The end of an era: My youngest has left education!

There we have it. My youngest has left full time education. Well, it was last week actually but I spent the weekend trying to take it in that my baby is no longer a student. For the last sixteen and a half years, education has been a huge part of Ellie's life with school runs, packed lunches, parents evenings, school trips, homework battles, uniform shopping, exam stress, college assignments and everything in between. It has been our normal for so long that I can't quite imagine what life will look like without it but here we are!

It only seems like yesterday that Ellie was a tiny little girl clutching my hand as we walked into nursery for the first time, well, clutching my hand going through the gate and then running into the classroom. She loved nursery! Ellie was born right at the end of August, making her the youngest in her year group all the way through school. To put it into perspective, Ellie had just turned three when she started nursery in September, while some of the children in her year group were turning four only days later. Some of the children looked so grown up compared to her and there was my tiny little girl trying to keep up.

Looking back, Ellie didn't exactly have the easiest journey through education. Her primary school years were tough. Anyone who has followed my blog for a long time will probably remember some of the posts I wrote years ago about the bullying Ellie experienced, this post has links to a few of them. Kids can be so mean. It was one of the hardest things to watch as a parent. There were many tears, mostly from me, difficult conversations and lots of sleepless nights where I worried about what the next school day would bring. As parents, we spend years teaching our children to be kind and thoughtful, so it can be heart breaking when other children don't show those same qualities. The bullying seemed to follow Ellie through much of primary school and it knocked her confidence massively.

During her final year of primary school, when Ellie was around ten years old, one of her teachers thought that she might be autistic. Eventually, it became clear that autism wasn't the issue and Ellie was diagnosed with social anxiety. Considering everything she had experienced, it wasn't surprising. When you've spent years being bullied, it chips away at your confidence little by little but despite everything, Ellie kept going.

It wasn't all bad though. One thing that always makes me smile when I think back is that Ellie has always got on better with boys than girls. She had a little group of boys that were her best friends. There were also plenty of happy memories. Her teachers absolutely adored her. She was never the child who loved sitting quietly writing pages and pages of work. She has always been someone who prefers doing things. As soon as she got to do something practical, creative or hands on and she was in her element. There was the year she built a model of Hadrian's Wall and one of the Roman forts. I think it was in Year 4. She put so much effort into it and ended up having it displayed in the school library for months afterwards.

Then there were the World War Two biscuits she made at home. Those sorts of projects were always right up her street, she loved being hands-on, creating things. She also joined the school choir and absolutely loved taking part in school productions and performed in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and later in Beauty and the Beast. They seemed to give her so much confidence. She also played in the school band playing the trombone!

Then came secondary school. The first year wasn't easy because the bullying problems reappeared and Ellie hated pretty much every moment she spent at that school but then we moved house and Ellie changed schools and that changed everything! Ellie started her new school at the beginning of Year 8 and the difference was incredible! She was genuinely happy, made friends, was accepted and that year was probably the first time she truly understood why people say that school days are the happiest days of your life.

In 2020 everything changed again when Covid arrived. Our lives turned upside down, schools closed, lessons moved online and our normal lives stopped. Home learning wasn't exactly Ellie's favourite thing and that's probably putting it politely. I can laugh about it now but at the time it was frustrating. The biggest battle was getting her to turn her camera on during Zoom lessons. She refused but her teachers were incredibly understanding because I don't think we were the only family having those sorts of struggles. At one point, it felt as though Ellie had taken a step backwards with all the progress she had made. The confidence she'd built seemed to drain from her and I worried about how she would cope when schools reopened but all the worry was for nothing. As soon as the school reopened, she settled straight back in. Phew!

We always joked that Ellie never actually got a full secondary school experience. When we moved house, she finished year 7 a couple of weeks early, then Covid with the lockdowns, meant she didn't have much in year 8, 9 and 10 and in her last year in year 11 she finished early because of exams but despite all of that, she thrived. She found her voice, became more independent and learned who she was. When GCSE results day arrived, I don't think any of us quite knew what to expect. Ellie had worked hard but she'd also had so many disruptions but the results surprised us all. She did brilliantly. The last part of secondary school really showed us the young woman Ellie was becoming because on Prom Day she dressed up in not the typical prom dress, made a grand entrance and owned who she was.

