Post Comment Love 30th August - 1st September

It's time for Post Comment Love - a linky hosted by myself and Stephanie. Link up and share your favourite post of the week and we'll stop by and share the love. The linky opens every Friday and is open throughout the weekend.

We almost made it to the end of the holidays! As much as I love my boys I always look forward to back-to-school week. I crave the peace and quiet, the calmness as I drink my coffee after school drop-off, but mostly the time alone. I haven't had any time alone for the entire holidays I'm feeling it. My head is full, I can't organise my thoughts, and I'm stressing about anything and everything.

This week I started to get the house back in order. That made me feel a little better, being able to walk into my kitchen and see the countertops are clean and not filled with dirty dishes makes me see I'm at least accomplishing something! By getting on top of cleaning schedule I'm gaining control and that helps with organising my thoughts too. I mentally work through my list, and with the cleaning done I can concentrate on other things.

I have been thinking recently about checking out some podcasts. I'd like to listen to a few, so hit me up with your recommendations if you listen to a good one.

How have you coped through the school holidays?



Blogger Showcase 




Again we have no blogger to showcase this week - why not answer our questions and you could be featured next week!

Post Comment Love
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.morganprince.com/p/pocolo.html" title="Post Comment Love"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCSl521Y0Fc/WVYUymNCbmI/AAAAAAAAKKk/TX81ZztHEoUdupGFn2r8sbjFzaB6zDRpgCKgBGAs/s1600/blogger-showcase-badge.png" alt="Post Comment Love" style="border:none;" style="width: 250px;" /></a></div>



Pocolo


Each week you'll be able to link up from either of our sites and between us Stephanie and I will comment on every post linked.

The rules; Link up your best post written in the last week and we'd like you to comment on at least two other linked posts, as well as the hosts. 

Help us spread the #PoCoLo word on Twitter and include the badge on your post.

Please do pop over and say hi to this week's Blogger Showcase. It's always nice to get a comment or two. 

If you'd like to be featured in our Blogger Showcase please do check out the questions and email your answers to us at postcommentlove@gmail.com.

Thank you for popping by.


Post Comment Love
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.morganprince.com/p/pocolo.html" title="Post Comment Love"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6lCpxSHtaG8/WVYR7bxOfcI/AAAAAAAAKKU/am26sOjHNioCMleG3QJiS88gfbkXbczEgCKgBGAs/s1600/post-comment-love-badge.png" alt="Post Comment Love" style="border:none;" style="width: 250px;" /></a></div>


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Why it's okay to want your kids to go back to school

My boys go back to school on Tuesday and I couldn't be happier. They've driven me mad with their constant bickering, physical fighting, and the need to be entertained for every second of every waking moment. It's exhausting. And it's okay. I can't wait for my kids to go back to school, and there is no way I'm going to feel guilty about that.


We love our kids, obvs! But that doesn't mean you don't want them to go back to school



LP has just taken an interest in tap-dancing (since seeing Lord of the Dance) and is so cute when he starts trying to tap around the kitchen, moving his legs as fast as they will go. His arms flail about and he has the biggest smile on his face, and I cannot help bursting out laughing every time he does it.

BP, while quiet a lot of the time, on occasion will do something lovely. Like make a drink without being asked, or offer to go to the shops for us. He is a lot less active than LP (being almost a teen will do that!) but can be just as entertaining.

My life has been enhanced by my boys in ways I never knew possible until I had children. They brighten my days and make me smile.





The kids are Job One. So, to be quite candid, if they need me, I do my utmost to make sure I'm there.

Susan Rice





Your kids' funny little laughs, the way they get excited about a cardboard box arriving at the front door. They make you smile on a daily basis and you wouldn't be without them.

But...

That doesn't mean they don't drive you mad. From the bickering with their siblings to need to be eating something at least once per 10 minutes it is draining having them at home.




I have to referee every day. LP and BP's fights are getting more physical and someone always ends up in tears. No matter how many times I tell them to stay away from each other they still get back together and before long are fighting again. *sigh*





Activities, activities, and more activities


The kids have spent the best part of six (or more) weeks at school, being bored to death with maths and english, and they crave entertainment. They want to have exciting days, they want to be surprised and have fun. And you?




