What a year 2020 has been. When we found out we were expecting, it was pre pandemic and the year ahead looked very different. ‘The Frugality Talks’ were about to begin, I was making plans to launch The Frugality Shop and set to have the busiest year work-wise.
A lot of those plans changed, but not necessarily in a bad way. For us, we learnt to slow down, address what was important and make a lot of decisions for the better. On Friday we handed in the keys to our office and moved everything back home, there would have been a time when I would’ve seen this as a failure but now I know it’s the right decision – we weren’t even allowed access to the building March – June and with my maternity leave starting in November, we knew it didn’t make sense to be spending money on an office in these tricky times with work being so up in the air. With a working kitchen now, things have become remarkably easier to be at home full-time and I am actually looking forward to some time off from work to be able to relax with our newborn.
I learnt a lot of lessons last time with my maternity leave and I am trying to make a conscious effort not to make the same mistakes. Being freelance and going on maternity leave is tricky enough in that it’s almost impossible to switch off, you get very little financial support and have a constant guilt about work/life balance (but let’s face it, who doesn’t have that?!), but here are a few rules I will be implementing (typing these out is probably more for me than you!):
I will be easy on myself, not try and do ‘everything’ and accept my limitations. And if that is just watching a Channel 5 Christmas movie holding a baby, that’s fine.
I will be on social media when it feels right for me and try not to be there because I feel I have to.
I will not look at work emails, set an out of office, stick to it and delete them when I decide to come back to work (I remember Lily Pebbles doing this and was so impressed as I kept dipping in an out last time).
I will work on my boundaries on what I want to share vs what I feel I ‘should’ be sharing online.
Saying all that, 2020 has been good to us – everyone’s support on our kitchen renovations, our pregnancy post baby loss and matchbox launch has been really overwhelming and it has really cemented for me that I have the most amazing, loyal readers. So thank you, and see you soon.
Enjoy your maternity leave! Love your content and will be there when you come back.
Lots of love,
Margaux
Good luck! Goodbye! Will be looking out for baby news 🥰
Dear A, C, P, Special Babies Lost & Precious Baby to be,
If anyone deserves a break, it’s you guys! Your attitude & ethos never fails to inspire & inform.
Let’s hope for a continual Lucky Strike🍀🔥of good times despite the chaos of these dark times.
See you on the other side when YOU are ready!
S, J & P XXx
Relax and enjoy! X
Dearest Alex + Lovely Family,
Sending lots of love and good wishes as you take your maternity leave. Thank you for always being inspirational and one of life’s good ones! Enjoy all the cuddles and all the Christmas movies!
See you when you’re ready to return.
Amanda xx
Enjoy your time as the three of you until the new baby arrives. Looking forward to seeing your content when you’re back.
Wonderful – enjoy your time in your other job of childrearing! I had 4 boys and dipped in an out of my business many times. I often didn’t give myself enough space to just ‘ be’ with my newborn. By the time number 4 came round I made a promise to turn off the phone and focus 100% on enjoying him. That experience you have gained from the first time round ( the Tsunami boy I called mine!) is invaluable. I wish you well in the exciting time ahead!
Good luck Alex! Thank you for your amazing content and wishing you all the best xxx
Will miss you on the gram but am also very excited for the next chapter in your family life! Good luck, lots of love & see you on the other side x
Hi Alex,
We will all miss you so much but there are exciting times ahead for you and the family. Please keep us all posted on the arrival of your little one. You still look fabulous by the way but I can imagine you must be feeling a little tired by now so the right time to slow down in fact. Take care .
Love Tricia M
We will all miss you but exciting times are ahead for you all:) take care lots of love to your gorgeous family 🙂 xxx
Congratulations and best wishes for you and your family! See you when you get back!
Best of luck, hope the birth and first weeks go smoothly. Great rules, definitely stick to them! Enjoy those baby cuddles x
Wishing you all the very best for the next little while and it will be so lovely to see you return when you’re ready.
Enjoy your maternity leave and looking forward to your return. Take care
2020 sees us all adventurers in brave new world. If only Emmett Brown and Marty McFly went a little bit further they could have warned us. Cheering you and yours on from Tokyo.
Very reasonable goals. Relax and best wishes!
Damm this post is love