Tuesday 20 December 2016

Review Of The Year 2016

It's certainly been a year of change.

What with Brexit and Trump's terrifying take over. The demise of so many great artists including Bowie, Prince and Victoria Wood. Not to mention the crumbling of The Great British Bake Off.

And amongst all this global unrest, Nursery Whines has experienced many changes in our little bubble too.

We moved out of the heart of London to the very outskirts, and went from pushing a pram round art galleries to sitting on mats in church halls with a mug of Nescafé, all in a bid to get out of the house and find some adult company. The latter is much more welcoming.
In 2016 I found my wardrobe had become a capsule of stripes and leggings.
And then I embarked on a conscious effort to... make an effort.
We began the year making strides with the Baby Bjorn, only for it to go horribly wrong when I took a tumble.
I'm a pushchair pro now though. I can even steer one-handed and drink coffee at the same time.
2016 has seen my daughter move into her own room and learn to sleep through the night.
And move back into our bed.
I've gone from breastfeeding to weaning.
And reclaimed my body. Well, what's left of it.
I've found parenting can be lonely.
Parenting can be competitive.
And parenting can be overwhelming.
Keeping a child fed and changed is one thing, but keeping them entertained is where the real challenge lies.
And sometimes you will do anything just to get out of the house.
Over the past year I've come to realise that as well as being a mother I am still me.
And I've learned to let go sometimes. Even if my daughter hasn't.
Perhaps the second biggest change for me in 2016, after parenthood, was that I started my blog. I have learned a lot about the blogging world - about link-ups and self-promotion and awards and conventions. The pressure to 'go self-hosted' and the burden of blogmin.

I have discovered some wonderful people and some fabulous blogs and they have helped me feel less out of my depth at this crazy new job that is parenting.

So, as one year comes to a close and a new one begins, with my daughter and I heading towards an ominous list of milestones, I am glad that I have the mummy blogger world for support and reassurance.

May 2017 bring you all you reach for.