Spidey’s Serene Sundays | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 314 – Mother’s Day

14 Mar 2021 30 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Mother's Day, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“A mother is the one who fills your heart in the first place.”
Amy Tan

Thakn you for this, Spidey.

It is indeed Mothering Sunday, here in the UK, today.

As I have written this the night before, the hope is that I have managed a lie in, but to be honest, given my body clock is operating on a different time zone to the two teenagers, and the night owl husband I think that even with my idea of a lie in, I’ll have been up a while, before they awake, so breakfast in bed is an idea that never seems to work!

Today, I want to celebrate my mother, though.

Again, I won’t be able to be with her, physically, due to the Covid restrictions, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate her.

Without my mum, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today. She’s been my guide, my support, my shade, my sunshine, my friend.

She’s loved me, cradled me, sheltered me. She’s advised me, guided me, berated me (where needed).

But most of all, she’s been there. I know, that, despite being forty five, I have those moments where I need my mum, and she is always there, at the end of the phone, or video call, ready to listen.

And having learned from her, I try to be that to my own daughter and son.

I’ve said this before, but if i am even half the mother my own is, I would be a good one.

Today can’t pass without mentioning those other women, who I hold in high esteem, too.

My mother-in-law, who gave me her son, as my husband, and who has been my mother, truly, not an ‘in-law’. I am lucky to have such a wonderful relationship with her, and I am grateful every day.

My aunts, who have loved and cherished me, throughout my life. We may not live close by, but I know they are there, and some have been key figures in my life.

Even my best friend’s mum, who I call Ammi, because she opened her arms to me, the moment she knew that we were inseperable as a duo, and welcomed me as her fifth daughter. When I was at university, my own parents were a good few hours away, and my best friend’s family, just a short drive away. I would spend time there on some weekends, and she got to know my favourite dishes, so there were times when she’d send special food, just for me, when my bestie had been at home and I hadn’t been with her. It still happens, you know. If we have a meeting planned, Ammi would still make sure she’s made certain things for me to have.

So, how are you celebrating Mothers day? Are you the one being spoilt, or are you celebrating a great woman, mother or other, today?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps.

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 313 – After The Storm

07 Mar 2021 46 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday, Sunshine

“If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm.”
Frank Lane

Gee, thanks, Spidey, for reminding us of this particular storm we are weathering!

But, still, the quote is right in that we hvae had to weather quite aa storm, and the sun does indeed appear to be breaking through the clouds.

Tomorrow, here in England, the first doors are opening, after this third lockdown.

And to be honest this one has been the toughest. The first time, no one had ever experienced anything like these restrictions before, here. The weather was beautiful, so even though we couldn’t live life as we knew it, we were able to still enjoy the great outdoors. The second one was more of a half hearted one.

But this one?

The starkness of winter, knowing we had missed Christmas and the promised family time, the dark mornings and early evenings, the cold. It was awful. On top of working from home, or being furloughed, trying to help children with their home learning, as a parent, and for us teachers, becoming more proficient in teaching our classes in a way we were never trained to do.

So, yes, I am hoping that tomorrow’s break in the clouds is the beginning of the storm coming to an end…

Fingers crossed!

So, if you are here in the UK, or anywhere else, how are you feeling about the possiblity of normality?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps.

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 312 – Blank

28 Feb 2021 35 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Nothing, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Doing nothing often leads to the very best of something.”
Winnie The Pooh

Thanks, Spidey for finding a fabulous quote from my favourite stuffed bear!

This thought realy resonates with me, for some reason, right now.

I’m at a time in my life, where doing nothing doesn’t even feel like an option. I’ve got a book to write, a class to teach, teenagers to feed (constantly), a house to sell… It doesn’t leave much time for doing nothing.

But, then again, my best ideas often come when I take a step back, sit down, and let life go by for a little while, without me feelinng pressure.

A good book, a comfy sofa and a cup of tea, is my idea of doing nothing. Yes, even that is productive, as I get to read another book from my extensive TBR list, but it’s still a time I can switch off from reality, refresh, and come back stronger than before.

I have been trying to do one of these ‘nothing’ days regularly, recently, so Sunday is my day to switch off in the afternoon, unless anything urgent comes up, snuggle up with my book, and quite often, Sonu Singh by my side, and lose myself into a fictional world.

And it does refresh me. Those few hours give me a chance to stop living my crazy life, and chill. I also get a chance to reflect upon what I have going on in my life with a much fresher mind, too.

I’m definitely looking forward to an afternoon like that, today, because I am pretty sure I’ll be stressing, next week, as we get ready to open the classroom doors physically, to the whole class again.

So, what’s your take on doing nothing?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps, and try to get an hour of nothing in there, somewhere.

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 311 – Teenager

21 Feb 2021 35 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Birthday, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Lil Princess, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“A mother’s treasure is her daughter.”

— Catherine Pulsifer

Thank you Spidey, for finding such a lovely quote.

Yesterday, was Lil Princess’s birthday. My daughter turned teenager.

I am quite overwhelmed, you know, because, firstly, I am now a mother to two teenagers. So I feel old!

But mainly, because I don’t know where the last thirteen years disappeared to. It only feels like the other day that she arrived, kicking and screaming, into the world, and now, she’s nearly a woman!

When people say, ‘make the most of those young years’, they are right. At the time, you may be finding it hard to deal with young children, and you wish away the years where they won’t sleep, keep crying, asking “Why?”, follow you everywhere, even the loo.

But, honestly, you will suddenly find yourself here, like me, with the kids who are full of hormones, and they don’t actually want to be anywhere near you, (unless they want something, in which case they can be really sweel!), they don’t really talk to you, their rooms start to smell, because they live in mini pigstys, no matter how much you try to keep them tidy…

Then, the flip side, when they get older, they become mini friends. The conversations you can have with them, the jokes you can share, and, with my girl anyway, the advice and tips on hair, clothes and make-up! (Mind you, I really don’t care about those things, but if I ask her for help, she’s in her element!)

We enjoy music together, silly Netflix films and series. Baking together in the kitchen, girlie chats about life.

It’s all part of the joys of being a mother, you know, and though I miss my little squidgy baby, I have a beautiful young lady by my side, now, and she will always be my baby…

Happy Birthday, Lil Princess 💜

Have a peaceful, love-filled Sunday Peeps.

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 310 – Love Day

14 Feb 2021 33 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday, Valentines Day

“Where there is love, there is life.”
Mahaaatma Gandhi

Happy Valentine’s Day, Spidey, and to all you readers, out there in the Blogisphere!

I know, I know. Why just one day to celebrate love? We should be showing our aappretiation for all our loved ones, all of the time.

That, I truly agree with.

Vaalentine’s Day has been overrun by commercialism, and the expectation to buy cards, gifts, flowers, wine, and arrange romantic nights out, seems to havea overtaken the whole day.

Personally, I like to think of Valentine’s Day as a day to sit back, and remember all those I love, and make sure that I haven’t been forgetting any of them, from my one true love, my Hubby Dearest, to my children (human, furry and feathered) and the rest of my family.

It doesn’t stop there.

My friends, my colleagues, my blogily.

I truly appreciate all of you, and wish you a wonderful, love-filled life, with this day as a little reminder of what your people think of you.