growing up so fast. I’m still mind blown at how much I can love another human. As I tell my daughter almost everyday – you are my world.
As the festivities spill out onto the school fields, caps fly high in the summer sun. Parents hang back to chat and drink tea and the children run about, full of energy and excitement. Another school year has come to a close. The children tossed their black ceremonial garb aside as it’s far too hot to run around in that now. For them it’s all about the summer holidays and no school. For me, it was another beautiful milestone to be a part of.
Congratulations Class of 2023 – Summer starts now.
In typical British fashion, the summer was a bit of a wash out. No real heady peaks of gorgeous hot sun, no stand out beach weather to speak of. The whole thing fell into two categories for 6 weeks. Rain and no rain. We had to get creative on some days and went out regardless on others.
Crafting with glow sticks, sewing, painting and marbling were covered this summer. My daughter even learned to knit courtesy of my mum. We went to parks, farms, beaches and fairgrounds. Visited the cinema, a castle and even dabbled in a spot of tree climbing. It was being a rather over excited spectator watching my daughter climb a tree, that caused me to misstep in the woods and fracture my foot. Not really knowing what I had done, and kind of hoping the pain would just go away; I continued to walk around on it for 2 days. At the hospital, I felt like a fraud but according to the doctor the bruise and swelling alone had earned me an x-ray. As I sat waiting, my health anxiety was in a tailspin, what have they seen? What if they find something else? I was relieved when the doctor came back smiling.
“Am I ok?”, I asked, sounding like a tiny worried child at this point.
“Yes, of course, you’ve broken your foot,” he said kindly.
I only asked one more question. “Can I leave now?”
Turns out it was a 4th metatarsal neck fracture. The terms break and fracture were used interchangeably; apparently they mean the same thing when it comes to bone injuries. Little can be done, just rest, ice, elevation and mobilising only in a moon boot. Fun.
One week into the six weeks of summer and I found myself in a delightful and rather large surgical boot. It slowed me down but didn’t prevent any of our activities. Being stubborn has its advantages at times. Boot and all, I was going to enjoy the fairground rides, a rather long day at an impressive zoo and a relaxing soak in a hot tub. We did everything. I was not going to allow my injury to put a spanner in our summer plans. The show must go on!
As the start of the new school year was edging closer, my husband and I booked a last minute weekend away just the 3 of us. A break away from the norm and it was amazing to be somewhere new. We had a great time as a family and stayed in a lovely hotel, which was a nice treat for me. These days, a happy holiday is simply one where I don’t have to cook.
Having a 6 week recovery time has been tough, frustrating and still ongoing. I’m hoping to be free of my surgical boot very soon. I definitely have a newfound appreciation for being a humble pedestrian. I have resented my pedestrian status for over 4 years. Now I can’t wait to have it back.