Who I Spend the Most Time With – And Why That’s a Privilege

By Laura Johnstone

When today’s blog prompt asked, “Who do you spend the most time with?” the answer came without hesitation: my daughter.

She’s my little shadow, my sidekick, and the heartbeat of my day. Whether we’re having a quiet moment cuddling or she’s scaling the furniture like a tiny escape artist, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

But I also know that one day, things will change.

Eventually, I’ll return to work – and possibly full-time, if my disabilities allow. And when that happens, I already know I’ll miss her more than words can express. It’s something I try not to dwell on too much, but it lingers quietly in the back of my mind.

And yet, I feel incredibly lucky.

This morning, I saw a TikTok of a couple who had been trying to conceive for nine years – and they’d just found out they were finally pregnant. I burst into tears. It reminded me of the moment I found out I was pregnant with Amelia. I made a video for Ryan. I was so emotional that he couldn’t even understand what I was saying. He just kept saying, “What? Are you okay?” – and I was trying to say, “We’re having a baby.”

I still have that little animation I made, every day, tucked away privately on my phone. It’s not something I share often, because I feel so incredibly lucky to have her. There’s a quiet part of me that still can’t believe she’s here – alive, thriving, laughing, mine.

And while the journey to parenthood hasn’t been easy – with redundancy during pregnancy, trauma, NICU days, and all the uncertainties – I now see that losing my job gave me something most parents don’t get. Time. Time to be with her. Time to heal. Time to hold her without rushing.

That’s why I hold these moments close. Because even on the hardest days, she’s the reason I keep going.

💬 I’d love to hear from you

Do you have a moment that changed everything? Something that made you realise how lucky you are – even through the hard bits? Let me know in the comments. And if this blog made you smile, please like and subscribe so you never miss a post from me.

📚 References

Sands UK. (2023). Pregnancy after loss support Scope UK. (2024). Support for disabled parents Working Families. (2024). Pregnancy and redundancy rights

Who do you spend the most time with?