Wishes

Wish: A wish is a hope or desire for something. Fictionally, wishes can be used as plot devices. In folklore, opportunities for “making a wish” or for wishes to “come true” or “be granted” are themes that are sometimes used.

So if you’ve followed me on Twitter today you’ll know I’ve had a bad day, well afternoon really. And what does a blogger do when they’ve had a bad day…why blog all about it of course!

A few things that have happened recently have got me thinking (yes I do do that every now and again) and have made me realise how fragile my mental state can still be at times. It’s hard once you’ve suffered from depression (well it is for me anyway) to not think it’s always hovering not far away ready to come back and bite you on the ass. I forget sometimes that life with three children is going to be busy, stressful and hard work and that things are not always going to happen how I’d like them too or when I’d like them to. And I need constant reminding that I don’t necessarily feel overwhelmed because I’m depressed again, but simply because it’s life; and good days are often intermingled with bad ones. We all have them. I guess for me maybe the trick is to recognise that this is exactly what they are…just bad days, not a bad life. And sometimes even though those bad days do all appear to happen at once, hence the phrase ‘never rains but it pours,’ the good days are still there too, if not a bit few and far between at times.

Recently I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and a bit anxious again and it has got me worried I’m sinking back into the treacle I spent so much of last year trudging through. But if I look closely there have been so many reasons for me feeling out of sorts, not just PND…there has been a sickness bug in the house, my middle child has started school and routine is all out if the window thanks to a ridiculously long settling in period, my husband has had to work long hours and be away, my mum has been abroad, (this always unnerves me, I like it when she’s here even though she lives two hours away) it was my dad’s (who sadly passed away when I was 22) birthday last week, my 12 year old has been beyond hormonal and challenging, the toddler never ever sleeps (slight exaggeration!) and the weather has turned to pants to name just a few things. I know these things aren’t life threatening stuff. I know these things are not end of the world stuff and I know that these things are just stuff. Stuff that on a good day I can embrace with the fact that my life is never dull. Stuff that we all experience. But it is stuff that at the moment is slowly wearing me down and making me tired and emotional.

We all know parenting is relentless. The challenges and difficulties you face at one stage disappear only for a million other challenges to rear their ugly head. It’s never easy, the goalposts constantly change and a whole load of new crap comes our way. And yes I waffle on about instinctively we’re supposed to know how to deal with all of these challenges, and when I’m well and feeling rational my instincts do guide the way and I marvel at them all the time. But on days like today I’ll be honest, even I doubt them, even I doubt myself…and I hate self doubt. Deep down I know I can’t control my daughter’s hormones, just guide her through them. Deep down I know my toddler’s sleeping issues are not because of something I’ve done and that I have to be patient and know that this is how things are at the moment. Deep down I know I’m not ill again and my instincts are as strong as they ever were. But when I’m having a bad day all of that goes out of the window. I feel trapped. I feel useless. I desperately crave a break and a bit of time out. All it usually takes is half an hour. Time to say…let it all out in a blog post…and then I feel better. But sometimes it takes more than that. It needs a day away from it all and I’m starting to recognise when I need these days the most.

A while ago I wrote a blog post about a letter I had written to myself with wishes and hopes for the future and I thought that maybe it was time to write another one. I’m a firm believer in having things to look forward to, plus I’m a list lover, so writing a letter detailing all of the things I’d love for myself and my family in the near future seemed like a productive way of working through my current not-so-great-mood. It goes as follows…

