family Archives - Page 2 of 5

What It’s Like To Have A Parent With Arthritis

May 12, 2016 · 15 Comments

One of the things I never go too much into detail about on here is my family, I think half the time you must all think I come from wolves. Well, I have an older sister who lives in Australia, two younger sisters who live here and my mum, sadly my dad passed away almost 14 years ago. My life has always been a bit up and down due to the fact that my mum has always been unwell, she has suffered awfully her entire life and I can’t remember a day when she has been well.

She has a rare blood disorder called I.T.P and she also suffers terribly from arthritis, I know you’re probably thinking that arthritis is something that your gran or granddad should suffer from but my mum is only in her mid forties and has had it for many years.

Little things that you and I take for granted could be such a struggle for her like brushing her hair or walking, sometimes she can’t walk more than 50 yards without having to stop and use me, someone or something as a leaning post because her knees have seemingly ‘given up’ on her as she likes to put it. Sometimes the pain gets too much for her and can cause her to cry she is in so much pain, it can cause her to be bed bound and be so helpless which is awful.

Throughout growing up and before moving out I was my mums main caregiver so I would always make sure that I would make life easier for us both, I would do the shopping because she found it hard to hike around the shops and hold the bags. We had things easy to hand like scissors for opening things as they stopped her using her hands for opening things like packages and packets, an electric can opener was an essential kit in the kitchen as it helped when making dinner and helped my mum with being able to keep her independence.

It was obviously very frustrating for a teenager to not know whether one day was going to be a good day from the next, not being able to make plans with your friends just in case you needed to help or making plans and then having to cancel them. Even now I am constantly checking in on my mum or when we are together I am making sure I am doing everything because it’s instinct.

Advice For Anyone Living With Someone With Arthritis

Be understanding – Anyone who has an illness probably feels like a burden, I know I do when I am unwell so just try to be as understanding as possible that they might not be up for getting out of the house today for an activity you had planned or you may have to cut short your shopping trip because of a bout of pain.
Encourage them to do daily activities like mild exercises to help ease joint stiffness – Swimming is a great activity for this!
Make sure they get enough sleep – A regular sleeping pattern is something that can really help as it means their body is well rested.
Understand what medication they taking especially if you have to help them get it ready.
Most of all be supportive.

I wrote this post in conjunction with Adjustamatic who do wonderful adjustable beds and chairs which are perfect for people with arthritis and conditions alike.

*This is a collaborative post

8 Photos of Happiness Tag

September 11, 2015 · 1 Comment

I was tagged by Rebecca over at Futures to do the 8 Photos of Happiness tag and I thought seeing as I don’t really do many tag posts it was a great one to do, especially as I can share a few photos to let you guys be a little nosey into my life a little.

Rules and explanation of this tag

Thank your nominator/s and link them in your post.

Link the creator (Ariel’s little corner of the internet)

Post your 8 photos of happiness;

The photos can be anything that represents a moment, object, place or feeling that makes you happy

Pop in a brief description of the photo, why you chose it or let the photos do the talking!

Spread the happiness and tag up to ten other bloggers!

I love this photo as its of me and my dad when I was only a couple of days old, it makes me so happy to see it as there isn’t that many pictures of me as a baby let alone pictures of us together. Its such a special moment and I’m so glad that I get to treasure it.

I remember this day like it was yesterday, Tapanga was exactly 6 days old and she was the most amazing littlest thing that just loved sleeping on me. I think what I love most about this is the fact that its just a completely natural shot, its not posed or anything as I didn’t know it was being taken.

There is a funny story behind this picture. I had just moved into a new flat and you had to put the recycling bags outside on a Wednesday, it was a Wednesday so I quickly popped the bag outside my door as a gust of wind slammed the door behind me locking Tapanga inside! The fire brigade had to come to break in and let me inside while she had just slept through this whole ordeal while hugging her toy, she looked so peaceful and it always makes me so happy to think she never once knew I was gone for what felt like an eternity for me.

Tapanga was a bridesmaid at one of my friends weddings and it was such an amazing, magical day! Everyone looked wonderful and Tapanga looked like a little princess.

I love this photo for just how pure and angel like Tapanga looks, I caught her at the right moment when we were in the flower gardens at the park and I just love it.

I love this photo just simply for it showing how far I have come on my journey, it makes me so happy to finally be able to look at myself and see a difference.

I love both these pictures for simply showing a friendship that has lasted so long! We have known each other over 25 years and still act like kids whenever we are together. The photo on the left is us looking at my little sister in disgust because we hated the fact that we both had babies enter the house at the same time and the picture on the right is us celebrating her 21st birthday when we threw her a surprise party as she thought she wouldn’t have one because she had just had a baby of her own.Lastly this has to be my favourite picture of the moment as it just oozes pure happiness and embraces such a beautiful friendship! This was taken on a drunken night in Panamas when we got a little bit mirror photo happy when Tanya and I went on holiday to Magaluf this year, the amount of laughter that nearly bought us to tears this night was hilarious. Tanya ended up convincing some man that I was an avid fisherman, my tattoo on my collarbone was the date I started fishing and my Ed Sheeran lyrics on my arm are in fact a very famous fisherman quote… It was beautiful!

So there you have my 8 photos of happiness! Thank you Rebecca for tagging me. If you want to go and show her post some love you can do by popping over to it.

I am not sure who I want to tag so if you want to do it please feel free to and leave your links below if you do, if you’ve already done it please leave them too because I am super nosey and would love to have a look.

