I still can't get my head around the fact I am mother to two adults!

My brain still refuses to accept this information, that I am the mother of two adults. Two adult daughters! I say it out loud quite often, partly to practise and partly because I’m hoping one day it’ll sink in and stop sounding so strange. It hasn’t yet.

Ellie, my youngest, turned 18 back in August, which means I officially crossed that line into all my children are grown-ups now. I thought by now I’d be used to it, I assumed the shock would wear off, I’d adjust, move on, maybe even feel a bit smug about it but no. I still find myself wandering round the house then suddenly stopping to mutter I have two adult daughters, like it’s a fun fact I’ve just learnt and can’t quite process. They are both proper adults. They can vote. They can sign contracts. They can book appointments, open bank accounts and walk into a pub without anyone batting an eyelid but they still want me to make phone calls for them, sit next to them while they fill in forms, and double check emails before they press send. The confidence disappears the second paperwork appears.

I caught myself telling someone that my girls aren't kids any more, they're all grown up and then immediately felt like I was lying because, sure, they’re legally adults but I think they will always be my babies. Slightly taller, louder babies with opinions and strong feelings about everything but still mine.

In theory, having two adult daughters should mean my workload has dropped massively. They should be cooking their own meals, keeping on top of laundry, changing their beds, cleaning up after themselves and maybe even doing the odd bit of housework without being asked. In real life, it’s more like having two very tall teenagers who can debate politics one minute and then shout Mam! the next because they’re not sure if a recipe needs salt or not. There is less teenage drama, which I appreciate more than I can explain but there are still plates left on the sides instead of in the sink. There are still cups abandoned around the house and my chocolate still mysteriously disappears.

They’re independent in lots of ways now. They manage their own money, organise their own schedules, deal with work, college and life stuff. I love seeing that. I love watching them handle things without panicking or needing me to step in straight away. It makes me proud but independence doesn’t mean they suddenly stop needing their mam. It just means the reasons change. Instead of tying shoelaces and packing school bags, I’m now helping with bigger decisions, listening to worries about work, relationships and what on earth they’re meant to be doing with their lives. Sometimes I’m asked for advice, sometimes I’m just asked to listen and sometimes I’m asked to fix something that Google could absolutely handle but apparently Mam is still the preferred option.

They’re learning how to stand on their own two feet and I’m learning how to step back without fully stepping away. That’s the tricky bit, finding that balance between giving them space and still being the safety net they’ve always had. I want them to be confident and capable and excited about their adult lives but because they’re still living at home, I’m very much part of the day-to-day stuff too. I remind them to eat properly. I ask what time they’ll be home. I check they’ve got everything they need before they leave the house and I offer guidance when they’re making decisions. They’ve come such a long way and I’m in awe of the young women they’re becoming.

At the same time, little moments catch me off guard. A laugh that sounds exactly like it did when they were small, a song that reminds me of when they were little or a random memory of bedtime stories or school runs or tiny hands in mine. It’s bittersweet. I wouldn’t rewind time, but I do sometimes miss the simplicity of those days when their biggest worry was whether their teddy had slept well.

Having two adult daughters living at home feels like a strange but lovely in-between stage. They’re grown enough to make their own choices but close enough that we still share meals, stories, TV shows and those little everyday moments that matter more than you realise. We chat in the kitchen, laugh over silly things, and occasionally fall out over the same old stuff. Some things never change. It’s not always easy. The mess, the noise, the constant Mam can you just moments can test my patience, especially when I trip over shoes that definitely didn’t belong in the middle of the dining room but I know how quickly this stage will pass. One day the house will be quieter, too quiet and I’ll miss the sound of them coming in, the random conversations and the chaos of everyone being under one roof.

Being part of my girls adult lives is a privilege. I get to see them figuring things out, making mistakes, learning, growing. I get to cheer them on, support them and be there for them. I still can’t quite get my head around being the mother of two adults. It feels strange and wonderful and slightly unbelievable all at once but I do know this: no matter how old they get, no matter what they do or where life takes them, they’ll always be my girls and I wouldn’t change that for anything!

I didn’t approve of my daughter’s tattoo but I’m so glad she got it!

