Some people think that having your kids with you 24/7 must be horrendous (you know the ones who can’t wait for school to start again after the holidays – that was never me when Poppet and Pickle went to school!); others think it must be idyllic, never having to fit into anyone else’s agenda, having long lie-ins and generally being happy.

To be honest it is somewhere between the two and varies depending on how everyone is feeling (read One of those days… for an example of a negative day!)

Think about it, if you go to work you get to have that time as an ‘adult’, talking to other adults and (maybe) missing your kids. I’m not saying I want to go back to work –  I certainly don’t miss it – but occasionally I’d like to be an adult talking about something other than my girls!

We do NOT have lots of lie-ins (well, Pickle quite often does!). The Stinker is up early for work, Piccalilli wakes up when he’s getting ready ‘quietly’ and Poppet doesn’t ever seem to sleep! If I want a shower I have to get up just as early as if I was going to work. So really, no lie-ins!

It is true that we don’t have to fit into anyone else’s agenda to a point. But, we attend lots of different groups and clubs (see A ‘Typical’ Day…), so most days we have to be somewhere at some point…

Happiness – that’s the biggest plus point. Poppet and Pickle are both much happier than when they were at school. Of course they have down days, angry days, whiny days, but on the whole they are happier, resulting in a happier home 🙂