I’m not a mum but a M.U.M

To me the word Mum was short for Mummy. According to the dictionary it is an informal word for mother. It also means  keeping information to oneself and its a strong beer or ale from Germany. The meaning of Mum can be different to each person though. Some think of it in an endearing way, to some it may set their teeth on edge and others think of a motherly type figure surrounded by children. I suspect my teen, and at some point most of the world’s population of teens, think Mum stands for Mainly Utterly Mortifying.

When I Was A Child….

There are a lot of us who probably grew up in less than favourable conditions. Most of it didn’t hurt us one bit and maybe if anything made us better people. I know I was one of them and when I became a parent I subconsciously wanted better for my children. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s a natural parenting reaction. But there are times I wonder if I am doing the right thing. It feels a day doesn’t go by that I don’t say something along the lines of….”When I was a child…” followed by any Dickensian scenario I can think of. To name just a few from my childhood…

My A to Z of Being a Single Parent

Attitude. As a single parent you get tarred with the same brush and either people think you have an unsavoury attitude or they will have attitude with you for being a single parent.

Benefits. Some single parents are entitled to them and yes some of us do claim them. They can be a god send to get you through the rough times and contrary to popular belief most of us don’t actually like being on benefits.

Caffeine in copies amounts to get you through the day.

Merry Christmas

Well Its Christmas Eve so I will keep this short and sweet. The presents have been wrapped, the house is duly christmasfied, the food shop battled and Christmas biscuits have been made. All that is left is to wish you all a Merry Christmas however you celebrate it.

If your struggling to cope with Christmas you might like to read my post about Coping with Christmas on your won as a Single Mum

What if There Was No Christmas

About this time of year we run ourselves ragged getting stuff sorted for Christmas. We drag ourselves around shop whatever the weather getting perfect gifts, wrapping paper, cards and then if that’s enough it’s all the food shopping too. I don’t really have to describe it all as we are all going through it. I whinge about it all just as much as everyone else, probably far too much, and this year is no different.

Christmas Bunting

According to my teen the lounge just didn’t look Christmassy enough. Er hello 7 foot Christmas tree in the room? And there was me worrying it was too big, obviously not. So I pulled on every creative brain cell I have and came up with Christmas bunting. You now the triangle flag style bunting that street parties up and is also rather fashionable in the home at the moment (apparently). Being a bit of a co-ordinated freak and actually not a lover of garish things draped around the ceiling, I managed to get purple and silver glittery wrapping paper to do the job . I am converted and it might be staying up longer than Christmas.

A Small Crafting Moment

I blame the Christmas tree for a sudden flurry of craftiness this month. Having to totally rethink my lounge, which is also the dining room and my office space, to fit the tree in meant a good clear out. Stuff got moved from the lounge to the ‘sort it one day’ cupboard. Which in turn meant a few boxes of stuff went to the garage. This lead to a rummage in the garage which turned up a lovely piece of purple velvet I had long forgotten about and an old picture frame that I had broken the glass in ages ago. By cheer spooky coincidence I was having a read over at Red Ted Art about drying orange slices and I spotted an article about making a fabric notice board. One old telly tubbies towel, several stables and a bits of ribbon later, I created my master piece that is perfect for my office corner of the lounge.

What’s Your Christmas Traditions?

Maybe I am just getting older and more cynical in my old age but Christmas seems to be getting more and more commercial. I probably moan about it each year but this year it seems even more so. In a time when times are getting tougher and the pressure to produce yet another award winning Christmas I want to try something new, or rather old. I want my kids to look back and not just remember the presents but the traditions. I want to give them traditions that they can pass on and enjoy with their children.