Welcome to Baby Brain, a space where I - Charlotte, hi! - write about my life as a mother of three small children - Poppet (m, 4 years), Pickle (m, 3 years) and Peach (f, 11 months.) Those are not their real names. These are real stories from our days.
Because I have had six long weeks of mostly solo childcare, and I am tired. Normal scheduling to resume shortly. But until then…
1/ A hot cup of tea made by, preferably, a barista who also has millionaire shortbread and/or a toastie to hand. If not a barista, my husband. If not a barista or my husband, any pair of hands that aren't attached to my arms. English breakfast, milk, one sugar please - hold the sugar if the cup is tiny.
2/ Teeny tiny baby feet and their insistence on being real squishy.
3/ Swimming, but only in the sea or a pool that's warm. Don't try to entice me into wild swimming in a frozen lake, I'm not buying what you're selling and I'd rather die than be involved (but also I am quite adaptable so ask again in a week if you really want me there, there's a chance I'll have changed my mind.)
4/ OK this might not be true anymore because my obsession peaked when I was 19 but... Twilight.
5/ Dainty flower paintings by Debbie Adamson Art. I have two of her pieces up in my home and I want more.
6/ The lengths to which my children will go to make me laugh, even if their methods include appearing naked when my grandparents are over ("what's wrong mummy, I was only trying to make you laugh" - Pickle, whilst being ushered from the room at speed), appearing naked when previously fully dressed and this close to leaving the house for a playdate we’re already late for… You can sense the theme their jokes currently take and I don't often actually laugh as it's quite the inconvenience, but I appreciate the effort and that's what counts.
7/ Snuggly co-sleeping cuddles.
8/ Photos taken using film AND... Taking photos using film.¹
9/ Chocolates so fancy they've earned the right to call themselves bon bons.
10/ The fact my daughter’s hair is now legitimately long enough to need baby hair accessories, giving me an excuse to buy tiny sparkly clips that look like this:
11/ Being near the ocean.
12/ Ski resorts and the mountain ski holiday life though not, to be clear, actual skiing, which I could take or leave. I want snow and I want hot chocolate and I want food covered in cheese but the exercise that tends to go with it in order to justify the cost of such a holiday… Feels unnecessary.
13/ Hear me out, childbirth. Painful? yes. The two most empowering experiences of my life? Absolutely. (Yes I’ve given birth three times, the first time wasn’t quite so idyllic and we do not speak of it. I mean we do, but let me be dramatic.)
14/ Supermarket ‘bags for life’ adorned with cute/ funny slogans.
15/ Roast dinner pub lunches.
16/ The Wednesday morning playgroup I plan our week around - come for the toys, stay for the bitching.
17/ Rain.
18/ When I accidentally disturb the boy’s slumber (when checking they’re breathing before I myself can go to bed, one of my many neurotic behaviours. I also check there's no water in the bath in case they sleepwalk for the first time ever, decide to take a dip and drown) and they shout out random words from their dreams.
19/ And when one nonchalantly roasts the other over cereal, with words such as “I was TRYING to go to sleep but Poppet was SNORING” (pan to Poppet, the most mortified and scandalised four year old in all the land.)
20/ Really cold water that’s been in the fridge. Or ‘fridge cold water,’ as I call it when asking my husband if we have any.
21/ Goes without saying but he'll notice if I don't say it, my husband.
22/ Infant mental health/wellness. I wish I could tell you my passion in life was glamorous and exotic but this is it folks, I just bloody love babies. They are fascinating and I sometimes wish I was one. I won't be having any more of my own but watch out future grandkids, I'm already obsessed with you.
23/ Being in bed.
24/ An empty wash basket - it makes me ever so smug whenever I have one and, approximately once every six months, it really does happen. Let me tell you, it is always a good day when it does.
25/ The feeling after a really solid one-on-one quality time interaction with one of the kids.
26/ Finishing the kind of book that makes me want to buy a copy of said book for everyone I know. (The most recent of which was Love by Roddy Doyle. A longer term favourite being The Chicken Sisters by K. J. Dell Antonia.)
27/ When newborns put their hands near their faces and show off just how tiny their thumbs are compared to their heads.
28/ Being a mum.
29/ Writing. (And writing about being a mum.)
30/ Spending time and effort finding the perfect gift for the kids whenever a gift giving occasion occurs. The joy on their little faces when they see how well I know them and how much I love them is *chef's kiss*. Related: the Rapunzel crochet dolly I picked up for Peach at a local Maker’s Market. She cried when I put it away for her birthday so I think it will be a hit.
31/ When the five of us hang out as a team.
32/ Eating out with my husband/friends/alone.
33/ The quiet at the end of the day, once all of my spawn is fed and bathed and exhausted and tucked up in bed.
34/ When Poppet and Pickle pick me flowers and give me pretty rocks and do crafts under duress at nursery that they then present to me to keep forever.
35/ Celebrity gossip. I know more about Hailey Bieber’s ‘feud’ with Selena Gomez than is healthy, and will read any and all articles about Meghan Markle. It's frivolous and frothy and I can't get enough. If you, too, love celebrity gossip, may I suggest listening to Shameless and Cancelled, and subscribing to Gossip Time by
. The best.¹ Film photos from our holiday to Center Parcs this year. It was an excellent holiday with my in-laws and, quite possibly, one of the best holidays we’ve been on full stop. I bought a film camera as I’d vowed to allow myself a hobby that didn’t involve my children whilst there, and then proceeded to take around 65 photos of them because, as I now realise, there is no beauty in this world greater than theirs. As a result, these are all I have that I can share without exposing their faces and blinding you all with their good looks. SAY CHEESE!
Now if you’ll excuse me, Poppet starts primary school and Pickle starts preschool in the morning, so I have to go and iron lots of tiny labels onto tiny uniform items. Might treat myself to a little cry, too - go wild.
Until next time ⭐
🥰🥰🥰🤗🤗🤗
Oh hey THANK YOU!! That makes me feel amazing. And I love your joking children. Also funny: hiding the car keys!