After school came college. Just after turning sixteen, Ellie started an Electrical Engineering course. I don't think many people expected her to choose that path but it suited her perfectly. Engineering made complete sense and she loved it, especially the practical side. Whenever she talked about college, it was always the workshop sessions she was most excited about. She loved the wiring, the hands-on work and doing things instead of sitting in a classroom all day!

Life wasn't completely straightforward. Towards the end of her first year at college, Ellie went through some really difficult things. They were some of the hardest experiences we've faced as a family and Ellie handled them far better than I did. There were moments when I looked at her and realised she wasn't a little girl any more. In her third year at college, she decided to move onto a more general engineering course and has now passed with flying colours.

And that's it. No more school, college, no more buying stationery every September, no more waiting for exam results, educational milestones and it is a strange feeling. Part of me is excited for Ellie, she has her whole future ahead of her, part of me is so proud of everything that she has achieved and part of me is wondering how all these years have disappeared so quickly.

When I look back at everything Ellie has faced throughout her education, I think it would have been easy for her to give up but she has never stopped moving forward. Those challenges have helped shape the person she is today. They made her stronger, more determined and now she is a confident, caring and capable young woman who is standing here today with her head held high. I don't think I could be any prouder!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #62

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. What do you love most about your country?

There is so much to love about England, I could think I could write a whole blog post about everything that I love.

I think one of my favourite things about England is how close everything is. From where I live I can be in a big city, at the beach or deep in the countryside in under an hour and that is by just using public transport. I could be in London in just over 2 hours and in a whole different country soon after that. Wales and Scotland are about five hours away and France is about six.

Then there’s the history. It’s everywhere. You don’t even have to go looking for it, you’ll just be walking along and suddenly there’s a church that has been standing longer than most countries have existed. There are the castles, Roman walls, cobbled streets and it is all just part of everyday life.

I also have to mention the food. Sunday roasts, all-day breakfasts, fish and chips by the seaside, mince pies at Christmas, hot cross buns at Easter, Afternoon Teas for when you want to feel fancy and of course, baked beans on toast!

2. Your favorite patriotic song?

My first thought was Land of Hope and Glory but while I was searching for a video on YouTube Jerusalem kept popping up too. How could I forget that? It's one of my dad's favourite songs of all time. Both are linked to Edward Elgar and can often be heard at big sporting events. Both also show up in the Last Night of the Proms which is one of those British traditions that doesn't really make sense until you watch it. If you’ve never seen it, it’s not your usual quiet classical concert where everyone sits politely. It’s more like a big musical celebration where people sing along, wave flags and get properly involved. The Proms itself runs across the summer, ending with that final night in September. When it comes on TV it always feels like the end of summer.

3. Red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Something you own besides a US flag with some combination of those colors or decorations as part of its design?

I had to laugh at this one because I realised I don’t actually own anything that combines all three colours in a single design. I have lots of red, white or blue clothes but none all together. My wardrobe does have a lot of stripes though. Tops, jumpers and the odd dress. I don’t think I own a single star patterned item.

4. What's one thing you want more of this summer: fun, rest, adventure, connection, quiet, or confidence? Elaborate.

I think I want a bit more adventure but nothing too big and exciting. I want to change our routine a little and say yes to things we normally talk about but never actually do. Things like going on a day trip somewhere that we've been talking about for years but never actually go on, trying a new cafe instead of our usual one, walking a different route and ending up somewhere I didn’t plan to be.

5. What was your ultimate, go-to summer activity when you were a kid? Do you still do any version of that today? If you answered yes, does participating in this activity as an adult make you feel like a kid?

