Today has been one of those days.
One of those days that hasn’t gone as planned. One of those days that is drawing to a close and has left me exhausted and a little emotional.
Yesterday was also one of those days.
At one point during Monday night I knew. I just knew that Tuesday would be one of those days.
Little Miss H had gone to bed with a snotty nose. Mr H had gone to bed exhausted. Little Mister H had gone to bed late after being restless all evening. And I had gone to bed with the onset of a pounding migraine.
During the night, I heard the all familiar noise of a door open. Then the pitter-patter of tiny feet. And finally a small figure appeared by my side and sweetly said
“I want to come into Mummy and Daddy’s bed. Please can I? Can I?”
Three times the answer was “no” and we escorted our sleeping beauty back to her room. But on the fourth time of asking, I pulled the bed clothes back and allowed our precious daughter to crawl into bed beside me.
I wrapped my arms around her and told her I loved her. I fell asleep with my nose buried in her hair. Listening to the sound of her gentle snoring and of the cute snuffling noises coming from her baby brother in the bed nest next to us.
Mr H’s alarm went off at 05.30. By then the mild pounding headache of the night before had turned into a pulsating migraine. I lay in bed knowing that soon our day would start. Soon we would all have to get washed, dressed and breakfasted. Soon Little Miss H would need to be out the door and on her way to pre-school.
But both of my children were reluctant to wake up. When Little Miss did eventually awaken at 07.00, it was clear that she wasn’t herself. Little Mister H also seemed under the weather.
The thermometer was found in the bathroom and temperatures were checked. Little Miss H would not be going to pre-school.
And so the promise of Shreddies and pink Smarties for breakfast was made. And I conceded that if Little Miss agreed to stay wrapped under the duvet on the sofa then she could wear her favourite stripey summer dress.
The day was filled with endless cups of sugary tea, back to back episodes of Octonauts and snoozes on the sofa.
This morning Little Miss H was better and begging to go to pre-school. She skipped through the door dosed up on Calpol, armed with tissues and filled with exciting stories about the dinosaurs and giant squid we had seen at the museum on Monday.
Little Mister H and I went home. He napped and I took the opportunity to have my breakfast and write an ambitious to-do list.
And then the baby woke up.
I went to change his nappy and noticed that he was hot. The thermometer was once again put to use and it confirmed that Little Mister H had a fever. At four months old, it is his first.
The to-do list went out the window.
Today became one of those days.
It became one of those days where I don’t clean the bathroom.
I don’t hoover upstairs.
Appointments do not get made.
Laundry piles do not become smaller.
Dishes do not get washed.
Emails do not get sent.
Today has been one of those days where I have done the most important job in my world.
I have been Mummy.
I have held my baby boy as he has fought sleep. I have let him slumber in my arms. I have soothed him when he has been upset. I have stroked his head and held his hand.
I have savoured the day.
Because, this afternoon, as my boy lay on my chest and grabbed my hand tightly I realised something. I realised that these are the days that matter. These are the moments that I will treasure.
All the other stuff can wait.
Because today is one of those days when my children need me most. And I am their Mummy. The most important job in the world.
Hugs
Lucy
xxxx
19 Comments
Lucy At Home
July 13, 2017 at 1:35 pmBeautiful post! You are so right – this is our “real” job – the one that’s the most important. The other things can be pushed to one side. It can be frustrating not to get through the to-do list and we often feel like we’ve not “accomplished” anything with our days, but actually, just being there was the most important thing we could do. I hope your little man is feeling better soon.
