Life is getting in the way of blogging right now so am on a blogging break.
Be back soon!
| image credit: sensationalcolor.com |
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Sunday, 17 June 2012
Friday, 17 February 2012
Single Parents - Exploding the myths
Netmums are exploding the myths of single parents this week, and as one myself, I am keen to do my bit.
I've written various posts on the subject, about how hard it is, the constant exhaustion, the emotional upheaval when B goes to visit his Dad, the frustratingly impossible task of looking for work which will fit in with childcare. I've also talked about what a gorgeous, funny, smart little boy I have and how he gets me through the tough days.
It is true there seems to be an assumption - by some - that single mums are lazy scroungers who ditched their unsuspecting partner in favour of a council house and income support. This is not only completely inaccurate for most single mums, but also incredibly damaging and hurtful (and yes, single dads don't seem to be tarnished with the same brush, something which Single Parent Dad amongst others has touched upon over on Netmums blog this week).
I wrote a post last year following the August riots across England which summed up my frustrations at some of these frankly ignorant myths about single parents:
Tuesday 16 August 2011
I have been as disgusted and shocked as the next person at the riots across London and other English cities last week. To my mind, nothing can excuse the complete lack of respect and responsibility from those who took part in the looting, fire-starting, etc. So I was interested to watch Panorama last night which was focusing on how to ensure this type of unrest on such a massive scale can't/won't happen again.
But I was left utterly furious at having to listen to various politicians who kept mentioning lone parents as a major factor for young people taking part in the riots.
Reasons for my fury:
1. Yes, there will have been some of those taking part who are from single-parent families, but there will also have been many rioters/looters who are from two-parent families.
2. Lone-parent families DOES NOT ALWAYS EQUAL disrespectful anti-social criminal behaviour. Conversely, two-parent families DO NOT ALWAYS EQUAL respectful, law-abiding citizens.
3. There are a huge number of lone parents up and down the country - and I am now one of those - who respect others property, who don't expect something for nothing, who know what is right and wrong and who instill that into their children too.
4. Not all lone parents choose that life for themselves and their children. They want to work and earn their place in society.
It is desperately de-motivating when you struggle on as a single parent, trying to do your best for your child, to think that you are immediately discriminated against, just for being in a situation you never thought you would be in nor would want to be in.
So please, politicians, or anyone else, please don't judge and generalise.
I've written various posts on the subject, about how hard it is, the constant exhaustion, the emotional upheaval when B goes to visit his Dad, the frustratingly impossible task of looking for work which will fit in with childcare. I've also talked about what a gorgeous, funny, smart little boy I have and how he gets me through the tough days.
It is true there seems to be an assumption - by some - that single mums are lazy scroungers who ditched their unsuspecting partner in favour of a council house and income support. This is not only completely inaccurate for most single mums, but also incredibly damaging and hurtful (and yes, single dads don't seem to be tarnished with the same brush, something which Single Parent Dad amongst others has touched upon over on Netmums blog this week).
I wrote a post last year following the August riots across England which summed up my frustrations at some of these frankly ignorant myths about single parents:
Tuesday 16 August 2011
I have been as disgusted and shocked as the next person at the riots across London and other English cities last week. To my mind, nothing can excuse the complete lack of respect and responsibility from those who took part in the looting, fire-starting, etc. So I was interested to watch Panorama last night which was focusing on how to ensure this type of unrest on such a massive scale can't/won't happen again.
But I was left utterly furious at having to listen to various politicians who kept mentioning lone parents as a major factor for young people taking part in the riots.
Reasons for my fury:
1. Yes, there will have been some of those taking part who are from single-parent families, but there will also have been many rioters/looters who are from two-parent families.
2. Lone-parent families DOES NOT ALWAYS EQUAL disrespectful anti-social criminal behaviour. Conversely, two-parent families DO NOT ALWAYS EQUAL respectful, law-abiding citizens.
3. There are a huge number of lone parents up and down the country - and I am now one of those - who respect others property, who don't expect something for nothing, who know what is right and wrong and who instill that into their children too.
4. Not all lone parents choose that life for themselves and their children. They want to work and earn their place in society.
It is desperately de-motivating when you struggle on as a single parent, trying to do your best for your child, to think that you are immediately discriminated against, just for being in a situation you never thought you would be in nor would want to be in.
So please, politicians, or anyone else, please don't judge and generalise.
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Back in the writing groove
I'm feeling very psyched right now.
