Bonjour lecteurs! I hope you are enjoying the sunshine. It’s so beautiful out there! Still a bit cold, but it did not stop us from exploring a bit more Kent as it’s officiellement the Easter Break and Stanley is at home with us for 2 weeks. What do you have planned for this holiday? After so much aventure, I am taking the day easy at home, catching up with work before he goes to Barracudas Camps next week. C’est le moment parfait to reflect on March 2025. In my new monthly highlights, I will share all our atomic habits.
A Rough Start
March 2025 was all about walks in the country and admiring Nature. But it did not come without sadness and tears.
My nan died the first week and as soon as I saw a missed call from my mum, I knew what had happened. So I had to rush back to France to attend the funeral with my family. It was très étrange to go on the Eurostar to Paris on my own and sleep in my childhood room…
But it was also l’occasion to celebrate her life and what a rocking woman she was! Looking back at photos, it kind of struck me how much similar we were. Even odder was to see many people I had not seen for years and how they all looked so much older… I felt so old!
But her death also woke up a lot of anger in me. It was a weird process. I felt let down by some and yet, many of my readers got in touch. It was very touching and made me appreciate the community I’ve built here so much.
The Show Must Go On
After a few days in France, I got back home and it was a stranger feeling to go back back to my life. I was a bit in a daze if I am being honnête.
I had to get back to work, but also to life in general. My family was still there to be looked after. School drop off, working, picking him up, cooking dinner. I had to get back to our family routines.
On one hand, you feel bad and you wonder what you should do. But life always goes back to normal and within the second week of March, the show was back on.
I still believe it’s the best way to memorise my nan. She was a fighter and she would have liked me to get going with it! So off we went to Maidstone to play at the park and walk around the pond. It was such a beautiful weekend!
He Has A Good Life
For quite a bit, Stanley was also a bit agitated. I think he could feel what happened and kids obviously understand grief. But I found myself snappy at times and still so angry with it all.
Nevertheless, he was quick to rebound and what a beautiful life he has! In between weekends at home, he also made it to a school trip, celebrated Red Nose Day at school and seeing him so clever and always so curieux brought me so much joy.
He is so funny and full of imagination and I am ever so proud to be his maman. You gotta look for the silver linings in life and he was probably the best one in March 2025!
Grumpy’s Birthday
It was also time to celebrate Grumpy Boyfriend’s birthday! So more happy memories with my boys at a local restaurant.
But also a cheeky weekend in Margate where we relaxed in a lovely B&B called The Dog House.
We spent the night drinking cocktails and feeling old!
The next day, we had a stroll in town. Au programme, lots of vintage shopping, but also a visit to the local gallery. Plus, we got so lucky with the weather! It was just parfait to have a weekend away to recharge our batteries.
The Last Week
As for the last week, it was all about work and workouts. I signed up to a new program with Paul Ryan Fitness where I do a mix of cardio and weights to get fitter.
I am feeling so much stronger and also leaner already. It’s only been a month, but I feel that I made some good progress and I am so happy to start this new journey. Plus, the weather has been so much better and I went for some beautiful rides and walks in the country.
J’adore living in Kent and its many beautiful villages to explore. I cycle all over the place and not only it’s great for the body and the mind, but I also get to dream about the perfect house in the country.
Also, I have been trialling manifestation and tapping more last month and it feels so good! I try to do daily visualisation and it really keeps me on track. Have you ever tried it?
Weekend in London
To finished March 2025 en beauté, we made it to London as we stayed at the gorgeous Hyatt Regency Blackfriars.
In between some yummy Chinese food, some cheeky cocktails and a walk in St Paul’s area, we had a lovely time.
Even better, we celebrated Mother’s Day in London as we had a fabulous brunch at the OXBO Bankside. We love this place: we go every year and it never disappoints!
What a treat for the occasion. And now, I am just ready for April 2025!
March 2025 – The Importance Of Atomic Habits
Even if March 2025 started with some bad news and I was on a cloud for over a week, we made it work in the end.
Overall, it was a very good month with lots achieved. Financially, it was a great period and I worked on some exciting campaigns with brands we love and I am ever so proud to have achieved this. It’s a dream to work with Very UK par exemple. And not to forget our Mother’s Day Competitions with 2 fabulous labels too.
I made so much progress in many aspects of my life: my health, my relationships but also with my family. Stanley is becoming a stronger swimmer and it’s lovely to see all the progress he’s made this year both at school but also with French and his reading. More than ever, atomic habits have a huge impact in the long term. I’ve already said it before; it’s all about progress over perfection.
Ready For April
As a family, we might not have it all, but we’ve done really well in March 2025 and I can’t wait to work on more goals next month. I want to carry on with my fitness journey, but also find a nice holiday for us to enjoy this summer, among other things…
Our calendar is looking well full this month and there is nothing that makes me happier to know that I will have more adventures with my tribe.
What do you have planned in April? What will you do for Easter?
Disclosure: This post might feature some sponsored content I recently published but it is merely a list of my highlights of the month! This a post where I share some reflections as a mum in the country and in London. I hope it will inspire you to get on more family adventures.
Food looks amazing!
Really sorry to hear about your nan. Grief is so hard
Such a varied month for you, highs and lows. I can’t believe how grown up Stanley looks,particularly in the Mother’s Day photo
Cecile I am so sorry to hear about your nan, there are seven stages of grief, guilt shock and denial, pain and guilt, anger and bargaining, depression, the upward turn, reconstruction, and acceptance and hope. It is a long road, as I know when my daughter died, so many mixed emotions. When my nan died my daughter was the same age as Stanley, and when I told her she was so matter of fact and said ” she will be happy now she is with grandad again!” she stopped me in my tracks and I thought,she is right! I also do tapping and mindfulness which can also help with grief. Sending you and your family hugs xxx
Author
Thank you so much for your kind words. It is so much appreciated. I can only imagine what you’ve been through with both deaths. It’s never easy, but I very much think it’s part of life and I have accepted it. Tapping is so fantastic. What type do you do?
I do the EFT tapping (emotional freedom technique) and find it works for me, ironically I have been doing it for years without even knowing about EFT, until I attended a chronic pain support group who had a woman come in and show us the various pressure points. Like mindfulness it can be used for so many issues like pain, stress, anxiety. I am so pleased to hear that they now even teach mindfulness in schools, my grandkids are the same age as Stanley, and we often do mindfulness exercises together, a fantastic tool to keep them focused and calm, and to take through to their adult life. I am a firm believer in holistic methods.
Author
I love that! A very good friend of mine does it too. She’s actually a teacher and she is so inspiring. I agree I think it’s great they teach mindfulness to children.
So sad but very inspiring
Prayers for nan – another beautiful month for you all
Looks like you are both having a great time.