Things You Wished People Told You Before Having Children

January 9, 2015 · 13 Comments

As many of you know I am mum to a miniature human, she is nearly 10 and she is the most funniest, independent, creative, and messy creature to have ever graced my life. She makes me smile on a daily occurrence with her little Pangaisms and her love of life. Although she is my little ray of sunshine she can sometimes be a very dark cloud but even then I wouldn’t change her for the world. I just wish someone would have told me…

Trust your instincts – Everyone has opinions and tons of advice on how to look after children but when it comes to looking after this small human who has been placed in your possession, there is no rule book. Trust your instincts because you will know exactly what to do when the time comes to it.

Buying 500 baby grows, 10 prams and enough booties to go around a whole baby army is not needed – Yes, babies do need to be changed and driven around in comfort but excessiveness is not really needed, as for booties they pull them off, they get lost and you end up wasting hours of your life looking for them. Save your money.

Your home shall never be clean again – Children are like mini toy exploding bombs, they also like to touch and pour everything out. They are also magicians. They. Get. Into. EVERYTHING.

You shall never have a light coloured home – Goodbye dreams of a nice bright home with cream sofas, white walls and light coloured rugs. Hello dark colours and your ability to hide stains. As for the drawings on the walls, have some spare paint for touch ups or the magic eraser sponge is your friend.

You will never go to the toilet or have a bath in peace ever again – Tapanga is nearly 10 and this is still a factor, as soon as that door closes I am needed and NOW! Whether its because she needs a sandwich, to tell me she loves me, to ask how to do something or what the answer to 2536 x 2693 is (6,829,448 just in case you were wondering).

You will know the theme tune to the most annoying shows – Dora the Explora I am looking at you! That song has been embedded in my head for years. Now its along the lines of Liv & Maddie and Girl Meets World, I find myself humming them on the bus far too often.

You will never be on time, ever! Even when you’re going somewhere by yourself – Even if you are running three hours ahead of schedule I can tell you now, you will be late. You will end up screaming at everyone to get out of the house and that you are late multiple times. You will have to put shoes on while running down the path. You will forget something almost every time and have to go back for it. If you are going somewhere by yourself you’re still late because you’ve tried to do everything before leaving or worse you’re by yourself and relished in the fact you could sit in quiet for five minutes giving you no time to get ready.

Bedtime lasts for hours – All of a sudden your child has a sudden urge to use the toilet 16 times, the chorus of ‘there must be something wrong with you if you’re on that toilet again’ echo through the hallways, they need a drink, light, cuddle, kiss, teddy and many other things. Finally all is settled and calm. They are up again. you remember that time two years ago when they fell over in the playground? No, I don’t either. They do. The post traumatic stress from it has just kicked in. Anything to be awake.

Apart from all of that these little angels are a joy to have in your life and will make you smile daily.

What would you tell someone before they have children?

Christmas

December 28, 2014 · 2 Comments

I was fortunate enough to have been surrounded by my family and my best friend on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, receiving many gorgeous presents off all of them.

Christmas Eve was spent quickly running to the shops to grab a few last minute things and then we spent the rest of the day watching movies, singing Christmas songs and baking cakes for Christmas desserts. Christmas Eve evening was spent eating scallops and drinking prosecco with Tanya who then stayed the night and did presents with us in the morning before being picked up to go to her dad’s house.

Christmas Day we did presents and ate egg sandwiches, something which has become quite a tradition among us. My sisters then arrived and we did more presents, watched Frozen and then had dinner, by then I was so pooped I just wanted to go to bed and sleep the night away.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and got to spend some quality time with your families.

How Am I Going To Survive The Summer Holidays?

July 24, 2014 · 3 Comments

Its that time of year again when all the schools break up and hoards of children are inflicted on the poor general public… I know I say it like I absolutely hate all children which I quite clearly don’t as I have one myself but the abundance of rude mouthy children that I encounter on a day to day basis is something I shudder when I think about. I’m looking forward to spending a lot of time with Tapanga as she is undoubtedly the most amazing little human being I have ever encountered but I am not looking forward to the constant knocks on the door followed by the following conversation which I get on a all too regular basis…

Child – “Tapangas mum, can Tapanga come out to play?”

Me – “No not today”

Child – “WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?”

Me – “Because I said so”

Child – “TELL ME WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!”

Me – “Because we are busy and I said so!”

Child – “Tapanga, Tapanga your mum said you can’t play out! WHYYYYYYY?”

Tapanga – “Because she said I’m not allowed, we are doing something”

Me – “Goodbye!”

What I really want to say in them instances is ‘F@*k off you little rat!’. I mean I am all for children playing out and I know they ask questions but these children are so rude most of the time and this is one of the politer conversations I have with them, most of the time these conversations are shadowed by the kissing of teeth and the use of the phrase ‘That’s a neck!’ which only my common sense tells me what it must mean because I am way too old to know what any childhood lingo means, I mean in my day bad meant good!.

I’m trying to figure out how to survive because I am far from the mothering type, I wish I could stay home and do tons of arts and crafts while whipping up a batch of cookies while baking a cake with Tapanga or I wish I could take us on wonderful picnics where we find loads of things to scrapbook but I can’t because I am not that type – I would love to be but I just don’t have that inbuilt mother greatness installed inside me.

Instead Tapanga and I are going to do things that we both enjoy so I don’t send myself crazy and she doesn’t get bored. Some of the things we have planned include a bus tour around London, visiting Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Going to the new IMAX Cinema in Bluewater, Chessington World of Adventures, day trips to the beach and swimming.

I might just grab myself a pair of earplugs so that I can sit blissfully and not have to listen to any children but my own.

Please tell me how I am going to survive the summer holidays?

xxx