What do you love about your every day?

[december2020]

I haven't enjoyed my "every day life" for the last couple of years before going on maternity as I felt like I've constantly either commuted, worked silly hours or been too tired to do anything due to working and/or commuting.

I'm looking at changing this while on maternity so when I do start working again I'm enjoying my everyday again.

I'd love to hear what you love about yours?

Admittedly this is 5 days a week and not everyday, but the hug that DD gives me when she comes out of school! And the smile on her face as she runs up to me!
She goes up to secondary in September, so I am really making the most of it now!

Most mornings I have a child climb into my bed for a hug. Its a lovely start to the day. They are 8&9 now... But hopefully I have a few years left.

I take the country lane route to work rather than main road. It's lovely to see the wildlife, and plants changing with the seasons

Different things. Today it’s coffee in the garden, listening to the birds and reading my book. Dd reading along beside me.

Yesterday, it was everyone relaxed as it’s Friday, bbq food then a film.

DD(7) climbing into bed every morning for a cuddle.
Going into the garden first thing in the morning, smelling the fresh air and seeing what the plants are doing.

My cat.

Walking by the beach at sunrise. Sitting drinking a coffee at my local cafe looking over the sea. Listening to the lovely birds being noisy in the morning. Naps. A good book. Friends. The days I manage to run.

At least once a day my teen makes me laugh so much I think I’ll wet myself

@IsolaPribby haha I was coming in here to say exactly that!! My dd telling me I'm the best mummy in the world umpteen times a day, tells me I'm beautiful!, likes to come for a hug, I'm making the most of it she's my last baby and off to secondary school in September so she is definitely what I love about every day

Smiles and giggles from my son, a warm bath or shower, good coffee, good chocolate, comfy slippers, glass of wine, listening to music on the commute.... it's the little things!

Not having to commute anymore brings me immense joy. Having time to sit and read most evenings instead of rushing around taking DC's to various activities and clubs is also great. They've both grown out of their clubs and can't / don't want to return when they reopen.

My short hours job! I’m having a rough time at work at the moment but I constantly remind myself how lucky I am to have a job that I can walk to and from in 10 minutes and finish early enough to have a social life. I do also enjoy it!
My house, specifically my bedroom. It makes me so happy! It’s really simple but it took years for us to finally have a proper grown up bedroom and I absolutely love it.
My family. They drive me nuts at times but they’re all really fun and mostly good company. I’m grateful to have a lot of positives in life and I do regularly remind myself of these when times are hard.

I hope you can make that change for yourself OP, quality of life is so so important.

Fancy, or at least nicely chosen, shower gels, body lotions, perfume and skincare. Taking care of my feet properly. Meal planning and online shopping so I have good nutritious tasty food and treats in all the time. Planning my food for the day (and low carb) has made losing weight easy for the first time ever.

Oh I just thought of one, lovely candles each evening.

Do you mean at home or do you mean when you look for work after mat leave? I wasn't sure.

I think the absence of worry and stress is the biggest positive you can have in life. I have lived through times where I had lots of genuine problems and then periods with very few problems - in my view anything you can do to reduce problems/stress/worries is worth double what you can do to increase things like money or possessions or status.

Having time to drink my tea in the morning without running about for work.
The ecstatic morning greeting from the dogs.
Going into the garden, to greet the sun, hear birdsong, get fresh air, or to look at the night sky and smell the night smell, as the sky darkens.
In the summer months, watching my swifts.
Relaxing in my sitting room, with my books, music, candles, etc.

The hug DD gives me of a morning when she comes downstairs.
The walk through the park to school, it’s away from the traffic and we always see the same groups of friendly dogs who know DD loves to stroke them (only Monday to Friday term time). I also enjoy the walk home on my own.
The hug DS (nearly a teenager) gives me when it’s bedtime.

These are all so lovely to read! Thank you so much!

It has definitely inspired me! I neglected my own wellbeing and life enjoyment before maternity and it's only once I stopped working did I really realise how tired and a little miserable I was (I had more energy dealing with a newborn with severe reflux than I did while working). So I want to make sure I don't fall into that trap again and instead that I enjoy life more and have time and energy for my son.