You're tired just thinking about it. You're busy enough every day, what with the motherly duties of keeping a household running, and now you have to deal with the kids being at home. Every. Day. The house won't survive the holidays without some days when you won't do any cleaning at all!





The surprise wake-up call disappears when they're back to school



The first thought in your head on the last day of term is "great! no more early mornings!"

But of course you are so wrong. When the kids have school holidays they suddenly find the ability to get up early. You were the one dragging them out of bed at 6:30am on school days and now they're up at 6am with bright eyes, waiting for the wonderful activities you've planned for them.




Driving - less of it when they're back to school


For at least a week you're not going to have to hurry the kids out of the door and into the car so you can get them to school on time. No yelling at them to find their shoes. No screaming because you can't find their school bag. And no rush-hour traffic.

Then you remember all the other driving you've got to do. Driving to the theme park, to see the family, to the local soft-play centre, and now the kids are going to be in the car with you the whole time.




Peace and quiet - it's lovely when the kids go back to school


When the kids are at school you can take advantage of that lovely moment when you get back home after the school run and the house is quiet. When you can sit down with a hot cup of tea and listen to the news without interruptions.

But during the holidays it's impossible to get even 10 minutes to yourself. You're making snacks, entertaining the kids, and trying to keep the house running without thinking about yourself for a moment. By the time the kids go to bed you are exhausted and are ready for bed yourself. 



The kids love to go back to school


The kids are excited to see their friends, which means they'll actually get out of bed when you tell them to. You won't have to listen to their bickering any more because they'll be at school for the majority of the day and out of each other's hair. That also makes after school more pleasant too because they haven't been winding each other up all day. 




No activities planned for the day, no driving to do (apart from the school run), and that lovely hot cup of coffee waiting for you on your return home after drop-off. 

The peaceful house, and being able to get the housework done in an hour all make great reasons to want your kids to go back to school





Kids flourish if we get them to school every day. 

Connie Smith





So stop feeling guilty about it and look forward to getting the peace and quiet back. 


I know I am!





What's the first thing you will do for yourself when the kids are back at school?




If your kids are still at home why not grab the Captured! colouring page so you can enjoy a hot coffee while they colour in!



Why journaling is good for self care

Bullet journals, gratitude journals, diaries, planners, they're all very popular - why? Because journaling is good for self care. From teenagers to women in their 50's people are journaling more and more, and while mental health is an issue we're all trying to tackle, journaling is helping people cope. It's a way to take care of yourself, to give yourself space and time and get things out of your head. So have you stepped onto the journaling path yet or are you still wondering whether it's for you?



Teens take care of themselves by journaling


Back when I was a teenager ("when dinosaurs roamed the earth" - as I would say to my kids!) I kept a diary. I got my first diary when I was 13 years old, it was a small A5 book with a brass lock with a tiny little key. I kept the key on a necklace around my neck and while I didn't have huge worries to write about at 13, apart from boys and homework, I soon established a routine of writing in that diary every day. 

At 14, when my parents split up and divorced, my diary became a safe haven. I wrote down how I was feeling. I vented about my mum when she was mean. I blurted out all the thoughts and emotions that were breaking me inside. I truly feel that keeping a diary, or a journal - whichever you want to call it - helped me stay sane. I really struggled when my parents divorced and my personality completely changed for a while there. I am just thankful that I can look back and know that keeping a diary helped me. 

Which brings me to today's teens - do they keep journals? My son doesn't, as far as I know, but do teenage girls? I hope so.

Why Journaling Is Good For Self Care | My Passion Planner, a coffee, and my computer are all I need for some self care.
My Passion Planner, a coffee, and my Macbook - all I need for some self care. 😊


Journaling is such a good way to take care of yourself that I hope teenagers are being told about it. And if they're not, I hope they read about it, or hear friends talking about it. At a time when emotions run high, hormones are raging, and there's so much angst, journaling could really help.

