Hi and happy Monday! I’m heaving a huge sigh of relief as I type… things are getting a bit easier. Well, either that or I’m getting more used to it!

Last week involved: some training, a deanery meeting, social media planning, Sweaty Mama, Toddlers at church, admin, a visit to the local hospice, lunch with Mum, Dad, Granny & Grandpa, chatting in the Hub, a baptism, sermon writing, Open Table, a play date, a chat with a vocations candidate and catch up with local clergy.

Ministry: As I said to my colleagues today, I think I managed about five weeks without much moaning coming my way, which is good going! Nothing I can’t handle though. I’m channeling Teflon. People need to be heard, but likewise, I need to let it slide off and not get to me.

We’ve also been hosting a Ribbon Display for Baby Loss Awareness Week which seems to have been helpful for people.

And I had an interesting Sunday navigating a professional photographer who turned up for the baptism I was taking.

Mum life has very much improved since Aidan has decided he likes his childminders. When I picked him up today, he was pleased to see me, and was trying to show me things. He was making ‘eh, eh’ sounds and leaning towards interesting things like the lights in the ceiling and the seesaw outside. Win!

Things are slightly more complicated with Sophia though. She’s been having a bit of trouble with one child in her class who pushed her three times, and seemingly poured her milk over Sophia’s cake one lunchtime. I confess I am somewhat surprised to have gone from the gentle and sweet dynamics of nursery to this so quickly! Her teachers have been great though, and Sophia says they have made friends again.

Still, my morning-hug-at-the-school-door pep talk has developed in the last week. It was ‘I love you, learn lots and be kind’. It is now ‘I love you, learn lots, be kind, and remember that nobody is allowed to push you’.

Drama: This is an ever evolving blog and so I’m adding a new section! Drama. The most dramatic moment of week goes to… The parents in uproar when the after school club said they were going from providing a hot savoury snack to just juice and biscuits! There was wailing, gnashing of teeth, and a cry for a survey so all parents could voice their opinion properly!

I expect a survey in my inbox within the next couple of days…

Our day off: Nathan was at diocesan synod (Liverpool region meeting of church representatives) so I took Aidan and Sophia to a play cafe in Ormskirk. You know we love a play cafe! This one was just right, with toys to amuse them both, but not too loud or overwhelming. It also served big, fluffy pistachio pancakes!

What Sophia said. When Nathan was out one night, I was on solo bedtime. When this happens, Sophia is in the habit of sitting in Aidan’s room while he is being settled. I’m not sure how we ended up allowing this, but she’s getting really good at being quiet and waiting patiently for him to go down in his cot before we move to her room.

Anyway, this night, I put Aidan in his cot and lay down on the floor next to him like I usually do, saying ‘sleepy Aidan… good boy Aidan… relax Aidan…’ etc. I heard Sophia go out of the door and carried on soothing Aidan, assuming she had gone because she was bored.

Next thing I knew, I heard the door open again and felt one of her blankets being draped over me as she whispered in my ear ‘you looked cold’.

What a sweetheart!

She then flopped another pillow next to my head for her, and I offered to share the blanket with her. ‘yes please’ she said. And we lay there together as her brother fell asleep.

I am painfully aware of how flawed, tired, grumpy, and impatient her Dad and I can be too often. It truly amazes me that Sophia can be such a lovely person.

What Aidan did: No new words this week (that I can decipher), but he is starting to play with people. We had a lovely ten minutes playing with a plastic plant pot pretending it was a hat, passing it between him, me and a dolly. He’s very into grabbing with whatever toy Sophia is playing with, which shows how interested he is, but doesn’t always go down that well…

Highlight: A really brilliant chat in the Hub about faith and doubt, along with lots of laughter.

I am especially grateful for: a really good book (Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown) to distract me every day.

Coming up: Sunday afternoon chill with the Thorpes

More next time x