I write this amidst a mess of croissant crumbs, suitcases and checklists. My life is officially upside down and we’re vacating our house today. Our flight back to the UK is but three days away and I’m looking forward to squeezing in an Australian autumn beach day or two before we emigrate home. But right now, the stress is real.

As you’ll know from my last post, I’ve been madly concerned with how this move will affect Ethan. But I can report that (as many of you wise souls pointed out) kids are in fact, completely amazing. This boy has been relegated to a futon after having his bed sold, has had toys culled and he has watched WAY more Mighty Machines than I care to admit. And I’ve never been more proud of him.

While I’m a flailing mess who’s smashing her Fitbit step target everyday by midday (pre-move I was harldy hitting it once a week!), he’s taking everything in his stride and behaving like a total angel. Even being repeatedly told “Mummy can’t play now sweetheart, It’s a veeerrryyy busy day!”. Whilst everyday I say those words I’m crippled with guilt, I feel some reassurance that on the other side of this flight, there will be copious time to run around forests together and play cars on the floor.

What I’ve been amazed by most is how loving Ethan seems to be towards me. He’s offering up so many kisses and cuddles (which I ALWAYS have time for) and constantly tells me he loves me. This is new behaviour and I’m certain that it has something to do with the bags under my eyes as well as his need for a bit of stability amidst all this uncertainty. I’ve found myself giving him more cheek kisses and longer, tighter hugs too. It’s like our little frequent reconnection admist the chaos. A mini recharge as such.

The other night he just walked into our room at 3am, climbed in next to me and gave me the biggest squeeze before snuggling right in for a few more hours of sleep. The stress has been keeping me awake a lot lately as my mind races with tasks and plays out unlikely scenarios (anyone else ever get this kind of stress insomnia?). However, it was so much easier to relax and put all those crazy uncertainties into perspective with my little boy curled up beside me. There is no better feeling, is there?

The best was definitely last night as I tucked him into bed. We did the usual bedtime routine with books and lots of cuddles, but as I switched out the light and said “Goodnight my love” he responded with “Mummy… You are the love of my life.” Cue…. An inability to stop hugging him and complete and utter heartbreak.

How is it that children just know exactly how to say things that are so cute and full of love that it actually hurts?

And how do they know to say it exactly when you need it the most?

I was speaking with a friend about this who told me that recently when she was having a hard time with sleep deprivation, her eldest daughter (two years old at the time) rubbed her arm and said “Mummy, I care about you”.

So I’m keen to see in the comments below:
Do you have any stories of those heartache moments when kids say or do something so adorable that you feel like you can’t physically cope with the cuteness?
What’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard a child say?

Figured that this would be a nice way to share some sweet stories and and a chance to brighten up the day of someone reading this who’s maybe finding themselves a little low or stressed like me.

PS. I’m looking forward to writing my next post from a beautiful little mountainside cottage on the Emerald Isle (on the showered and well rested flipside of a 30 hour plane trip!).

PPS. I was sent this GIF recently and the cuteness just killed me! I’m not sure what gets me more, the kid or the hug!