The Prodigal Grandparents Return | How Much Did I Spend Last Week? Dec 9-15, 2024

Finally, my parents have arrived – although later than I had originally thought, which is reflected in some chaotic goings-on in my week. It’s not my fault, as Beatrice tells me in a recent episode of our podcast on Patreon, it’s the “baby brain!” (Who among us would fault me if I murdered her, truly?)

Monday

This morning I get up and get Atlas off to school with relatively little fanfare. Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be worse for the coat-related wobblers – I have been reduced to putting his coat on him backwards, as he lies, face down on the floor, screaming, although I find sitting him on the edge of the couch is more effective as he seems to find that terrifying and is just afraid enough of falling that he stays still and doesn’t try to kick me while I’m zipping him up – but today we have a few tears and then he sobers up when I walk him outside the door and he realises it’s freezing and that, actually, the coat and hat are probably helping.

Anyway, once he’s off on the bus I head back inside and tidy up his breakfast stuff before making myself some porridge and sitting down to eat it and drink a cup of coffee in silence.

I’m getting into slight panic mode now as the baby date approaches, which means I’m more productive than usual and by 9.45am I’m up in the office writing my money diary, clearing my email backlog and scheduling some guest content for when the baby comes. (I will also be doing sporadic updates which, I’m sure, will be baby-related, but for about four weeks we’ll have some guest money diaries and so on that I’m hoping will provide a nice palate cleanser after my year of frankly deranged spending.)

Atlas gets back around the same time as Brandin, who is home for lunch and has swung by Burger King en route to grab Atlas some chicken nuggets (and to grab me a burger, chips and Diet Coke) and he also hangs around long enough to help get Atlas to bed, assistance which is greatly appreciated as I’m really struggling to lift him up on to his changing table and then down into bed lately. I mean, I can do it, it’s just uncomfortable and, at times, kind of painful.

Once he’s eaten and down for his nap, Brandin heads back to work and I head into the office to do a podcast interview for

Caroline Foran

’s podcast, Owning It: The Anxiety Podcast. My episode will be out in the New Year and I’ll share with you as soon as it is!

I’m still working when Brandin and the boys get home at around 4.30pm, and I get Atlas up from his nap just as they pull into the driveway (I know, 1pm-4.30pm naps are the dream and I’m so relieved that he still takes these great big naps in the afternoon because I keep thinking this will make life with the baby a lot easier).

I then head back up to the office to edit and publish an episode of the podcast and to wrap up my money diary.

Brandin makes dinner, so once that’s ready I head down and we all eat together, then hang out downstairs for the rest of the evening before doing baths and bedtimes.

I do some knitting once the boys are in bed; I started a baby blanket about six months ago and my verrrrrry slow pace of knitting has meant that I’m still only about halfway through (and it’s normal baby blanket sized). I am kind of hoping I’ll get it done before the baby gets here (11 days and counting…) but also feel like maybe it’s better if I just keep my expectations low. And realistic.

Daily total: $0