Can I say psyched? It sounds very american-football-esque. Maybe I should go with 'energised'. No, that sounds like I've just come out of a management team-building session... ok stick with psyched.
I'm psyched, for want of a better word, after my evening class last night.
Firstly, it's a blinkin' novelty for me to be able to get out of the house of an evening midweek. Without B's dad around any longer to take up the child-minding slack, I've come to accept that midweeks are for browsing the blogosphere or catching up on ER on Sky+ (I've only got 18 episodes to get through...).
(Note to self:
may be watching too much ER.
Had 'odd' dream about ginger-haired doctor Archie Morris
last night. Not Kovac or Carter. Archie Morris. Hm.)
[image credit: nbc.com]
But B's dad and I managed to agree that when he comes up to our house to see B on a Wednesday, I can get out of the house for a couple of hours to do something for me. It's taken almost a year to find something I want to do which is on a Wednesday and doesn't finish too late (B's dad chose to move a bus and a train journey away and doesn't have a car and I can't be bothered with the "i'll miss the train" moaning every week...).
I've been really wanting to start writing again. I started about 3 years ago, did an intensive summer course to get the 'creative juices' flowing, and carried on for about 6 months. Then, all hell broke loose in my life... but that story's for another day (or lifetime).
Needless to say, I may have collected a load of great story ideas, but my head has not been in the right space to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) until recently. Starting the blog was the first step back on the writing path.
And so the 10 week writing course run by the university has come at just the right time. I may even have been a little too keen, as I turned up at the class a whole week earlier than I should have. D'oh!
[imagecredit: writersbreak.com]
I might even have a stab at the odd Three Word Wednesday or another writing bloghop when I'm feeling bit more confident.
p.s. to self: I will return to this post every so often if I'm feeling a bit of writer's block, may be good therapy.
Monday, 9 January 2012
Normality resumes...
Thank the Lord, finally back to school tomorrow for B, after 2 and a half weeks of holidays, about time too!
Christmas hols always go by too quickly, but this past week has not exactly flown by... been a proper struggle to keep him busy and occupied. And no chance of a lie-in! 5 year olds (or at least, mine) don't do holiday lie-ins...
One of my New Year's Resolutions is to try not to shout at him so much! More than anything because it does no good and just makes him more stubborn than before... But I have given myself a reprieve until after school starts back as we have both been driving each other cuh-ray-zee this week. So Resolution begins tomorrow!
Of course, back to school for B means back to 'work' for me. I say 'work', cos sometimes it doesn't feel like a "proper" job. After 10 months with no work, I AM really grateful to have a job. But I know this one is a short-term thing only, and because of that, I'm struggling to commit to it like I should. Not helped by the fact that it's limited hours, cr@p money, no desk-space of my own. God, never happy!!
I have to put some serious thought into what the heck i'm going to do to get some decent flippin money in 2012. I don't want to flounder in a job I don't really want for too long, but if I don't figure something out soon, I'm going to end up doing exactly that. I thought that would be my life in 2011, don't want it to go on for another year.
Lots to think about. At least my other Resolution of trying to re-start the blog is kinda working...
Christmas hols always go by too quickly, but this past week has not exactly flown by... been a proper struggle to keep him busy and occupied. And no chance of a lie-in! 5 year olds (or at least, mine) don't do holiday lie-ins...
One of my New Year's Resolutions is to try not to shout at him so much! More than anything because it does no good and just makes him more stubborn than before... But I have given myself a reprieve until after school starts back as we have both been driving each other cuh-ray-zee this week. So Resolution begins tomorrow!
Of course, back to school for B means back to 'work' for me. I say 'work', cos sometimes it doesn't feel like a "proper" job. After 10 months with no work, I AM really grateful to have a job. But I know this one is a short-term thing only, and because of that, I'm struggling to commit to it like I should. Not helped by the fact that it's limited hours, cr@p money, no desk-space of my own. God, never happy!!
I have to put some serious thought into what the heck i'm going to do to get some decent flippin money in 2012. I don't want to flounder in a job I don't really want for too long, but if I don't figure something out soon, I'm going to end up doing exactly that. I thought that would be my life in 2011, don't want it to go on for another year.
Lots to think about. At least my other Resolution of trying to re-start the blog is kinda working...
Sunday, 20 November 2011
where's the time gone?
wow, am a bit shocked it's been almost a month since i last posted. where has the last few weeks gone?
