Pre – Real Talk: Diary of a Seriously Fcked Off Parent

39. The Frustration of Being Questioned: Who Are We Accountable To?

I can’t believe how many times I’ve thought about this saying over the last couple of months, even in reference to myself. The question is: why? What makes us revert to a childlike version of ourselves? It’s not hate, it’s not fear, it’s frustration. But what makes us so frustrated that we become unable orContinue reading “39. The Frustration of Being Questioned: Who Are We Accountable To?”

38. The Hidden Toll of “Normal” in the Aftermath of the Pandemic.

The government says we are expected to return to “normal,” but what does that even mean? For me, “normal” has come to feel like isolation, anxiety, stress, depression, anger, and family separation. The damage to individual and family mental health is staggering, and I’m not sure I can ever get used to this new “normal.”Continue reading “38. The Hidden Toll of “Normal” in the Aftermath of the Pandemic.”

37. When the Ones You Show Up For Don’t Show Up for You.

I show up every day for my children, and I always have. So why is it that our children don’t show up for us? In fact, they seem to try to tear me down. For what reason? What happened to the communication where we could sit down and explain what the problem is? Social mediaContinue reading “37. When the Ones You Show Up For Don’t Show Up for You.”

36. Do We Need to Like Our Children?

“Mum, do you like me?” That was the question my daughter posed to me today. My response was, “I don’t need to like you, I love you.” (I was trying to be humorous), but it got me thinking 🤔. Do we need, or even want, to like our children? And if we do, why? IContinue reading “36. Do We Need to Like Our Children?”

35. Rediscovering Me: A Journey from Self-Doubt to Self-Love.

It’s 2022, and I promised myself I was going to let go of all the dead weight and baggage from the past few years and start living again. That didn’t even last an hour into New Year’s what a joke. 😡 My youngest daughter caught Covid, and the New Year celebration felt flat. So, whatContinue reading “35. Rediscovering Me: A Journey from Self-Doubt to Self-Love.”

34. Boris and the Reluctance to Act: The Uncertainty of Another Lockdown.

I try not to watch the news too much, but sometimes I just have to check in and see what’s next. After hearing that Ireland and Wales are shutting nightclubs after Christmas, and Scotland is going into full lockdown, I hoped Boris would have learned from his past mistakes and followed suit. But instead, IContinue reading “34. Boris and the Reluctance to Act: The Uncertainty of Another Lockdown.”

33. The Weight of a Title: When It’s Taken Away.

What is a title? To me, a title is an acknowledgment of an achievement, whether personal or public. If you’ve worked hard and earned something, then you’ve earned the right to be addressed with the title that comes with it. So who gives anyone the right to take that title away from you? Well, I’veContinue reading “33. The Weight of a Title: When It’s Taken Away.”

32. Failed Again: The Reality of Social Services and the Trauma of False Allegations.

After everything I’ve been through, I can’t believe I’m hearing that Social Services have dropped the ball again. I’m a mother of two, and I would do anything to protect my children. Their father, who wanted nothing to do with them once our relationship ended, has left me in a position where I’ve been penalisedContinue reading “32. Failed Again: The Reality of Social Services and the Trauma of False Allegations.”

31. The Manipulative Gremlin Phase: Are Our Kids Just Testing Us?

We all know children push boundaries, but sometimes they really know how to push you to your limits. They turn into these manipulative little gremlins, and you find yourself wishing you could lock them in a cage until they revert back to the decent kids you once knew. Imagine the cunning thoughts and actions theyContinue reading “31. The Manipulative Gremlin Phase: Are Our Kids Just Testing Us?”

30. Letting Go: A Parent’s Struggle with the First Big Step.

We spend our lives caring, sharing, and protecting, only to be told that we need to let go for the sake of our children’s emotional and mental development. But when is the right time? What if I let go too soon? Or not soon enough? Today was the day I decided to make space forContinue reading “30. Letting Go: A Parent’s Struggle with the First Big Step.”