We did it people, we did it! – Mummascribbles

For many of us it’s been a tough week. Just three weeks ago we were turning the alarms off, praying our little ones would sleep in without the usual disruptions that take place during the weekday mornings, and getting used to having lazy mornings round the house and still being in our pyjamas at 11am. It became the norm and wasn’t it ruddy lush?

Then?

In the blink of an eye, two weeks were gone and suddenly we were all turning our alarms back on, dreading the early wake up in the dark, sneaking downstairs to make that much needed morning cup of tea and then rushing around the house trying to get the kids ready. How did it come round so quick I ask?

And then?

It’s Friday.

We did it. We survived the week! I have read tales of accidental lie ins, of managing to get everyone ready and out the house in 20 minutes, of forgetting that the school run even needed to take place and of chicken pox causing havoc to the first week back at work.

Us? I have been late to work every day! The other half has had several train cancellations. It is suddenly frigging cold standing on the station platform and then really hot running up and down the escalators to make sure I don’t miss my train. There has been missed trains because my windscreen didn’t clear in time. De-icing of the car. Zach waking up and thinking it was still night-time.

There have been near misses when walking down the pitch black stairs at home to get in the shower. Utter shock as the bathroom light has been switched on (I wish I could just shower in the dark). Deliriousness as the 5.45 alarm has gone off when we were awake with Zach between the hours of 2-3am (that was last night when he climbed into our bed and I thought it was about 5am!).

There has been copious amounts of tea drunk by me. Way too many celebrations eaten from the office leftovers. Way too many biscuits eaten from the selection pack that my boss brought in because she was struggling to get through Tuesday afternoon (she’s a mum as well).

There has been sympathy around the office. Nods of agreement of how tired we all are. How it’s such a shock to be thrust back into work after two wonderful weeks off. Encouraging each other that it will get better (it will right?)..

There have been nursery drop off’s in the pouring rain. Emergency stop off’s to Tesco Metro because I’ve realised on the way home that I haven’t defrosted the lasagne and have no bread to give him the promised back up of beans on toast. There has been a clingy child who doesn’t want to unattach himself. Spoken words of ‘One more cuddle mummy’ and ‘I want you’. Text messages from my mum to tell me that Zach is looking at the phone and telling it that ‘mummy can phone now’. Near tears at my desk when I read said text message.

There has been all of that but I have survived. I am still standing (just). I have not fallen asleep at my desk (it’s been a near miss today after three slices of Dominos pizza), or on the train. I have got to Zach each night on time. We have managed to have laughs and bedtime stories (the same requested bedtime story each night). There have been no tears. Zero. Nada. Not by Zach. Not by me. It’s been close, but they haven’t come (maybe after two and a half years I have finally gotten used to the return after Christmas!).

And now it’s the weekend. No nursery runs. No 5:45 alarm. No rushing around like a maniac (except maybe for Rugby Tots tomorrow, as is always the case).

So, I am taking this time to give myself a ruddy big pat on the back. And I urge you to give yourself a pat too. Whether you have successfully got your child to the school gates on time, managed to do the school run and get to work on time or have got through a week of chicken pox; give yourself a massive pat on the back, put your children to bed this evening and pour yourself a massive glass of your favourite tipple!

We’ve got this people. The first week of 2016 is done. Well done. Really, well done!