2016 Resolutions...

Well that went quickly! Seemed to take ages to arrive, then a massive flurry of children, visitors, road trips, presents, games, mountains of food and drink - and endless trips to the supermarket!  And it's all over. Jenny has one day left of the school holidays, Tam went back to work this morning and we dropped Natasha off at uni yesterday. Adrian belatedly told me he's got all this week off work too, so that's messed up my plans a bit :-)  

Although I love Christmas - and my family - I have realised something significant this year. I put myself bottom of the list. I think it's probably something most mothers do, but I didn't realise how much I did it until this year. I guess I'm thinking about the last child not living at home by next Christmas and, although that's sad and I'll miss her, I'm also thinking about the fact that a new stage in my life is beginning. I have been a full-time, stay-at-home mother for the last 23 years. Now I'm quite excited that my time will be my own and I have lots of plans for what I want to do with that time. Not least I quite fancy starting a business. Meeting Tricia Cusden just before Christmas was inspiring. She's 68 and started her amazingly successful business 18 months ago, so ideas have been ruminating in my head over the break. But then I realised....I automatically put everything on hold for my family!

Before Christmas I was working quite hard on this website, editing videos, writing blogs. I started editing the interview and makeover I did with Tricia, but only managed to get a rough draft to her before the hordes descended. And then I shelved it. Because I felt guilty locking myself away to work. Tricia was then interviewed on Breakfast TV on New Year's Eve (which she'd kindly told me about) and if my video had been edited and uploaded I would have probably got lots of hits! So I was an idiot not to get it done in time. And with nobody to blame but myself.

As every holiday for the next 6 years will probably see Jenny home from uni I need to make some changes. It's not the kids fault. I'm sure they don't even realise I'm doing it. They are certainly big enough and capable enough to sort themselves out. It's just a habit I've formed.  

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​So that's my New Year's Resolution - to prioritise myself more. So here I am sitting writing my blog while waiting for my re-edited video to format. Onward and upward! And Happy New Year to all of you!

Click here to watch my vlog on a Christmas Tree Memory Box

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