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I recently received my first ever p45 at the age of 36. When it came through in the post it felt like such an achievement, 14 years in the same job and I had quit! I was free and about to embark on the next exciting stage of my career – my very own business.
On my final day in the office I left with a skip and a jump (and a slightly over the top and unnecessary 80s-style air punch).
With a few hours to spare before I had to be home to pick up my two boys I thought I would treat myself to a tasty lunch, instinct made me reach for my iPhone to see who
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I could call to come and celebrate with me but then I thought no, not today, today is all about me and I shall dine alone!
A few years ago the thought of dining alone terrified me – what would people think, what would I do, how would I pass the time before my food arrived? But now, since becoming a mum, time for just me has become so precious the idea of lunch alone without having to answer any ’why, why, why’ questions is a treat that I can’t resist.
My kids, on the whole, have always been pretty good diners but there is always the gamble of
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the unknown. A recent trip to a cafe for a quiet coffee resulted in the youngest pulling over the perfectly manicured olive tree and soil and tree completely covering the entrance.
While, on a ski trip to Italy, a very hearty tasty meal resulted in a rather large explosion and an impromptu nappy change with a naked baby at the table, as the owner of the restaurant appeared and shouted at me in Italian for not using the baby-change. I was mortified.
Don’t get me wrong, I love going out for meals with my kids as I want them to experience different
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cuisines and love food as much as I do, they are also very good company. I also equally love a date night with my husband and my monthly dinners with the girls for a great gossip and catch up. But now I have room for one more dining experience – the solo date with just myself for company.
On a recent girls dinner out i purposely turned up over half and hour early so I could sit at the bar and enjoy a cold beer all to myself, when two of my friends then also turned up a little early I felt a little cheated of my ’me’ time.
So as I sat there in
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my window seat with a delicious bowl of noodles and a celebratory bottle of beer watching the world go by, I felt so happy and content with myself and who I have become. There was no need to call a friend for a catch up, get lost in my iPad on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc, I could just sit there, watch the world go by and plan my new adventure!
The last four years since becoming a mother have been the most rewarding, happy, challenging and exhausting I have ever known. Since quitting my job I have had time to ponder (whilst plotting world
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domination!) and it has made me realise how easy it is to autopilot through life, with a daily commute to an office job that will do but is not your dream, get home, bath the kids, story time, cook dinner then bed.
Now I feel I have taken control – a new business where I will call the shots and most importantly making more precious ‘me’ time. Meals alone, included. The Ibiza yoga retreat I am planning for a long weekend in October is my next adventure.
Read Hannah’s other Selfish Mother posts here…
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Hannah Read - 17 Jun 14
I recently received my first ever p45 at the age of 36. When it came through in the post it felt like such an achievement, 14 years in the same job and I had quit! I was free and about to embark on the next exciting stage of my career – my very own business.
On my final day in the office I left with a skip and a jump (and a slightly over the top and unnecessary 80s-style air punch).
With a few hours to spare before I had to be home to pick up my two boys I thought I would treat myself to a tasty lunch, instinct made me reach for my iPhone to see who I could call to come and celebrate with me but then I thought no, not today, today is all about me and I shall dine alone!
A few years ago the thought of dining alone terrified me – what would people think, what would I do, how would I pass the time before my food arrived? But now, since becoming a mum, time for just me has become so precious the idea of lunch alone without having to answer any ‘why, why, why’ questions is a treat that I can’t resist.
My kids, on the whole, have always been pretty good diners but there is always the gamble of the unknown. A recent trip to a cafe for a quiet coffee resulted in the youngest pulling over the perfectly manicured olive tree and soil and tree completely covering the entrance.
While, on a ski trip to Italy, a very hearty tasty meal resulted in a rather large explosion and an impromptu nappy change with a naked baby at the table, as the owner of the restaurant appeared and shouted at me in Italian for not using the baby-change. I was mortified.
Don’t get me wrong, I love going out for meals with my kids as I want them to experience different cuisines and love food as much as I do, they are also very good company. I also equally love a date night with my husband and my monthly dinners with the girls for a great gossip and catch up. But now I have room for one more dining experience – the solo date with just myself for company.
On a recent girls dinner out i purposely turned up over half and hour early so I could sit at the bar and enjoy a cold beer all to myself, when two of my friends then also turned up a little early I felt a little cheated of my ‘me’ time.
So as I sat there in my window seat with a delicious bowl of noodles and a celebratory bottle of beer watching the world go by, I felt so happy and content with myself and who I have become. There was no need to call a friend for a catch up, get lost in my iPad on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc, I could just sit there, watch the world go by and plan my new adventure!
The last four years since becoming a mother have been the most rewarding, happy, challenging and exhausting I have ever known. Since quitting my job I have had time to ponder (whilst plotting world domination!) and it has made me realise how easy it is to autopilot through life, with a daily commute to an office job that will do but is not your dream, get home, bath the kids, story time, cook dinner then bed.
Now I feel I have taken control – a new business where I will call the shots and most importantly making more precious ‘me’ time. Meals alone, included. The Ibiza yoga retreat I am planning for a long weekend in October is my next adventure.
Read Hannah’s other Selfish Mother posts here…
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