Just a little disclaimer, Ellie knows I have written this, called me a soft sod for getting all emotional in my writing and is happy for me to share this bit of her life. In fact she wanted me to share it to show how far she has came and how much she has changed. I think she also wanted it in writing that I don't absolutely hate tattoos. lol

If you’d told me a couple of years ago that my daughter, Ellie my 18 year old, my sweet 18 year old, still my baby Ellie would one day get a tattoo I probably would’ve laughed and said no, it's not happening, not on my watch. Tattoos were one of those things that made me twitchy, they're too permanent, too bold, too much. I always imagined my kids growing up and not walking around with pictures on their skin for life! So when Ellie told me she was getting a Medusa tattoo, I nearly spat out my tea. Medusa?! The woman with snakes for hair who could turn people to stone? I think I actually said why not a nice flower instead or a Disney character out of panic but once she explained why she’d chosen it my attitude started to shift.

I didn’t know much about Medusa beyond what I had learned in school. She was a monster with a head full of snakes and a bad temper but my daughter explained the deeper side of the story. Medusa wasn’t born a monster, she was a woman who was wronged, punished unfairly and transformed into a figure that people feared. Over time Medusa has become a symbol of female empowerment, strength and survival especially for women who’ve faced trauma or injustice. For many a Medusa tattoo represents the journey from victim to victor, the ability to overcome adversity and the courage to reclaim power after pain. She’s also seen as a protector: fierce, unapologetic and defiant. And for clarity, because people sometimes assume, Ellie's tattoo and it's meaning for her have nothing to do with sexual assault. This was about battling mental health struggles, self worth and finding her voice again. Her strength came from surviving herself and I think that’s incredibly powerful in its own right.

There was also another, quieter reason behind the tattoo, one that hits me right in the heart. My daughter has scars on her arm from a time when life felt too heavy for her. Scars from self harm that she’s lived with for a couple of years that have been a silent, constant reminder of pain. She told me she wanted to cover them with something meaningful. Something that would make her feel empowered instead of ashamed. The tattoo wasn’t just art, it was a way of reclaiming her body. Instead of hiding her scars she was transforming them into something powerful and beautiful. As a mum it’s hard to even write this without my throat tightening. We want to protect our kids from pain, from the world, from themselves and when we can’t, we carry that weight too. Seeing her take this step to turn her scars into a symbol of strength was something I never expected but deeply respect. She turned her story the hard and painful parts into something that reminds her every day that she’s still here.

I still don’t love tattoos. I’m a bit old school and the idea of something permanent like that on skin still makes me wince but I can see the beauty in this one and at the same time I’m proud. In a way prouder than if she’d chosen something I did approve of because this wasn’t a decision she made lightly. She researched it, thought about it, saved for it and she chose something personal, something that represents how far she’s come. Some of you know what Ellie’s been through these past few years and for those who don’t, trust me it has been a lot. There were days I wasn’t sure we’d get to this version of her, the strong, smiling, thriving young woman she has become but we did.

Now every time I see that Medusa on Ellie's arm I don’t see snakes or stone. I see survival, courage and I see my daughter, still my Ellie but standing tall and ready to take on the world! She’s not the same girl she once was. She’s stronger, bolder and more herself than ever and even though I didn’t approve of that tattoo at first I’m so, so glad she got it!

How do you feel about tattoos?

My eldest is 23!

Somehow, in the blink of an eye my eldest daughter Becky has turned 23! Twenty three!! I honestly can’t quite wrap my head around it, she was the one who made me a mam and it seems such a long, long time ago! Part of me still sees her as that little girl who would run rings around me and resist bedtime. Back then trying to get her to sleep was a full time job, she’d fight it and what is funny now is that she absolutely loves her sleep. If she could she’d happily nap her way through a weekend. I often joke that if younger her could see grown up her she’d be horrified at how much she appreciates a good lie in these days.

I don’t tend to write much about Becky on my blog now. She’s private, living her own life and I like to respect that but sometimes I just have to break my own rule and a birthday feels like the perfect excuse, my girl deserves to be celebrated.

Becky works hard in care and has been working night shift for the last few years. It is something I couldn't do but she prefers the nights over the days. She is so patient and caring, she knows what she wants and she just gets on with things. It’s not all work, she likes to play hard too. When she’s not working she’s usually heading out to some event or another. She loves a good concert, a day out or pretty much anything that feels like an occasion.

