Well I made it through my first week of being the “perfect wife“, you know the one who cooks, cleans and looks fab, that was totally me!
Well if I am honest . . . . at least I tried! I mean it is the thought that counts, and the effort put in, even if my meals weren’t exactly deserving of massive praise I can say that everyone was fed hearty, healthy meals made with love (a pinch of confusion, and a dash of frustration).
If you missed my post last week “Welcome Home Darling“, my hubby got a new job. He previously worked from our home office and now has to travel to the other side of the city each day for his new job. I actually did better than I thought I would, my meals were eatable, full of nutrients and even served at a decent hour. Yay me! I think I surprised the kids and myself, yes the kids actually ate my cooking without complaint (Ok a slight complaining about too many veggies, but still pretty good).
The week wasn’t all smooth sailing though, Aspen was full of a cold, I had to bribe Adam with the promise of a gift if he cooperated in the mornings and Aspen had an emotional outburst saying she missed her dad. At least I didn’t have to threaten them like a 1950’s housewife!
April was pretty relaxed all week and was up, dressed and had her bed made before I even woke up everyday.
We all really did miss Steve this week though. We are so used to him being around the house, so to have him coming home just in time for the kids to get ready for bed was very different for us. As I said Aspen found it particularly hard. She had a few tears and told me how worried she is that she won’t see her daddy as much any more, (and being 12 she can be quite dramatic when she wants to be). Steve and I decided we have to make a conscious effort to really prioritise family time, but not just time spent in the same house, actual quality family interaction.
I wrote a post a while ago about how to have a happier, healthier family and one of my key points in that piece was having family conversation, and getting back to the table for shared meals. I also offered some great conversation starters for parents to ask their kids. I know it isn’t possible for all families to share meals every night, with work and extra circular activities life is busy! But spending time together is key to being happy and reducing stress. (Yes I know some people think time with kids is extra stressful, but it is so important to give them our focussed attention). We are now a family who can not eat together every night. A couple of nights this week the kids were fed and in PJ’s by the time Steve was home. But a couple of nights I gave the kids and early snack and then we all waited for Steve to come home so we could sit down as a family. It made bedtime only a little later, and it was worth it. The other nights I had them ready for bed and so when their daddy came home we played a couple of family board games, it was so much fun for all of us!
We have also realised that we need to make a real effort on weekends to have “family time”. If the kids are not seeing their daddy much during the week, then we need to make sure they get time on the weekend. Life is busy and we can’t always spend all weekend toasting marshmallows together and singing songs, but some focussed one on one time can usually be squeezed in if we search for it. We had a busy weekend this weekend, but instead of me taking Adam to a party on Sunday, Steve took him, something he has never actually done.
Being a parent day in, day out is exhausting, but it is also the biggest blessing, and it flies by, (even if some days drag on), so we need to make time to spend with our kids that doesn’t involve being distracted by the TV or our phones. We are experiencing a big change in our household, and it will take some adjusting for all of us, but that’s life, it changes, it takes us places we didn’t expect, and we will continue to muddle through and do the best we can, after all there is nothing more important than the people we love.
Thanks for joining me, love Mac xx
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30 comments
Hi Mackenzie you have all had some serious changes in your life lately so that is a lot for you all to cope with. I love your idea of making more time for family on weekends – the housework can wait but family time is precious! It must be a culture shock to Steve as well having to travel to work. I’m sure you will all get through this unsettling time because you have the right attitude and a great partnership.
oh thank you Sue, yes it is a huge adjustment as he has pretty much worked from home since Adam was a baby 6 years ago. Aspen had only just begun school then and so I think it is hard for any of the children to remember a time where daddy wasn’t home after school. But it is a new time in our lives and we will make the most of it xx
aww it IS hard for the kids if they are used to seeing a parent a lot and then that changes.. they will be ok though once they adjust.. well done you with the housewife routine.. pat on the back 🙂 #mg
I’m trying although going slightly nuts right now as it is 8:30 pm and my kids won’t stay in bed!!!!
