I had the best intentions of doing a weekly update of all the fun stuff that we’ve been up to during the summer holidays.  Really I did.  And then we ended up doing so many things that I didn’t get round to it!  Here’s a summary so far…

We’ve had a picnic and played Frisbee in the park:

We’ve had a big waterfight in the back garden:

We’ve done some baking (Viennese chocolate biscuits and a chocolate-orange sponge pudding with hot chocolate sauce):

We went to a ‘Game and Country Fair’ at Shugborough with my stepdaughter Sophie:

We’ve been for bike rides to the local park:

We’ve had friends round to play:

and we’ve been for a daytrip to a place called Conkers:

It’s not been easy fitting all of this in whilst still keeping some resemblance of normality for the girls.  We’ve had to make sure that they’ve had plenty of downtime to read and play and relax; lots of cuddles; regular breaks for refuelling their tummies & brains; and a familiar bedtime routine to make sure they have enough sleep and therefore plenty of energy.

It’s not been easy fitting it all in around work either – my practice days at Harley Street, and the clients and supervisees that I work with in Stafford.  And then there’s keeping up with emails and phone calls and admin and prep, in addition to the nursery & holiday club drop-offs and pick-ups.

Plus there was Nana’s funeral right in the middle of it all.

I think we’ve done ok so far though.  Every evening at teatime I ask the girls what the best part of their day has been, and the three of them always come back with varied and enthusiastic answers, so we must be doing something right!

It’s not all been smiles and laughter by any means – there have been more than a few days of arguments and shouting and tantrums.  Mainly when the girl’s tiredness and my own tiredness have coincided.  Something I’ve learnt from the last two weeks is that in order to make sure the girls are at their best, I need to make sure I’m at my best too.

I think that’s a really important lesson for life in general actually.  I regularly say to clients that it’s vitally important that they stop putting everyone else’s needs above their own and that they give themselves permission to look after themselves.  It’s not an easy thing to do by any means – believe me I know!  I liken it to the advice given by airlines – that in the event of an emergency you have to put your own oxygen mask first, and then help others put on theirs.

So as we head forwards into the third week I’m going to do my best to make sure I remember my own advice.

That’s an interesting thought actually…

What advice do you give to other people that deep down you know you ought to be following yourself?

Leave your answers as a comment below – there might be others who would benefit from it too 🙂

 

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