Weekends. They’re fun, aren’t they? A time to relax, a time to enjoy, to spend time with your family away from pressures.
In our house? Not so much.
Weekends are sport, sport and more sport. The kids enjoy playing sport and we enjoy watching them. But there’s a certain amount of pressure involved in being in the right place at the right time and in keeping whichever kids aren’t playing the sport entertained and out of mischief.
Then there’s homework. Yeah, I know. You shouldn’t do homework at the weekend. But what if you’ve got dance classes or Cubs or Scouts after school every day? The weekends are homework time.
And then the absolute highlight of the weekend. The piece de la resistance. The icing on the cake. The school letters. The dinner money, the forms to sign, the cheques to write. How can three children bring quite so many letters home from school (and Cubs, Scouts and ballet) every single week?!
But not this weekend. This weekend was different. This weekend I escaped.
This weekend I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve made new friends, I’ve been inspired. Twice over. I have spent three days away from my life and all that goes with it and I’ve lived a different life. I’ve been me. A blogger and a dancer, not ‘just a mum’. It’s been amazing and it’s been exhausting.
First there was Britmums Live. Five hundred like-minded people in one building listening to some amazing speakers, sharing others’ pain and getting to know each other In Real Life. I learned some new stuff. I also learned that I already know quite a lot of stuff. I realised just how huge the blogging community really is and that there a lot of amazing bloggers out there. Most of all, I got to spend time with the people I ‘speak’ to daily and am pleased to report that they are every bit as lovely in real life as they are online.
Then I left the Britmums bubble and was transported to the dance bubble. Away from real life for another day to perform two shows. Here I was surrounded by more amazing people. Once again I felt inspired and in awe of others and their abilities.
And after three days away from my real life, I emerged blinking into the light, and discovered I’d lost a weekend.
It was great to see the kids again and they were happy to see me. But everything at home had stopped on Thursday. Thursday’s washing still hung up, dry, waiting to be put away. The washing I would have done on Friday, Saturday and Sunday hadn’t been done. And I ignored the drawer full of Sunday letters and forms. What’s the worst that could happen?
I’ll spend a week catching up. I’ve lost a weekend. But I’ve gained so much more.
June 24, 2013
Was SO fabulous to see you! My daughter moaned this morning because no washing had been done since Thursday, I pointed out she could have done some herself!! 🙂
June 24, 2013
This is such a great post. I totally agree with you – the weekend was worth every penny and the washing can wait. Great to meet you IRL. Same time, same place next year??
June 24, 2013
I know exactly what you mean it was a real come down on Sunday but I am so glad I went and thanks for putting up with me x
June 24, 2013
Great post! I’m still catching up on life at this end! *puts on another load of washing x
June 24, 2013
The upside is (I’m talking to all of you above) you were obviously missed and are needed. This is good.
(and I think your partners need to go on a washing machine training weekend)
June 24, 2013
Thanks very much, everyone. So good to meet you all!
Didn’t you know it’s not possible for anyone apart from mums to use the washing machine, Sonya? It requires special skills only we have! Training course for the menfolk would be good, Uley Girl.
I didn’t have to ‘put up with you’ Nikki, it was a pleasure to spend time with you!
Definitely same time same place next year, Suzanne!
My washing pile is still massive, Katy! Sigh…
June 24, 2013
Sounds like you had an amazing time 😉 gutted I wasn’t there but it is fun reading all the follow up posts! xx
June 25, 2013
Oh my a double bubble weekend! Sounds like the meeting of bloggers got you just as it did me, so sorry we didn’t see each other, will have to put that right next year!
June 25, 2013
It was brilliant, Wally Mummy! Hope to see you there next year.
Double bubble was very strange, Coombe Mill – and I have to do it again exactly the same next year! Hope to see you at the MADs!
June 25, 2013
Lovely train home!!
June 26, 2013
Great to meet you and I shall not rub it in about what an amazing husband I have – in fact I think I should go away more often as he clearly missed me lol.
And am so glad the dancing was just as good 🙂
June 27, 2013
It certainly was, Julie! Well, until those pissed people got on 🙁
Great to meet you too, Pinkoddy, you certainly do have an amazing husband! I’m so pleased about the dancing too, but also relieved it’s over!
June 28, 2013
Wow what an amazing fun filled emotion time you have been having, hope your relaxing now?