Like a stone cast into a river, we are thrown into socialising as a child. The still waters of our home life are replaced by the expanding ripples of friends and classmates. These circles keep expanding, closer bonds are formed and life continues on this trajectory into adulthood. Relationships change and evolve. More friends are added as the workplace or …
5 Stages
Last week was my penultimate counselling session. I have had 10 sessions in total and when my counsellor shows up, she’s actually a great listener. She also sends me informative sheets to read, containing practical exercises for me to work on between appointments. Referred to her only for CBT to tackle health anxiety, it’s been a strange experience. My …
Birthday Party
My beautiful daughter turned 6 years old last month. After much deliberation, the hubby and I decided that this was the year we were going to throw her a party. Not an intimate gathering at the house, with a select few, huddled round sandwiches and jammie dodgers but a real party. Venue, catering, the whole ball of wax! Our girl …
Rules of the Playground
Well it happened, or should I say, it’s happening. The delightful charade of playground politics is afoot and having been no stranger to playground antics as a child, I was really keen to sidestep this landmine as an adult. At school, back in the day; the kids would split up into subgroups at every available opportunity. The sporty ones, bookworms, …
Superhero
Being a mum is one of my favourite things. Actually it is probably the most amazing part of my existence. Becoming a parent has been life changing in every possible way you can imagine. I pictured myself as a mother for many years. I became a step mother in my 20s and a biological mum in my 30s. I wouldn’t …
Awkward Conversations
Not sure what was more shocking, the fact that I still logged on to my 11am counselling slot, like a glutton for punishment; or that this time I was actually joined by my counsellor. “I was off sick, everyone should have been notified”. Well as touching as this shoulda coulda woulda was, I was still left hanging for a week …
Can We Talk
March has been a big month for me. Mentally, emotionally and physically. My therapy got off to a rocky start. The first session, where I divulged a great deal about my life and what ultimately led me to seek counselling, was heavy and left me a jittery wreck for days. The night after my session, I just couldn’t sleep at …
The Sleepover
“Hi hon, what’s the chance of me staying over tomorrow night?” Blimey. Getting my mum to visit is like trying to secure an audience with Jennifer Lopez; imagine my surprise when her last visit extended to an overnight arrangement. It was great to see her. My daughter loved having her Nanny around for more than a quick lunch. We did …
Zoom Therapy
Happy 3rd Anniversary RP! You are with me daily, always irritatingly right in front of me. You never take a day off. Your persistence is matched only by your brutal capacity, to mercilessly rob me of my ability to see clearly. You are an arsehole and just in case you were wondering, I didn’t buy you a gift! Had my …
The Lion, The Weight and the Winter Coat
I wish I was the kind of person that hit the gym when stressed, meal prepped on weekends and meditated on days off but just don’t. I might reach the staggering heights of 5000 steps a day. Maybe get to noon before I ransack the cupboard for anything that will fall out of a packet and into my face! As …