2023 Book Challenge

Posted on December 30, 2023 by worldenoughandtimeblog

This year I have set myself the same goal as last year – to read 25 books!

Got a good xmas haul this year so should keep me going for at least a few months!

I was feeling a little underwhelmed by my goal as 25 books doesn’t seem like a lot (I used to be able to read up to 40 books a year before I had kids!) – however my daughter has pointed out that if I include all of the story books I read to my youngest daughter every night at bedtime I am probably reading around 1000 books a year, so that certainly made me feel better!

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2023 Christmas Letter

Posted on December 30, 2023 by worldenoughandtimeblog

Well once again I thought I might do a round-up of the year, to look back and reflect on, though the end of this year finds me somewhat down in the dumps.

Looking back on some ups and downs, well firstly let’s start with the ups!

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December

Posted on December 30, 2023 by worldenoughandtimeblog

A lovely trip to see my sister in Wales and be pampered at the spa was a great way to start the month! Massage and lunch and steam rooms and saunas – and an ENTIRE HOUR SITTING READING MY BOOK WITHOUT ANYONE YELLING AT ME!

It was basically heaven, so thanks to my sister for a brilliant early Xmas present!

Work was very hectic and busy trying to wrap up everything before xmas. Then we were striking and picketing and demanding justice, and wrapping presents and decorating the tree and various pre-Christmas admin jobs.

And a very sad and subdued trip to Scotland for my friend’s funeral. My mum came to babysit the girls for a few nights so I could get up to Scotland and back for the funeral. A sad trip but I managed to stay with an old Uni friend up there and it was nice to see them.

Then I got exhausted and overwhelmed and miserable and was signed off work for a while to try and sort my mess of a life out. It has all been a bit much and I’m struggling to cope with anything at all really.

So we did xmas things in a low key way this year, went to a panto, saw some friends, ate some mince pies, bumbled about quietly.

And actually it was a really wonderful Christmas – it was quiet and everyone was pleasant and kind to each other and no-one shouted. We all relaxed and caught up on sleep and got lovely presents and had a truly lovely time.

Then we went up to my mum’s for a few days over new year and had a nice relaxing time up there. All in all it was a nice end to the year, in spite of being a bit hectic and exhausted and worn out by the end of term!

Hoping 2024 brings us some fresh starts and calmer, happier lives in general.

November

Posted on December 4, 2023 by worldenoughandtimeblog

November was up and down, but mainly down.

We saw some lovely old friends who came for a visit who we hadn’t seen in a long time. We took impromptu road trips to look at houses. We planned a birthday party and Christmas presents and all sorts of things.

We are still struggling with some really tough behaviour overall from my older daughter, but it comes and goes and we are slowly attempting to navigate it and figure it out. I have had a few insane parenting moments myself, losing my temper and threatening to throw away ALL of her jumpers for example, or shouting at her down the street that she was being a MASSIVE TWAT (not my finest hour). I have recently installed my very own star chart reward system whereby I give myself a gold star for every time I stay calm and regulated in the face of angry irrational screaming and yelling from the tween, and when I fill it up I am treating myself to a massage.

However living in a house where you get constantly screamed at and blamed relentlessly for flushing the toilet incorrectly, or moving her new lip liner even if you haven’t touched it, or failing to help her understand her maths homework, or buying the wrong damn snacks all the time is exhausting. And it grinds you down fairly quickly when it’s every day, all the time, which it feels like it is at the moment. I’m told that “relationship gestures” are the best way to regulate trauma in these cases, but no amount of texting “I love you”, buying her flowers, buying tickets to football matches, buying new jumpers or clothing, or sourcing her favourite biscuits seem to help.

Sometimes the little one parrots my words back to me and it always makes me laugh when you realise there are certain phrases you clearly say a lot. The other day she shouted at me “MUMMY YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT! I CAN’T DO EVERYTHING BY MYSELF!”

The little one turned 6 and we had a really great party and she was inundated with presents! Annoyingly 90% of them were pink and unicorn themed which feels like a massive step backwards for feminism, but nevermind….

While falling happily asleep after the party she told me “Mama my favourite part was getting all those presents. And my favourite part was playing with all my friends. And my favourite part was dancing and playing games with V. And my favourite part was making the cake. And eating the cake. And my favourite part was my party bag. And my favourite part was….”

It was very sweet and wholesome!

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