Camping out with friends. I lived on a farm, so there were plenty of fields where we could pop a tent up and my brother and I even renovated a half-built shed to make it somewhere we could camp out. My friends and my brother and his friends had great fun! I think the most we ever had were about six of us all crammed in with sleeping bags and talking and laughing all night until the sun came up. The best part came in the morning where we would build a little fire and cook our own breakfast. We would cook bacon, sausages, eggs, fried bread and baked beans. Everything tasted better cooked outdoors.

As an adult, I have camped a couple of times and hated it. Once was at a beach where everything was covered in sand and it was too windy and another time was at a proper campsite but it was just too cold. I think the older I have got, the more I like my home comforts and own bed. We have a fantastic tent in the garage, so there is no reason why we can't go camping again but camping as an adult makes me feel grumpy. It was definitely more fun when I was a kid!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This week is a strange one. My eldest took Monday, Tuesday and Saturday off work, which means she is off for the whole week because of the way her shifts work. My fella has Friday and Saturday off work, which seems odd and my youngest is just coming and going as she pleases, since she has now left college. I am someone who thrives on routine and this week has no routine at all! I've lost track of what day it is and have no idea who I am feeding on what evening.

My July goals & plans!

I’m carrying on with my monthly goals and plans because writing things down really gives me that little kick up the bum to actually get things done. I always feel more motivated when I have a list to look at instead of just thinking I should probably do that at some point. When it’s written down it feels more official, like I’ve made a little promise to myself.

I did pretty well with my goals in June and ticked a lot off my list.

Find Ellie a full time job - Not yet, but she is working hard to get one and could only really apply for full-time jobs over the last week or so since she finished college.

Plant the plants in the ground - Yep, they are all in the ground and are doing well. I planted them just as we were coming out of that hot spell and I didn't think some were going to make it but they revived themselves.

Go and see the new Toy Story movie - Yes and we loved it!

Have a family Sunday lunch out - Yes, we did the weekend before Father's Day as Becky was working.

Watch the World Cup - Of course!

Sit in the pubs beer garden - Yes, I actually sat in a few different ones.

Buy some new sandals - Yes, I got them off Shein and they are very comfy and look good too!

Have a date with Stu - We had a couple and they were nice.

In July I want to:

Go to a couple of local events.

There is a lot going on around where we live and there are a couple of events that I really want to go to. Becky went to one of them last year and absolutely loved it and came home talking about it so much that Ellie and I felt like we'd missed out. This year we have no excuse and we're going!! There is another local event happening too, which is a lot of fun. I am being deliberately vague because you never know who is reading online and I don't fancy announcing exactly where I am going to be. They both involve getting out of the house, doing something different and hopefully having a really good day.

Go and see Moana at the cinema!

The live action remake of Moana is being released in the cinemas this month and I really want to see it. I loved the original film and still find myself singing along to the songs You're Welcome. hehehe. Then there is the fact Dwayne Johnson is in it. Anyone who knows me knows that my love of wrestling started years ago and I have followed his career ever since. I still find it weird him being a serious actor and not a wrestler hitting the Rock Bottom on people.

Try some new recipes!

We have been taking a break from the Gousto recipe boxes for a while and now feels like a good time to try some new recipes. I always end up cooking the same meals over and over again because they're safe and I know everyone likes them. Now I am thinking more about fresh salads, pasta dishes and lighter meals.

Find a fake tan that works!

As much as I would love a natural tan, I don't want to spend hours in the sun and damaging my skin. I've tried quite a few over the years and every single one seems to have some sort of issue. They're either streaky, orange, patchy, smell strange or disappear too quickly! The last one I tried seemed brilliant at first and gave me exactly the colour I wanted but then I made the mistake of sleeping in it. The next morning, I looked patchy and it took six showers to completely remove it. My mission this month is to find a fake tan which works for me!

Go to the beach!

I don't know which beach or exactly when we'll go but I really want a day beside the sea . It feels like years since I last spent a proper day at the beach. There's just something nice about it with fish and chips, walking along the seafront, listening to the waves and maybe an ice cream.

Start planning the girls birthdays!

August and September are birthday season in my house, which means it's time to start planning. I need to think about meals out, presents, possible days out and all the other little things that come with birthdays. I always like to be organised because before you know it the dates arrive and I'm left wondering where the time went.

