“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth”
Kahlil Gibran
This year I am taking part in Living Arrows, a weekly photography project taking photos of my boys week on week, last week was all about park life, this week it’s about going back to routine, back to school and back to normality after the Christmas festivities.
Back to School
Back to routine means back to school, though school out here means leaving the house at 6:30am, starting at 7am. Routine is back and although routine is great in allowing for order in our days, allowing for a sense of normality to be followed and for the boys to feel secure. Some days routine is tough. Dragging him out of bed on the mornings he really doesn’t want to be dragged. Chivvying him out of the door. The look on his face those mornings he really doesn’t want to go to school, heartbreaking for those moments he looks at you with quivering lips, to know that he will be going and that the same lips that were quivering that morning will be bursting with excitement to tell me all of the adventures he has had, the games that he has played and the fun that he has had.
One-on-One Time
With the biggest being back at school in the mornings it’s meant that I’m back to having my one-to-one time with the littlest, something which is so important. When I was pregnant with him I remember sitting on a chair with the big one on my lap as he slept and wondering how I was ever going to have time to do that with my little one. It turns out school time is our time. Our time to snuggle. Our time to follow me round from room to room walking me back to the kitchen cupboards again and again in his own little dictator way. I love this time with him, watching him as he starts to learn how to play, as his face breaks into an infectious giggle, a beaming smile. The saying is the days are long, but the years are short and that is oh so true. It seems like only yesterday this boisterous, inquisitive toddler of mine was a tiny newborn, yet before I know it he will be the one starting school. Until then I’ll just keep on remembering those ordinary moments that are extraordinary in there simplicity.
Lovely photographs, I hope the routine goes well this week! Nice to just enjoy those ordinary moments isn’t it x
Gorgeous photos Laura. I agree I wondered the same thing when I was pregnant with Holly and I’ve been really enjoying this one on one time with her since Alice started school. It’s actually really nice to have it when they are a bit older and not a newborn. x #LivingArrows
That is such an early school run – I wouldn’t fancy it either! But it’s so nice you get time with the younger one. He looks in his element playing with the trains x
So envious of how light it is on the school run although that is super early! Our school runs atm consist of darkness and rain! Lovely photos #LivingArrows
Oh my goodness, out at 6:30am? I struggle to get us all out of bed by then! I love how light it is though, whilst I love and adore winter (I must be one of the few!) I am longing for brighter mornings #LivingArrows
Hope you’ve all settled back into your routine ok. Photos of kids striding off like your top one are my absolute favourite. I’m not sure why but I love them.
Lovely to enjoy snuggles with your little one too.
Early start, I am not surprised that he is not keen on the idea! I remember being a bit like that at his age!My mum would have to call me like 5 times for me to get out of bed! #LivingArrows
IT’s nice to savour those moments with them. #livingarrows
I am reminded of this quote: “Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.” (Psalm 127:4-5, NLT)
I agree, it is hard to not struggle with guilt over the attention that is available for the 2nd-born. It seems that you have found the perfect way to balance things! Good luck mama!
I can’t wait for my eldest to go to nursery its hard finding one on one time with the youngest. #livingarrows