That Sunday Feeling
How we spend our Sundays so that we’re fully prepared for the week ahead
A few years ago my Sundays would be spent feeling dread, nursing an anxiety rash, and frantically trying to fit something ‘fun’ in with my family before the working week began (this wouldn’t actually be fun because I’d put way too much pressure on it to be that way).
But, since slowing down and enjoying a more simple life, my Sundays are wonderful. I often wonder if it’s just me that really, really loves the feeling that a Sunday now brings.
It’s tricky to explain the Sunday feeling I get, but I’ll try…
On Sunday mornings I wake up feeling free. Without a care in the world. There’s nowhere I need to be and nothing I need to do.
Actually, that’s not quite true. There is one place I need to be, and that place is my bed. More specifically, snuggled up in my bed with my little family.
When we first bought our house 4 years ago, I never realised just how key our bed would be for us as a family.
You see, this is the place I work from, where the children bundle in on a morning with their cold feet to get warm, where we jump and do aeroplanes and Charlie practices his front flips and Harriet doodles on her iPad.
It’s the place where we let the children fall asleep and carry them to bed before binging a Netflix boxset. Where, during the night, a small person will wriggle their way in between us with their fluffy little blanket and their favourite teddy, and fall asleep safely after a bad dream. It’s also the place where we retreat to when we’re not feeling well for cuddles and comfort that makes us all better.
And that’s what the Sunday feeling is. It’s a safe, comfortable feeling. It’s happiness and contentment and being surrounded by those who mean the most to you in the entire world.
After we’ve lazed around for a while, slowly waking up as none of us are morning people, we eat breakfast, get ready and head out in search of nature.
Getting out in the fresh air is essential to us as a family. Nature is certainly the antidote to any stresses, and the only way to spend a Sunday in my opinion.
It doesn’t matter where we go, as long as there’s trees, hills, a walkable path (negotiable) and maybe a lake to wander around, then we’re exactly where we need to be.
There isn’t a device, screen or Xbox controller in sight. There often isn’t any phone signal either, but that’s even better! It means it’s just us. Just our family, together. Just our conversations, uninterrupted. Just our full attention given and each others company enjoyed.
It’s magical stuff, true connection, and it works wonders for the soul.
After our walk in nature, we head back to the car. Excited faces just a few hours ago now sport tired eyes and rosy red cheeks from the sharp cold wind. This is when we enjoy our favourite playlist. A mixture of slow folk music, perfect for a journey home after a long walk.
We arrive home hungry and tired. The smell of the chicken curry bubbling away in the slow cooker makes us even hungrier now. A ladle full straight into a bowl and a side of warm garlic and herb bread dipped in is enjoyed by all.
Quickly, my husband will light the fire that he prepared that morning, and we’ll retreat in front of it on the sofas after a soak in the bath.
We’ll watch a film together and my husband will always try his hardest to stay awake, often failing and waking himself up with his own snores.
Then it’s time to listen to the children read their school books. This time is my favourite. I love hearing them read, question the meaning of words they haven’t heard of before, and ponder the ending of the story even though we’re only half way through the book.
I love reading and it brings me so much joy watching the children enjoy a book as much as I did at their age. As a child, I was convinced that I’d have powers if read every book in the library just like Matilda did. I still kind of believe it.
Bedtime is soon upon us and after a kiss and a cuddle, it’s time to say our ‘goodnight phrase’. It’s something we’ve said to the children every single night since they were born. It’s part of our routine and the children, nor I, can sleep well unless we’ve said it to each other.
Goodnight. I love you. See you in the morning. Sweet dreams. I’m going upstairs now. I love you. I love you more. I love you the most.
Do you have a goodnight phrase?
Retreating up the second flight of stairs to the master bedroom, I’m reunited with my bed again. It’s time to hunker down for the night and rest before the start of another wonderful week.
I’m instantly calm as soon as I walk through the door to my bedroom, and that initial cold shock of the sheets is everything I need to pull the duvet up to my neck, snuggle up, and reminisce on the moments that brought me complete and utter contentment that day.
The dim yellow light of the beside lamp allows me to enjoy a few chapters of my latest book. A final sip of water, alarm set and my watch and phone placed on charge, and it’s time for sleep.
Sleep comes easy to me here in this safe place. Cocooned between a heavy quilt and the softness of the mattress, it doesn’t take me long at all to drift off.
I can’t wait to do all of this again next Sunday, except this time with a new member of our family! We can show baby William our routine together and, most importantly, let him experience the Sunday feeling as he grows older too. I’m so excited.
I hope you have a slow, nature filled, content Sunday.
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Sounds dreamy! I too love my bedtime routine, getting into bed with my journal and a book, such satisfaction at the end of the day!
Congratulations on your little one! One reason I started my newsletter was because even after I quit my job to be a stay at home mom, I felt all the same anxiety on Sunday as I used to before a new work week. Now, my goals for Sunday are similar to yours. Lots of leisure time in nature. Cheers to unplanned days and time spent in bed!