Then there’s wrestling. WWE wrestling to be exact. This is where we bond in the funniest way. We’ll both sit there on the sofa, glued to the screen, shouting at the TV like the wrestlers can actually hear us. We have wild theories about what is going to happen on the next episode or live event and our predictions are never right. It's brilliant sharing this silly passion with her. Some mams and daughters shop together, some bake together but we shout at wrestling together.

Everyone has their thing that they seem to collect and Becky's thing is ducks!! Yes, ducks. She has this soft spot for them and I love it. It always makes me smile when something duck related pops up and reminds me of her. She has clothes with them on, duck drawers in her bedroom, bedding, a rug, ornaments and even her phone case has ducks on it!

At home Becky is all about the comfortable life. If she could live in pyjamas she would but don’t be fooled when it’s time to go out the PJs get swapped for her fancy pants. She bought some plain black trousers which are smart but comfortable for nights out and we call them her fancy pants. She loved them so much she bought a extra couple of pairs. Another comfort to Becky is pasta! I’m not exaggerating when I say she loves it and eats it at least five times a week, she comes in on a morning from work which is like her evening and cooks herself a bowl full and usually covers it in cheese. Even after years of her doing this I still haven't got used to the smell of pasta being cooked on a morning!

Becky has been with her girlfriend for about three years now. They make a lovely couple and most importantly, she’s happy. I know not everyone will agree with that relationship and that’s fine but here’s the thing, her happiness matters more than anyone else’s opinion. When I see her smiling, laughing and just being herself I know she’s exactly where she needs to be and since we’re on the subject of opinions let’s address the one that pops up now and then. The anonymous commenter who keeps saying that she is a boy because she has short hair on the odd time that I do share a photo. Honestly, it’s 2025 and we’re still judging people by the length of their hair? She has short hair because she likes it short and it is easier to manage. Hair doesn’t decide someone’s gender, it just decides how long it takes to wash and dry. lol She’s happy, she’s confident, she’s herself and I couldn’t be prouder.

When I look at Becky now at 23 I just feel proud. Proud of the woman she’s become, proud of the way she works hard, chases the things she loves, her humour and the fact she’s just herself. Happy birthday to my eldest. My pasta loving, PJ wearing, duck appreciating, wrestling fan daughter!!

My eldest is 22!

Happy birthday to my eldest! Becky is 22 today! I don't feel old enough to have a child that age. She is the person which made me a mother and I was so terrified of becoming one and I thought she wouldn't like me. lol

What can I say about Becky? She is loving life and living it to it's fullest in the best possible way!

Nothing much has changed in Becky's life over the last year. She still works in a care home on permanent night shifts which she loves, well apart from the evenings when it's sunny out and she can hear people having fun outside. hehehe She did have a shaky couple of months where someone was moved onto her shift who was not a great member of staff, they preferred sleeping instead of working. At one point her and another were all set to walk out if this person didn't get a talking to. Becky has got into such a good routine when it comes to sleeping and eating properly although now I do worry she eats too much instead of not enough. Pasta with cheese most mornings when she gets in from work, then whatever we are eating on an evening and at work sandwiches, crisps, Dairylea dunkers, pot noodles and things like that. 

Becky has been seeing her girlfriend for about a year and a half and they are so happy together. They have had plenty of adventures, days out and nights away. They are so good for each other. Before Becky got with the girlfriend she wouldn't sing or dance in public but now she thinks nothing about getting up in the pub and having a good boogie and singing as hard as she can. 

We have had some fun times at the pub, especially playing bingo. Becky had never played bingo before and on her first evening playing won about 3 games. The second evening she did a false call and was mortified but it hasn't put her off.

What has made us laugh lots of times over the last year is Becky being misgendered. In people's defence she has short hair and wears tracksuits a lot so at first glance she can look like a boy. What we find funnier is when people say something like "good afternoon ladies, then second guess themselves and say gentleman too". Becky told me about a time when she was in some nightclub toilets and some girls screaming "there's a man in here". She shouted back "I'm a woman, I have boobs" or something along those lines. Thankfully now she has found a good barber to give her a decent haircut.

Becky is saving hard now to buy a house, she has given up on the driving lessons as she has realised that she can get about just fine using public transport. She has her eye on a house near us which would be perfect but I don't think that she will have enough saved before it has sold but it has really given her some motivation to save those pennies.

