{Find Three Good Things in Each Day, #2}

Here are my three positives for Day 2...

1. I put together my new pressure washer all by myself and I've started to clean my garden paving. The results are amazing! It's the Karcher K4 Home that I bought if you are interested.

2. My son had a play date with two boys that are going to be in his Primary 1 class (he starts school in a fortnight - eek!!). Everyone got on really well, including the mums. It's strange to think that these could be his friends for the next 13 years.

3. We tried a Tae Kwon Do class and my son loved it. It pleases me to see him enjoying sport :-)

Do you have any positive things to share from today?

{Find Three Good Things in Each Day, #1}

My cousin tagged me on Facebook for 'Five Days with Three Positives". I thought this tied in quite nicely with one of my recent posts on Happiness. People who are grateful tend to be happier and more fulfilled in life. Gratitude is known to be good for us, but we often take good things in our lives for granted. The key with this exercise is to consciously think about what you are grateful for each day, and the important part is to write them down (even in a notebook if you aren't keen on sharing on social media). This will allow you to look back on what you've written and you can remember how you felt and spot any recurring themes. The idea is that you will then start to appreciate the good things more as they happen :-)

So here are my three positives for Day 1...

1. I got the kids back today from their dad and they're with me now until Monday morning.

2. The pressure washer I ordered arrived today and my neighbour accepted the delivery for me so I don't need to traipse to a depot. Thanks also to Laura and Hannah for the gift vouchers.

3. There were leftover meringues from dessert the other night so I had a yummy treat with my cup of tea this evening!

What were your positive things today?

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{35 at 35 list: Happiness}

I've been giving some thought to my 35 at 35 list, in particular the prompt 'be genuinely happy'.

When I wrote the list, I was in a bad place. My husband had just moved out 2 weeks before and I had a lot to contend with. I was on my own with my 8 month old daughter and my toddler son. I was sad, confused, hurt and scared/excited for what the future may hold.

Two and a half years later and nearing half way to my 35 at 35 list deadline, I thought it was a good time to take stock & reflect on where I was and where I am now.

I think my followers, friends & family would agree that I've come a long way since the start of 2012. 

When I was still living with the kids dad I was in denial. I don't think I was ready to face up to how I was feeling and the situation I found myself in. My health visitor had suggested I might have post-natal depression to which I was told, by the ex, that of course I wasn't clinically depressed. And I agreed with him. But now when I look back, it's clear that something wasn't right. It's only now, that I've come through the other side that I realise just how tough things were and that the thoughts I was having weren't necessarily normal.

I remember when my son was little, my father-in-law would babysit every so often so I could get my hair done. On one of my trips out I actually considered not going back to the house, ever. I was finding parenting very difficult & my son was a difficult baby. It's hard to admit this, but I didn't enjoy his first year & I wish I'd dealt with the situation differently.

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Then when my daughter arrived, the ex & I were going through a difficult time. After all the drama that then followed, I pulled myself together...

I hired a life coach, spent over half a year seeing a post-natal depression counsellor & attended focus group sessions. What was I looking for? I'm not sure if I'm honest. I acknowledged that how I was feeling wasn't right and that I needed help. My health visitor was amazing, and I'm glad that I finally had the courage to listen to her.

I used to be anxious going out with the children on my own.

I used to have to go into the other room to cry so that they wouldn't see me upset.

I doubted every decision I made.

I found simple every day things difficult.

I am pleased to say that I am in a much better place now.

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Things are getting easier, and I'm enjoying my children so much more than I did when they were babies. My confidence has improved and yes, I think I can now say I'm happy :-)

Don't get me wrong, there are difficult days and tantrums and tears still, but overall things are positive.

I've been reading Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin, and bookmarked this quote:

"While 'happiness' might suggest a final, magical destination, the aim of a happiness project isn't to hit 10 on the 1-to-10 happiness scale and to remain there perpetually; that would be neither realistic or desirable. I sought not to achieve perfect 'happiness', but rather to become happier".

P.S. Thanks to everyone that's been voting for me for the BiBs Family award - this has made me extremely happy and I'm so chuffed to have made it onto the shortlist. If you're yet to vote, I'd love your support. You can vote for me here. Thanks so much!!

{Wobbles Wednesday}

Just catching up with some Wobbles Wednesday posts as I missed last week due to my holiday (no 3G - I'm amazed that I coped!!).

Last week I lost 1 lb and I was starting to think that I would get to the 11 stone mark soon... but this week I'm now up 4 lbs and my weight has increased to 11 stone 7 lbs. I'm disappointed, but I guess it was to be expected as I was on holiday and I've not really exercised either over the past week and a bit.

Today and yesterday I've been feeling a bit 'meh'. I'm definitely an emotional over-eater. I'm stressed out and tired and have turned to tea and biscuits to get me through... it's not something I'm proud of and this evening after work I've already eaten 6 pancakes and nearly a whole packet of Party Rings. I just need to stop buying 'treats' as I've shown time and time again that I've no willpower or control when it comes to sweet stuff! The only good thing I did was manage to not eat the donuts that appeared today at work... it's a start!

I'm going to try and get back onto the healthy eating tomorrow, but I'm already anticipating a difficult Thursday and Friday in the lead up to the longest day, which is the anniversary of my mum's death. This year marks 12 years since she passed. I miss her every day, especially more so now when I've so much on my plate and I'm starting to struggle.

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{You're Just my Cup of Tea}

It looks like a few of my followers are reckoning that Single_Man_75 and I are an item, especially in light of his recent announcement.

I thought I would clarify things a bit... yes, Single_Man_75 came to Glasgow to visit, but I'm not the woman in his life that he is now referring to on his blog.

I guess it's now an appropriate time to briefly mention that I have however also met someone. My husband is aware of this (I was spotted apparently) but I had planned to tell him anyway before he meets the children (which is yet to happen).

Not sure I want to go into any more detail at the moment... I'm sure you can all understand why. What I will say is that I'm really happy (despite all my current stress that is associated with moving house!!). 

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