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Let me re-introduce myself…

With a four year hiatus in blogging, I have finally found the headspace to open it up again. Now on the slippery slope to 50, with a tween and an adult – the journey continues!

Well, well, well… it’s certainly been a while. Not sure if you remember me, but I’m Linda… and I used to write a blog! I actually did that for three years… and then took a four-year hiatus. The blog, called Tales of a Mother’s Daughter, originally centered around the diagnosis of Autism for my daughter when she has five, her food intolerences at that time and managing her Autism as she got older.

So, what’s been happening since I’ve been gone?

Not much has happened in that time – just a global pandemic lasting a couple of years, a war with Russia, football finally came home, we’ve had several Prime Ministers, and we celebrated our Queen reaching a record 70 years on the throne, only to lose her later in the year. I could go on and on – four years is a long time!

That time for me has also been different. I lost my freelance work thanks to the panic of Covid, launched a new business, nearly closed that business two years later… changed that business to a not-for-profit (CIC) then finally ended up closing it in January this year. There will be plenty of time for reflection on that, but for now, this decision has given me rather a lot of headspace. So much so that I have decided to start blogging again, so if you are reading this… thank you and I hope you stick around.

So, with that in mind, we have had a name change! ‘Mum Running Life’ reflects my love of running along with the fact that I often feel like I’m trying to find ways to run this thing called life effectively – usually without much success. Running has been a big part of my life for the past four years, given that my business was to do with encouraging people to run, so it seemed only fitting to have it in the title somewhere.

So, what will I be blogging about? Well, as I am on the slippery slope to 50, I am always on the look-out for how to feel better, look better, and function better, so there will be posts about the things I am trying – the good, the bad, and the ugly. The last time I blogged, I had a teen and a tween… I now have a teen and an adult! I will be chatting about the challenges that my daughter faces as an adult with Autism and also our journey for ADHD diagnosis – might be waiting a while for that one though!

So, if you’re not there already, you can also find me on Facebook and Instagram, sharing bits and bobs that make me laugh, make me think and keep me sane!

See you there and see you soon!

Much love

Linda x

Shaking the Blues Away 🥶

As February starts to draw to a close, there is hope of sun, blue skies, and some warmth on our faces. And boy, does that help to lift your mood.

This last week or so, I have found myself sinking into a bit of a negative nelly mode. My motivation has been low, my self-belief even lower and I have just felt at a bit of a loss. I know what I can do to help me feel better, but I don’t have the inclination to do it and have purposely pushed against it. That Fcuk it button has been pushed multiple times.

It’s not lost on me that this coincides with it being around six weeks since I decided to close the Community Interest Company (CIC) I was working on. The initial relief at not being constantly on social media, having to put content together, thinking about marketing, and helping clients have turned into a feeling of loss and lack of purpose.

And I don’t know about you, but the weather really doesn’t help – although saying that, even on a sunny Sunday afternoon, I can still be found lying on the sofa feeling sorry for myself!

So what can you do to shake off these negative vibes?

Continue reading “Shaking the Blues Away 🥶”

Is this a World Reset Button?

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This last week has been the most incredible… in the most negative way.  The gradual shutdown of the world following the Coronavirus pandemic will affect all of us.  On Monday of last week, my work dried up entirely in one afternoon. While worried and saddened by this, having already seen what’s been going on with the world, the situation was already put into perspective.  Within 24 hours, so many of my peers and friends were going through the same thing. Within days, the Government announced radical plans to help the nation cope during this unprecedented time. Continue reading “Is this a World Reset Button?”

Getting out of ‘the Black’ and finding more confidence with colour!

img_6173-1Do you always go for the same colour when you buy something new? 🙋‍♀️

Or maybe you’ve found yourself in the changing cubicle in your favourite store having no idea if you can carry something off? You know it isn’t right, but you just can’t quite put your finger on why?

Wouldn’t it be great to have an expert eye with you to tell you whether something suits you knowing that it’s an honest opinion?

How would you like that; every, single, time?

As I write this, I’m feeling a little smug, because I now have that superpower! Continue reading “Getting out of ‘the Black’ and finding more confidence with colour!”