Totally agree how important quality time is. We rarely manage to sit down to a meal as a family during the week (maybe breakfast) so make an extra effort at the weekend. J is away on business a lot so when he’s around, we make the most of it! xx #bigpinklink
going out of town for business makes it even harder! But sounds like you have a great connection when he is home and that makes all the difference.
Aww what a lot of changes you are dealing with, you and the kids, but it’s great that you are making this quality time and getting into the routine of things. Great post, I love all of the pictures, so funny! Thanks for hosting. #mg
thanks Laura, it is a change, but we are so lucky he got another job
All sounds stressful, changes can be good too though (: well done you for getting on with it, here’s to another smiley week! #mg
thanks lovely
Any big adjustments can seem huge at first but then gradually when everyone settles into the routine it just becomes the norm. It’s so hard when family meal times can’t happen isn’t it? Sitting round together is such a lovely thing but I guess it just makes the times that it does happen extra special. 🙂 #bigpinklink
so true!
Ah I am glad you found your own way through that difficult first week! I guess it’s a change that will take some adjustment from you all, however it also means that you won’t take anytime together forgranted and really appreciate your family time. We always eat dinner together at the table during the week, but it never feels the same until the eldest is home, we never take that forgranted anymore. Good luck with this week lovely and thank you for hosting xxx
Thanks Lisa, yes it is so easy to take for granted having our family around, it really is special to be all together xx
Well done you. Must have been scary suddenly adapting to change. I agree, I don’t think it really matters what you do with the kids, it’s how you do it. A chat in the car might be more valuable than a zoo trip with a smart phone in my hand. Hope everyone settles into the new routine quickly.
#fartglitter
thanks honey, yes so true, a good chat s better than a distracted one!
My awesomeness surprises me all the time! ha ha.
We always have dinner together, mostly at the table. At least hubby always eats my cooking (it really is good). The kids would argue that point. It’s nice when the kids don’t fight at the table too. Trying time for me. But when they are all grown up, I will miss having them at my table.
Oh so true, we will miss it won’t we! I always think that when they drive me nuts, but it is so true. Thanks for stopping by xx
Sounds like you’ve got some solid plans in place to adjust and that you’ve settled in well.
We may come to our version of that when my wife gets a job. The hope is we can both do compressed hours and have a full day plus weekends with the cubs but we’ll see what’s available. All going well we’ll be putting your family tips into practice!
#mg
thanks for stopping by and linking up
Good for you! And I always get complaints about too many veggies too 😉
Carrots are a favourite, but the peas I find get lots of complaints lol
Hi Mac, good to catch-up with your news, you’ve been busy!! Sometimes when we have more of one another we appreciate each other less, it’s weird! I make the most of my husband the less I see him! Good luck #mg
Well done you on holding down the fort & cooking all of the lovely meals too! I love these graphics & quotes. Especially the you’ll eat it & like it one. I feel like that some days lol Thank you for hosting #MG x
It’s such a big change having to juggle all of the evening routine on your own but it sounds like you’ve mastered it already! I love that you get them all bathed and fed ready so that you can play a game together when he gets in. My hubby tends to walk in to carnage if he comes home late. I must get better at this stuff! 😉 Great tips and I agree – it’s important to be mindful of quality family time.
Dawn x
they may be organised when he gets home, but when we put them to bed they reappear 50 thousand times, or so it feels lol
Pleased your hubby found a new job even if it brings things with it that are less than ideal. We do the same as you, Saturdays and early evenings are family time. The rest of the week kind of takes care of itself, but that’s our time to be together. Good luck with finding a routine that works for you
thank you lovely xx
It is so important to make an effort for family time. Finding that healthy and happy balance can be tough but I’m sure you’ll work it out soon.
Stopping by from #MummyMondays – thanks for linking up!
Sounds like you’re all adjusting well to the changes. I’m sure there can be benefits from the reduced time together since, as you say, you now focus on spending quality time together. When you have more time together, it’s easy to take it for granted and get caught up in the every day slog and forget the quality time. #anythinggoes
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