Happy 16th Birthday - A Letter to My Eldest Child

Dearest Connor,

Today you turn sixteen, I can't quite believe this is actually happening.  I seem to have blinked and you grew taller than me.  Every year passes and you continue to amaze me with your maturity and attitude to life. Nothing seems to faze you, everyday is taken in it's stride.  There have been moments when you have not been so confident but soon accepted life isn't always fair or that some things happen without rhyme or reason.  

Over the years you have been an immense support to me, taking care of and helping your younger brother and sisters, especially when Dad worked away.  The role of big brother is one that suits you and you have taken on this huge responsibility with ease.  I am immensely grateful for your help and still cherish the time you readily assisted Jack and Lucy when Amber was a tiny baby, making sure they bruished their teeth. There are many more moments to be cherished and far too many to mention, but that is one that has remained very clear in my memory.

Now you are sixteen life will take on even more responsibility, your first weekend job, studying for your A levels, learning to drive, applying for uni.  But never forget to enjoy life too.  Remember to take time to enjoy the moment, creating your own memories to take into adult life.  These next two years offer many amazing experiences before you are expected to be a bit more grown up, taking a degree, managing your own money to pay your rent on time.  Be sure to enjoy every moment!

So with a huge amount of happiness and pride I wish you a very happy sixteenth birthday.  You are amazing and I am very honoured to be your mum.

Love always,
Mum
xo

Retraining - Studying As A Parent

Nobody said retraining would be easy but being a parent makes it doubly hard.  Not only will you still be trying to be mummy or daddy but you are also a student, with deadlines, maybe clinical placements. Suddenly life as you know it is very different.  There will be days when you wonder if you are doing the right thing, moments of despair, often in the middle of the night, when you actually think it would be easier to just stop, to go back to the old way of life, when it was all so much easier.  But was it? There is a reason you have chosen to retrain, to be something else.  

Believe me there have been days when I have wanted to quit, to return to my old life.  That is when I remind myself why I am retraining, why I wanted to be something else.  Yes I have this blog and still freelance a little, perhaps it's my comfort blanket. But in all honesty I love my new life, which sometimes I need to remind myself.  Right now I am in the depths of revision, assignment writing and clinical practice.  The long commute adds to my tiredness, but I know that in four weeks time all my assignments will be handed in, all my exams finished and just a few more weeks on placement.  I will have almost finished my second year, in thirteen months from now I will be qualified.  These are the carrots dangle in front of myself in those dark moments in the middle of the night.

So whatever life throws at me I will persevere.  My children have adapted to our new life, although I know they aren't so keen on me not being here as much.  Just because I am doing something else that means I am not home as much doesn't mean I love them any less.  I still adore them, am partly doing this for them.  To help them financially through university, to pay for driving lessons.  But above all I like to think that I am showing my daughters that women can make changes, they can be more and yes we can juggle family and career.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo

Let The GCSE's & SATS commence

Yes, you guessed it, it's exam time in our house! Connor starts his GCSE exams today and Amber faces her SATS tests this week.  Stress levels could be a little higher in our house right now, but to be perfectly honest they both seem to be taking everyting in their stride.  Having been revising for several weeks, Connor is prepared for whatever is thrown at him. After weeks of endless preparation at school Amber seems to be ready for these tests that the government insist on being very necessary to our eleven year olds education. Oh please don't get me started on the pointlessness of SATS, even teachers have agreed!

As for me, my coritsol level is probably a little higher than normal. With assignments due, totaling 10,000 words, end of year exams looming and my clinical portfolio to be completed, I admit I am getting a little stressed.  However I have ensured I am organised, most assignments are written and revision is started.  So following my childrens lead I may just get through the next four weeks without gaining too many extra grey hairs. But don't panic, I've booked a hair appointment in the middle of my exam week, just incase!

We spend years teaching our children all sorts of things, from good manners to brushing their teeth twice a day and much more in between.  Yet as my children grow older I truly believe I can learn from them too. From them I am learning to worry less, to just take each day as it comes.  Children really are wonderful teachers.

So Connor and Amber, I wish you loads of luck, I know you will do your best and I will be proud whatever the results.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo

Be Kind To Yourself

image source : studio calico

This weekend I am feeling absolutely exhausted and do you know what I did? I stopped, just for a couple of hours I did nothing but sit on the sofa, happily indulging in some time on Pinterest, just sitting quietly at peace with my thoughts.  Life can get so crazy busy that I forget to look after me.  When the children were all little, I would solider on through extreme tiredness, simply because there was no other option.  But now they are older I can take a few minutes here and there, I don't need to be constantly be there.  So I intend to stop a little more often and I promise not to feel guilty for it.

So if you do one thing this coming week, be kind to yourself.

