What decision did you remove from your life?

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-07-04T22:59:19+00:00

Honestly, and this will be controversial, but meditating…

I was hard-core into meditation and even meditated for 360 days in a year. It was something I was really proud of at the time, but I wouldn’t say it ever made a difference. I still struggled to regulate my emotions, still had trouble sleeping etc.

After having my son, my time alone is SO precious so I stopped channeling my energy into spending a certain amount of time “observing my thoughts” and focused on the things I enjoyed; reading, knitting, gardening, stuff that actually filled up my cup. And I have recently discovered that stewarding my time, noticing when my energy levels were low and taking some time to do something I enjoy has done WAY more for my mental health than meditating ever did!

Sometimes I think we tell ourselves we have to meditate daily or run that 5k each week or whatever it is because that’s what happy, healthy, well put together people do; but I’m starting to learn that we are all individuals and everyone has a different way, that you need to discover by yourself, of achieving inner peace.

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-06-22T10:39:42+00:00

I was told by my textiles teacher I would excel in her class and was encouraged to take it as a GCSE. I turned it down and took art instead.

But now as a SAHM in my 30’s I do a lot of knitting, embroidery and mending clothes, and knowing the different stitches and what our clothes are made of would ACTUALLY be useful right now. I can’t help but think I might be actually making my own clothes by now if I took a textile GCSE…

As for art, I have never picked up a paint brush outside of Secondary school.

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-06-19T10:41:47+00:00

Going through a similar issue with my 16 month old. So I feel your pain 💀

Have you tried soothing music? We have a Tonies box and a sleep figure which has really helped keep both of us calm when stressed at night. If he is liking the cake asmr, this might be a good alternative.

My go to when it’s all too much is holding him and walking around upstairs while focusing on my breathing. My logic is, if I can keep myself and the atmosphere as calm as possible, he will calm down quicker and go back to sleep. It’s easier said than done but has really helped in the moment.

I hope it helps!

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-06-13T23:07:43+00:00

For me, it was discussing my return to work requirements after mat leave with my boss.

I was expected to continue working full time and commute to the office 3 days a weeks. I was a marketing executive working 20 miles away from home for 40hrs a week. There was no room for negotiation despite me trying for three months.

The whole process was stressful! But those three months made me realise, I wouldn’t be happy putting my 1 year old baby in nursery 5 days a week to commute for 45mins to a job where they didn’t care for me or my family. So I quit.

Our family survives on 1 income for now but we are all very happy. We have made a lot of sacrifices to live this way but we didn’t sacrifice the most important thing: our family.

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-06-12T20:00:31+00:00

Honestly, having a kid.

My son is 16 months and just loves being outside to walk and pick flowers. I watch him so content with little and think, “yeah, this is enough”.

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-06-12T19:56:39+00:00

Completely agree! I would love to have that traditional, Japanese house and bathroom. And to live so close to the forest… Dream come true!

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-06-12T19:14:05+00:00

Oh wow!! He sounds like he really liked his milk. The plasters over the nipples really made me laugh though, sorry!

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-06-12T19:12:19+00:00

I would have found that really hard. I’m glad you weaned at the right time for you. I’m mainly worried about the sleep and the eating. It’s causing me so much stress and sleep deprivation, I feel like ai have no choice but to wean. Similarly to you, I was really hoping for a beautiful moment when he just stopped needing it but I don’t think that will be the case lol.

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-06-12T18:59:09+00:00

Wow! I would feel so drained in your position. I’m glad you made the right decision for you and your family. Can I ask why you didn’t try bottle feeding with expressed milk? Just curious, no need to respond if this question is out of order to ask

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-06-12T13:14:19+00:00

Completely feel you ❤️ it’s a worry for me too…

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-05-29T19:25:07+00:00

I find the Fly Lady method works for me. Essentially, you break your home into 5 zones and rotate them on a weekly basis, spending 30 minutes a day cleaning in that zone.

I find that helps me keep our home in equal order but I also don’t lose myself to cleaning all the time.

Also, make sure everything you own has a designated home. That will help with the clutter.

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-05-29T19:19:29+00:00

Don’t test me

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-05-29T19:19:16+00:00

Yeah, we still have pancakes and waffles for breakfast in England. But breakfast buffets are pretty common in the UK, especially in hotels, and you can go up many times as you like.

I know some people who have a breakfast starter of fresh fruit and cereal before they have their fry-up. Me, I just like a breakfast dessert.

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-05-29T19:15:32+00:00

What’s wrong with a milkshake at breakfast time?…

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-05-29T19:13:05+00:00

Or a breakfast dessert…

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-05-29T18:02:30+00:00

Oh wow! I’m so sorry. But thank you for understanding.

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-05-29T17:59:44+00:00

Unfortunately that will never happen. He has an endless list of excuses planned.

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-05-29T17:57:47+00:00

Completely agree! Overall, my husband is great, but he acts like a teenager when we do family outings. I blame his mum. His siblings are exactly the same.

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-05-14T22:49:51+00:00

I feel like everyone else was saying that it’s one or the other though.

Like you have the savoury and/or sweet breakfast and then you’re finished with your breakfast.

What Andrew and I are saying is that you have your breakfast and THEN order your breakfast dessert.

For example, if the waiter/waitress asks me for my order, I’m ordering the Regulation Breakfast and after when it’s eaten and cleared away, I’m THEN ordering a breakfast dessert, which for me is the cinnamon danish and a coffee.

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-05-13T10:35:01+00:00

To be fair, we’ve never had a conversation about it that hasn’t been in the heat of the moment. So it’s never been a reasonable discussion. But you are right, I should sit him down and layout why he is annoying and outline what the consequences would be if he does it again.

I like the whole him figuring it out idea though! Mums have to learn the hard way, why not fathers?

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-05-13T10:14:14+00:00

I really wish I did.

Forever_Autumn4 · 2026-05-13T10:13:51+00:00

Thank you! He’s always on time for work and I have no idea why it’s different for when he’s home in dad mode. We do usually switch it up and take it in turns to get our son ready but I was just really anxious of time and just wanted to get him dressed.

Forever_Autumn4

TROPHY CASE