Life is a changing!

There have been so many momentous changes in our family life this year so far. This week, by far, has been the biggest. I have experienced, for the first time in nearly twelve years, having all three of my daughters AT SCHOOL! I have soooo many feelings about this. My emotions are on a non-stop roller-coaster ride at the moment and getting out for a run is the one thing keeping me sane (and wine, of course!). So it’s just as well I got a long run in on Sunday – my second half marathon since turning forty!

#CignaRTB #raceday !! #halfmarathon #Wellington

A photo posted by Sarah (@britmuminnz) on

I was so chuffed to beat my personal best and ran the 13.1 miles in 1.48.53!

I’ve also seen my previous homeschooler (till she was 9 year’s old – with the exception of a year in ‘Kindi’ at the age of 4, and two terms in school at age 5), settle into school. Not only is she settling well, and overcoming the anxiety that has held her back in earlier years, but has also put herself out there and volunteered to make up the numbers for her school ‘Touch Rugby’ team. She played her first game this week and proudly represented her school with amazing confidence.

Our eldest daughter is straight back into her fitness love – dancing – this year. She’s now doing contemporary, jazz and tap. She has also taken on a new sport this year – golf (which delights her Dad)! She gets a shuttle bus with her fellow students after school, straight to the golf course, and we pick her up afterwards.

Our youngest is meanwhile adjusting to school life slowly, by just doing mornings for this term (which is exhausting for her!). She has unfortunately come down with a cold at the end of this week, so we will have to start next week afresh. I am absolutely savouring every moment I have with her after school.

She is such a nature lover and is often to be found in the garden with our dog and rabbit, or chasing butterflies.

After school, half day for our new entrant, spending precious time together at Shelly Bay.

A photo posted by Sarah (@britmuminnz) on

I’m just so grateful that our dear fur baby is able to help distract me from a nervous breakdown with my dear babies all now at school! I enjoyed a beautiful run/walk with him on my youngest daughters first official morning at school.

I also paused for thought on all the amazing times I have enjoyed with my dear babes in arms, whilst acknowledging the exciting, yet challenging times, ahead! So, I shall keep running, and try to keep smiling (though I admit to a few tears this week; the new entrant teacher had to ask one of her students to pass me the ‘magic fairy wand’ to help quell the tears rolling down my face! I was trying so hard to hide them too… quietly at the back of the class. With that wand in hand I gave the young students in the class a thumbs up and an Oscar winning smile of ‘I’m all good now!’).

I paused for a moment, on this hill, with my dog, & acknowledged the passing of my time with my babies. They are, as of today, all three at school, and my time at the playground, with babes in arms, is over, for now… Till I'm a *hopefully*, one day, a Grandma that is (after my daughters have lived and adventured well!!). For now, the hills are mine to roam again – with my four legged friend for company – at a pace of our choosing. We have after school and weekends to still linger at details with the youngest of our 'pack' – she who makes us stop, notice, and live in the moment. I do hope, now she's started school, she manages to hang on to that magic – & not let the awareness of time, and keeping to the clock, diminish her awareness of the present. It took me a long time to regain that which I once knew, instinctively as a child, & lost growing up. It was #motherhood that brought me back & that is one of the greatest gifts my children have bestowed upon me x

A photo posted by Sarah (@britmuminnz) on

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This blog post was inspired by Tara at ‘Sticky Fingers blog’ who set a theme of ‘Health and Fitness’ on her weekly linky, ‘The Photo Gallery’.

Health and fitness, for me, is all about balance. I was a young child that was forever active; dancing, running, cycling and climbing, a teenager that started to become less so and a young lady in her late teens and twenties who lost her way on the path of balance. Those party years, of my twenties, were passed over by my ‘breeding’ years of my thirties and now, in my forties, I feel like I am finally getting the balance. Sleep deprivation is less of a problem, now my children are all past their preschool years, I have more windows of time to get a moment of exercise in and keep my mental health on balance, and my nutrition is inspired by wanting to set a good example to my children (consequently we eat our fruit and veggies, but indulge in treats too!!).

My next running event to look forward to is the Martinborough ‘Round the Vines’ in the Wairarapa of New Zealand. I’m only doing a 10k (as the 21K is a repeat of the 10k – and I couldn’t face running past all those vineyards TWICE without stopping for a wine!). I look forward to getting out there, running that course and having a wee tipple with a friend afterwards! What’s more, the proceeds of the event go towards the Martinborough School – what’s better than running for a good cause?! xx