So here we are. We survived another year and reached 2022. Phew!! I am proud to say that I finally feel ready for the year ahead. The Christmas fog has lifted and I am on a roll.
Music tuition fees are paid, dinner money accounts are all set, uniforms are washed and ironed, PE kits are packed, school shoes are awaiting a polish but there is one more day of the school holidays left before the school runs recommence. I have even managed to book the boy in for a much needed hair cut. I had made an appointment for my husband as well but I forgot that he would be back at work. Never mind, he is an adult, he can sort himself and I suspect he would prefer to give it a miss in an attempt to maintain his denial about his receding hairline.
No judgements from me. He is welcome to ignore his hairline. After all, I am trying all that I can to ignore the wrinkles that have begun to appear on my face. I have spent so much money over the past twelve months on lotions and potions to try and halt the signs of time. Personally I believe it has proved to be a worthy investment, however, that could just be my own denial making me blind to any evidence to the contrary.
The Christmas decorations have been taken down and the house is as ready for the upcoming year as I am, at least as ready as it’s going to be. I have also made some progress at the allotment and I am researching what (if anything) I can begin sowing. I managed to clear a little over half of the plot and cover it with black matting stuff before my injury and the school holidays. This means that I can now begin to make a plan for planting and layout of the plot which, in turn, should mean that I will grow some edible things this year.
As soon as the kids are back at school I will be back up there carrying on and clearing more. I can hear the joy in my husband’s voice as I tell him that I need him to do another tip run so that I can keep going. It’s a good job he loves me or so he says.
You already know that training is due to resume imminently which I am beyond excited for. A little bird tells me that there are plans afoot for some more matches which is doubly exciting. It is true, matches are much easier than training!! I must admit I was sceptical initially.
Now, my mind has turned to diets and food. No, I’m not considering going on a diet but I have been looking for inspiration this evening as my cooking is getting rather monotonous, particularly when it comes to the children.
There is only so many times you can eat cottage pie, bangers and mash or Spaghetti Bolognese before you get bored. I feel like the children are at an age now that their palettes could do with expanding. Everyone who knows me knows that I am not a big fan of cooking, nor am I a fan of “healthy eating” as such. I am that person who is not going to be interested in taking part in “veganuary” or any other lifestyle trend I’m afraid.
I believe a healthy diet is a balanced diet with all food groups and I also prefer that my food looks like food, so no shakes or smoothie supplement things for me, thank you very much.
It isn’t going very well. So far, the only recipe that I have found which may be of interest is for Mac and cheese with broccoli. It sounds great but I’m not sure whether it will be a hit with the children. If anyone has any recipe ideas then please feel free to share them with me. That goes for ideas for packed lunches as well, if possible.
My mind is full of ideas and plans for the month ahead and I am struggling to keep them all straight. It may be that as the month progresses many of my thoughts and ideas dissipate or fall by the wayside, as it becomes apparent that I cannot do all of the things at once. Does that mean it isn’t worth trying? I don’t know. Therefore, I am taking control of the elements in my life that are within my grasp and ignoring the aspects which are not. For example, the upcoming price hikes and rise in the cost of living that we all know is coming.
That is one plus to growing up with a single parent, in what some may consider to be an impoverished background. You have a pool of resources to draw from within your memories of watching your mum or dad stretch the money as much as they could to make sure that you were provided for. If your really lucky you can even call them and ask for their advice if you find yourself falling short.
It also means that you have a resilience. It is no secret that I am not a fan of change but, I have learnt over the past couple of years that I am capable of adapting as and when needed. I am confident that we will make it through, one way or another and as my mum always says, as long as you have eggs and potatoes in the house you can make a meal.
They say you cannot teach an old dog new tricks but this old dog has learnt some and is continuing to do so. I am learning that change can be good and that it is ok to do something just for me. It has taken a while but it has finally clicked.
I feel like I am ahead of the game today for the first time in a long time. Granted, this feeling may only last for a day, during my experience of parenting your lucky if it lasts for an hour, but savour those moments when the stars align and all seems right in your world for as long as you possibly can. You never know when it will happen again.
Today was a good day. We will have to wait and see what will come tomorrow however, right now, in this moment I’m going to relish being prepared for whatever Boris or life has to throw at me.
Mumma Bear Roars 