Becky is an amazing young lady and makes me proud every day! Don't get me wrong, there are times where she drives me insane: drinking too much coca cola, not washing the pots properly, not bringing her washing downstairs and having 15 showers a week but I wouldn't change her for the world.

Today we are having a family day together but tomorrow Becky is off on her travels on a little break away which she is so excited about. I will tell you all more about it next week.

When does the worry end?

Last year I wrote a blog post "Preconceptions about Parenting", it was all about the big ideas I had before I was a parent. How my girls wouldn't have a dummy, have limited screen time and so on. There was one thing I never mentioned, before I was a parent I thought when my girls hit certain milestones I thought I wouldn't worry as much. Well that hasn't happened yet!

Being pregnant I worried that I would miscarry, I had a miscarriage before I had Becky so that played on my mind. When the girls were little I worried a lot about them. They both had the the holes in their heart and open heart surgery, Ellie was practically deaf in one ear, they both had issues at school and lots of things inbetween.

I always thought now that they are older and are pretty settled in their lives I would worry less. Oh how naive was I. I think I worry more now than ever, just not about the things that I worried about when they were little.

Becky loves having a night away, not just at a friends house, I am fine with that but she has started going to concerts and club nights where she will stay at a hotel instead of paying for a taxi home. It does work out cheaper. A couple of weekends ago I couldn't sleep until I knew she was back in the hotel room after being to a club night. She text me at almost 3am. I don't even think it's her actions which worry me, she is a sensible lass, she doesn't drink that much and is like me and doesn't like talking to strangers. It's other people who worry me. People who could spike her drink, pinch her phone or wallet, beat her up or even worse. I often think that it was so much easier when she was little and I could control where she went. 

When my girls were little I knew all of their friends but now I would say I don't even know half. Ellie comes home from college and says so and so said this and I have to say who's that? I love that Ellie has made a ton of friends at college but they do worry me. She is doing electrical engineering and there is her and one other girl in her class of about 25 young adults. The only female friends that Ellie has are girlfriends of her male friends and she has said they're not real friends. Teenage boys scare me.

My biggest worry with Ellie at the moment is that she would rather walk into town and catch the bus instead of getting the college bus from college. Our town isn't the nicest and again it's other people which worry me. Thankfully at least the evenings are light now so there is less chance of her getting into trouble but it doesn't stop me worrying until she is home.

I have been lucky with my girls, they are on the whole good girls, they don't go looking for trouble and thankfully stay out of drama. A few weeks ago Becky and her friend took themselves out of a situation which could have caused a lot of trouble for them (I can't say anything to protect other people) but I am so proud of them. They saw things were heading in the wrong direction and took themselves home for a cup of tea.

I have thought I will worry less when the girls leave home but then I thought I will still be worrying about them feeding themselves, paying their bills and things like that. Maybe when they have been left home for about 10 years I might worry less. lol

When does the worry end?

Clothes shopping with my girls.

Up until the beginning of last year or so my girls weren't really interested in clothes shopping. Yes, they would come out with me and buy what they needed but they had no interest in spending a day in town just looking around shops but things have changed and I am loving it!

It all started just over a year ago when Ellie decided she wanted to wear skirts and dresses instead of the hoodies and oversized clothes that she usually wore. She jumped straight in, bought a few outfits and hasn't looked back and I am glad to say still wears the clothes that she bought a year ago. There are of course some days when she goes back to wearing tracksuits and hoodies when she wants to be comfy but it's mostly crop tops (which I am not a fan of), dresses and really smart clothes! 

We have had some fantastic shopping trips. She can think of nothing better than spending a few hours looking around Primark, yes it takes that long. She has got it down to perfection now. Walks around looking at what they have without picking anything up and then does a 2nd walk around picking up what she wants. I think in all of our trips there are only a few times that I have said no, you are not getting that. One was a skin tight body suit and the other was a dress which she might as well not have been wearing as it showed way too much off!

Becky has always been a tom-boy in the way that she dresses with hoodies, tracksuit bottoms and oversized t-shirts. She has never been overly confident when it comes to how she dresses and even now still wants to fade into the background but she has come to realise that her tracksuits and baggy clothes are just not suitable for nights out. She has been going out more to concerts, club nights and even to bingo at our local pub and has noticed everyone dresses up a little or a lot depending on where she is. She has been buying a few tops to go with the black jeans which she always wears but needed some more outfits.

