Oh how I long for the days when I could get up, spend some time choosing what to wear, applying makeup and eating my breakfast. Heck, even going to the toilet in peace. A nice long shower would be nice too. But no, I inevitably get dragged out of bed at 7 am to watch CBeebies followed by a mad dash around to get everyone ready. That is what happens with kids I guess!
I am quite lucky that I work part time and then often from home so I do have a little bit more flexibility in the morning rush. I do, however, remember the frantic pace of getting ready for work, getting a small child ready, rushing to nursery and then heading on the commute (read sitting stationery on the motorway) and often turning up at work with wet hair and no makeup!
Now that Molly is at pre school it all gets slightly more hectic as I have to make a packed lunch which Molly insists on inspecting and vetting at every possible opportunity. Then I quickly chuck on jeans and a jumper, grabbing clothes for the girls. Trying to actually get them dressed is like a military operation. Grabbing hold of one whilst the other runs off. I may shout, a lot, at this stage.
I long for the weekends as my lovely husband lets me have a lie in until at least 8 30am!!!!
At least at the weekend things are a bit more leisurely. Sitting around in our PJs and eating a lazy breakfast before planning the day.
It is this gorgeous relaxed feeling that is so utterly evident in this beautiful shoot of Sara and her family. Sara is of the fabulous Me and Orla and you really should check out her Instagram and blog if you haven’t already. The images were taken by the wonderful Melia Melia who have captured this moment in time to perfection.
I will hand over to Sara now and I hope that you instantly feel as relaxed and calm as I did seeing these pictures. We’d love to hear how you manage your morning routines and any special rituals you have at the weekend.
Right, now I’m off to try and wrestle two small children in to coats and boots, inevitably realising half way to school that I have forgotten wellies/lunch/book bag/all of the above!
Mornings are kind of magic. The light, the creaking of the house as the pipes warm up; steam on the windows and the coffee pot making its happy perculating sound. And, of course, my bedheaded toddler, pottering about in pajamas.
At weekends, we wake slowly, following Orla’s lead. She’s more me than ever in these morning hours; bleary eyed & dozy, she’s refuses to leave the nest of duvets until she’s fully woken up. We watch cartoons or read picture books, while R rolls his eyes and gets the coffee on.
Downstairs, we negotiate breakfast. I try to make something special at the weekends – pancakes with syrup, a dutch baby with sweet caremalised pears – which Orla invariably snubs in favour of cheerios or ‘cold toast’ (bread). Radio 4 plays vague chatter in the background, & Orla brews more coffee in her play-kitchen, generally served with a side of wooden eggs.
For all their slow and quiet nothingness, it’s these little rituals that our world of home is made of. These are moments that we hold onto, that I promise myself as I push my way through the week.
To steal from Kim John Payne, “in the tapestry of childhood, what stands out is not the splashy, blow-out trips to Disneyland, but the common threads that run throughout and repeat; the family dinners, nature walks, reading together at bedtime and Saturday morning pancakes”.
And lucky for us, that’s just how we like it.
About Melia Melia
We are James & Jo Melia and we both take pictures! It’s not often we don’t find something in a day to photograph, sometimes differently, but always with similar hearts and minds.
James has a thing about people, faces and connections. He takes the most beautiful honest portraits by being his charming and totally lovable self. When he’s not doing that he’s usually running/cycling up some hill near you with Chief our Chocolate Lab or choosing the soundtrack for our everyday life and filling our cottage in the Yorkshire Pennines with belly hurting laughter and the occasional gin.
Jo always carries her heart on her sleeve, in her mouth or… usually joined with tears leaking from her eyes at most moments. She is full of all sorts of love for everything and notices the things you didn’t even know about yourself. She captures everything she feels and see’s and makes it all look so extraordinary. She takes care of us, that’s James, Chief (Chocolate dog) and our two little never ending moving boys. You can either catch her doing some late night baking because she’s run out of biscuits or finding something she can write her calligraphy skills on!
Our little old Photo shop is settled right in the heart of the pennine hills in the pretty village of Ripponden, in West Yorkshire. We take sincere, peaceful and fun filled portraits of anyone from Families to singles and anything in between.
As if to emphasise the manicness of my mornings all was calm then as I’m trying to leave for work Alice decided now was a good time to have a major tantrum as I told her to put the iPad down. Cue screaming as the husband calls to discuss the sale of our rental flat. Try telling him I have to go and bundle the girls in to the car with Alice still screaming. The screaming turns to coughing and epic throwing up, EVERYWHERE!! One change of clothes later, defrosting the car, again and we were off. And breathe!!
Pahahaha! I think you’ve pretty much summed up my mornings too Lottie. Each day presents a new challenge. Today my little boy, Zach, decided his breakfast looked better splattered all over the floor and up my clothes (as if I have time to change!). This mornings tantrum started over a pair of shoes….he didn’t want to put them on and I insisted he did. On the other hand he did let me kiss him several times on the lips (usually I get the forehead) before we parted ways which made up for it.
The only way I ‘manage’ is by preparing everything as much as possible the night before, clothes, lunch etc.
You are right, these images make you feel instantly relaxed. I wish I looked this good in the morning. I think pancakes will be on the agenda for this weekend! xx
They just know don’t they Jennifer?! Monkeys. Especially as they then make you forget it all with a little cuddle or kiss x