Confessions of a Single Mother: My 2016

“Hope
Smiles from the threshold of the year to come,
Whispering ‘it will be happier‘…”
― Alfred Tennyson

2016; where to begin…

Globally it’s been rather catastrophic; what with Brexit, Trump, the numerous terrorist attacks and the tragedy of Syria.

I try and force myself to watch the news -to stay informed- knowing full well there isn’t anything I can do, it’s a horrible feeling.

Because yes we can donate, we can pray, we can hope, but innocent people still continue to die every day. Praying doesn’t make the news reports any easier to swallow.

But that doesn’t mean we stop praying.

Personally, 2016 has been, well, pretty amazing.

Here’s why:

1.) I finally got round to auditioning for a play and got the part.

2.) Milan – my first trip abroad since having Maia. – I relished the adventure.

3.) I did work experience at a local newspaper and had articles published, that people read.

4.) We took Maia to the beach and paddled with her in the chilly Norfolk waters; she giggled through the cold.

5.) Maia started Nursery, and took to it like a champ.

6.) We celebrated Maia’s third birthday, and she loved every minute of it (bar the minutes she cried for more cake and more presents..)

7.) I finally started my interviews; talking life, careers and happiness with all my nearest and dearest.

8.) I very nearly hit my target of reading 36 books this year. Nearly.

9.) I interned at a PR firm, listened to 80’s music and drank Prosecco with my temporary colleagues.

10.) I posted on the blog everyday for over two months, something I’d been meaning to do all year.

My highlight?

Aside from Milan (I love flying, and hotels, and Italy so it was a the dream trip) and the play (I’d been wanting to try local theatre for years, and the cast are just wonderful) it would have to be celebrating Maia’s third birthday with her Babcia from Poland. They don’t see each other often, and her Babcia was simply besotted with her. I only wish they could have spent more time together.

I am -as always- grateful for the amazing people that made my year so special. Most will have appeared on the blog in some form; either in this post -an ode to female friendships- or elsewhere. I couldn’t have got through the year without them.