Last week she asked me to go shopping with her to pick some new clothes. I jumped at the chance and really did think I would have my work cut out but it was easy! Usually Becky shops in the men's section but she went straight around the ladies section and was picking up a few things. Her basket was filling with nice tops, smart trousers, a couple of shirts and some plain black trainers. She knew she couldn't keep wearing her black and white Nike trainers for nights out but hates real shoes so black trainers were the way to go! They look really smart.

We stopped at the make up section which didn't impress her much, she might be wearing really nice clothes but make up is a total no go for her. She does make me chuckle. I picked up and eyelash curler and she thought it was some sort of torture device and couldn't get her head around why there were so many different shades of foundation until I explained that everyone's skin colour is different. She does make me chuckle.

We carried on to another shop and I could tell that Becky was feeling more confident in her clothing choices when she picked up some shorts. She only wears shorts around the house or when she knows we're not going to see anyone that she knows. This time she was buying shorts to wear while she's going out with friends in the summer.

One of the reasons I love shopping with my girls is that as much as they are about shopping they are all about refreshments too. hehehe When I go shopping with Stu he hates going to Costa or Starbucks but my girls love to stop off for a drink and last week we tried the Mango Dragonfruit Refresha drinks. I don't know if I am a fan. I wasn't overly keen on the taste but I couldn't stop drinking it. I will have to get another to make sure. hehehe

Now that I have been out shopping with Becky, Ellie is hinting at we need a shopping trip together. She better get saving as that girl thinks money grows on trees. 

Do you like going clothes shopping?

The joys of having older children.

My girls are 21 and 16 years old although if you were to ask their age they would say nearly 22 and 17. lol They always like to think they are older than they are. Parenting them has been a journey and it's never going to be over but I feel like we have all levelled up and entered a new stage of life.

I am really loving the age my girls are at the moment. There is a good balance of them needing me but being more independent at the same time. I have found so many joys while having older children. These are some of them.

There is no more rushing around on a morning for me. Becky works night shifts and is usually just getting into the house as I am getting out of bed at about 8am. Ellie gets herself up up now for college and wakes me up for a chat just before she leaves to get the bus. It's so nice not having that rush on a morning. Years ago it felt like I would never have mornings like this again but here we are.

The girls have realised that money doesn't grows on trees and has to be earned. Becky has stopped wasting money and is on a saving spree and even Ellie knows that if she wants money she has to help around the house. It is good that they now know about money, I remember years ago when Ellie had a tantrum about not being able to have a toy from a shop because it was overpriced for what it was. She now knows what things are worth, mostly and that is a good thing. There is also the perk of now that they have their own money they treat me to a chocolate bar or drink while we are out and gifts for special occasions. 

I don't like sharing my worries with my girls but they do pick up on things and are a great support. They have a different perspective and offer some fantastic advice, sometimes.

I feel like I could leave my girls home alone for a weekend (I wouldn't) and they would be able to feed themselves, not just snacks and junk food but real meals. Becky is an expert at pasta dishes and Ellie can make quite a few chicken dishes. The perks of this is that they sometime make me food and it is brilliant. I still cook our evening meal each night but sometimes my girls make my lunch and what is even more of a treat is getting a cup of tea made for me. Cuppas always taste better when someone else makes them.

Ellie is my beauty guru! She loves make up and all beauty related things and has introduced me to loads of new products and if I fancy a change from my make up I root around her make up drawers and bags and find something new to try. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't use primer or setting spray and I would still be using a rubbish mascara. 

Often I see drama on the Facebook group for our local area and of course it's only half the story but having girls who know a lot of people locally has it's advantages. I always find out the gossip. hehehe Or they will find out half a story, tell me and my dad or brother who are good for gossip fill in the blanks. hehehe

I am not the I.T expert in our house anymore, especially when it comes to things like social media, streaming music and TV. My girls are quite clever and have pointed me in the right direction many times. If I want to know anything about TikTok, they are the one's I turn to.

As my girls get older they have become not just my offspring but also my friend. We share hobbies, interests, and experiences on a more equal footing. We can chat for hours about what's going on in the world, TV shows and music and have so many laughs together which I couldn't imagine years ago.