Also congratulations because someone loved this post so much, they added it to the #blogcrush linky! Feel free to collect your “I’ve been featured” blog badge 🙂 #blogcrush
Mrs H
July 13, 2017 at 11:03 pmThank you so much for your lovely comment. You’re right. It’s so hard to put it in perspective when you’re not getting anything done. But being Mum when your kids really need you is the most important role in the world. I’m so thrilled that my post was added to #blogcrush. Hugs Lucy xxxx
Jade Staff
July 7, 2017 at 2:29 pmNothing else matters when they are ill. We are having one of those weeks too, so I really hope it improves. Take care, I hope that Little Mister H is lots better soon. #blogcrush
Jemma @popcornforlunch
July 7, 2017 at 6:38 amThis is so beautifully written, really loved it and it struck a chord with me. I have a lot of ‘those days’ when nothing seems to get done and often I don’t even have the excuse of one of the kids being ill! Lovely posts #BlogCrush
mummyitsok
March 14, 2017 at 8:14 pmIt’s true that when they are ill nothing else gets done! But it doesn’t matter (all the jobs will still be there waiting for you when they’re better!) Mummy cuddles fix everything 🙂
Nikki Thomas
February 22, 2017 at 8:04 amSuch a beautiful post and it is true, nothing else matters when they are ill. In fact a lot of those things don’t matter even when they are not. Children grow up so quickly it is important to make the most of being mum all of the time
Amanda
February 18, 2017 at 12:02 pmWe’ve had one of those months, illness really has a way of reminding you what’s important, doesn’t it? I really hope everyone is feeling much better now – there’s nothing quiet like mummy’s hugs when you’re feeling poorly (I still long for the chance to simply let my mum look after me when I’m sick!!)
Something About Baby
November 25, 2016 at 12:13 pmI remember those days well, it’s been a while since we had one but it’s so awful seeing the littles poorly. Hope the whole house is feeling better soon! #MarvMondays
Amie
November 25, 2016 at 8:02 amWe’ve been having a few of those days ourselves. Tuesday was the dreaded 2nd MenB injection which has thrown my also 4 month old Maxy totally out of whack! Coffee and cuddles it is! #MarvMondays
Kaye
November 24, 2016 at 8:56 pmI hope he’s better soon, there’s nothing worse than when you feel them and you just know they have a fever. Jesse’s first was at 8 weeks after his jabs and I was terrified (as he was so young) and Archie’s regularly spike to 40, hoping you all & we all remain healthy over Christmas! Thanks for linking up to #MarvMondays. Kaye xo
Katie Haydock
November 23, 2016 at 9:43 pmThe hoovering will always be there – our babies will only be babies for a short time. Mu baby is now three and will not sit and cuddle. I miss that sooooooo much.
Hope all feel better soon xXx
Catherine
November 23, 2016 at 9:21 amBeautiful. And so true. We won’t ever look back and wish we spent more time cleaning/ironing/answering emails. #marvmondays
Mrs H
November 23, 2016 at 11:51 amThank you for your lovely comment. Exactly! My baby boy is growing up quickly. He can’t wait but everything else can. Hugs Lucy xxxx
Kayleigh Woodland
November 22, 2016 at 9:46 amOh I do hope everyone is better soon. You are so right, when our little ones need us we can just drop everything because those things simply do not matter and can be picked up where we left them. #MarvMondays x
RachelSwirl
November 21, 2016 at 11:51 pmI have had a few days like this recently and I think sometimes we just need to be a Mum and put the rest of the stuff to the back of our mind.
Laura @ Little Ladies Big World
November 18, 2016 at 4:42 pmI’m sorry you had one of those days, it’s hard as a mummy when we feel poorly too but you’re right, some days you just have to put everything on hold and do the one job that won’t wait. X
Hannah Budding Smiles
November 17, 2016 at 9:36 pmI’ve welled up reading the end of this darling because it’s exactly how today has been for me. Toby was up at 5am so at playgroup he started acting out and instead of shouting at him I reminded myself how tired he must be and offered him a cuddle, which he was so happy to have. Martha’s getting over a cold we’ve all had and has been so unhappy today so the laptop went away and I fed her to sleep and just held her. These days, our babies, really are what matter. I hope Little Mister H is better soon xxx