Reflections of a Single Mum

Hello, dear bloggers, Sorry I haven't written for such a long time - what can I say? 2018 has been a very challenging year for me, hence my long hiatus. This time last year, I had offered for my youngest son's girlfriend to move in with us to escape a horrible situation that she was facing at home.  Me being the eternal rescuer          ( sometimes to my own detriment), I offered a place of refuge without hesitation as her situation had too many similarities to my own many years ago.  In other words, domestic violence. Little did I realise that my own mental health would take a serious dive. As much as I became very fond of this dear girl, what I didn't take into deep consideration was the impact that her living under my roof would have on me.  Don't get me wrong, I don't regret it because it gave me the opportunity to show her true, unconditional love - a love that she had never experienced before.  What I DO regret is that I shoul...

As someone who suffers from mental health issues, it's your mind that you battle with the most. Anxious thoughts lead to depression and depression can lead to ending your life. And I'm speaking from experience. When you lose someone close to you, no amount of words can describe what you're feeling.  All you feel is a constant ache in your heart. When you lose someone who was once a great supporter of your life, I have found that that ache is always there in varying degrees.  Being a single mother, as I have said before, is hard - really hard. Add to that a lack of support and at times, it's unbearable. My beloved Mum was my greatest support.  I would ring her every day and we would discuss a wide range of topics, I would pour out my troubles to her and she would not only listen, but would always offer words of comfort.  She was my rock, my constant.  Now that she is gone, time certainly does not ease the pain, or heal that pain. I continually face chall...

I always took being a mother seriously and never once thought that when my children grew up, my job was done.  Not that I interfere in their lives, on the contrary, they all know that I will always support them, no matter what decisions they make. I may offer my advice or make a suggestion, but I don't interfere.  I have made countless mistakes in raising them on my own, and I have to work really hard not to beat myself up over those mistakes.  No one gives you a manuel when each one is born, because, obviously, they are all born with different personalities and characters.  Even if someone was to hand you a manuel, it would be so incredibly overwhelming with information and warnings that you would probably scream "no, I can't handle THAT!" but, somehow, you do. I believe that that is why our Heavenly Father doesn't want us to know our futures because He alone knows what lies ahead of us, and yes, a lot of what we face is heartbreaking and you think that you w...