13/09/2026
A little reminder from me, from the heart. ❤️
Life is what it is. We all have our own struggles, our own challenges and our own things going on behind closed doors. Sometimes those struggles are bigger than others, and sometimes people have absolutely no idea what someone else is dealing with.
We’re a family of five, with three children under five. One of our children, Arlo, is non-verbal and has high-functioning autism and ADHD. With Arlo, every hour can be completely different. What might be a perfectly normal day one minute can change completely the next, and sometimes plans simply have to change.
I just wanted to explain this because when plans change, I genuinely don’t mean for them to. I don’t cancel, rearrange or let people down because I don’t care. Quite the opposite. I care probably more than I should sometimes. I do my absolute best for everyone, all of the time, and I always try to go above and beyond for the people around me.
But there is one thing I will never apologise for — my family will always come first. ❤️
My children and my partner are my world, and when they need me, that’s where I need to be. And nothing and no one will ever change that, So if my decision to put my family first isn’t something you can respect, then honestly, I don’t want you as a customer.
And I mean that with absolutely no disrespect.
I’d rather lose a job than miss something my child needed me for.
I’d rather lose a customer than have my children grow up feeling like work was more important than they were.
Because businesses can be rebuilt.
Money can be earned again.
Jobs can be rearranged.
But my children’s childhood only happens once.
One day, these little people won’t need me in quite the same way. One day, they won’t reach for my hand, need me beside them or look to me when the world becomes too much.
And when that day comes, I want to know that I was there.
I want to know that I chose them.
I want to know that no matter how difficult life became, Dad was there.
The vast majority of you completely understand this, and honestly, I couldn’t be more grateful. I genuinely see so many of you as more than just customers. Over the years, you’ve become friends, familiar faces and, in many ways, like an extended family to us. ❤️
Unfortunately, there are still a small handful of people who seem to feel that their job, their appointment or their situation should come before my family.
So, in the politest way possible, if my decision to put my children and my family first offends you, then I completely understand if I’m not the person you want to use for work.
Please don’t judge me for choices you haven’t had to make yourself. You don’t know what happens behind our front door, you don’t know what our days can be like, and you don’t know how hard we sometimes work just to keep everything together.
I will always do my best. I will always communicate. I will always try to help. And I will always respect my customers.
But above everything else, I’m a dad.
And if my children need me, I’m going to be there. Every single time. ❤️
Thank you to everyone who understands, supports us and continues to show us kindness. It genuinely means more than you probably realise.
Family first. Always. ❤️
Matt & fam ❤️
