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.”
Tag Archives: Stress
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.”
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.”
26. Rebuilding After the Pandemic: A Parent’s Struggle to Find Normal.
We’ve been told to return to our lives as we once knew them, to accept the changes we’ve faced, and to brace ourselves for even more. Or, we’re told to prepare for a near lockdown again. That’s easy for others to say. The last 18 months have been hell. I’ve had teenagers cooped up inContinue reading “26. Rebuilding After the Pandemic: A Parent’s Struggle to Find Normal.”
22. The Year That Changed Us: Grief in the Time of Lockdown.
The Year That Changed Us: Grief in the Time of Lockdown This was a truly horrible year (2020). I’ve lost acquaintances, friends, and close family but the most painful, unexpected loss has been my children. Not in the physical sense, but emotionally.The connection, the closeness, the ease of our bond it’s all changed. Our family,Continue reading “22. The Year That Changed Us: Grief in the Time of Lockdown.”
19. Choices, Consequences, and the Classroom Code
What’s it all about, really? You go to school.You sit in class.You learn the subject.You move on. There’s no need to question the teacher unnecessarily or respond with attitude. You’re there to learn. So what gives you the impression that you have the right to speak to your teacher in a way that lands youContinue reading “19. Choices, Consequences, and the Classroom Code”
9. The Weight of Who I Was: Living Beyond My Mistakes
Throughout my adult life, I’ve made mistakes—some small, some colossal.Some I’ve been able to correct.Others? I just have to carry. But no matter the size or the outcome, every mistake has carried a lesson. Even if it took years, even if the realisation only hit after the dust settled—each one shaped me. Grew me. HumbledContinue reading “9. The Weight of Who I Was: Living Beyond My Mistakes”
8. Between Logic and Chaos: Meeting My Emotional Self.
My gosh, what the hell.I’ve discovered something I never expected: my fight or flight response doesn’t just kick in, it transforms. It morphs into something I now recognise as spite. For me, “fight” shows up in sharp, reactive ways, spiteful words, intense energy bursts, usually taken out on whoever triggered the feeling. These days, myContinue reading “8. Between Logic and Chaos: Meeting My Emotional Self.”
7. Finding the Balance: Parenting Without a Manual.
Teacher, nurse, coach, correctional officer, mentor, support worker, driver, cook…The roles we take on as parents are endless. And as our kids grow, the roles don’t disappear—they just shift in weight and intensity. But how do you know if you’re getting the balance right?There’s no manual. No guidebook. No helpline to call. And just whenContinue reading “7. Finding the Balance: Parenting Without a Manual.”
3. Only as Good as Your Last Win: The Harsh Truth About Success
Funny how life turns out. We spend so much time racing ahead—trying to be better, faster, and more efficient than everyone else—that we rarely stop to look at the bigger picture. We chase the next promotion, the next job title, the next opportunity that will prove we’ve made it. In a competitive world, that driveContinue reading “3. Only as Good as Your Last Win: The Harsh Truth About Success”
Real Talk: Diary of a Seriously Fcked Off Parent 