Parenting older children is not what I expected, it's much more fun and still full of heart warming moments. I am sure in a few years things will change again but for now I am really enjoying this part of my parenting journey.

What is your favourite thing about having older children?

Crafty ideas to upcycle old baby clothes!

 Nearly all parents will have a box or two of keepsakes of when their child was a baby. Often it seems a shame to store them in a box where no one is going to see them. I know I do! We have at least 4 big plastic boxes of things from where the kids were little. The outfit they wore when they left the hospital, first shoes, party dresses and favourite blankets.

These items hold some of the fondest memories in our lives. There are so many ways to breathe new life into baby clothes and blankets. Whether you pick something from this list or experiment with a different craft.

Here are some different ways to upcycle or get crafty with old things that will help you to remember past times and give them a new place in your future.

A memory bear.

Reusing all those clothes that your child seems to outgrow quickly is a terrific idea. Although sewing a stuffed bear might seem challenging, there are plenty of free, easy to follow patterns available online. You'll have a sweet little teddy bear to treasure for years to come once you're done. You can either give it away as a keepsake, display it as a memory bear, or wait to give it to your grandchildren.

Memory book.

For a project that doesn’t require sewing, you could use old clothes and fabric to create and decorate a memory book or album. Use a large piece of fabric for the cover and fill the

pages with pieces of other items along with photographs of when your kids used to wear them. That way, when you look back and remember times past, you’ll have a piece of them

with you as well as a photo to look at.

Patchwork blankets.

Using a patchwork technique, you can create a new patchwork blanket by sewing square pieces of fabric from old blankets or clothes together. As you may use several items and each patch will tell a different story from when your children were babies, this is a great method to preserve memories. You could even embroider significant names or dates on each piece if you're good with a needle. After that you can pass your patchwork blanket on to other family members and future generations will be able to add their own patches to expand it.

Cushions.

A cushion made from pre loved baby clothes could make a great decorative piece for your bedroom or even a gift for grandparents. They’re simple to make, and you can do all sorts of shapes and sizes depending on what fabric you have on hand. Use the same patchwork method that you would use for creating the blanket. Or try following different tutorials for different patterns and styles.

Christmas decorations.

While Christmas is still a little way off yet, there’s no harm in getting prepared early with some handmade decorations.

Christmas is a time for the entire family to be together, share memories, carry out traditions and perhaps even start some new ones. Now is the ideal time to make cherished ornaments that you can display every year. If you're at a loss for ideas, there are lots of ways to decorate. Make patchwork stockings out of discarded garments, blankets, or muslins. Craft fabric ornaments shaped like snowmen, angels, penguins or polar bears. Your children will love receiving ornaments shaped like their first initials, since they will get to hang theirs on the tree every year.  

If you’ve got some old Christmas outfits taking up storage space, you could also try turning them into a memory ‘reindeer’ instead of a bear.

Repurpose as dolls clothes.

As children get a little older they might enjoy pretending to look after a doll as their “baby”. A really simple way to help them play out the fantasy and get more use out of old clothes is to repurpose them as outfits for the dolls. This can also work for stuffed animals.

Upcycle into new clothes and accessories.

Transforming pre loved clothes into new garments can be a fun and sustainable way to keep them for longer rather than throwing them away. You could add to existing clothes for example, covering pockets with bright patterned fabric can jazz up an otherwise plain pair of jeans. Or make new pockets for clothes, it will give your kids a place to keep all the things they collect when they’re out and about!

There are so many ways to breathe new life into baby clothes and blankets. Whether you pick something from this list or experiment with a different craft, I hope this has inspired

you to think twice before throwing items away or leaving them to gather dust.

Have you tried anything like this before?

Not a girly girl but still a girl.

Becky my eldest is 21 years old and I'd say for the last 8 years she has never been a girly girl. She's not into make up, skincare, clothes or anything like that but it doesn't mean she's not a girl. She wears tracksuits and baggy clothes, it's what she's comfortable in and why not? I used to say to her not another tracksuit but it's just who she is and who am I to judge.

She loves a good hoodie and to be fair she does feel the cold more than most people and they keep her warm but they are her thing. She must own about 30. Some she has for work, some she wears around the house and she does have some nice one's for going out.

Becky used to have really long hair, it was past her shoulders when she got it cut. Last year she decided to get it all chopped and went really short which took a lot of getting used to and she's had it cut since and it's a little bit shorter. She finds it easier to manage and thinks it's brilliant that it's brushed in about 20 seconds. 

