This week has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. It was my birthday on Sunday, which is always very mixed nowadays. There was a lot of joy this year though as I was able to go and visit my twin sister. We always like to get together on or near to our birthday and we both missed that last year. It’s been nearly eight months since I last saw her, so being able to spend our birthday together was wonderful. I also got to meet my little great-nephew for the first time and see my mum and a couple of my other siblings who dropped by.
As lovely as it was to spend time with my family, after so long with so little social interaction, I found quite overwhelming and exhausting too. I also didn’t allow space for Jessica on my birthday and the end result was being quite wiped out and emotional on Monday. I’ve learned that if I don’t give my grief space when it needs it, it ends up hitting me much harder later on.
As well as the highs and lows of joy and grief, there have also been a couple of very proud mummy moments this week. Sophie managed to swim without floats for the first time in her swimming class this week and was moved up to the next level class. She’d been in the same class for over a year but each time she was on the cusp of being able to swim, there was a lockdown and she had to relearn some of the skills again. Hopefully this time she’ll be able to keep going and improving!
The next day, she was thrilled to bits coming out of school with her pen licence. She’s worked so hard on her handwriting this year and only five children in her year have been awarded this so far. So proud of her for working so hard and achieving this.
What I’ve been grateful for this week:
- Day 127 – I am grateful for a walk and a chat with a friend.
- Day 128 – I am grateful that hubby is now fully vaccinated.
- Day 129 – I am grateful for being able to to see my twinny (and some of my other siblings) for the first time in nearly eight months and being able to celebrate our birthday together and for finally getting to meet my gorgeous little great-nephew. It’s been a lovely day overall but very emotional too at times – this is my fourth birthday without Jessica and she is so very missed.
- Day 130 – I am grateful that Sophie and I have finally had our hair cut!
- Day 131 – I am grateful that Sophie managed to swim the width of her class area for the first time and has moved up to the next level in her swimming lessons. Very proud of her!
- Day 132 – I am grateful that Sophie has earned her pen licence – well done Sophie!
- Day 133 – I am grateful for time to sit and draw with Sophie and Thomas.
Other things that have made me smile this week:
- Thomas wearing Sophie’s slippers.
- Sophie’s delight at meeting her new baby cousin for the first time.
- Thomas falling asleep on my computer chair.
I’m glad you got to spend time with your family on your birthday, but I’m sorry your emotions became a rollecoaster. Well done Sophie on her swimming and pen licence, what a clever girl. Keep focusing on those positives to get your through the ups and downs.
Thank you Anne, in some ways it was to be expected – birthdays are always a little harder and I didn’t make enough allowances for it at the time.
Oh, you are a twin too! So blessed. It’s my favourite thing about me. I am so pleased for your daughter for doing so well with her swimming and handwriting.
Thank you. It’s lovely being a twin, isn’t it?
Happy belated birthday to you! How lovely you got to see your sister on your special day and more of your family too. It is hard being social after seeing hardly anyone over the last year. Sending hugs.
Well done Sophie with the swimming and the pen licence. My youngest never actually got hers in primary school. Oops. lol
Aww! Thomas falling asleep on your chair did make me smile. It is funny how little one’s can fall asleep anywhere. x
Thanks Kim. I think it’s going to take a bit of getting used to again! Was lovely to see my family though and Sophie did make me so proud this week. Thomas makes me smile with some of the places he takes spontaneous naps.
Belated Happy Birthday! Well done to Sophie on all her achievements 🙂 Love the photo of Thomas asleep on the chair! Bless him
Thank you Karen. He does fall asleep in some crazy places!
Well done to Sophie on her double achievement this week. So nice to have haircuts again isn’t it. Mine was 7.5 months wait!
Thanks Emma. It is lovely being able to have a haircut again!
How great to be able to spend your birthday with your family. Next year I’m making sure I do this. Some lovely achievements for Sophie this week. I wish Little E’s school gave out a pen licence #WotW #365
Thanks Jane. It was lovely to have family time.
So lovely to see that you got to enjoy your birthday with your family.
Well done to Sophie on gaining her pen licence clever girl.
I love the photo of Thomas falling asleep on your chair, I feel like that quite often! x
Thank you Jayne. Thomas makes me chuckle with some of the places he chooses for a spontaneous nap!
Belated Happy Birthday! So lovely that you could spend it with family but I can understand how it could be overwhelming. I hope you’ve managed to find some time for yourself since then.
The photo of Thomas on the chair is so funny, it makes me laugh when little ones just keep going then crash anywhere!
#MMBC
Thank you Catherine. Thomas does make me laugh with some of the places he chooses to sleep.
Happy birthday and it is understandable about the different emotions. x ~mmbc
Thank you Sam.
That last photo is just adorable. Glad you got to spend precious time with family, after all this time. Sending hugs x #365
Thank you Mary. It was lovely to have that family time together.
Happy belated birthday! Nice to be able to spend it with family.
Well done to Sophie on swimming without floats!
Never heard of a pen licence before. Do they give that when they do well with their writing?
Thank you Fozia. The pen licence is awarded when their writing is good enough that they can use a pen instead of having to use a pencil.
What a mixed bag for your birthday, such celebration and such sadness. I missed my haircut due to self isolation and can’t wait to rebook! #project365
Hope you manage to get it rebooked soon.
Oh I use to love it when the boys would just sleep anywhere! He looks adorable! Happy belated birthday so nice you got to celebrate with your siblings after such a long time of not seeing them. It must be tough too, sending hugs. Dont get me started on pen licences!
Thank you, it was lovely to see my family again.
Lovely you got to spend your birthday with your sister and finally meet your new nephew. Well done to Sophie on obtaining her pen licence and bless Thomas falling asleep like that.
Thank you, it was lovely to see family. Thomas makes me laugh with some of the places he falls asleep.