Expectations ...

Last year wasn't a great Mother's Day.  I set my expectations too high.  I took too much notice of what everyone else was doing on social media.  Big mistake!  People post on Facebook what they want to you to see - not the reality.  My daughter was brilliant and she got me a really thoughtful gift but for some reason I felt quite fed up all day.  Fast forward to this year, yesterday and I decided to have no expectations at all and boy it was so much better!

Mind you I was a bit fed up by the need to have clocks changing and Mother's Day on the same day!!  I mean whose silly idea was that!?  Us Mum's need an extra hour not to lose one and then to lose one on 'our special day' well it's madness!!  

I had a really lovely day but I was very aware of those that maybe were not having such a great day.  The media and social media raise our expectations but what about those who sadly have not been able to have children, or those who have lost their Mum maybe more recently?  Those whose children are away and can't get home for Mother's Day?  I am sure there are many more scenarios but having felt fed up myself last year it did make me think a bit more about others this year.  So if that is you and yesterday you felt miserable then my heart goes out to you and I am so sorry, I hope that today is better and a bit of sunshine cheered you up.

On Friday my sister organised a day out in London.  It was me and my two sisters and our Mum.  We got the train down, arrived in Covent Garden, had a good bimble about, found Neals Yard and sat in the sun and had a cup of tea.  We went in a few shops, nothing too stressful.  Then we had dinner at Bill's and finally headed to the Vaudeville Theatre to see Stepping Out starring Amanda Holden.  It was excellent, Amanda was brilliant and it was very funny - just what we needed.  We had an easy journey home and we weren't too exhausted.  We made memories, we had fun together, we chatted and we relaxed.  It was perfect.

I wore my new Mint Velvet trainers, my Citizens of Humanity grey jeans, a new pale pink/blush jumper from Boden with my M&S scarf and a lightweight down jacket from Uniqlo, my silver handbag was from John Lewis last year.  My mum's lovely green jacket is from Joules!

On Sunday, we had lunch at our local pub, we were a large group, there was me and my husband and our two children, then my parents and my brother in law who is here doing some work for us and my sister-in-law.  We spent a lot of time in the garden as it was so sunny.  

My children made lots of effort.  I got a beautiful card from my daughter with words that brought tears to my eyes.  And even my son had been shopping and I had a lovely card and some thoughtful gifts.

But most importantly, we spent the day together.  No expectations.  Just time as a family. Making memories, that is the most important thing to me.  Nothing else matters.

I hope you too were able to have a nice day.  And if it didn't go to plan then remember it is just another day and you are not alone, we all have bad days and today will be better.

Love
Michelle xx

It was a lovely sunny day on Sunday but I still needed a jacket - this new 'bomber' style jacket is from Marks & Spencer and was recommended by their new styling service 'Tuesday's', I wore it over a new blouse from Boden (Polly Top) and my 7 for all Mankind jeans.