Change the furniture around in the living room!

I haven't moved the furniture around for quite a while and I think it's time for a change in the living room. I love rearranging it because it makes everything feel new without actually spending any money. The sofa weighs about the same as a small elephant, so I will get one of the girls to help and Ellie can also take responsibility for moving her computer because every time I touch it something stops working.

Walk more!

I have fallen out of the habit of going for daily walks and I want to get back into it. I'm not planning hikes but a quick walk around the block or a walk to the shop to pick up a loaf of bread would be a start. I always feel better after some fresh air and exercise.

Defrost the freezer!

This is not the most exciting goal on my list but it needs doing. Our freezer is supposedly frost free, but I think it has reached the age where that part of it has stopped working and it desperately needs defrosting. The plan is to spend a week or two eating our way through as much of the freezer food as possible before doing it.

Spend more time with each of my girls!

This is probably the most important goal on my list as the girls are growing up so quickly. I know it won't be long before they're off doing their own thing and don't have time for me. I want to make the most of this time while we still have it and already have a few ideas for days out, shopping trips, lunches and little adventures.

What do you have planned for July?

Our weekly meal plan! 29th June - 5th July!! #MealPlanningMonday

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a good weekend. Ours was a quiet one, mainly sat in front of the TV watching sport. There was of course more of the World Cup and the Austrian Grand Prix.

Last week's meal plan went well, mostly. We ate some of the meals, a couple were swapped around and a couple scrapped. We had jacket potatoes with baked beans and salad, which wasn't on the meal plan but it was too hot to spend too long in the kitchen. I love my kitchen but at the same time I hate it. It is always the coldest room in the winter and hottest in the summer!

We have quite a few plans over the next few days which I'm really looking forward to. I won't say too much just yet because I'll be blogging about everything once it's happened. As well as the fun things, there are a few jobs around the house that need doing. One of those is defrosting the freezer. It's one of those things that I keep putting off because it's a bit of a faff but it needs doing. The good thing is that it gives me the chance to use up lots of what's already in there

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Chicken pie and mashed potato!

I made extra mashed potato yesterday, so tonight's tea should be nice and easy. I only have to cook the chicken pies, heat up the mash and warm the peas. The pies are chicken and gravy ones, so if it has cooled down like the weather forecast says, it should be an enjoyable meal.

Tuesday - Mango, coconut & lime chicken fillets with sweet potato fries.

I have these chicken fillets sitting in the freezer waiting to be used. I spotted them reduced in Tesco a couple of weeks ago and couldn't resist. I think I paid around £2 a pack instead of £5 each, or two for £8. I always love finding yellow sticker bargains. I also have four bags of sweet potato fries in the freezer which will go well with the chicken.

Wednesday - Freezer surprise!

Wednesday is the only day without a proper plan because once I start emptying the freezer I'll no doubt come across something that needs using up which I have completely forgotten about.

Thursday - Sausage fried rice!

This sounds like a good recipe to use up some of the sausages in the freezer. I will loosely follow the recipe. I don't have any oyster sauce, so that will be left out and I'll be using a normal brown onion instead of spring onions because that's what I already have. Over the years, I've learned that recipes don't have to be followed to the letter. If you can swap ingredients for things you've already got, it saves money and usually tastes just as good.

Friday - Fish and chips!

Homemade, not from the chip shop! I already have battered fish in the freezer and frozen chips so it will be a nice easy meal to make. I must remember to buy some mushy peas to go with it as we have none in the cupboard.

Saturday - A help yourself evening!

We have a busy day, so everyone can help themselves to whatever they want. I know I won't feel like cooking so for me, it will be something quick which doesn't need much time spent in the kitchen!

Sunday - A roast dinner of some sort!

It has been ages since we have had a roast dinner at home and I feel in the mood for one. It will either be chicken or gammon with roast and mashed potatoes, roast parsnips, carrots, peas, stuffing and of course Yorkshire puddings.

What are you eating this week?