Her short hair has caused some confusion, along with what she wears. Just the other week when the boiler man was here he was calling me madam and Stu Sir, when he was on his way out he said goodbye madam to Ellie my youngest and then looked at Becky and was a little bit puzzled. He just said goodbye. Becky thought it was funny.

It's not the first time she has been mistaken for a boy or lad. lol She was out with her friend in town a few months ago and her friend was attracting attention, only because she was dressing a Build A Bear while waiting for the bus when a man asked if her boyfriend had bought her that, Becky's friend was confused until the man pointed at Becky. To be fair she did have her back to him and when she turned around he was mortified. Becky thought it was funny. I am starting to think she dresses and looks how she does just for the laughs. lol

Once in a blue moon Becky will dress up in jeans and a nice top. She has a few fancy tops as she calls them and when she makes the effort she looks so different and a bit of a girly girl. That type of clothing is kept for special occasions though and times when I say a tracksuit is really not suitable.

For years, when Becky was younger she wore girly clothes and felt uncomfortable in them but still wore them just to fit in. She's past that now and wears what she wants to wear and if people don't like it tough luck. Their opinions do not matter. I am glad and happy that she has found the confidence to be her, she's not a girly girl but she's still a girl.

Books my girls and I have loved over the years!

I never thought I would say this but I miss celebrating World Book Day. When my girls were at school they used to dress up as someone from a book and it was always a fun day. Finding out it was World Book Day got me thinking about books my girls and I have loved over the years.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a story about a small caterpillar who emerges from an egg and begins eating everything in sight. After six days of eating fruits, sweets, and “junk” food, he gets a stomach ache. On the seventh day, the caterpillar eats a “nice leaf” and feels much better.

I loved this as a child and my girls did too! It is one of those stories which hasn't aged and is still much loved now.

We're going on a bear hunt.

Follow and join in the family's excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river and squelch through the mud in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest!

I remember first discovering this book while on placement from college at a nursery, the kids went crazy for this book and I understand why as my girls loved it too! Ellie's class at school did a whole assembly about it when she was younger. I wrote a whole blog post about it years ago which includes the cutest video of Ellie reading it, along with all of the actions. hehehe

Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Filled with laugh out loud hilarious text and cartoons, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series follows Greg Heffley as he records the daily trials and triumphs of friendship, family life and middle school where undersized weaklings have to share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner and already shaving!

My girls both loved the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and read most of them until a few years ago. I have just looked and there is a still a new one released every year. We went on to watch the films and loved them too. I would say these were the books which made my girls love reading!

Each Peach Pear Plum.

Each Peach Pear Plum is a timeless picture book classic from the bestselling illustrator/author team Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Each beautifully illustrated page encourages young children to interact with the picture to find the next fairy tale and nursery rhyme character.

When I was little Each Peach Pear Plum was one of my favourite books. It used to be the one that my Grandad was probably sick of reading to me.

Anything by Roald Dahl.

I used to love all of Roald Dahl's books, I think even before I could read a whole one myself I would listen to the audio cassettes. It is hard to pick my favourite but it would have to be between Matilda, George's Marvellous Medicine and Boy. At school for a whole term we did a project about The Witches. The term ended with us watching the film which was brilliant. I'll never forget the gasps when the Grand high witch removes her mask for the first time. Scary stuff when you're only about 11 years old.

Becky loved Charlie and the Chocolate factory. She read the book before seeing the movies and she prefers the Gene Wilder one rather than the Johnny Depp one. Ellie did read and did about The BFG at school but her favourite was Matilda. She loved it when the newest Matilda film was released as she loves all the songs too.

I can't write this blog post and not mention the Harry Potter book series. This is the only series of books which I have made sure to get the next instalment as soon as it's released.

What are your favourite books which you and your children both loved?

21 today! #MySundaySnapshot

Today is Becky's birthday, 21 today! Where has the time gone? She is the one that made me a mam and I couldn't be any more prouder of the amazing young woman she has become!

