This summer has been a whirlwind. Baby Ellor is really starting to take off, and I felt ready to finally leave my job as a teaching assistant in a school and give my full focus to the business. The timing felt right… and then, of course, the school holidays hit.
The kids have been in holiday club at their nursery two days a week, and I thought that would give me plenty of time. Two full days for Baby Ellor – surely enough to stay on top of everything? In reality, it just got busier. Which, in itself, is exciting. But it’s also been a challenge.
My partner works as a residential support worker in a children’s home, and his shifts get longer during the holidays too. That often means three or four days (and nights) a week where I’m solo parenting. The juggle is real – trying to keep the house and kids in some sort of routine, while also running a business that suddenly feels like it’s levelling up fast.
I made the decision not to attend any events in August. I knew we’d be stretched, and honestly I thought giving ourselves a calmer month would help. But by the last week, with no holiday club, my partner doing overtime, the kids needing me, and Baby Ellor demanding so much energy – I was worn out.
And then, of course, life threw in more. Both kids came down with strep throat, which meant a trip to hospital and a week of keeping things quieter on social media. The Instagram algorithm doesn’t love a break, but sometimes family has to come first.
I’ll be honest – I’ve shouted more than I’d like. Harris has been testing boundaries, and we seem to be going through a hitting phase. Some days it feels like I can’t get anything right – the bowl I give him, the way I chop his fruit, the way I pour his milk. The late nights when they just won’t settle have left me running on empty.
At the same time, orders are pouring in. Which is incredible – and a reminder of why I left my job in the first place. But it can feel like my brain is ready to explode with everything going on. The truth is, the juggle is hard. Some days I don’t manage it at all.
But here’s what I’m holding onto: I’m so grateful for this life we’re building. For the chance to grow Baby Ellor into something that supports our family. For the kids getting to see me work hard and follow my passion. For the fact that we’re all ready now for a fresh start, a new routine, and that September reset feeling.
Because while summer has been messy, noisy, and full-on, it’s also a reminder that this is real life. It’s not always perfect – but it’s ours. And I wouldn’t change that.
💡 Mum hack: after Harris got poorly, I realised I’d fallen into the habit of quick, easy meals for the kids. I’ve always loved cooking proper food, and it gave me the kick up the bum I needed to get back on track. So, I finally invested in a slow cooker — and I’m calling it a total game changer for busy mum life.