New Year New Start New Blog

Tags

, ,

Hello to all the lovely people who support me and read my blog!

I’ve decided to give myself a bit of a revamp with a new blog title. In real life, I’m not really a Slummy Mummy although if you saw me right now, you’d probably think otherwise!

I moved to the UK at 22 without knowing a soul, now I’m a mum to a wonderful little boy who inherited my stubborn independent streak, a wife to the hub for over 10 years, I’m dealing with the demons in my head and slowly building up a baking business empire. So I think this makes me (just) above average.

This brings me to to my new blog with all my old stuff still there.
(Just) Above Average Mum

I hope you follow me here!

#MixTapeMonday9 First Pop Star Crush

Tags

, , ,

Hurrah! The first Mix Tape Monday of the new year!

This week the them is ‘first pop star crush’. I remember having a massive crush of John Taylor of Duran Duran, but this particular singer sticks out in my mind. I must have been about 8 when this song came out. Not only did I love this song, I remember getting butterflies whenever this video came on. It must be the suit…Yes it is the Thin White Duke himself, David Bowie!

For other pop star crushes head over to Mix Tape Monday hosted by the fab I Want My Mummy!

Time to cut ties

Tags

, , ,

I have written previously about the relationship I have with my mum, but there have been a few things that have happened over the past couple of days that have made me wonder if it’s time for me to cut everything off with her.

I have a little brother, well he just turned 19 this week. He’s been brought up seeing our mum lie, deceive and manipulate her way in and out of things more times than I care to remember. He messaged me the other day and asked if we could Skype as he needed to talk to me about stuff. He told me mum owes thousands of dollars on her phone/cable bill, there’s no food in the house, he has no money and needs to get out and get himself sorted before yet another eviction notice lands on the doorstop.

This is how he has grown up. He’s even forged signatures for her when he was as young as 8! He didn’t have a choice, our mum told him to do it. In her desperation to have Internet, it’s come to light that she’s used his name to get a new cable/phone account. She’s doing to him what she did to me numerous times.

I see this young man, who didn’t finish high school partially down to his on laziness but also down to her because she couldn’t be bothered to attempt to get him up or make him lunch. I know this to be true, because I remember going back as far as primary school that we would stay home ‘sick’ because she wanted to sleep. I have a very clear memory of her sleeping in her bed, and my other brother and I watching cartoons and eating cereal out of a box. She would get up and see my dad off to work, but as soon as the car pulled away she’d be back upstairs.

Anyways I digress, my baby brother suffers from anxiety issues which I think a lot stems from the (lack) of upbringing he had, and I think it’s dawned on him with a matter of urgency that she is beyond help. She’s 60, she’s already created her destiny and has nothing to show for it. He can still change things, it’s not too late for him. We’re going to help as much as we can from here, my brother is helping him and my ex-boyfriend who’s known my brother since he was a baby is being an immense support to him.

As for my relationship with her, right now at this very moment it’s making me feel sick to my stomach. What kind of parent does this? I’m getting to the point I think it’s getting time to cut ties.

Highs and Lows of 2011

Tags

, , , , ,

The magnificent SAHD and Proud has tagged me in the highs and lows of 2011. I definitely had some lows so I’ll have to think hard of my highs.

1. What was your happiest event?

At the time I didn’t think it was very happy, but it was seeing the boy go to big school for the first time. The thought of my baby, being at school was heart wrenching for me, but seeing him so settled and enjoying school makes me very happy indeed.

2. What was the saddest thing to happen?

My father in law died on 23rd December 2010, but the funeral was the first week of January and as my husband was the executor of his estate, it was heartbreaking and sad to see him ‘finalise his dad’s life.

3. What was the most unlikely thing to happen that actually went ahead and did?

Well it must be this blogging malarkey. The delectable Motherventing said I should start a blog, so I did! It’s not brilliant, but it’s mine and it’s my own venting space when I have no one to talk to.

4. Who let you down?

The most likely answer would be me, but I need to stop being so hard on myself. I have a friend who let me down. Not going to go into too much detail, but they have changed beyond almost all recognition and what they do now, isn’t what they would have done previously.

5. Who supported you?

I’ve been on twitter a lot, and have built up friendships and a decent support network with strangers. But they’re not strangers anymore. Again, it’s going to have to be Motherventing . She is a real gem and I can’t believe that I’m going to see her in the flesh in 15 days from now.
But I’d be daft if I didn’t include my husband in this, because no matter what I do, he’ll be there to support me, whatever I choose.

6. Tell us something you learned

Go with your gut instinct. You’ll know if the decision you made is right.

7. Tell us one thing that made you laugh

I’ve spent many an evening on twitter( I really have no social life), and laughed my arse off with the random conversations I’ve had.
In the dying days of 2011, the hub and I had an evening out with another couple(old friends of ours who we don’t see enough) and had dinner and drinks. There was so much laughing my cheeks were sore. It made me realise I don’t laugh enough.

8. Tell us one thing that made you cry

Thinking that I’m crap, and have no good redeeming qualities.

9. Tell us three things your child did to make you feel proud

1. His kindness. He is so loving and I’m proud of the fact that we are a hugging kind of family.

2. What a clever clogs he is. I went to his parent/teacher consultation in October and she said he talks about things that children in year 3 are only just starting to learn about. We’ve always read to him and as my hub is a history buff, a lot of the summer holiday was spent at Hampton Court Palace or the Tower of London. He soaks things up like a sponge.

3. He knows what he wants and won’t be pressured into anything otherwise. Some may call this stubbornness, but I’m glad, he knows what he wants and likes.

10. Tell us one thing that made you proud of yourself

Starting my own baking business. It’s small and I have regular work that keeps me ticking over, but nothing gives me greater pleasure than baking. And I’m glad that people like what I make.

11. Tell us one challenge you overcame

That there is no shame in admitting that you’re depressed. I’m up and I’m down, but nowadays I’m a bit more even.

12. Is there anything you would like to change about your life in 2012

We all want things or have things we want to change about ourselves, but it needs to be immediate. I’m going to take my time this year and earn the things I want and for a change I’m willing to put in the hard work to get it. I woke up with a clear head and no hangover on 1st January 2012 and I’m going to live this year to the fullest.

I’m now tagging:

@MelkshamMum
@LagosMum

My Vintage ‘Piece’

Tags

, , ,

The ever so lovely Melksham Mum has tagged me in this meme that is currently making the rounds.

I had to wrack my brain a bit, because I tend to give my clothes away if I’ve not worn them for 2 or more years. However, I did find one item that made the move with me over the pond nearly 14 years ago. And here they are, my socks:

20120103-180110.jpg

But these just aren’t any socks. I knicked them out of my Dad’s drawer when I was a teenager, and wore them regularly. And yes I washed them! I don’t have any reminders of my Dad apart from these socks, a photo and his name badge from the army. But we won’t go into that right now(evil stepmother from hell).

I don’t wear them anymore, because as you can see from the next photo, they really aren’t fit for purpose!

20120103-180644.jpg

I know it’s not terribly exciting, but they are vintage!

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 37 other followers