Monday 21 December 2015

A Year of Facebook - THANK YOU!

This time last year, after dabbling in the bloggersphere via Twitter, I decided to set up a Facebook page. I was mortified at the thought of having a page that crashed and burned so I messaged all my friends-with-kids and gently begged them to like my page. I also pimped the page out to my existing Twitter followers.

I had no expectations, really. In fact, as I sat with a glass of wine creating the page I very nearly didn't bother publishing it. What would be the point? Twitter seemed to be the heartland of blogging and I had reservations about creating another account I'd have to update regularly. Still, there wasn't a lot on telly that evening and I had absolutely nothing to lose...


Just twelve months (and 325,000 followers, WTF?!) later, I think it's fair to say that the wine-fuelled decision to put the blog on Facebook will go down in history as one of the better life choices I've made (much better than my life choice as a teenager to pluck my eyebrows into tiny squiggles, I've spent a decade trying to encourage those skinny bastards to grow back).

Largely off the back of the whole social media explosion, 2015 has been a year of firsts.
  • I have realised, for the first time, that it really is possible to change career direction in favour of doing something you love. I have spent six months writing a book, the final proof of which is being sent to me over Christmas. Who knew, ey. Who bloody knew.
  • I have realised, for the first time, that sometimes people say mean things online. I struggled with negative comments at first - it's an indescribably shitty feeling to read nasty comments that make you want to crawl into bed and sob. But it's okay, really it is, because I've also realised that you cannot please all of the people all of the time - nor should you try to. Onwards and upwards (wankers).
  • Most importantly, I have realised for the first time that I am not alone in finding motherhood more than a bit testing at times. It turns out there are a fair few like-minded parents out there experiencing the feelings mash-up of 'I've never known love like it' and 'I'm not cut out for this shit.' Oh how I wish I'd known this when the Doubt Cloud first descended almost four years ago.
So, this post is simply a THANK YOU. For picking me up after a bad day, for making me wet myself with laughter (genuinely wetting myself at least twice) and without exaggeration for changing my life a little bit.


Happy Christmas, and here's to 2016.

Much love
xx

PS - I do realise my blog page is temporarily looking a bit weird - I fucked up the template and quite frankly cannot be arsed to rectify it until the New Year.

PPS - I also realise it's not New Year's Eve yet but this is probably my last blog of 2015 as I plan to spend the next week drinking Prosecco and shouting, "WELL SO COULD ANYONE" along to The Pogues. Always drink responsibly though folks. Hic.



 

25 comments:

  1. You have genuinely brightened my day on many occasions. I feel like you often read my mind and thank you for saying out loud all the things most people think but will never admit to! Much love and merry Christmas! Xx

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  2. I know a lot of Mums, they are all amazing and they all LOVE you. I can not believe anyone would write something negative. You manage to put into words all of my emotions and sum up those ever so difficult days. You make motherhood a little bit more manageable.

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  3. Frankly, your honest blog has made me feel so much better - I am not the only one!! I have genuinely needed the Tena lady on many occasions over the last year. Even now my boys are 8 years old, your blog and other contributions resonate with me and I have no hesitation in recommending your wall to other fellow parents. Keep it up - simply awesome xxx

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  4. My sis is 18wks preg and i'm seriously considering getting her a copy of your book so that when her baby is 12 weeks old and she is honestly wondering if she is messing it all up badly, she can open it up, read, and realise she is doing just fine!

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  5. Your fb posts regularly cheer me up and make me laugh, thanks! Re the negative comments, there's a sh*t load of weirdos and bitter people out there, but what can you do!!! Just try to ignore :)

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  6. Ruth would have fixed that template by now :-)
    Have a very Happy Christmas with many long lie ins and plenty of AA batteries to go around!

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  7. The doubt cloud is the best description! That bastard cloud is still hanging around after 5 years!! You are awesome, wish you had been around earlier in my mothering career!

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  8. I'm a first time mum of a now seven week old baby boy. Your blog certainly helps to entertain and reassure me as I spend hour after hour bouncing on a gym ball (no, not some highly motivated fitness regime- it's the only way I can get him to sleep...!)

    Keep up the good work! x

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  9. Your blog should be required reading for all new Mums !! I'm a Grandmother who dearly wishes blogs like yours existed in the early 80s when I was a new Mum. I have laughed out loud (embarrassingly on a crowded bus home from work) at some of your blogs and the comments. I regularly share them with my Daughter (she's not on fb) who has 2 little girls aged 3 and 9 mths.
    Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

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  10. Your blog should be obligatory reading for all new Mums !! I'm a Grandmother who dearly wishes blogs like yours existed in the early 80s when I was a new Mum. I have laughed out loud ( embarrassingly on a crowded bus home from work) at some of your blogs and the comments. I regularly share them with my Daughter (she's not on fb) who has 2 little girls aged 3 and 9 mths.
    Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

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  11. No, thank YOU! Fuck the haters. Keep doing what you're doing. (Although it might be time to stop wetting your pants). Looking forward to the book and super chuffed that your publishers liked my back, sack and crack story. Merry Christmas! Xx

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  12. Thing to remember is that your blog helps the rest of us to STOP sobbing and crawl out of bed - thank you!

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  13. I really love your post, I was heading into a black hole when I discovered you and realised that not everyone finds motherhood easy and I was not alone! In fact most people find it as hard as I have. I feel you have truly helped me beat my post natal depression! You are honest and I love that! Not many mums are, I agree with the post above, this blog should definetly be given to every new mum!

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  14. Please ignore any further negative comments you get - they clearly are in denial/don't know what they are talking about! Once again you strike a perfect balance with your mash up statement here. Have a wonderful Christmas! Brilliant song choice too xxx

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  15. As a mum of 8 yr old an 2 yr old boys this blog reminds me of things I have already been through an things I am going through again!! (Some I had forgotten about!) The replies on the posts have me crying with laughter an realising I'm not alone and am in fact doing a good job!! Thank you for having the courage to publish your blog. Happy Christmas to you an your family xx

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  16. You are simply brilliant and well done for writing a book! I will be buying it. As for the nasty comments, there's always some dickhead who thinks they know better. Merry Christmas and happy drinking!! Love to you and your family xxxx������

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  17. Very important lesson here- best decisions are made aver a bottle of wine! I discovered your blog at a very low point (feeling useless and a crap mum) - it has made me laugh so much and most importantly FEEL NORMAL.
    Keep up the fab work and keep drinking! xxx

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  18. very important lesson to be learned here - best decisions are made over a bottle of wine! I first discovered your blog during a very low point of feeling useless and a crap mum - it has made me laugh so much and most importantly FEEL NORMAL.
    Keep up the dab work and keep drinking!xxx
    Laura (threesypeasy.com)

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  19. Well congratulations on the milestone, as a full time father its nice to know I'm not doing any worse than anyone else out their with our year old daughter and almost 4 year son.

    Hope you have a merry christmas and happy new year and I look forward to the next years worth of blogs/posts.

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  20. Second the theory that not all drunken decisions are wrong ones! Amazing year and how exciting that your book is basically DONE - such a huge achievement. (I'm currently writing a novel - early days and I feel totally blah about it some days but am keeping in mind how awesome it will feel when it's finished!)
    Anyway, congratulations on a fantastic, life-changing year and I look forward to reading more on the shits and giggles in 2016. Happy Christmas!

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  21. I love your blog! I became a mum this year and I can't tell you how refreshing and hilarious I have found reading your blog (especially at three in the morning when you really do need cheering up!) Love the fact that you swear like a trooper (makes me feel better about referring to my son as shitbag at times) and give such an honest account of family life. Merry Christmas to you and your family! Kirsty x

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  22. I often recommend your blog when I recognise a Mum overdosed on Hello or believing that all other new Mums look like the ones in the adverts. Thankyou. Here's to a fabulous 2016

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  23. Thankyou for joining Facebook because that is how I came across your blog.

    My little girl is now 21 months and I still worry and get stressed and/or cry daily about something or other that makes me feel like I'm failing miserably at motherhood; but when I read some of your posts and comments I realise it's kind of the same for a lot of other people. And that makes me feel a bit better.

    Also it's good to know I'm not the only one with so many unanswered questions about so many toddlers tv shows.

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  24. Well done you! I can't wait for the book x

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