Mother's Day

I'm not one for public declarations but there's one person that deserves all the love, adoration and praise...and that's my little man.

The day I became his Mummy was the day that defined me, that completed me and showed me what life was truly about. The day he came into the world was that day that made me.

Modern Day Motherhood

Motherhood is one of those things - you look at it from afar and have these fairytale images in your head. You imagine yourself running through fields of flowers, with rainbows and unicorns in the background, hand in hand with your little cherub, with nothing but the wind in your hair and a smile on your face.

What Single Mummyhood Really Looks Like

Being a single parent, I often have to come face-to-face with the stereotype that single parenthood has. And I hate it. *folds arms and stamps foot*

The label of being a single parent is one that has such negativity attached to it, such stigma and I feel like I have to work super hard to abolish that stigma from my own life, almost just to spite the horrible label. (Did I ever mention that I'm really stubborn?!)

I thought it was time that someone shared with the world, the TRUE picture of what being a single parent looks like:

1. Sunday morning means sharing your duvet with a wiggly, loud beautiful mass of blonde hair. And while you try to encourage said blonde child's singing voice, you are also secretly terrified that birds are dying in a 2 mile radius as a result.

2. Evenings are never child free. Said child will want to make sure they aren't missing anything, especially after they might hear the front doorbell. They will make every excuse to come and investigate the visitor, and stamp their authority and mark their territory. This is their home, who dares enter without their permission?

3. You'll learn skills you didn't know you'd need. *flexes muscles* Like being able to cook a meal, wash up, put the washing on, hang the washing up, take the bin out, make a new drink, make a pre-meal snack - all in the space of three minutes - it's the joy of running a house on your own!

4. Fancy underwear? What even is that? Your child invades your bedroom at the meer sight of a headlight in the morning, let alone sunrise - so fancy-pants time is almost impossible - and that's only if you even have a boyfriend. The thought of investing your hard earned wages on a pair of pants that cost more than a weeks shopping is enough to make you laugh. Hysterically.

5. First date rule - do not delve into your handbag FOR ANYTHING. In fact, avoid taking it with you. There's nothing more unattractive than reaching for your lippie and accidentally pulling out the spare Thomas the Tank pants that you keep for emergencies. And that's usually followed by the spiderman figure that your child thought you might need for your meal out, the half chewed cereal bar they HAD to have that morning but didn't eat, and a mass of dried, old wet wipes from the school runs that week too.

6. When you go to school functions prepare to face the masses. God I hate school plays, festivals and even kids parties. If ever you didn't need your 'single parent' label - it's those functions. You practically walk around with a neon sign flashing above your head announcing to the world that you're on your own, and no you haven't been able to figure out dating as a single parent. Said events require a huge amount of fake smiling and a pre chilled bottle of wine waiting for you when you get home. To be consumed immediately.

7. Financial planning as a single parent means budgeting with the attitude of an accountant who's hobby is watching you squirm. Christmas and birthdays mean you become a hysterical mess at the thought of how to make those two ends meet and your skills at juggling outgoing/incoming finances could win you awards. It's a skill to have more than toast for dinner by the end of the month!

8. When people come over to visit you always make reference to the fun quote 'Please excuse the mess, my child is making memories'. In reality the house looks like something exploded because you work full time, your child wakes up at 5am and you can't remember how to switch the hoover on when you get home in the evening because you're so knackered. You hardly have time to shave your legs some weeks, let along make the house look like Mary Poppins is in residence.

Carnage after 15 minutes of hoovering...

9. You have the best intentions. You really do. But when Sunday rolls around - the one day of the week where you can just about convince your child that staying in your pj's all day is perfectly acceptable - all you want to do is enjoy putting your feet up and binge eating yummies. You plan to do all the ironing, you really do. But as your body begins to remember what relaxing actually is, your brain convinces itself that it's fine - you can iron your clothes each morning before school/work..

10. BIG MISTAKE. You try and take any time for yourself and instantly suffer the consequences. Thinking you could iron the uniform and the work clothes each morning as part of the pre-day routine? Who did you think you were, what a stupid idea. Suddenly the mass panic of homework, book bag, signed letters, reading book, coat, shoes, brush teeth, hair, anything else that needs brushing...what kind of idiot thought they would have time to get the ironing board out when they always seem to be running through the playground to get to the classroom before the bell goes anyway? Yep. Me.

But you know what?

As a single mummy you may never get to experience a lay in again, or eat an entire meal to yourself without having to share (I guess that's all parents though) and you might not have anyone to stand guard of the toilet door and so be forced to have a full on chat with your five year old while you do your business, but you know what? I wouldn't change a thing.

I'm An Autism Mummy And Proud

Right now, I am the proudest mummy.

I had my son's first parents evening (in the morning!) and couldn't be prouder of my little man.

In life we all face challenges, and some are far worse than others. And I certainly don't class autism as one of the worst - far from it. When Josh got diagnosed as being Autistic when he was two years old, I remember thinking I could take that diagnosis and let it be something that labelled him, and boxed him in for the rest of his life. I met so many people who were "devastated" by their child's autism diagnosis, and I just couldn't understand that mentality. I've never had that mindset, and Josh has never had that label - nor will he ever.