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

xo

Bank Holiday Fun as a Morrisons Mum

I am sure many of you that follow me on Twitter and Instagram have seen me sharing various foodie images this weekend.  Well I have busy taking part in some bank holiday fun with Morrisons and BritMums.  For many years I have been a big fan of online supermarket shopping, saving me time and I am sure money.  So I was actually quite excited at the prospect of heading to a supermarket for more than a few midweek stock up items.  I have to admit I had never been to Morrisons, partly due to the fact that we don't have one in close vicinity to our house.  So off we headed, armed with a shopping list.

The Ipswich store is tucked away and on  a Saturday afternoon wasn't nearly as busy as some other supermarkets.  The store was inviting, with the promise of savings and good value in the form of overhead banners and bright signs above shelves of fresh produce.  The market place feel was fun and meant we could get most of the things we needed before heading into the aisles.  I actually liked this and enjoyed choosing a selection of fresh fruit, veggies, cold meats, cheese and various breads without clashing trolleys in squashed aisles.  So far so good!  Continuing to fill the trolley as we headed up the uncluttered aisles we were pleasantly surprised at the prices.  Whilst some were special offers for that week others were part of the new long term price reductions Morrisons introduced last week. With rump steak half price per kilo, we had a lovely treat as part of a Tex Mex dinner we had planned and breaded fresh cod fillets at only £2 for four, I was welcome of the reduction with five always hungry children to feed. Fresh croissants for breakfast on Sunday were another delicious treat, at 5 for £1.20 it  would be silly not to!  

So will I be switching allegiance to Morrisons?  Maybe, if they start home delivery.  The products were fresh, well presented, with plenty of choice.  Above all the staff were all very helpful and friendly, so this rare trip to a supermarket on a Saturday afternoon was actually an enjoyable and budget friendly experience.  

Are you a creature of habit when it comes to doing your weekly shop? Or are you a bargain hunter, happy to show no loyalty to a particular supermarket chain?

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo

This is a sponsored post, in conjunction with Morrisons.

The Promise of the Festival Season

Our Trip to Camp Bestival 2012

Today the sun feels a little warmer as it coats my arms whilst hanging out the washing.  The garden is openly worshiping this warm glow and our thoughts turn to plans for the summer.  Whilst we are not regular festival attendees we do love a family festival and seem to have spent most of the weekend discussing a roadtrip to Dorset for our favourite, Camp Bestival.  For us, this is the perfectly sized festival, with plenty to keep us amused and entertained, although the boys are a little reluctant as they claim there isn't much for teenagers to do.  Well I quickly rectified this by making them fill out the questionnaire the Camp Bestival team put together in preparation of making what seems to be a special teen zone.  Although now they are older I can trust them to head off to the Comedy Tent in the evening if they don't want to join us at the Castle Stage.   

I noticed over the weekend whilst perusing this months Camping Magazine, they had a great feature about family festivals, with top tips for getting the most out of your time and making sure you pack the essentials. Festival camping is very different to campsite camping, you need to be prepared to have very close neighbours, nowhere to refreeze your ice packs and long queues for the showers.  But this can add to the fun of the whole experience.  Knowing that the showers are quieter in the afternoon means you can head back to camp for a siesta and shower.  This is one of my top festival tips and I am sure you all have plenty more! 

So are you heading off to a festival or two this summer? I would love to know which is your favourite.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo

The Year In Books - April / May

I know I missed April, I had my head stuck in radiation physics textbooks and I am sure you would prefer me not to share my thoughts on these! Although I also managed to read some of my favourite magazines and I actually snuck in a book too.  I picked up 'From Notting Hill to New York Actually' by Ali McNamara in the library book sale, having seen a review for it a while ago in Red.  This was a fabulous story set in New York that I actually found very hard to put down.  With main characters that I could easily relate to and a storyline that was emotive, fun and verged on the romantic tales from Sex in the City, I did not really want it to end.  Infact I loved it so much the day after I finished reading it I reserved the first of Ali's books 'From Notting Hill with Love Actually' so that I can join most of the characters again very soon.  Just be sure to add either of these to your hand luggage this summer, I promise you will not be disappointed.

So for May I have chosen a book I have been waiting to read for a while.  As a huge Harry Potter fan I was of course delighted that Ms Rowling put pen to paper again for some more adult adventures.  I read The Cuckoo's Calling last year, devouring it very quickly so this month I am delving between the electronic pages of The Casual Vacancy, which I had squirreled away on my iPad.  Let's just hope it doesn't disppoint!

So what are you reading at the moment? I would love to know.  Perhaps you are looking for inspiration, be sure to visit Circle of Pines blog to see what many of us are reading for the year in books series.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo