Tuesday

A Reset in Real Life (Beans on Toast Edition)

I woke up in an arsy mood today. No real reason—just that heavy, prickly feeling where everything feels like too much. I knew I needed to get out of the house, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t get the toddler to the childminder. I couldn’t get to the post office with the Vinted parcels. I just… couldn’t. And because I couldn’t, I was in a mood and taking it out on everyone.

By around 1pm I decided enough was enough. I needed a reset. I jumped in for a 15-minute cool shower while the kids had beans on toast for lunch. (Gourmet? No. Effective? Absolutely.)

I got out, straightened up my bedroom—nothing fancy, just folded a few bits and cleared the floor. Then I headed downstairs to watch a film with my seven- and three-year-old. That bought us a blissful thirty minutes before the fidgets kicked in. Which, honestly, is longer than I usually get.

So we changed gears. I put a load of washing on the line and took the kids into the garden. They bounced on the trampolines; I sat on the grass and let the sun warm my shoulders. They laughed, argued, bounced, argued again, and then belly-laughed like hyenas. Somewhere between the flapping laundry and the squeaky springs, my mood finally gave up sulking.

Fast-forward to the evening: bath time chaos. My children are apparently reborn sea animals(seriously, see the video for why). Think splash zones, dolphin impressions, and more water on the floor than in the tub. But after the flood came snuggles, warm pyjamas, and the sort of cuddles that make you forget you ever wanted to scream into a pillow.

And now? The kids are tucked up. I’ve got my cup of tea, my TV on, and my laptop open. Not a perfect day, but a pretty good ending.