Autism isn't the end of the world, it's just a different way of looking at things. And since when did different mean worse? Josh is bright, and sharp and has the best sense of humor. He's the happiest child, with a flair for life that daily inspires me to keep seeking out the goodness in life, and stop allowing the bad things to weigh me down. The way Josh looks at the world may be different, but it's the most inspiring outlook I've ever seen in another person.

At his Parents Evening I listened to how clever he is, how popular he is and what a joy he is to be around and I couldn't help but shed a tear as I got back to my car. Josh's start in life could have been far worse, but it's not been the easiest - he's had a further special needs diagnosis since the autism, he's spent time in hospital in his early years, I'm a single mummy and that doesn't always mean I can afford to give him what he wants, but he's overcome everything that's come his way - with a huge smile!

People with autism face huge stigma from others, but as far as I can see, we should all take a leaf out of their books - especially when they're like Josh - funny, loving, alert and more forgiving than anyone else I've ever met.

..I originally shared this on Facebook, to raise awareness that autism isn't 'worse'. Please feel free to share the original post, if I can reach even one other family facing turmoil due to autism and show them that it really isn't the end of the world - then I'll be happy... Original post here.

My Mini Christmas Decoration Haul

In the spirit of being a person who adores Christmas, I've done pretty well to avoid the Christmas stuff in the shops (mostly because I've been totally skint). However, it's Sunday, the housework is (kinda/almost) done and I fancied a wander...

I didn't expect to buy anything, "just look" as I tell my son. But that went right out of the window when I saw the shining, glittery, sometimes dancing decorations. I actually became quite fond of a life size dancing and singing Santa, and other than the price tag, I had to talk myself out of buying it.

When it comes to Christmas, we've all got our own style. It's like fashion, everyone has their own take on it. Some go for colour schemes, some go for the traditional colours and some go for all out colour splatters in every room of the house. Personally, as long as it's Christmassy, I'm all for it! I watch Christmas films like they're going out of fashion as soon as it hits November 1st, and count down the days until I can put the tree up. What can I say, I'm an out-and-out Christmas fan.

When it comes to my decorations, I'm also a full on snob. I spent a great deal of time (and far too much money) a few years ago matching my tree decorations to the colours in my lounge - which are green, cream and mocha. The decorations on my tree (it obviously being green takes care of that colour) are all cream or mocha and come in various finishes (matte, sparkle, glitter, shiny etc). My lights even have to be the perfect shade of cream - which was a nightmare last year when half way through December, one set broke and I could only find white lights left in the shops!! I think that's the closest I've come to a Christmas breakdown... Anyway, I have a touch of shabby-chic going on in my lounge, and my decorations and Christmas bits must fit in with that, otherwise they don't get purchased. Yep, I'm that ruthless.

I wander around the shops at Christmas, looking at all the decorations - the traditional colours literally make my inner child squeal. I love the red and gold and even today I looked at the newly fashionable silver ranges and tried to image which room in my house I could transform just so I could have all the different colour schemes in one room of the house. I don't even mind temporarily painting and decorating rooms to fit this idea in, although realistically, my landlord would have a fit.

So, after mooching around the Christmas decorations today with my little man (who, by the way, I am raising to love Christmas just as much as me!) I decided it's kind of nearly November (ish) so it's okay to buy a few bits. So I did...

So my first spot was this gorgeous wooden house with cute little windows and ribbon and bells on top. It's so cute looking, and i've got a bit of a thing for cute looking ornamental houses, so at £5.99 it was a no brainer really. AND to be honest, this one might be staying out all year round, I think I can get away with it not being a Christmas item right?

Then there's this little guy. How cute?! I'm a lover of the nordic print themes that have become really popular over the past few years. Don't get me wrong, he doesn't match my perfectly coordinated colour scheme but he was just too cute not to, plus I'm sure I can edge a bit of neutral colouring into the room somehow, just for this little dude. (£1.79)

Then there's these teeny decorations. I've got a twiggy tree which is my favourite year round room decoration. It's on my sideboard and I've really wanted some small (obviously colour matching) decorations to hang on it at Christmas. These little packs were perfect. The pack of 10 wooden, cream hearts are rustic looking and shabby chic - and will be perfect for the twiggy tree, and if there's any left over, they can go on the actual tree! At only £1.49 for the pack of 10, it was an absolute bargain! Be rude not to.

Then there was the gorgeous six pack of hand sewn mini hearts - which are just so sweet that I couldn't resist, even though two are grey - which is totally not cream or mocha. I'm going to force these on the twiggy tree whether they match the room of not. Seriously though, I love these. £2.49 for the pack, and I'm tempted to get a few more packs and put them in the gift baskets I'm making for each of my friends as gifts this year.

So, I didn't go mad (unlike the lady in the shop who had two baskets overflowing and a child about to go into full meltdown after apparently being in there for over an hour and a half) but I'm pretty pleased with my first mini Christmas haul of the year!

(all items from The Range)