2024 in parts

I realize that I don't blog as much as I used to, and infact it might just become a yearly thing as time goes on, but hey, that is life as a single mom. So, I will give you the highlights: 

A VISIT FROM NANA

The start of the year, mom came to visit us. She has a standard reservation in our spare bedroom which is always referred to as "Nana's room" by the boy, even when she isn't here. 

For the length of time mom comes for visits (2-3 month) there wasn't many adventures this time around. Most of the time I was working while Henry spent time with his dad and the weekends are mostly reserved for Henry playing with his neighbourhood friends (I always feel bad taking him to do things when he could be happy playing with friends).

However, mama and i managed a quick trip to Iceland to see the northern lights. It was a fun little get away, but there was drama. 🤣 

I took mom on a short hike through the woods to get to the Observatory we wanted to visit. We had some struggles with ice patches and making sure mama felt secure that I would get her back to the hotel in one piece. 

There was also an incident involving leaving personal belongings(phone, wallet and passport!) in the hotel lobby before an all day coach trip. ((Note to the mother: I know I would never mention it again after the bribery in Duty Free but this IS major news!)) Needless to say, there was a heaping helping of anxiety that morning. But a call to the hotel at our 2nd stop confirmed that the items in question were safe at the hotel and not left in an Icelandic National Park. We could get home and enjoy the rest of our tour. 😮‍💨 

FREEDOM FROM THE OPPRESSOR 

My home is now solely my own (in name...still have a mortgage!). After a 2 year long negotiation with solicitors and mediators involved, the ex and I finally agreed a financial settlement and had a Court Order put in place. This year I was able to release him from the mortgage and get his name off the Deed to the house. I have my mother to thank for this no small step in my life. As of July 8th, 2024 (strangely enough...would have been our wedding anniversary 🤣 #serendipity) I have no financial ties to the ex husband. 🎉 

We still have a child to co-parent (if you can call it "Co"), but at least I know that he's not going to pull any shenanigans and I have a secure home for me and my boy, which is what Nana ultimately wanted. 

LIFE WITH A LITTLE

This darling boy of mine keeps growing and it's always a shock to see what he comes up with next. He is 30% boy and 70% sass. He is, of course my child after all so he picks up the sass from mummy--its my own fault I'm raising a little rebel. 

He knows what he wants and he is not afraid of letting anyone have a piece of his mind. Some examples include...

*exasperated sigh* "No, your not listening! I SAAAAAID...."

"Why you talking?" 

"My baby made me do it" (for context: food baby = stomach)

"I not lying. Why YOU lying?"

It really is hilarious the things he comes up with. He's got a great imagination too and is a wonderful independent player. He will happily take himself off and chatter/play on his own and not want for anything (siblings). But he also gives the kids in the neighbourhood grief--being the bossy one and instructing play even though he's, most of the time, the youngest. 

We have a range of children in our cul-de-sac ranging from 2 to 12. Henry is usually the youngest one out playing, but every so often the 2 & 3 year old come out too. Henry is 4, and the next up from him are a 5 year old boy from one family, and a 5 year old girl from another who moved in earlier this year.

In total, there are 12 kids in the cul-de-sac,and alot of the time they come play in our garden cause Henry's garden is cool....sandpit, slide, trampoline, there is something for all ages here. It just means alot if the time I am the town crèche 😅.  

In other news, my baby boy is gearing up to go to big kid school in September 🥹 He is very excited. There have been a few "settling in" sessions and so far I think it's gone really well...although all the excitement has tuckered him out.

THE CATS

Our boys are now officially a year old this month. Dante is still the Shy mamas boy. Buster is still the adventure cat. Both are still loved by myself and the boy. 

THE "PIRATE FESTIVAL"

The last few years I've attended Fantasy Forest Festival, a weekend festival with all things nerd. Seriously, it ranges from a variety of different fandoms: faeiries, pirates, witches,  mushrooms, therions, orcs, medieval knights, dragons, video game characters, star wars, many different sci fi universes, steam punk, post apocalyptic, etc etc. And it's got a little bit of everything for everyone--market stalls to buy stuff, food & bar stalls, tents to do games or rpg, "training camps" where you can learn to fight pirate style, or fight using a lightsaber, or train to be a Witcher. There's music stages, activities for kids, face painting, tarot readings, watching battle reenactments, belly dancing workshops, and soo much more. 

I've been the last 2 years with friends while Henry was with his dad, but this year since he was a bit more interactive, I bought tickets for both of us to go. It was pretty full on and a long 2 days for a 4 year old, but I brought a little sack wagon for him to sit in, keep out of the elements and rest when he was tired. 

The wagon/trolly worked really well. I fitted it with some charity shop cushions and a canopy from IKEA that he got for his bed last Christmas and voila! Instant chariot for the toddler. To be honest, he stayed in it most of the day, but when he did engage in the festival I think he had lots of fun. 

He loved the concept of "Trinket Trading". And in fact, when someone would come up and ask of we were Trading, most of the time our little Trolley Troll would poke his head out from the canopy holding something from his treasure box he wanted to trade. I had made loads of crochet, macrame and beaded things to trade. Henry found some of his old "baby toys" little micro trucks, marbles, Dino figurines etc and traded those, then kept trading things he got for more and more things. Between the two of us we came home with lots of swag.

The first day, in honor of Henry calling it "The Pirate Festival" (after I picked him up from daddy's last year when I was still in costume he proclaimed "mummy a pirate!") We all dressed up as pirates. 

We booked into "Pirate training" at the festival which consistent of learning how to sword fight with large foam practice batons. Henry loved it, and went more berserker style fighting on mama, but I was able to defend myself...most of the time. 

Overall, it was fun but very exhausting for him and for me. The heat and long days made for grumpy moments and I'm glad that I had the forsight to bring the wagon for when he got too tired to walk and an old phone preloaded with movies to keep him occupied while I was able to look around. 

I think now that he's experienced it, I won't force him to come with me. When he's older, if he wants to come with me, I'll get him a ticket, but for now I think FFF will be a "Jenny" event rather than a mommy one.