It’s Saturday evening, and last week at work was tough - draining, uninspiring, just grinding through tasks I didn’t enjoy. But now? I feel… okay. Still tired, but there’s a sense of progress. Somehow, I pushed through. And that counts for something.

It’s a good reminder to keep going, even when it really, really sucks. I should probably put up a note somewhere to remind myself that after a few grinding days, you start to feel better. It’s easy to forget that in the moment.

Friday Night Escape

After I picked the boys up from school, I went over to my friend’s house. We ate pizza and binge-watched a drama series called Adolescence on Netflix - every single episode. By the time it had finished, it was around 11 pm. Noah, my son, had already crashed on his friend’s floor upstairs. I got home and somehow ended up going to bed past midnight.

The Morning Wake-Up Call (a.k.a. The Cat Saga)

I didn’t get up at 6 am - I need my eight hours of sleep, so I turned off my alarm.

Around 8 am, one of my boys came up to me while I was still asleep.

“Mum, the cat peed on the beanbag.”

Half-asleep, I mumbled, “I’ll sort it out,” and rolled over.

Not long after, my other son came in.

“Mum, the cat peed on the beanbag.”

I grunted, turned over again.

Then, about five minutes later, Luke walked in, placed his hand on my arm, and said gently, “Sarah…the cat's weed on the beanbag.”

I guess that was the equivalent of my alarm going off, hitting snooze twice, and finally getting up on the third try.

The Little Things That Make a Day

So, I was up.

And yes, I dealt with the lovely “gift” the cat left on the beanbag. Then I downed about three coffees in an attempt to wake myself up.

Luke and the boys went to Asda for dinner supplies. When they came back, Noah appeared upstairs with a big, proud smile on his face, holding a bunch of flowers. He beamed as he handed them to me.

“These are for you, Mum.”

I didn’t see it coming, and honestly? It made me smile. A simple moment, but one that meant a lot to me. It’s the little things that matter. Sometimes we forget that.

I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a big hug and a kiss on top of his head - it's pretty much all I can get away with these days before he starts rolling his eyes at me!

Gratitude in the Everyday

It’s not about grand gestures. It’s the small actions that really add up and make a difference.

Like the woman who, despite being a complete stranger, shared invaluable advice on starting my own financial advisory company. Or the kind couple, about six years ago at a Spanish airport, who saw me struggling with my boys and jumped in to help. Or my friend who effortlessly tosses something in the oven when my boys and I drop by, giving me the chance to just chill, eat and watch TV. 

Those moments? They stick with me. And every so often, I catch myself thinking, 'One day, I want to find a way to show just how much I appreciate what they do.' I’m not sure how yet, but I’ll figure it out - because I know I don’t show it enough in the moment. Sometimes, I don't think I really show it at all.

Reclaiming Time with the Boys

Lately, I’ve realised that I can get so caught up in work and chasing the bigger picture that I sometimes forget about the little things - the things that truly matter. The moments that make life what it is.

Work has been taking up a lot of my time lately, and I haven’t been spending enough of it with Luke and the boys. So, I’ve made a decision: every Saturday, we’ll do something together. It’s become my non-negotiable time to be fully present with them.

Today we headed to Lasham Airfield. The boys have always been fascinated by planes, so they were absolutely loving it - and honestly, so was I. It was one of those perfect, laid-back moments - watching the gliders, grabbing some lunch, and just soaking in the peace and quiet while spending some quality time together.

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, and I’ll be spending it with my parents, sister, nephew - and of course, my boys. Maybe I’ll squeeze in some work later, maybe not. Normally, I would, but right now, it’s all about enjoying these little moments. Monday will be here soon enough.

Life’s too short to let the small things slip by unnoticed. It’s the everyday moments that make life meaningful. 💗