I definitely feel a bit bored with my blog right now, it's as if I don't think i've got anything interesting enough to post about. But I've started my 'little' new job in the past month or so, and I've been doing other potentially 'interesting' things, I don't know why I've not been feeling like blogging...
I do think it's got something to do with the fact I don't want to feel like I have to blog or comment or respond etc. That probably sounds selfish or rude to some bloggers, but I want to feel I'm blogging for myself right now, and not to please anyone else. Once I feel like that again, I'll get my blogging hat back on properly again.
On a completely different subject, what the heck is with these people who have already put their Christmas decorations up? A flat below me have had 'snowflakes' and lights up at their window for the past week or more. Mid November. It's just not right. Apart from anything else, don't they know how much more electricity they're paying for by switching on their Christmas lights a whole month early?? Fools!!! B has been told and is well aware that Christmas decorations will go on 12 days before Christmas as they should and not before! Is that being a bit of a Scrooge? I don't think so, it's being a bit more true to the whole idea of what the heck Christmas is supposed to be celebrating...
I did concede to him watching The Snowman though. Although we only stopped watching it in March this year, so I've got another 4 months of it to go. Guess there are worse things to be watching!
We're walking in the aaaaaaaaaaaaaair, la la la la la laaaaaaah la laaaaaaaaaaaah...
I definitely feel a bit bored with my blog right now, it's as if I don't think i've got anything interesting enough to post about. But I've started my 'little' new job in the past month or so, and I've been doing other potentially 'interesting' things, I don't know why I've not been feeling like blogging...
I do think it's got something to do with the fact I don't want to feel like I have to blog or comment or respond etc. That probably sounds selfish or rude to some bloggers, but I want to feel I'm blogging for myself right now, and not to please anyone else. Once I feel like that again, I'll get my blogging hat back on properly again.
On a completely different subject, what the heck is with these people who have already put their Christmas decorations up? A flat below me have had 'snowflakes' and lights up at their window for the past week or more. Mid November. It's just not right. Apart from anything else, don't they know how much more electricity they're paying for by switching on their Christmas lights a whole month early?? Fools!!! B has been told and is well aware that Christmas decorations will go on 12 days before Christmas as they should and not before! Is that being a bit of a Scrooge? I don't think so, it's being a bit more true to the whole idea of what the heck Christmas is supposed to be celebrating...
I did concede to him watching The Snowman though. Although we only stopped watching it in March this year, so I've got another 4 months of it to go. Guess there are worse things to be watching!
We're walking in the aaaaaaaaaaaaaair, la la la la la laaaaaaah la laaaaaaaaaaaah...
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Shame on me?
Wow i've been very neglectful of the blogosphere of late. It's been nearly two weeks since i last posted, or did much else online, which has taken me by surprise this morning.
There's been some sort of fog surrounding me, killing any concentration or motivation i have had for anything much really. Not just for blogging, but for anything that needs any more effort than vegging on the couch of an evening. Bit of a strange one really, don't know why the fog has descended, but I have come to the conclusion I'll just have to ride it out.
As the days have passed, I was beginning to get myself stressed out for not keeping up my blogging duties and posting, reading, or commenting on other blogs. That's what I 'ought' to be doing, isn't it, as a blogger? But then I thought, if it is making me feel duty-bound to do it, even when my heart is temporarily just not in it for whatever reason, it strips all the fun and enjoyment out of it - and if it's no fun, I ain't going to keep it up for long, am I?
The fact that I'm posting this, perhaps there is a chink of sunlight burning through the fog, but it's not lifted completely just yet, so I'll slink off again now and maybe I'll feel I have something I think worth blogging about soon.
There's been some sort of fog surrounding me, killing any concentration or motivation i have had for anything much really. Not just for blogging, but for anything that needs any more effort than vegging on the couch of an evening. Bit of a strange one really, don't know why the fog has descended, but I have come to the conclusion I'll just have to ride it out.
As the days have passed, I was beginning to get myself stressed out for not keeping up my blogging duties and posting, reading, or commenting on other blogs. That's what I 'ought' to be doing, isn't it, as a blogger? But then I thought, if it is making me feel duty-bound to do it, even when my heart is temporarily just not in it for whatever reason, it strips all the fun and enjoyment out of it - and if it's no fun, I ain't going to keep it up for long, am I?
The fact that I'm posting this, perhaps there is a chink of sunlight burning through the fog, but it's not lifted completely just yet, so I'll slink off again now and maybe I'll feel I have something I think worth blogging about soon.