Collaboration, not Competition… why women should support women!

Every year we get to celebrate International Woman’s Day and this year’s special day has made me think about how much my life has changed in the past year because of the support from other women.

I’ve always been very lucky to have strong, supportive women around me. My mum was a massive support in my life and would know how to pick me up and solve a problem I couldn’t handle myself. When I was faced with the reality that I was going to lose her, I panicked about what I would do without her.  At the end of the day, there’s nothing like having your mum’s arms around you is there? Continue reading “Collaboration, not Competition… why women should support women!”

Autism Vs Social Media… The ongoing battle!

I’m sure you’ll agree, teenagers and social media are not a great mix.  I don’t know what they get up to on their phones at that age, but with all the trolling and the ‘haters gonna hate’ mentality, it’s a brutal world online for a young, impressional teenager.  Add into the mix the Autism (Aspergers) aspect and it can be a recipe for disaster.

For months and months, I was debating whether letting my daughter have social media on her phone was a good thing or not.  Up until just before Christmas we’d had a few occasions where she was not using the phone appropriately. Continue reading “Autism Vs Social Media… The ongoing battle!”

My ‘Magic’ night with a Stripper!

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A couple of weeks ago, I found myself in a place I never thought I would ever be…. at a strip show! I’m not a prude by any means, but I’ve never really bought into the enjoyment of watching men throw their hoses around… I mean, let’s be honest, they’re not the most attractive thing are they… even with the hunky, oil clad body to go with it!

So, when a couple of friends got very excited about the Magic Mike Live Tour last year and suggested we get tickets, I soon found myself agreeing to go. I swear there might have been some anticipation that Channing Tatum was actually going to be in it which added to their excitement – like that was ever going to happen!

What sold it for me was that we got tickets to go on my birthday which, I have to be honest, I don’t particularly enjoy since losing Mum.  My 40th birthday was the last time I sat with her and had a meal, so it brings back those memories rather than celebrating surviving another year! Continue reading “My ‘Magic’ night with a Stripper!”

Reflection & Intention… not New Year Resolutions!

happy new year decorative plate

Photo by JESHOOTS.com on Pexels.com

Well, here we are again at another New Year! It doesn’t feel like five minutes ago since we were sweating our arses off in the hottest summer since 1976 and hoping that football was finally coming home… and we’re still hoping!

The Christmas break certainly gives us the chance to reflect over the past year and look at our achievements, our challenges and how we can make the next year even better…. along with drinking our body weight in Gin and eating the entire box of Thornton’s chocs (just saying!).

Continue reading “Reflection & Intention… not New Year Resolutions!”

Going with the flow & not sweating the small stuff at Christmas!

close up of christmas decoration hanging on tree
Photo by Gary Spears on Pexels.com

Excited for Christmas!

Actually, for the first time in a few years, I am excited for Christmas!

Not to sound like a miserable cow, but I must admit, the last couple of years have felt a bit shit without Mum being here. She was my Christmas. So much of how you celebrate the festive period is built around how you spent it as a child.  All the traditions, the smells, the songs, the 80’s brash decorations! I loved all of it!

I certainly don’t want this to be a sad blog just before Christmas, but I know a few people that are experiencing Christmas for the first time this year without one of their parents, or a parent that is incredibly ill, and I just want you to know that you’re in my thoughts.  It doesn’t seem like it now, but I want you to know that it does get just a little bit easier as the years pass.

Crying for Mum… or George Michael? Continue reading “Going with the flow & not sweating the small stuff at Christmas!”

George’s Hypno Journey… Part 2!

So, I’m back to finish the story about when we took our nine-year old son for hypnotherapy following his panic attacks about taking our little dog off her lead.

The first time we went, I can’t lie, George was a little giggly and I did suspect that he didn’t really ‘go under’. The massive panic attack and throwing himself on the floor that followed a week later, kind of confirmed it!

So, in the spirit of not giving up, I text the lovely Michelle at Fairy Heart Therapies and asked if we could come back to see her. Thankfully, George was very keen to do this too… he was desperate to get this problem sorted. Continue reading “George’s Hypno Journey… Part 2!”