Day 130 - Future Planning Day
Another slow start this morning. By the time we all rolled out of bed it was around 8, and honestly, we’re leaning into it. The days are stretching longer here, with daylight hanging around until nearly 7, and it’s throwing our rhythm a bit. One minute it feels like there’s plenty of time, the next we’re rushing dinner, showers, and getting the kids into bed. It’s something we probably need to tighten up again, but for now, the sleep-ins are winning.
We all drifted downstairs, coffees in hand, easing into the day. Maddie told us she was keen for a run, but needed an hour to do her own thing first. No worries, we gave her the space. An hour later, things got a bit mixed. She wanted to run, but also didn’t want to run. It was one of those moments. We didn’t push it too hard, just let it play out, and eventually she came around.
Once we got out the door, she was flying. She asked for space, so we gave it to her. She ran ahead, doing her own intervals, long run sections, short walks, just finding her own rhythm. It was one of those proud moments where you realise they’re starting to understand their own bodies. By the time we got back, we’d knocked out 2.5km and it was straight into breakfast. Suddenly it was 10am.
Kia and I had lined up a Zoom call with a lady in Morocco to talk through a horse riding camp we’ve been looking at. We were rushing around trying to get everything sorted, only to realise we’d completely messed up the time zones. Turns out we had another hour up our sleeve. We slowed everything down, had breakfast together properly, and then headed upstairs to get clear on what we wanted to ask.
The call itself was easy. Fifteen, maybe twenty minutes. She had all the answers, everything aligned, and it just felt right. A ranch on the beach, horses, surf, space. We’re all in. Now we’ve got something big to look forward to, even though we’ve still got a few weeks left in Italy, and Lake Garda coming up in about ten days.
While Kia jumped back into some YouTube work, I took the kids downstairs and got stuck into school. Multiplication was the focus today, along with a bit of brain training and extra maths. We’ve been working on breaking things down into simple steps. For Emmett, it’s about getting out of his head a bit. Instead of trying to hold everything mentally, I’m getting him to use his fingers or draw it out. Five times six is 30, add one more six and you’re at 36. Simple, visual, clear. And it’s working.
The improvement in both of them has been huge. Maddie’s now starting to link multiplication into division, and it’s unlocking things quickly. Once that settles, we’ll move into long division. One of the best moments today came from yesterday. After visiting the trulli houses, I’d explained a fair bit about their history. Today, I asked Maddie to write down everything she could remember. She absolutely nailed it, every key point. Funny how much they take in, even when you think they’re not listening.
After school, we realised we were running low on snacks, fruit, and veggies, so it was off to Eurospin. The kids were a bit wild, probably tired, maybe just full of energy, but not exactly in listening mode. Still, it was one of those chaotic but fun outings. On the way back, we stopped at a park we hadn’t seen before. Three playgrounds side by side. It was unreal. We set up obstacle courses, ran time trials, and just let the kids burn it out. One of those simple moments that turns into a highlight of the day.
Back home, Kia jumped back into editing while I got dinner sorted. The kids had a bit of downtime with some cooking shows they’re loving at the moment. But the real win today was that we got ahead of the evening. Showers, teeth, bed, on time. No rush, no chaos, just a calm finish to the day. Hopefully everyone catches up on a bit of sleep tonight and we reset properly.
Today felt like balance. A bit of structure, a bit of freedom, a few small wins, and something big to look forward to. And maybe that’s the rhythm we’ve been chasing.