How can a heart feel so full of love, yet yearn for some of the things I’ve lost?
I love my life, my role as Mother and Wife and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
But sometimes, actually quite often, I feel really lonely.
Read moreLearning to dance in the rain; a self-care toolkit for navigating life in lockdown
As we approach three months in lockdown, many of us have been unable to access our usual self-care toolkit. Parents in particular have had less time than ever; many juggling work with childcare, navigating their child’s emotions whilst trying to make sense of their own.
It’s fair to say that for most of us, since the COVID-19 crisis emerged, life has been a roller-coaster of emotional ups and downs.
I’ve shared some practices that I have found useful, which have helped me to navigate this exhausting range of emotions:
What’s in your self-care toolkit?
Self care is a buzz word that is used a lot. Let’s get clear on what it actually means.
Taken from the Oxford English Dictionary, self-care is defined as:
1. The practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health.
1.1.The practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.
Read moreLessons learned as we emerge from lockdown; June 2020
What a life-changing three months we are emerging from.
No-one could have predicted what 2020 would bring; the global pandemic of our century.
We were essentially housebound for almost three months, banned from seeing loved ones, colleagues and friends in person. Places we had come to take for granted such as bars, restaurants, leisure facilities, attractions have been closed.
Read moreBeauty of the simple life
After yet another difficult morning at home with the children during lockdown, I took our usual canal walk loop with my two year old daughter.
I was a little hurt as my son didn’t want us to go on a family walk, we’ve been splitting our walks on weekdays; my Husband takes my son out on his lunch break to play football and I take our daughter for a canal walk, feeding the ducks on the way.
Read moreCoronavirus Diary; 3 weeks into lockdown
We have now completed three weeks of lockdown in the UK. As a family, we are four weeks in; I started showing symptoms on Monday 16th March, a week before Boris our Prime Minister announced the enforced lockdown measures.
Here are my reflections about what I’ve learned so far:
Read moreNourish Northern Mamas; find your tribe, feed your soul
Imagine finding a group of like-minded women who get together, meet up and chat, share, colour, create, relax and eat cake?
Welcome to Nourish Northern Mamas! Founded and hosted by the lovely Kimmy, her monthly bullet-journaling power hour sessions have become my self-care staple. For busy Mums such as ourselves, these sessions are a welcome haven. A lovely relaxing, safe space to get away from the chaos of our every day lives.
Read moreSix years of us
Wow six years since our first date. How time flies. Just when maybe a small part of me had given up in my search for true love, you came along and proved to me that good guys do still exist.
Read moreBirth story – my first baby
*Trigger warning – I talk about my traumatic birth experiences*
I had a wonderful pregnancy; very little morning sickness and I didn’t put much extra weight on. The only thing I struggled with was pelvic pains towards the end as my bump was so huge and swollen feet and ankles (or cankles!). People commented on how I was glowing and I did feel on top of the world for most of it. It really is a miracle to feel your baby growing inside you.