And it teaches you focus...



Journaling is focussed self care


Whether you write every day or every month, whenever you sit down to write in your journal you are giving yourself focussed self care. You are allowing time, just for you, where you write, draw, whatever it is you do in your journal. 

You take time to focus on yourself, to think about the days that have passed, to think about issues that are bothering you, and you let all that stuff go when you write it down. It is a calming, quiet pastime.





To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.

Oscar Wilde





Journaling helps get ideas and thoughts out of your head


Like I said, when my parents were going through their divorce journaling helped me. I was able to write down what I was feeling, I was comfortable doing so because I knew no one would ever read it and that helped me vent. 

Journaling is such a good form of self care, especially if you don't intend anyone else to read it, because you can write down whatever you're feeling without the fear of judgement. We spend so much time keeping thoughts and feelings to ourselves for fear of being judged that a lot of the time we never truly say what we're feeling. Our heads become clogged up with all the things we never say and that's when we start to feel overwhelmed by everything. 

Taking a simple step, like starting a journal, could be a brilliant way of taking care of your mental health. You get time to focus on you, putting yourself first for a change. The self care you're allowing will give you time to chill out, to be quiet and calm. And when you're a busy mum any time at all to be calm and quiet is welcome - right?



Journaling can be a form of therapy


Americans are big on seeing therapists aren't they? Or at least that's the impression you get from the TV. Speaking to someone about your thoughts and feelings is a good way to help yourself, to make you feel better about whatever it is that is bothering you. But we can't all afford a therapist so what do we do?

Journaling, or keeping a diary, can be another form of therapy. Instead of speaking to someone about your thoughts and feelings you're writing them down, getting them out of your head and down on paper. If you have troubling thoughts they're out of your head and perhaps seeing them written down will help you see they're not as troubling as you originally thought. Or if they are, it could help you deal with them in an orderly way. If it's just thoughts and feelings you're writing down this could still help. I always found that writing something down, the physical act of using a pen and paper to write it, helped me so much. 



Stationery is awesome!


Who doesn't love new pens and notebooks? Colourful pens, beautiful notebooks, and SO MUCH COLOUR can only make you smile right?

Every time I set foot in a stationery shop I smile. The teenage girl in me shrieks with joy as I look at all the notebooks and journals available and the Hubby runs away in fear when I see the pen section. I have loads of pens that I love to use, including a pen I got from Ted Baker a few years ago. For colour I always use my Manuscript Pen Company pens, they're brilliant and I can draw to my hearts content with them. 

My Passion Planner is full of notes and drawings, and colour is everywhere. Writing things in the planner makes me smile and reaching for the coloured pens brings me joy. 

Journaling isn't just about getting out the bad thoughts, it's about taking care of yourself. It's about enjoying yourself too. Smile while you're writing. Incorporate colour into your journal. Add checklists so you can feel like you're achieving something. Anything that makes you smile - do it.

But never forget the stationery!



Journaling for mental health or self care


Whether you're struggling with your mental health or you're just trying to take care of yourself journaling is for you. 

Stay-at-home mums can use journaling as a form of self care so they can vent about having to do all the housework, or not getting enough time for themselves. Working mums can use it to rant about work, about no one helping with housework, or because they're not getting enough time for themselves. 





Journaling is like whispering to one's self and listening at the same time.

Mina Murray





Journaling can be whatever you make it. A form of therapy. Something you enjoy as a hobby but isn't that serious. Or just something to do. 

And you can choose the type of journaling you do too...



Examples of journaling




Gratitude journaling


Writing down everything you're thankful for, whether it's every day, every week, or every month. Taking time to be thankful, realising all the things that went well - or perhaps that didn't go so well but there was a silver-lining. 

Why Journaling Is Good For Self Care | Start a gratitude journal and be thankful for the little things.


Sometimes writing things down, trying to think of things to be thankful for, is a way to actually be more thankful for life itself. It makes you see that life, seeing the sun, seeing your child smile, are reasons to be alive and take joy in every moment.



