Mummy breakfast does not refer to the usual weekday offering of a large mug of caffiene and some toast grabbed with one hand while the other performs essential domestic tasks like signing homework diaries or locating misplaced PE kit. No, it is an entirely different beast alltogether which occurs a handful of times each year.
So this morning, I hared home from the school run, mixed up a batch of apple and apricot muffins and fumigated the downstairs loo. And right on cue, they began to appear - a motley assortment of friends (I am allergic to cliques), who have children who may or may not all know one another, but who vaguely overlap at various different schools or activities or who have homes in the same village.
I lay the proper dining table with a cloth, and my favourite glasses and cups and dishes and we sit and enjoy a leisurely breakfast of juice and fruit salad and yoghurt, croissants and muffins and too many pots of tea to count. And someone might be late because their child was doing an assembly, and someone might have to dash off to an appointment, but the time in between, with the fire lit and a bunch of simple daffodils on the table and snippets of news is precious indeed.
Sometimes I wonder why we don't do it more often. But then perhaps it wouldn't feel as special. And afterwards, there remains a wonderful sense of fullness. Not just of tummies, but of life.
What a brilliant idea. I no longer see other mothers -an opportunity missed.
Posted by: Sue | 30 January 2013 at 14:16
What a wonderful way to spend a morning. I had forgotten about spending time with other mothers, it has been so long.
Posted by: Toffeeapple | 30 January 2013 at 14:44
Very restorative!
Posted by: Helen | 30 January 2013 at 16:05
sounds delightful!
Posted by: janet clare | 30 January 2013 at 16:23
Great idea!
Posted by: rusty duck | 30 January 2013 at 16:30
What a lovely idea! x
Posted by: PinkCatJo | 30 January 2013 at 16:48
Must be that time as we are having one of those breakfasts tomorrow. Have a batch of peanutbutteryraisiny cookies to take. They are really restoratative aren't they?
Ax
Posted by: Magic Bean | 30 January 2013 at 18:56
oh what a lovely idea, so much more casual and yet more decadent than lunch x
Posted by: driftwood | 30 January 2013 at 19:11
Wonderful! I wish I was a mummy who lived near you!
Posted by: Gina | 30 January 2013 at 20:33
There's nothing quite as satisfying as time spent in the company of friends.
Posted by: just Gai | 30 January 2013 at 21:19
Wow that sounds so lovely. what a great way to spend time with friends.
Posted by: curvywitch | 30 January 2013 at 21:38
That sounds so perfect. I look forward to a time when I can enjoy time with friends without having to spend the whole time crowd managing a group of unruly toddlers!
Posted by: Helen | 30 January 2013 at 23:01
Oooh can I come next time? It sounds fabulous - a really lovely friendly way to spend a morning :o) xx
Posted by: lucylocket | 31 January 2013 at 11:44
What a fantastic idea - sounds divine :)
Posted by: Kate | 31 January 2013 at 17:36
sounds nice...now I have secondary school aged kids, I miss that broader social life when they were younger
Posted by: Janice | 31 January 2013 at 22:36
You are a great one for bringing people together Ali.
Posted by: Simone | 01 February 2013 at 09:09
That is such a nice idea x
Posted by: Julie | 01 February 2013 at 13:17
Such a lovely idea and I'm afraid I'm going to barefacedly (if it's a word!) steal it once I too am out of the toddler stage.
Posted by: Abigail | 03 February 2013 at 15:55
That is a really, really good idea. We have stitching evenings which are a lot of fun but the breakfast aspect sounds just brilliant and I'm more likely to be awake and therefore turn up.
Posted by: dottycookie | 11 February 2013 at 10:39