Goodbye 2021, Hello 2022: Looking Back and Looking Forward

What a year… how can I sum up 2021? Not just one word can sum up this past year. It was eventful, all-encompassing, joyful, exhausting, exhilarating, busy and exciting. Just *a few* words to describe this year. It was anything but mundane that’s for sure! Ignoring COVID it was the best year for our new little family <3

January to March I felt so uncomfortable and ready to pop. I struggled to move and spent my final trimester in and out of hospital for check-ups and false alarms. (See my 3rd Trimester update here). I then literally popped on 13th March when my body couldn’t grow anymore (thanks excess fluid!) and my little ray of sunshine Rory was born. He was born at 1:21pm weighing 7lb 7oz and was an experience like no other. I finally feel ready to delve back into and reflect on his birth so will hopefully share that soon. It was a traumatic birth and I’m finally coming to terms with it nearly 10 months later. 

The rest of the year I’ve spent learning to be a mummy to my little boy. It has been the most amazing thing ever but also the hardest job I’ve ever done. The love I have for my little boy is out of this world but that also means the amount I’ve worried is insane. I’ve always been a worrier so I have stressed out a lot whenever there was anything potentially wrong with my little one. 

Rory’s gone from being my little baby and grown in front of my eyes to my cheeky little monkey. I really can’t believe I’m back to work on Tuesday and Rory starts nursery. I have such mixed feelings about it all. I have to go back to work as we’ve got bills to pay and my SMP finished last month but I know going to nursery is the right thing for Rory and my family. I’m extremely grateful to have had all this time off with Rory but I’m sad to no longer be with him 24/7. 

I really did think that COVID would have gone by now and we’d all be back to our ‘normal’ lives. I feel lucky that restrictions started lifting when they did so that Rory was able to socialise and go to classes but I do feel sad and angry that I was deprived of a completely normal birth and time in hospital and not have Tim with me the whole time. I’m grateful I didn’t have to labour in a mask but it was lonely and scary being by myself for the first few hours of labour and then the following days recovering by myself with a new born and only having my husband at the end of a phone.

COVID is here to stay unfortunately but I hope (ever hopeful!) that this will be the year we can go abroad and start showing Rory the world! I’ve missed travelling so much these past couple years as I’m sure many others have too. I’m craving the sun, seeing friends and family abroad and exploring new places. Hopefully by the time this year is up we will have been somewhere! (Fingers crossed!)

Looking forward to 2022, rather than having specific goals I’m going to have a word to focus on instead. My word for the year is going to be consistency:

To be consistent with my family. Stick to my working hours – start early and finish on time to pick up my little boy from nursery. Be present in the time I have with him every day even if that is a few hours before and after work and make the most of the weekends as a little family.

To be consistent with my blog. I love writing and when I don’t have a chance to unwind and write for this blog I feel like something is missing. It is time for me.

To be consistent with time for me. Especially as a new mum, time for myself often gets pushed to the bottom of the list. I find that waking up at 6 I can have half an hour to myself before the rest of the house wakes. Even if that is time for a cup of tea in peace sitting on the sofa or time to get some words off my chest and down on paper for this blog. I also want to be more consistent in my mental health. Taking time out to get my nails done or get a massage to chill out. Time to get out for that run or practice some yoga. I know I will feel so much better for it as I always do afterwards.

So here’s to 2022! I hope you have the year you deserve. Let’s take it one day at a time. As they say the days are long but the years are short! Let’s be having you 2022…

Until next time,
Cathers xx

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1 Comment

  1. January 5, 2022 / 3:39 am

    Great content! Keep up the good work!