Sunday, 4 September 2011
Listography
From Kate Takes 5 Listography- Things I Did This Summer
1. I started blogging!! After much procrastination, I decided to give the whole blogging thing a whirl and see where it takes me... followed swiftly by all sorts of stress about am I blogging right? Am I blogging enough? Should I be commenting/following more bloggers? When the heck do I have time to do all this? etc etc. Still feel like a newbie blogger with lots to learn, but having great fun writing and reading along the way.
2. Got on an aeroplane for the first time in four years. Serious plane-o-phobia (don't know the correct terminology on that one...) since my late teens, for no particular reason. Tried various 'cures' over the years like hypnotherapy, self-help books, fear-of-flying course, but alas no Eureka moment has ever presented itself to take away the fear. So a big deal to fly after such a long time, and hey! I survived!!
3. Celebrated my wee boy's 5th birthday and before catching breath, watched him turn into a BSB - that's a Big School Boy to the uninitiated... 2 1/2 weeks in to term, he's still not quite settled in yet, and I'm still coming to terms with the emotions and anxieties its raises within me. It's amazing the effect a polo shirt, trousers and a jumper can have on a mummy!
4. Applied for very few jobs as there are just not many of the suckers out there worth applying for - which meant I also continued to spend more of my redundancy payout to keep us ticking over. Hoping the autumn will bring more opportunities...
5. Spent lots of time with my boy: going for days out and the odd trip to the beach (what?! we had sunshine this summer?!), a couple of mini-breaks to York and Northumberland, little walks in the nearby woods, and just mucking about at home.
Phew! It's been a blast! x
2. Got on an aeroplane for the first time in four years. Serious plane-o-phobia (don't know the correct terminology on that one...) since my late teens, for no particular reason. Tried various 'cures' over the years like hypnotherapy, self-help books, fear-of-flying course, but alas no Eureka moment has ever presented itself to take away the fear. So a big deal to fly after such a long time, and hey! I survived!!
3. Celebrated my wee boy's 5th birthday and before catching breath, watched him turn into a BSB - that's a Big School Boy to the uninitiated... 2 1/2 weeks in to term, he's still not quite settled in yet, and I'm still coming to terms with the emotions and anxieties its raises within me. It's amazing the effect a polo shirt, trousers and a jumper can have on a mummy!
4. Applied for very few jobs as there are just not many of the suckers out there worth applying for - which meant I also continued to spend more of my redundancy payout to keep us ticking over. Hoping the autumn will bring more opportunities...
5. Spent lots of time with my boy: going for days out and the odd trip to the beach (what?! we had sunshine this summer?!), a couple of mini-breaks to York and Northumberland, little walks in the nearby woods, and just mucking about at home.
Phew! It's been a blast! x
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Where's the Sleep Mode button?
Forget linking my blog to facebook, twitter or whatever, I need a link to my brain so I can add a 'Sleep Mode' button, to shut my brain off! For the past week since I started setting up my blog and writing on it, my mind will not shut down from 'Blog Mode'. i.e. thinking everything the way I would perhaps blog it. It's been particularly bad at night when I really need to be sleeping, especially since my own personal "Alarm Clock" comes through and demands attention at some ridiculously early hour of the morning...
[This morning's alarm ringtone went like this:
B: "Mummy, I've pulled my duvet into the hall, its an underwater sea, jasper and snowy (cuddly toys) have fallen in you need to save them".
Me: "Once I'm awake".
B: "Pretend you're awake now".
And so on...]
I even thought through this post - about not thinking too much about blogging - at Stupidly-late o'Clock last night. I'm sure it'll calm down once I'm used to the whole blogging thing, but for now I'll need to not post anything just before bedtime so I have some 'non-blogging' down time before sleep-time!
Sheesh, and I thought this blogging lark would be relaxing! x
[This morning's alarm ringtone went like this:
B: "Mummy, I've pulled my duvet into the hall, its an underwater sea, jasper and snowy (cuddly toys) have fallen in you need to save them".
Me: "Once I'm awake".
B: "Pretend you're awake now".
And so on...]
 |
| One of the stricken toys before its underwater mishap |
I even thought through this post - about not thinking too much about blogging - at Stupidly-late o'Clock last night. I'm sure it'll calm down once I'm used to the whole blogging thing, but for now I'll need to not post anything just before bedtime so I have some 'non-blogging' down time before sleep-time!
Sheesh, and I thought this blogging lark would be relaxing! x
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