Do I Need Someone to tell me I am Doing a good Job?

The health visitor was out to do our 6-9 month assessment and she was really pleased that Aoibhin was hitting all her milestones and was impressed with all her skills. My health visitor is lovely and we chat away and I was telling her all about my impending weekend away and how it would be the first time I would be leaving Aoibhín for an extended period and she commented 'dont be so silly-you've done an amazing job' and basically told me to go and enjoy myself..of course when she said what a great job I was doing I swelled with pride and almost (almost ) got a little teary. Then it made me think. Do we as mummies need that validation from others?. Do we need to hear from others that we are doing a great job, that we are giving it our all?.

For me personally No I don't.  Was it nice to hear-absolutely but I don't need to hear it..because I know I'm doing a good job-and a bloody hard job at that. I give my absolute all every single day, I do my best every day to make sure Aoibhin is happy, healthy and knows how loved she is. Even at the end of the day when I long for bed I love that I get to get up in the morning to do it all again, even through the exhaustion.

So, yes Its lovely to hear it from others but that one simple comment has made me realise that I don't need approval or validation from others. I'm parenting my daughter the way I want and I know I'm doing just great. So, all you mummies (and daddies) just remember that you are doing great and everything you do and give to your child is enough. And the only person you need a clap on the back from is yourself.

One smile from Aoibhín lets me know how good a job I am doing.

Sunny Day memories

The weather here in Northern Ireland has been beautiful lately and there is nothing like the sunshine to make you smile..with the dreaded return to work looming ever so close I am really trying to make the most of every day. Due to hubby working in England Monday through to Friday our weekends are even more special and I love going away for a day making memories just the three of us. Time as a family and opportunities to create some special memories. What better way than to head to the Beach? Aoibhíns' first time at the beach and she was mesmerised. There really is nothing quite like seeing the world through a childs' eyes. A beautiful sunny day and a long walk along Benone Beach followed by a Mr whippy 99 cone for mummy and daddy, then we stopped on the road back for a lovely lunch. Plenty of photo opportunities along the way!.

                                   I mean- You are never too old to write in the sand...right?

 
I absolutely love Cherry Blossoms and I can not pass by them without taking a picture- I intend to plant a long line of them around our home. They really are so beautiful.

                                                                   Peek- a-Boo

Daddys little girl- although I know she won't remember these early days, and that even my memories of the exact days and details will fade we will always have these photographs. Days like this make me so happy and thankful. I love my little family, I love watching Aoibhín see everything for the first time-watching as her little eyes take it all in. Days like this will bring a smile to my face and a warmth to my heart when I do eventually return to work and keep me going through those long 13 hour shifts.

 I have already planned so many more adventures for the three of us- I just need the sunshine to stick around for the summer days ahead. 

Mary

xx

Bank Holiday Fun

So April has passed ( where did it go? Time is really flying by) and May is upon us and what better way to start than with some Bank Holiday Fun.  We packed up our bags and headed off to a steam rally fair-full of vintage cars and tractors..plenty of steam trains, animals, crafts, funfairs and lots of things to see and do!. It was held in the local Shanes Castle grounds and of course the weather was as unpredictable as ever. Rain, wind, sunshine-today had it all. What it resulted in was the muckiest grounds ever and some very dirty pram wheels. Nonetheless there was plenty of fun had. 

I am really trying to savour every day now ( even more so) as the dreaded return to work after maternity looms over me. I'm desperately trying not to think about it. Kind of like ignorance is bliss type thing. I just have to stop and take in every moment that I get to spend with her whilst I don't have to rush out to work or think about work. Today was full of making memories- and it is days like today that I will look back on fondly in years to come and say 'Do you remember when we did that?'.

So for the remainder of May you will find me squeezing as may memories into my maternity leave as I possibly can. Time passes far to quickly and I have come to realise that rather than worry about that just focs on the here and now-savour today-the moment you are in. Tomorrow will come anyway so just enjoy the present. 

Hope you all had a lovely Bank Holiday Monday .