Chronicles of an Inspired Single Mom

It’s crazy to think that we are on day 366 of 366 days of 2024! Wow what a ride! You may be wondering, girl where have you been, or jeez she is the most inconsistent blogger ever or hey she finally found the time to write a post…then yes you are right with all of these thoughts! Hello my lovelies! Welcome back or welcome to my space where I aim to inspire you with the musings of my ordinary everyday life.

Life has truly been life-ing but as the curtains begin to draw on this rollercoaster of a ride, as I reflect on 2024 all I feel is immense gratitude. To be able to make it to the end of another is a milestone. So many people started this year and did not make it to this point. I am happy to have made it to this point!

So what have I been up to? The last time I wrote a blog post was…back in March (I know…very shameful but hear me out before you judge me) and I was talking about getting fit. The truth is I’m in a worse position from where I started! Many factors played apart in that.

Firstly less than two weeks after I clicked publish on my blog post in March, I packed up the house that my kids and I lived in for just a little over 7 years, put majority of our belongings in storage and moved into a shared house. This was a climax to a fight and struggle to keep a roof over our heads for over a year. It was also a show of a white flag and a humbling of self to ask for and accept help. It was a scary and uncomfortable 6 months, but it was necessary. The discipline and lessons learnt during that season was invaluable. Now looking back, it was the best decision I made. We are now settled in our new home and doing so much better.

As if the move wasn’t a big enough adjustment, we had many other challenges, triumphs and situations to navigate as a family. I levelled up in my counselling qualification, kept up with my swimming lessons and navigated many committees and events as well as making time for a social life. I got a makeover! I cut my hair and pierced my nose (something I wanted to do since I was younger) which was short lived lol. My daughter and a few close friends weren’t too happy with my new feature. Interestingly, one night after prayer asking God to keep or not to keep my nose ring, whilst I was asleep it would seem that Jesus took my nose ring…lol I never saw that sucker again and the hole closed instantaneously. Remember that book I told you that I was going to write…well I did write the book! It’s in its second phase of editing, I am super nervous, scared and excited about having it published! But at the right time in 2025 it will be published!

My children have grown and blossomed. My daughter did exceptionally well in her GCSES! I’m talking Oxford type of grades. I was so proud..I still am; but the greatest highlight was seeing her looking like the queen she is for her prom. It didn’t hurt that she won Prom queen. Whohoooo!!!!

My little bear (he told me today he’s a big boy now stop calling him that) is thriving. His love for lego knows no bounds! I am definitely proud of him for becoming a published author this year. (Even though I think it’s low key extortion and the biggest scheme to man to have children write their stories, then the company turns around and publishes it, making all the profits and then have the parents pay for said book……hmmmm) His short piece is available to be read in the book ” My Animal Diary.”

This year I have allowed myself to truly grieve, to say…I’m not ok and step back from things and people to heal and come to grips with all I’ve lost and been through. I finally went to a few therapy sessions as well. I survived a car accident that should have seen my car written off and me hospitalised! I navigated the threat of homelessness with God never allowing me to be on the streets. I came face to face with the law, seeing first hand just how unfairly black people are treated in simple situations..bias still continues. I have walked through a major family trauma. I have had the opportunity to visit a few of the most beautiful tourist places in England and was also given the opportunity to be apart of many wonderful projects; but the biggest highlight for me this year was opening my heart to love again, and boy I am happier than a fat kid eating a triple layer of chocolate cake. lol

Sometimes we measure our successes by the tangible things that we can see, the possessions we have acquired, the goals we set out to achieve and did! Life is a journey that sometimes like a satnav takes you through a route you never anticipated? What do you do then? Trust the process or go the route you think is best? I am learning to trust the process.

So though I am 20 lbs heavier than where I started this year, I didn’t publish my book, I didn’t blog as much as I wanted to and I didn’t bother to start the next phase in qualifying as a counsellor; this year has undoubtedly made me stronger, wiser and even more resilient. My faith in Christ is deeper and my children and I have grown even closer. We are happy and thriving and that’s all that matters.

The 2025 calendar has already been opened. Goals are being set. Expectations are high! Both success and failure are inevitable.My encouragement to you: whatever storms passed your way in 2024, continue to rebuild and cherish this beautiful gift you have called life. As long as you have breath you can continue to build, to stop and restart. Don’t be closed off to what life has to offer. Accept the challenges and laugh a little more or harder in the spaces of joy.

Thank you as always for reading my blog and I wish you all the best for what the new year has to offer. Until next time…Besos