I’ve just hung out a wash of baby clothes bought to pack in my hospital bag in a few weeks and our little back yard area has taken on a new look I’ve never seen before! Being a first timer at all of this, I’ve not been sure what to buy, when to stop work, how to prepare, or how much of anything is normal when you’re pregnant but I’m getting used to the idea of just doing my best and enjoying the ride. I’ve written a list of my most recent realisations sparked by the imminent arrival of this little person into our lives:
#1: You need to be there to make memories. Shopping days and coffee time with my mum has been one of the things I’ve enjoyed most this past few months. With past marketing work and multiple jobs I’ve spent most of my life running from pillar to post never having time to slow down and focus on just being where I am; so having these months to really enjoy the experience with family has been amazing!
#2: Nesting is an actual thing! I’ve heard people talk about and hoped that one day I’d turn into a cleaning demon too! It seems to have started this morning as I found myself cleaning out the cutlery drawers with disinfectant before breakfast?! I’m hoping it stretches to every other room shortly, but I’m trying to pace myself inbetween bursts of fatigue!
#3: I don’t need as many clothes! Who would have thought, but apparently I can get by on one box of clothes as all my normal clothes are now vacu-packed out of the way for the day when I can figure out how to fit into them again. I have to admit I’ve already bought my 9 day cleanse ready for the day I can start working towards fitting into all my favourites again!
#4: I love my business!! I have never been more appreciative of my work from home than now, as I have been able to arrange meetings and coffees around appointment times etc and enjoy the benefits of an income and more time off. One of the earliest reasons I started my work from home business as a self-employed person was so that I could be at home enjoying time with our family and I pinch myself to think that that day is almost here!
#5: I’m really grateful that we’ve been spurred on to make time to spend with our dog establishing a better routine and a little more discipline. She now eats breakfast and dinner at the same time as us without leaving nuts in the bowl for a toddler to munch on (and a few other better traits and handy treat motivated commands to make life less complicated in a few months time). Not knowing how any animal will take to the addition of a new ‘pack member’ however well I know our little dog inside out, she now knows where the boundaries are, i.e. no climbing on the sofa anymore and it’s not ok to jump up on anyone unless outside playing.
#6: I can’t believe how much ‘stuff’ you need for a baby!! I know we haven’t scratched the surface and we even ‘think’ we have the bare essentials covered but I can’t believe how many things they need and trying to figure out how much is marketing and how much we really need has been quite a time consuming task over the last few months!
#7: We’re never going to be prepared. No matter how much thinking, planning and preparing – I don’t think we’ll ever be prepared for what lies in store for us. So, I’m just hoping and praying that everyone will be healthy and everything will be OK.
#8: Life is never going to be the same again! I know this is obvious but it does take a while to really settle in that everything from just nipping to the shop for 2 mins to get something for dinner, to planning each days activities around a little person won’t be as simple as just ‘doing’.
9#: I am in the right business to create the life I want for my family, from the trips and experiences to having the time in everyday moments. While any new business takes time to build momentum and pace, if I had it all to do over again, I’d know it would be worth it and I’d choose the same business, the same company to work with and the same people to support me and my team.
Please check out my other blogs on life and working from home within this website, and if you want to get in touch please email me.
