Tricks For Mums

This week on Striking Mums the lovely Kate has set the topic Tricks for Mums. A great topic; us Mums have to be resourceful, don't we? We have to be able to rustle up a costume at a moments notice, be experts in all sorts of homework subjects.

Make grumpy kids smile, nurse our poorly children, and shape them into human beings to be proud of and everything else that comes with it.

Its weird, although I come from a huge family with lots of aunts and cousins that have between us all, produced a new baby every year since the 70s, which is wonderful to be part of. I was never prepared for being a Mum, even though I had always babysat, so knew my way around a nappy and changing box. 

I could never, however have prepared myself for parenthood, for feeling that love, despair, stress, tiredness, pride and joy that you feel as a Mum. I remember feeling utterly out of my depth when we brought Jack home. Who turned our organised calm home upside down. Now I have evolved into a resourceful Mum. Who within reason can solve, repair, mend, and even bake Burnley Football cup cakes. 

So here are Kate's questions

1. How do you outwit people or circumstances who prevent you getting the life you want?

I don't always get this right, I am a passionate person so tent to speak out rather than play the long game. However if someone does try to make things hard for me, the stubborn side of me is always determined to not allow them to beat me.

Striking Mums, Tough Honesty, Inspired by Linda Bellingham

This week the lovely Kate wrote about the very brave Lynda Bellingham and her courageous flight with cancer. The bravery she has demonstrated is just phenomenal. It puts life and silly worries and moans into perspective. Life is for living, live for today, embrace every sunset and sunrise and appreciate the little things.

1. Tell us about a mum who inspires you. What are her special qualities?

Well that has to be my Mum; we are so different and have totally different outlooks on life. I know she doesn't always agree with my opinions, or me yet she still loves me for who I am. She taught me to be a Mum, I think I would compare my Mum to a lioness, very proud of us all, she would kill anyone who hurts her kids and would defend us to the hilt.

2. Are you happy? If not, what is stopping you?

Yes I am totally happy, there are things I would like to change in my life but they are minor things and I am working on them. My family and home life is mad but very happy, and I have wonderful friends who I trust. 

I also feel I have opened up a whole new can of happy with my blog, I have met some wonderful friends on line who I would never have linked up with if it wasn't for Extraordinary Chaos, I can't wait to meet them all.  

I am living a dream by writing, I feel so passionate about it, when I write I feel like I have come home. I also love the fact that I am in a position to help other parents deal with diagnosis of diabetes.

 Jacks diagnosis was the single worse piece of news I have ever received in my life, I will never forget June 4th 2011. Yes we are now on the better side of it, and if I can help other families get through that difficult time and help them to see that with good management diabetes is not as bad as it initially seems, then I will be so happy.

Striking Mums, Am I Different Or Unique.

For this week in Striking Mums the lovely Kate has set the subject of being different. At first I though well am I different then once I started realising differences I couldn't stop, what a great subject.

I became different at 14 when my Mum and Dad decided to move from Lancashire. I grew up in Essex and loved my life; I worked in my Dads video shop, was always out and about had lovely friends and a boyfriend. Then one day like a bolt out of the blue they announced we were moving to Lancashire. 

They had been several times on Holiday, but I had stayed at my Nan and Granddads, I had no interest in visiting the country. I remember looking at them as they were telling me thinking "you are ruining my life" devastated is an understatement. The house went on the market and we took a trip to Lancashire to house hunt, they had completely fallen in love with it!  Me? I hated the sheep, hills,  smell, the accent was soooo annoying. I just did not want to live there. 

My next memory is being sat in the car listening to the soundtrack of dirty dancing, sobbing as we travelled towards our new life. From that day forwards my brothers and I became different.  

Striking Mums, Keeping Mum

This week for Striking Mums the lovely Kate has set the topic, Its time to stop keeping Mum. I have thought long and hard about this post, how to respond to Kate's question. You see I have no problem at all using my voice in day-to-day life, at times it is more of a hindrance, and I would happily gag myself. I think I live in a bubble where I expect everyone to be honest and fair and when I find that some people aren't I find it so hard to keep my big mouth shut. I wish I could just smile and walk away. 

So onto Kate's questions but please don’t fall out with me, I am so soft at heart just at times a little too honest. But there is no point taking part in these posts and being dishonest, it’s just not me I can't be something I am not.

1. Have you lost your voice? When and how did that happen?

No but at times I really wish I would, it gets me in trouble all the time. I hate to see people treating others unfairly, or people that have an agenda it makes me so cross. Although I am getting better and stepping back and thinking before I speak, sometimes!

2. How do you use your voice? Are you using it for yourself, your family and/or a good cause?

I tend to use it to object to injustice, and dishonesty. I care deeply about the people around me. I would never hurt any one but if someone tries to hurt someone I love, or does something I feel is unfair I speak out. On the plus side if I think a something is great I sing it from the rooftops, this I have found is a huge bonus when blogging.

 I also try to write about type 1 diabetes as often as I can, I want to share our positive experience of managing this condition, I just hope it helps others in some way.