To all the Mamas and Papas at the start of this new term. Normally after 7 weeks off I feel nervous (for the children and myself). Often I feel sad too and another part of me is also looking forward to just sitting there, in a tidy house, with a cup of tea, silently….This is perfectly normal I know but I also know lots of people who will be feeling guilty about the way they are feeling this week. I still get twinges of guilt. “I should be more sad”, “It’s awful that I am looking forward to some space on my own”, or “I should be happy for them but I’ll miss them so much”…This will be amplified this week because they have been with us for even longer. We’ve been through so much the last few months that you can also throw anxiety, fear and worry into the big emotion pot this week.

Whatever you are feeling- please let yourself feel it…don’t judge it, don’t evaluate it, try not to block it, and notice any feelings of guilt or self criticism. Instead, if you can, place a hand on you heart, feeling the warmth from your palm and say to yourself “No wonder I feel this way this week, it’s okay, I’m allowed to feel this way”, and take a deep breath in and out…… we’ve got enough on our plates without beating ourselves up about the way we feel…