The Bakers Adventures

Apologies for the late one – apparently, time waits for no one, and today has been non-stop chaos wrapped in a bow of exhaustion. But hey, life loves to remind me that every day is a fresh start, right?

After yesterday’s teary saga and a good heart-to-heart with Dan, I decided this morning to dust myself off and give it another go. I made it to the gym (hallelujah), had a swim, sweated it out in the sauna, ate a healthy lunch like someone who has their life together, and edited alongside some good friends. Honestly, just being around people while working made me feel like an actual functioning adult again.

The usual Tuesday madness followed… feeding the girls in record time, rushing them to piano lessons, and braving the arctic with Pearl and the dog while we waited. But the evening brought what is now a rare moment of luxury, my sister swooped in like a hero, giving me a much-needed escape from the house. Not to work, not to juggle life admin, but to just be. Do you know how strange it feels to sit somewhere without a laptop, a camera or a pile of laundry staring you down? Pure bliss.

The girls… They’re doing pretty well. Sure, we’ve had our moments – a wobble here, a meltdown there – especially after FaceTimes with Dan or when I have to channel my inner bad cop in the morning dash for school. But I have to hand it to them; they’re really trying. They’ve been extra helpful around the house, even if school pick-up i look like a donkey with all the bags I end up carrying. Baby steps.

And somehow, just like that, we’ve hit the one-week mark without Dan. It honestly feels longer – not because it’s been unbearably hard but because when you’re the only one juggling everything, the days blur into an endless to-do list. But here I am, proving to myself (and the girls, Dan and anyone else willing to applaud me) that I’m more capable than I give myself credit for. The check-ins and encouragement have been like little life rafts keeping me afloat.

I won’t lie, though – moving my body today felt like a huge victory. I’ve been neglecting myself lately, and it’s taken its toll. Falling off the wagon is a bad move yet such an easy one. 10 days away from the gym is a lifetime when you’re.. me. I was chatting with a friend about how 9-to-5 workers manage to squeeze in exercise, and honestly, hats off to them. I’m self-employed, with flexibility, and I still struggle to prioritise it. So today, I’m grateful for the freedom my career gives me to occasionally pretend I’m a health guru (even if it’s fleeting LOL).

Dan managed to get seen by a doctor and get his ears sorted. Flushed and a course of antibiotics and he’ll soon be good as new. However, such a daunting experience being unwell aboard especially when you’ve barely found your bearings or settled in. His first day of his new job set off to an exciting start, which makes me so happy. Hearing how buzzed and motivated he is makes the distance a bit easier to handle. But the time difference albeit only 3 hours right now, is still a killer. By the time he messages, I’m usually trying to organise the bedtime routine or heading out the door for the school. The girls, of course, think all contact with him belongs to them, and any attempt I make to sneak in an adult conversation is not welcome.

Don’t get me wrong – I love that they’re so excited to connect with him, but it would be so nice to have five minutes of uninterrupted chat to catch up properly. You know, just to talk about things other than school pickups, piano lessons, or how the dog ate another Christmas bauble (again). Hopefully, once we settle into more of a routine, we’ll find the space for that, the children are more important right now – and maybe we will even laugh about how chaotic these first weeks have been.

To one week down. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that I’m stronger than I think – even if some moments I doubt myself. Week 2, we’ve got this..