Living Arrows 36/52 Coffee and Chill

The Pod located on the side of the road along the Wild Atlantic Way

The Pod – Killybegs

“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth”

Living Arrows 36/52

As the dust settles on the first week of “big” school for my oldest. For the first time in a long time I have had time to sit down and relax and quite literally have a coffee and chill. This weeks Living Arrows post is inspired by this gorgeous coffee spot in the picturesque Wild Atlantic Way as you drive towards Killybegs.

I have vowed for the coming school year to make time to be present and not be rushing and dashing around the place doing jobs that in reality could wait.

playing on the beach despite the weather

Fun without the sun

We had our final farewell to summer holidays in a typically wet Donegal despite the weather, we ran, we laughed we played but most of all we were present in the moment. I am a full time working mum and im guilty of checking my mails, picking up messages and texts when in reality they can wait.

As we sat on the beach and had our picnic and a delicious coffee from The Pod, I thought about the milestone my son had ahead of him – starting school. It really is such a milestone. For him and for us. Where did 5 years go?

Well as I sit here chilling with my coffee I can happily report week one was a success. The only tears were my own, he skipped in the door and looked forward to returning the following day. I’m under no illusion every day will be like the last couple but fingers crossed most days will be like this. The house feels so quiet, its actually hard to get used to it! Not that im complaining!!

Signing off with a coffee in hand, two feet up and the TV on – coffee and chill it is…….

Mamma Musings

#Living Arrows 30/52 – The ordinary moments

“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth”

I’m pretty impressed with myself that ive joined the lovely Donna from What the Redhead Said linkie again. I love the concept and I can’t wait to share my posts each week, its certainly become a key part of my blogging routine. This week for me its all about embracing the ordinary moments. I work full time so sometimes I feel pressure that when I’m with the kids ive to take them to play centres, to activities to all these perceived exciting (and often expensive) activities. But really its not like that. This week we walked to a lovely park near where we lived, we got coffee and treats in the shop and we quite literally sat and watched the world go by. The gentle fall of the Liffey as it cascaded down the weir was just so lovely. The kids enjoyed their picnic and mama enjoyed her coffee. Pure bliss.

The Mamma Fairy Blog on Instagram

Later in the week we stopped by for another picnic this time in the much bigger Phoenix Park in Dublin it was really busy but such a wonderful space to have in the City Centre. Totally unexpectedly we ended up feeding deer (under the guidance of the park wardens). It was just magical. They are such beautiful magical animals, really docile. Almost exactly what I had expected them to be like. If you asked my kids right now what was their favourite activity to do they will most likely say go for a picnic. Its simple, its inexpensive and when I’m there I’m totally present and if I’m honest I think that’s its partly why they love it.

Feeding Deer

Us parents can feel awful albeit unnecessary pressure to keep the kids entertained with all these high octane activities, that’s not reality, that’s not what life is about. Of course all those things are enjoyable too but sometimes its just nice to find joy in those ordinary moments. I still remember growing up rolling down the hill known to most Dubliners as the Popes cross in the Phoenix Park. I remember picnics at the beach in Donegal with my parents and siblings. I remember getting soaked having races on the beach in Donegal. I was on lunch one day in a restaurant during work and I saw a quote which I’m reminded of now “Joy comes to us in the ordinary moments, we risk missing out when we get too busy chasing the extraordinary”. I don’t know who said or wrote it but its quite apt for the world we live in today.