My youngest has just started school and last week was his first week of doing full days. Since then people have been asking me what I’m going to do with myself now that all the kids are at school.

‘Lots of things,’ I say. ‘Don’t worry, I have plenty to keep me occupied.’

They don’t know that I have already been working part time around preschool hours, they just see me at school and presume I don’t work.

The truth is, I’ve got a huge list of ‘to do’s’ that aren’t all work related and I can already see that even a full school day is not long enough. But there is also a part of me that needs to take a step back from everything to try and calm down following the whirlwind that comes with bringing up young children.

I have been a mum for almost ten years now and I feel like I’m only just beginning to realise it – where did the last ten years go? I keep joking that I must dig out a before and after photograph, but I’m not really sure if I should in case it’s too depressing.

And now I’ve reached a significant point in my life where I can start to calm down a little, take a deep breath and think about my own future. It’s scary and exciting at the same time. I’m not suggesting that the children don’t need me anymore, but their needs are not so immediate and they don’t take precedence over everything else, well not between the hours of 9 and 3 anyway.

It feels good to be at this point in my life and I have to admit that I am enjoying the peace and quiet during the day. I know it will take me a little while to adjust to my new routine, but in a few weeks, when things have settled down it will be different once again.

Now I have the opportunity to put myself as the priority. Will I be able to do it?