Emotional journaling


Stress, anxiety, even love. Writing out your emotions, and your emotional responses to the things happening in your life is a great way to deal with whatever emotions you're having. As I said above, I enjoyed writing a journal when my parents were going through a divorce and it helped me cope. There have been times in my life when keeping a journal kept me going and made me see that things weren't quite as bad as I thought. 

Keeping track of how you're feeling is also a good way to look back and adjust your reactions to things for the future. Learning more about yourself, about how you deal with certain situations, is a good thing and can help you in the long run.



Bullet journaling


This is huge right now. Almost everyone I know keeps a bullet journal and they love doing it. They add things like checklists, they draw little flowers, they make their journal look pretty. And they love doing it. It makes them happy. And why not?



Personal planning


Diaries, journals, or planners they all help you keep you organised don't they. I love my Passion Planner, it helps me keep track of everything I need to do as well making me smile when I read the wonderful quotes on each page. I write down all I need to do, I cross off things I've completed, and I manage to remember birthdays because they're in my planner - which I look at every day.


Why Journaling Is Good For Self Care | Here are a few reasons why you should start journaling...


Journaling is a good way of taking care of yourself, it doesn't cost much (apart from that lovely new journal and pens!) and all you need to do is take time to write things down. Will your journal become your new therapist? Could you have a life changing realisation by keeping a journal? 

Isn't it about time you found out?



Do you keep a journal, and if so how much time do you spend on self care?




While you're trying to write in your journal why not grab this Captured! colouring page for your kids - it'll keep them busy for a while so you get some quiet time to write.



Post Comment Love 23rd - 26th August

It's Friday again and that means it's time for Post Comment Love. Our linky, hosted by myself and Stephanie, welcomes all bloggers to share posts with others and read what interests them. The linky opens every Friday and is open throughout the weekend. And this week it includes Monday - with it being a Bank Holiday. What have you got to share today?

With just one more week of school holidays to go I am feeling the lack of routine and am looking forward to getting back to normal. I love having the boys at home and spending time together as a family but when they've been home for so long I crave the routine. I don't do well when the days just merge into each other. Of course it's not as bad as it used to be because Hubby's at work most week days so there's that, but then I have to entertain the kids which can be a struggle sometimes.

I haven't done any back-to-school shopping yet. I'm hoping to get that done this weekend, we don't need much but I should probably get it done. And then we'll be back to regular routine and everyone will settle.

And then of course it's the run up to Christmas! I don't know how we'll do it this year, with Hubby working, but I'm sure we'll manage as we always do.

Again just a short update from me this week - hope you're all having a great summer!


What fun things did you do this week?




Blogger Showcase 




We still have no blogger to showcase this week - we'd love to get you regulars featured, don't forget to check out the questions and send us your answers!

Post Comment Love
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.morganprince.com/p/pocolo.html" title="Post Comment Love"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCSl521Y0Fc/WVYUymNCbmI/AAAAAAAAKKk/TX81ZztHEoUdupGFn2r8sbjFzaB6zDRpgCKgBGAs/s1600/blogger-showcase-badge.png" alt="Post Comment Love" style="border:none;" style="width: 250px;" /></a></div>



Pocolo


Each week you'll be able to link up from either of our sites and between us Stephanie and I will comment on every post linked.

The rules; Link up your best post written in the last week and we'd like you to comment on at least two other linked posts, as well as the hosts. 

Help us spread the #PoCoLo word on Twitter and include the badge on your post.

Please do pop over and say hi to this week's Blogger Showcase. It's always nice to get a comment or two. 

If you'd like to be featured in our Blogger Showcase please do check out the questions and email your answers to us at postcommentlove@gmail.com.

Thank you for popping by.


Post Comment Love
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.morganprince.com/p/pocolo.html" title="Post Comment Love"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6lCpxSHtaG8/WVYR7bxOfcI/AAAAAAAAKKU/am26sOjHNioCMleG3QJiS88gfbkXbczEgCKgBGAs/s1600/post-comment-love-badge.png" alt="Post Comment Love" style="border:none;" style="width: 250px;" /></a></div>


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter