Spring has finally arrived – both outside and in my heart. After weeks of illness in our family, things are slowly getting better. My partner is back at work, our daughter has returned to kindergarten, and life is beginning to find its rhythm again.
Yesterday I went outside twice with our two-year-old son for a walk with the stroller, and today I’m hoping to do the same. This morning we were outside for about an hour. Now he is taking his midday nap while the sun shines warmly through the window.
Moments like this feel peaceful, and after a difficult period they mean a lot.
Worries That Come With a New Start
If I’m honest, there are still worries – especially financially.
My partner had a difficult period at work recently. Things are better now, but the income from that work will only arrive next month. At the same time, we just moved to a new home. I had to spend a very large amount of money ordering necessary things for the apartment.
We are trying very hard to manage without taking any loans.
I used a large part of my savings to buy items we needed for the move. On top of that, because the whole family was sick, we spent almost four times more money than usual on hygiene and medical supplies – things like nasal aspirator tips, saline solution ampoules, tissues, and other essentials.
Still, we remind ourselves of the most important things: we have food, and our bills will be paid.
Many Trips This Month
Another challenge this month is transportation.
We have quite a few trips ahead of us. Several times I need to drive our son to therapy in a city that is about an hour away. Twice we also need to travel to the capital city for medical examinations at the children’s hospital.
Because our son has Down syndrome, he has regular hearing checks and other medical follow-ups.
I will also go to my first pregnancy ultrasound soon. I’ll soon be already in my 36th week, and my midwife recommended that I go because I haven’t had any scans during this pregnancy. If there will be a planned C-section, the doctors need to see the position of the placenta.
All of this means more driving, more time, and more expenses.
Preparing the Car and the Home
Our car has also seen years of heavy use and is extremely dirty inside. Before bringing a newborn home from the hospital, I want it to be properly cleaned. When I go to the city next time, I plan to leave the car at a cleaning service.
Little by little, our apartment is finally starting to look like a real home.
This month two more deliveries should arrive – a coffee machine and two cabinets. After that, almost everything we need will finally be here.
Until the coffee machine arrives, my partner’s parents are kindly bringing theirs when they visit tomorrow.
Our First Visitors
Tomorrow my partner’s parents are coming for our housewarming visit.
On Sunday, our daughter’s kindergarten friend will visit with her mother and neighbor. That means the apartment will soon be full of guests and laughter.
Next week we will also invite the friends who helped us move the heavy furniture on the first day, and one friend’s mother who is like a great-aunt to the children.
In just one week, we will have three small housewarming gatherings.
It feels good to share our new home with people who supported us.
Turning the Apartment into a Home
Recently the printed photos I ordered arrived.
I placed many of them on the walls. I chose some pictures myself, and I also let our daughter choose some. My partner doesn’t really mind what goes where, and our two-year-old son is still too young to choose anything – he would simply put the photos in his mouth and chew the paper.
But seeing the family pictures on the walls makes everything feel warmer and more personal.
Our apartment is slowly filling with memories.
One Car, Many Plans
Another practical question we are thinking about is how to manage with only one car.
Even though I stay at home with the children, there are still many places we need to go. Soon our daughter has a dentist appointment. I will need to pick her up from kindergarten at lunchtime and take her there.
But my partner will have the car at work.
Perhaps I will ask my partner’s father for help. Maybe they could watch our son while I take our daughter to the dentist.
For our son’s hospital visits we will face similar questions. I would gladly take the bus sometimes, but I’m not sure how to manage it with him. I have a stroller for outdoor walks, but carrying a heavy car seat along with bags on a bus would be very difficult.
Sometimes the simplest solution might be for all four of us to go together early in the morning – dropping our daughter at kindergarten, my partner at work, and then driving our son to his appointment.
Family logistics can feel like solving a puzzle every day.
A Full Day at Home
People sometimes ask if I ever get bored at home or when I plan to return to work.
The truth is, my days are already full.
Cooking and household tasks take about three hours every day. I try to take one or two hours for myself and my partner – going for a walk, reading, or simply talking.
Taking care of the children takes at least six or seven hours daily, sometimes more when they are sick. There are diapers, potty training, meals, emotional moments, hugs, reading books together, playing games, and singing songs.
When they are ill, there are also inhalations, cleaning eyes, clearing noses, and constant care.
I’m also eight months pregnant, and life certainly does not feel quiet.
Looking Ahead to the Baby
Soon our third baby will arrive.
That will bring new routines, sleepless nights, and a lot of breastfeeding. With our previous children I often woke every one to three hours during the night.
But I have learned that if I can spend around ten hours in bed, even if sleep is interrupted and I only get six or seven hours of real sleep, I still feel fine.
The most important thing is that our family stays united.
When we support each other, even difficult periods become manageable.
And this spring feels like a new beginning for all of us.
You are not alone.
If this story resonated with you and you’d like to go deeper, you can explore my e-book Our Journey – A Different Path. It offers honest reflections and lived experience beyond this post.
If you’re looking for practical support, I’ve created Routine Templates to help parents and children navigate daily life with more clarity, structure, and understanding.
You can also read my previous posts or follow along on Instagram @parentguidancehub, where I share everyday reflections on parenting, family life, and finding balance.
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