2 weeks until we spend a lot more time together as a family of 4

The Kitchen Table - the place where I connect with my passion, my work, and my community.

All amongst the calm and the chaos of family life.

It's messy, it's imperfect and it's the daily realities of meeting my needs alongside my family.

Enjoy weekly stories, musings and anedotes of raising kids in emotionally attuned ways.

Hello there mamma,

How are you travelling?

Well we are still traversing the liminal in-between space, we now have a leave date and it’s fast approaching.

We only have two short weeks before we leave life as we know it, a stable income and job, a known community and our friends and family.

We will soon be spending way more time together as a family of four, our ultimate dream, but not the fantasy that we might have once visioned!

I know that whilst parts of this dream will be amazing, particularly for our boys to spend more time with their dad, our communication and relationship is going to be challenged to the next level.

A week ago my husband and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary, which in the fullness of our major life transition it felt like a lot to try and fit in something significant to mark the occasion.

But I had a vision and idea that I had been dreaming up for some time, and with some help from my relationship coach, Callie Brown and a local photographer I managed a night away for the 2 of us, followed by a day adventuring around our local area, where we finished at the spot we got married 10 years ago.

We had both written some words down the night before, and little did my husband know he’d be reading them in front of the boys the following day, whilst the moment was captured in the distance.

I think this ritual and idea felt so fitting as we are literally about to embark on a major life change and one in which is going to test our union in many many ways.

It felt like the ideal moment in time to reflect on the past 10 years, what we want to acknowledge and celebrate, what we think we’ve done really well and what we are most proud of.

I also had us look forward to this next chapter ahead and make note of what we are each committing to, what we are most looking forward to and something we want to personally work on.

It was simple, yet really significant. I wasn’t sure how it was all going to come together, but it was a fun filled fay, where the boys didn’t know where we were going, and had clues they had to read along the way.

I wanted to share this incase it inspires any of you out there. It doesn't have to be for a major anniversary or even with a partner.

It might be a simple reflection for yourself and what you want to acknowledge and celebrate (even in the past week)?

What do you want to commit to over the next week/ month/ year ahead?

As always thank you for being here, for reading these words, it means a lot that you are.

Go gently and tenderly xxx

In the lead up to Mother's Day this Sunday, which can be such a tricky time for many, please know I am holding you. There is often such a duality of feelings that mothers experience on these days, whether we’re navigating life as a single mamma, missing your own or a relationship that is not what you had ever hoped for, you may find yourself in the reality of caring for your mamma, as you navigate meeting the needs in your own family dynamic. Whatever arises for you, the expectations, the desires, the not always wanting or able to articulate what you want or need. The comparison of what you think other mums are getting, experiencing, whilst we actually have no idea what is happening internally or behind closed walls for them. It. Is. A. Lot.

And as I’ve found mothering lately to be incredibly challenging and exhausting I am offering a Motherhood Support Session to one mamma in this community.

That may sound counterintuitive revealing how exhausted and challenged I have been of late, however what I know to be true about the incredible work of walking alongside mammas that come into my world and sphere is how soul nourishing it is and a true way for me to give more back to me and in turn my family unit. It feels very cyclical.

So if you would like, or feel a small inkling of some extra support, a listening space, a place to offload and place some things you’ve been carrying. You may not have experienced my space or anything similar before. I don’t come with answers but I do come with compassion, grace and gentle loving reminders that you may need to hear on the harder more wobbly days.

This Mother’s Day package will include a 1 hour Zoom session, with 7 days of Voxer voice messenger support. (To be scheduled on a mutually agreeable day and time).

Simply reply to this blog and I will pop you in the draw to win.

On Sunday I will pick one name and will contact the lucky mamma.

Until we connect again, my hope is you offer yourself loads of grace and compassion.

Parenting is messy, imperfect and that is the actual design. Take the pressure off, take a deep breathe and tune in to you.

Much love,

Emily x

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