The Wednesday Hodgepodge #54

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. What's something you may do this month?

I’ve already written my list of goals and plans for the month and I hope to get all of those things done but to add to that list, I may keep on top of the weeding in the garden. It sounds easy, just go outside and pull them up but when I do 5 more appear, it is a never-ending job. At the moment it is hard to know what are weeds or what are flowers as they are just starting to grow. My plant identifier app is getting a lot of use. hehehe

2. Hola! Hodgepodge Day lands just after Cinco de Mayo... how do you feel about Mexican food? What's your favorite dish? Do you make it at home or is it a strictly dine out option?

I’m not a big fan of Mexican food. It’s never really been a big part of my life and it’s not something I grew up eating so I rarely choose to eat it now. I do make fajitas at home now and again and they’re always a hit. Everyone can build their own, choose what they want, pile on the toppings and there’s very little complaining. It has been ages since we last had them. I think I need to add them to our meal plan soon. We don’t really go to Mexican restaurants. There aren’t many local to me and it’s just not something we think to do.

3. When the children of today grow up what do you think they'll say about this time period? What do you most hope they remember?

I think they’ll say that everything was online. Their lives are so documented compared to what mine was when I was a teenager. I think I have about 10 photos of myself between the ages of 14 and 20 years old. Now there are photos, videos, messages and posts all online. Kids today have grown up with group chats constantly pinging, TikTok trends and being able to track friends and family online. I imagine they’ll look back and laugh at some of the trends, cringe at some of the things they posted and wonder how they kept up with it all. I do hope they remember the normal days, the ones that didn’t get photographed or shared. Those normal moments: eating as a family, sitting in the kitchen chatting about nothing, laughing over something daft and those random moments where everyone’s in a good mood.

4. What advice would you give a new mother?

Try not to compare. It is easier said than done, especially when it feels like everyone else has got it all sorted with perfect routines, calm babies, tidy homes and matching outfits but that’s not real life. What works for one baby won’t work for another. What works for one mum won’t work for you and that is fine! Some days will feel like you are winning at life other days will feel like chaos. You don’t need to do things the same way as anyone else. Trust yourself and go with your gut feeling. You know more than you think you do!

5. What's a phrase your mother often said to you? If you're a mom do you say it to your own children?

"Because I said so" I used to roll my eyes every single time I heard it from my mum. It felt like the most unfair, lazy, annoying answer in the world but as a mother now I get it! I always said I’d never say it when I had kids of my own but I say it at least a few times a week. It usually happens when I've explained something in three different ways, answered all the questions and the girls are still pushing back, asking and asking!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

On Sunday we went out for lunch! It has been ages since we had a Sunday dinner out. We used to go eat out most Sundays as it worked out cheaper and easier than cooking but then our local pub closed down and we didn't bother travelling further afield until this past weekend. We hadn't booked, it was quite busy but they fitted us in and it was one of the best roast dinners that I have had in such a long time! I cleared my plate and I am still thinking about the meal now.

I had roast ham, Becky had roast chicken, Stu had beef stew and dumplings and Ellie had mushroom stroganoff. There were plates of veggies to share and the Yorkshire Puddings were perfect! For dessert, I had sticky toffee pudding, Becky and Stu had rhubarb crumble and custard and Ellie had chocolate fudge cake and cream! We will make sure to book next time. I've already said we will be going back!