I’m an early riser by default. I’m up at 5.30am, no matter the day. I usually start the morning with a hot water and lemon drink (closely followed by a large coffee!) and try to meditate or do some gratitude journalling, before the chaos of the weekend kicks in. As someone with ADHD, my mind can be pretty busy so I try to enjoy some quiet time before my daughter wakes up, usually around 7.30am.
We’re a neurodivergent family – as well as my ADHD diagnosis, my daughter is autistic – so elements of routine and forward planning prove really beneficial for us. Every Saturday my daughter goes to a 9am local dance class, which she loves. It’s long though, 3.5 hours in total (it covers all kinds of dance such as ballet, tap, musical theatre and street dance), so I’ll make her a seriously energy-fuelling breakfast, like pancakes or scrambled egg and toast beforehand. Then, we’ll load our stuff into the car (mostly snacks for her!) for the 15-minute drive.
My Saturday morning me-time is precious to me. I work full-time during the week delivering leadership coaching and being a solo parent means there’s not much time for myself, so I try to really make the most of the few hours I have to myself while Jasmine’s dancing. If the weather’s nice, I’ll leave the car at the dance school and head off for a 30-minute run – there are lots of lovely fields nearby. I’ll always blast some loud jungle or garage music through my headphones to really get me moving!
My treat to myself every Saturday is a delicious breakfast that I haven’t had to cook. Going out for a meal I could easily prepare myself feels a bit indulgent sometimes, but I really value it – I’ll usually head to our local farm cafe in the car for eggs hollandaise and a latte. Sometimes I’ll nip to the shops afterwards for things we need, like food shopping or bits for Jasmine’s schoolwork, before picking her up on the way back. If I’m early, I really enjoy sitting in the car and listening to a good podcast.
Once we’re back home, we’ll make a plan for the rest of the day while Jasmine has lunch. Chilled, low-key weekends are perfectly fine in my book. As a child with autism, I’m aware my daughter does a lot of masking at school, which can be tiring so I’m happy for her to be free and relax on weekends. More often than not, that involves time outside. Sometimes it’s as simple as a local walk in the fields near our house, or chucking the bikes in the car for a short bike ride in the nearby forest (I usually tempt Jasmine with the promise of ice-cream!).
We haven’t been back in Kent all that long, so it still feels exciting to be here – I’m actually from Birmingham originally. We spent the last three years back in the Midlands [Staffordshire], having relocated after the pandemic in search of more space, countryside and critically, a support system of friends and family. But we missed our life in Kent and moved back in September and we’re both really happy here now. I’m a firm believer in trying things out and taking the odd risk – I don’t want to live with regrets!
When the weather’s good, being in our garden is a must – I find it helps regulate our nervous systems. Because we rented our house out during our move back to the Midlands, the garden needs some TLC, so that’s our next “project”. It’s fulfilling seeing your work flourish and grow, there’s a real sense of accomplishment to it. When I initially asked my daughter how she felt about returning to Kent, she told me: “I really miss the garden, Mum,” which cemented it! Having outdoor space is important to us, particularly as someone who grew up on an estate without a proper garden.
I’m conscious of raising a child too heavily reliant on technology, so – TV aside – we’re not big on screens at home. The cinema is our exception though – we’ll often visit the one at Bluewater shopping centre on a Saturday. For Jasmine, it’s the whole experience she loves – from the popcorn and slushie to the huge seats, it’s a real indulgence. I’m usually asleep five minutes into the film though, if I’m honest!
Saturday nights usually involve a Netflix show in our pyjamas and a takeaway – we both love an Indian curry (our order’s always the same – Peshwari naan, prawn korma and mushroom rice). Because Jasmine’s into her dancing, we’ll often watch something dance-related, like Cheer (I tried to get her to watch E.T. the other night but she didn’t really “get it” – I was gutted!). Sometimes we’ll do face masks or paint our toenails, if the mood takes us.
After all her dancing, Jasmine’s usually ready for bed by 8.30pm. I always tuck her in and try not to fall asleep as she drifts off. If by some miracle I manage to stay awake, I’ll head downstairs for a couple of precious hours on my own, before calling it a day.
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