1. A date night with my husband. Oh this is a big one on my list. We still have not had an evening or a night to ourselves since February. Lack of a babysitter seems to be the main problem. When you’ve got three children it can (shock horror) put some people off babysitting. And with the toddler not sleeping too great I’d probably worry he was being troublesome whilst we were out. But nevertheless my husband and I need some time so I need to make it happen.
2. A mother/daughter evening…or several! These have really worked wonders in the past and made our, at times tested, relationship stronger. Sometimes I forget that she had me all to herself for so long and that living in a step-family situation possibly isn’t always easy on her. It’s good for us to have some time together.
3. A day for me. To just be me and not a mum and all of the things that brings with it. I’d love to go to a spa, or sit in a cafe all day writing, or go for a swim where I can actually swim. You get the idea. I’d just, selfishly, like a ‘day off.’
4. Family walks and Sunday roasts. We got into the habit when I was ill with PND of not venturing out too far. Of just going for lunch and then coming home again with the excuse that the baby needed to nap. I love autumn and the run up to Christmas and have very fond memories of family walks as a child. collecting conkers and jumping in piles of fallen leaves. So I’ve joined the National Trust and would like to go on many a winter walk, coming home to cook a wonderfully warming roast. Thankfully the rest of the family would like to do this too! 😉
5. Self-publish A Monster Ate My Mum. This excites me…a lot! So far I have asked the wonderful Helen Braid to do the artwork for me and the sample pages have brought tears to my eyes they are so perfect. I have no idea how to go about self-publishing, but hopefully I will learn as I go through the process and the poem will be brought to life.

So that’s my list for now. I think it’s only fair to stop at five things for fear of writing down too much and becoming disappointed when they are not all achieved. The things I have written above are all achievable (I hope!) and would benefit more people than just me…so watch this space and hopefully, fingers crossed, I will be writing a blog post at Christmas telling you all about it!

What would be on your wish list for the next few months?

15 Comments on Wishes

  1. emilytealady
    September 17, 2013 at 8:32 pm (11 years ago)

    Oh lovely bad days do bring you down. I think this list is great. You need time with your hubs and time for yourself. I think you’re book will be fab. If you ever want a coffee I’m always happy to go for one, if you find yourself at a loose end xx

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      September 23, 2013 at 1:57 pm (11 years ago)

      Oooo a coffee sounds great, we should definitely do that! Xx

      Reply
  2. Iona@redpeffer
    September 17, 2013 at 8:33 pm (11 years ago)

    Oh, I’m so sorry I missed this today.I love your response with the wish list, such a positive idea. I think I need to make one too. If it helps at all, I recognise pretty much everything you describe. I think it’s normal and the sign of a healthy thinking mind, although I totally understand your concerns about it’s wider possibilities for you. Sending hugs x

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      September 23, 2013 at 1:58 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you lovely, thankfully a week on and am feeling better! X

      Reply
  3. emilytealady
    September 17, 2013 at 8:33 pm (11 years ago)

    Ps Bad spelling is iPads fault – sorry! x

    Reply
  4. msmummyoftwo
    September 18, 2013 at 7:32 pm (11 years ago)

    Lovely post. I have felt all these things and I think having you time is mega important! I dont have a list yet, but I shall make one!

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      September 23, 2013 at 1:59 pm (11 years ago)

      Do it, the list itself has helped!

      Reply
  5. Dawn Frazier
    September 18, 2013 at 8:08 pm (11 years ago)

    I often have times where I feel like this. You certainly have had a lot going on lately so it’s bound to get you down. Keep trying to focus on the positive things, especially trying to get some time for you, and I look forward to reading your book. I’ve just published my own so if you need to ask any questions, feel free. I’m new to it all too 🙂

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      September 23, 2013 at 2:00 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, I most certainly will ask some questions when the time comes! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Cate
    September 20, 2013 at 11:19 am (11 years ago)

    Ah, sending hugs to you. Try and prioritise the day off – it sounds like you really need one xx

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      September 23, 2013 at 2:01 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, I have a day off next Sunday…and can’t wait! x

      Reply
  7. cara
    September 20, 2013 at 8:32 pm (11 years ago)

    sending love, sorry your having a bad day but ur to do list sounds so great to inspire you to get out of the bad mood. Your right the weather turning & change of routine doent just make our kiddy winks grumpy, us too. Take care, lovely reading though your blog xx #pocolo

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      September 23, 2013 at 2:03 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you so much x

      Reply
  8. Jaime Oliver
    September 20, 2013 at 11:01 pm (11 years ago)

    I think these 5 items on your list are fab … but the most important is i would say is the you time! if your fragile honey you need to make sure you have some time to put yourself together x

    thanks for linking up with #PoCoLo x

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      September 23, 2013 at 2:04 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you. I’ve always craved time on my own even before children, think it’s top of my list at the moment! X

      Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.