The Eccentric American Mama in Cumbria

What do you do for fun? It was a simple question asked by my best friend's mom last night at dinner and it floored me. First, I can't remember the last time someone asked me that question and second I honestly didn't know what to say. I stumbled over my words as I listed out a few activities because I was too embarrassed to tell her the truth. And the truth was I really didn't know. The first thing that honestly came to my mind was nothing and the second thing was Cyril's classes; he goes to gymnastics, swimming, painting and yoga, how fun is that? However, before I rambled on about Cyril's classes I realised she wanted to know what I did, singular, without Cyril, and that was not something I was prepared to answer without some thought. When I became a Mama way back in 2014 I hadn't anticipated the life changing experience that was about to unfold in front of me. Josh and I denied vehemently to other parents that our lives wouldn't change, that...

I took a break this weekend, it was the first break I've had from my full-time job since December, and it was glorious. At my job there are no coffee, bathroom or lunch breaks without a permanent escort and on some nights the job continues into the wee hours despite having worked tirelessly all day. This weekend was different because this weekend as Grammy pulled up to the train station, Josh and I stepped eagerly out into the fresh air that just smelled of freedom, it was so close I could taste it. Then I made the mistake of glancing into the back seat while pulling out my bag from the back of the SUV. Those big blue eyes had tears just waiting to pour out at any moment. He clutched Rabbie tightly in one hand and a half eaten cracker in the other while he repeated mamom? until the tears poured out. He was pleading with us not to go. However we had a train to catch so with tears spilling down my face I gave him one last kiss, another cracker and ran from the SUV before I coul...