It sounds horrible to say but nothing much has happened in the last year of Becky's life. She is still working in a care home on permanent nights and loves it. She started driving lessons and then stopped as the instructor reduced her hours and has struggled to find a new instructor. She has a good bunch of friends who she spends loads of time with and sometimes it feels like I hardly see her between working and being out with her mates. I suppose that's what happens when our children grow up. hehehe

We started the celebrations yesterday and spent the night in a hotel in Hull just so we could go to the all you can eat place on the evening. (the buses are rubbish here). If all has gone to plan we have had a hotel breakfast and this afternoon we're going to the pub with family and we will probably have a takeaway tonight.

How I became a mum! #NotJustAMom

 Here I am linking up with the Not Just A Mom ladies: Adrienne at Mom Life With Adrienne, Dara at Not In Jersey, Jen at Show Me and Sweet Tea, Joanne at Slices of Life, Lauren at Don't Mind our Mess and Sarah at Toronto Sam.

This months prompt is: How we became a mom!

I didn't feel like a mum until well after Becky my eldest was born. It is a bit of a shock having your first child. You are pregnant for nine months with a typical pregnancy and then you have a real life human to take care of.

Everything seemed a bit rushed when I had Becky. I got sent from a normal midwife appointment to the hospital for a scan as the midwife was a little concerned how Becky was lying inside of me. It turns out she was breech and I needed a c-section. I had a birth plan and c-section wasn't in it! I had a couple of days to prepare for it and I remember going into the hospital and the nurse asking if I was OK and ready? Nope, I wasn't. I remember saying "what if she doesn't like me and I am not a good mum". I felt so stupid as soon as it came out of my mouth and the nurse gave me a hug, chuckled and said it's OK. I was terrified but the nurse said every first time mum has some sort of fear.

Becky was born and it still didn't feel real even when she was in my arms, when I was trying to breastfeed her, changing her nappy or even just looking at her.

It is such a shock going from only caring about yourself to caring about a little human who depends on you for everything. 

I think the moment I became a mum was when I said enough was enough with breastfeeding. I tried feeding breastfeeding her from when she was born until she was about 5 days old and it wasn't doing either of us any good. The midwife was visiting every day to give me injections because of the c-section and I asked her if I was a bad mum if I stopped breastfeeding and moved over to bottle feeding? She said I was a good mum because I was making a decision which was best for myself and my child.

Making decisions for yourself is tough enough but making them for a child too is something else but I have gone on to do it with Becky and with Ellie my youngest daughter too. I think making those tough decisions really make you a mother!

When did you first feel like a mum?

2 more weeks of school left!

Here we are, the final couple of weeks of Ellie being at school. She has 8 more GCSE exams to do and unlike previous years she will have to go into school. In previous years schools have let the students go on study leave at the start of the half term that we have just had but since Covid they are encouraged to stay in school. The kids are not having normal lessons, they are just revising for the next exam that they have. Ellie's last exam is on the 16th of this month and then all the kids will go back in on the Monday to get their shirts signed, pick up their hoodies and do whatever else they are doing.

Ellie decided that she wanted to buy a couple of teachers some presents to say thank you. Her English teacher who has been amazing. A couple of years ago I made her cry at parents evening by saying that Ellie had never been interested in English lessons until now, she comes home and talks about what she has been learning and the teacher broke down crying. She took on a small class of kids who weren't doing so well but had potential and has always said she will be using Ellie as an example in years to come to other students of what you can achieve if you put the work in. Ellie is also getting her maths teacher a little something, he has been fantastic too and has really pushed her to work hard and understand everything.

As much as Ellie can't wait to leave school and enjoy a long summer she has said she is going to miss it. Her friends who are going to different colleges, the kids in other years that she gets on with, the fun she had in lessons and she said leaving school and starting college is such a grown up thing. She's not scared she's just a little wary of what is to come.

Ellie said she is going to enjoy the next couple of weeks, it is much more relaxed now and they are getting plenty of down time between revision sessions. Just before half term there was a group of the kids playing Stuck In The Mud, a game Ellie hadn't played since she was in infant school. Then there is of course prom to look forward to.

When she leaves school she has 2 and a half months of relaxing, I was going to say she doesn't have much planned but she does. Days out with friends, she trips out with me planned and she is trying to convince her sister to go some places too. I've told her that she will have to help around the house a little more if she wants extra money for all the spending that she has planned. It's going to be strange having Ellie home and her not going to school. I think we are both going to enjoy this summer!

Do you have teens leaving school this year?