In late November, we moved from inner-city Vienna to an actual, real-life village in the British countryside. The same village that I grew up in, in fact.
The area that we live has often been called an alternative to the Cotswolds and it is objectively beautiful. I’ve loved walking along the canal side and through country fields each day . My phone is full of photographs of daffodils, robins and the bluebells that have covered many areas of the village. Tourists often visit to take photographs of the thatched cottages that line the high street.
After 5 years of city living and 9 years living away from Britain, I was craving the countryside. In my mind, the children would spend hours roaming, call on their friends for play dates and live at a slower pace.
My expectation was a mix of idyllic, rose-tinted memories of my own childhood and, admittedly, too many hours watching reels from influencers!
The reality is, parenting in the village isn’t too different from living in the city.
There’s so much traffic that it’s not safe for the children to roam.
Play dates still have to be arranged weeks in advance.
Life is just as busy in a village.
The reality is, life doesn’t automatically become simpler when you move to the countryside.
Whether in the city or countryside, a slower pace of life isn’t something that will automatically happen. Like anything else, it’s something that needs to be worked on.
Embracing the slower life
In order to reassess our family life after months of readjusting to life in the UK, I needed to review our family rhythms. A change of location (whether international or just a few miles away), means a change in the way life happens.
Many elements of our life are much easier now. The school commute is shorter, meaning more time for connection in the mornings. The countryside is right on our doorstep, meaning we no longer have to make a conscious effort to spend time in nature.
And I get a lot of excellent life advice from the incredible ‘lollipop lady’ who helps see the children safely to school each morning. There is a real sense of community that can sometimes be missing from city life.
During our period of readjustment, I’ve been determined not to overload myself or my children. That’s meant:
Saying no to extra-curriculars until the new school year
Slow weekends spent pottering around the village
Letting go of the elements of life that don’t bring me joy - I realised that I ‘quiet quit’ Instagram some months ago and I honestly have no desire to go back to it.
What are your own thoughts? Do you prefer country life or city living? Let me know by leaving a comment:
Simple Ideas for your May Family Rhythm
May is the perfect time to reassess your own family rhythms. Here are just a few ideas for springtime:
Springtime reads from the archive
Spring Bucket List: 50 Simple Things To Do With Young Children
My mission
I started writing this newsletter How I Drink My Coffee Hot (formerly A Playful Year), because I wanted to share exactly how I ditched overwhelm and embraced joy and connection. Central themes are family rhythms, the importance of play and the home environment. If these themes resonate, subscribe to my newsletter or share this post.
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