Over the weekend, I participated in the Heaton Park 10km run and raised over £1000 for Asthma + Lung UK with my dad. This was my second time completing a 10km race since 2017. While I had previously done a 5km run around Heaton Park almost 5 years ago, this one was definitely challenging, especially with all those hills! For me, the run wasn’t about beating a personal best time or completing the route faster than last time, it was an achievement to get to the finish line. My dad joined me later in the weeks leading up to the run but on the day he was whizzing past me at the beginning so I told ..read more

For Christmas, I received a meaningful gift which I’ve used every day to start the new year. It’s a pack of cards with positive affirmations on for each week of the year. This week’s is “Take the time do more things that make your soul happy”. And it got me thinking about how much time I’ve spent worrying about things I can’t change or might not even happen. The mind can turn to those thoughts so easily, eh? Unless, you’re my husband who tells me a lot of wise words and he’ll love to hear this when I say – he’s right. Often, he will ask me, “Will the things you’re worrying about right now matt ..read more

I read a sign the other day that said: You are enough. Keep going It got me thinking about my worth as a person – a mum, wife, friend etc. I want to practice self-love more. I find it so easy to look in the mirror and notice a flaw or put myself into a ‘mode’ when I could’ve done something better/differently. But to my husband, friends, or mum, I’m successful and beautiful. And then to my boy, I’m a little person’s world as his mummy. I read so many posts on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook related to motherhood. You might have seen them to… your child doesn’t care how you look, how tidy the h ..read more

In April, I’ll be taking part in the Heaton Park 10k run to raise money for Asthma + Lung UK. I’m nowhere near as fit as I was when I did my first 10k back in 2017 (Great North Manchester Run) BUT I am determined to complete this route no matter how long it takes me. I’m back in the gym and I’m starting to feel the benefits of how keeping active helps my mental health. My mission is to raise awareness and support for Asthma + Lung UK, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by breathing conditions. Asthma and lung diseases impact millions of individuals worldwide, affectin ..read more

Yesterday I shared a post on Instagram about juggling being a mum, wife, full-time worker, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I’ll pit my hands up and admit that I’m not perfecting in all of these, or even any to be honest. This morning, I read an article about friendships changing as you get older – your circle gets “smaller but stronger”. And today, I can completely resonate with that. I was sat chatting to my husband last night when Freddy had an early night. I scrolled through Instagram as you do, seen a few posts of groups of friends on nights out, and others from people who now feel li ..read more

I’ve only just realised that Children’s Mental Health Week takes place a couple of weeks after Parents Mental Health Week. Anyway, it got me thinking about how I see things differently since becoming a mum. Things being I’m always figuring out what I need to do, giving my absolute best, so my son has the love he needs. Children have feelings, just like adults. If you were crying, would you expect your partner, friend, colleague to not be concerned and leave you alone? No? So, why in today’s world do we still hear, “Let them cry it out”? I understand that kids need to learn that they can’t alwa ..read more

It wasn’t until I became a mum that I took my mental health seriously, well more seriously than I did before then. I wasn’t prepared for the sleepless nights combined with the change of emotions running through my body during the newborn stage. But I’ve always known how much I love my little boy (Freddy) and wanting to be the best mum I can be. There are days that test my patience more than others but then I take a moment to remember, while it might seem like there was never a time without my son in my life, he’s only been on the outside world for almost two and a half years. Freddy is growing ..read more

Being a mum is filled with moments that test my patience and moments that overwhelm me, but there are also moments that bring me so much love. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, but one thing remains constant – the happiness of being my boy’s mama every single day and wanting the best for him. I remember my granny used to believe in the saying, “patience is a virtue”. And as a mum, it becomes a daily thought in my mind. There are moments when the chaos of morning routines, coupled with the demands of a toddler, and every day working life, can make patience seem so far away. Yet, in the midst of ..read more

As we’re in the last few days of December, some people set new year resolutions or maybe try to reinvent themselves with the “New year, new me.” Instead of aspiring to become an entirely new person, I’m aiming towards becoming a stronger version of myself and that means being happier too. Life is an unpredictable journey, filled with highs and lows. The idea of embracing the new year with resilience means that whatever opportunities or challenges come my way, I’ll face them with as much strength as possible. Strength doesn’t come from erasing the past or discarding who we were; it’s born out o ..read more

After being on antidepressants (Citalopram) for two years last month, I’ve made the decision to try to wean off them. It isn’t the first time. I tried earlier this year but that didn’t go to plan, turns out you can’t plan for it to be honest. There goes the planner and organiser in me! If you know me, you know! You might think you’re in a better state of mind but sometimes you have to listen to your body if it’s battling change. Some people decide to stay on antidepressants for much longer time, it’s whatever works for each person. This post is about my experience in the hope it’ll help others ..read more