September starts

There are two times during the year that I start to feel twitchy. I start to feel the need for lists, for new beginnings, that it's the time to take action. I get that little buzz from new ideas, new projects.

Photo: Taken by me (iPhone)

One of these times is the period between Christmas and New Year when the urge to start a list is just too strong to ignore. The other is now, the start of September. Now we all know I like a project and a good list but there is something about these times of the year where it is particularly strong. It probably has something to do with the weather changing, the start of the countdown to the end of the year, the fact that my holiday entitlement is fast being used up - but it is most likely to be the many years of returning to school after the school holidays.

In fact, I've just googled it. After not really knowing what search term to use 'back to school syndrome' seemed to do the trick. In an article on cosmopolitan.co.uk there is evidence to suggest that I am not alone. The article talks about exactly what I have been feeling, stating that 'essentially, after 16 years of school and uni, we’re mentally programmed to get ready for new beginnings in autumn' and that following the summer we are 'more focused and therefore more emotionally ready for change'. Apparently, and I could not find a source for this elsewhere but, stats have shown that more than 70% of us are still more likely to make a life-changing decision in the month of September.

Well at least I am not the only one going through this. I had started to put these feelings down to various other things. My 'baby' is growing up fast, I've been in my job for nearly 12 months, we have been getting itchy feet with our house etc, etc but this has probably just made things feel stronger.

All the talk about 'back-to-school' on the tv, radio, and in shops has after (a fair) few years out of the education system started to feel a bit too real. Children's friends are starting school and there are only a couple of years before it will be E's turn. School life will be here all too quickly I am sure.

So, I might have to embrace these feelings. Start a new hobby (urm, I may have tried that before!) or maybe I should just treat myself to some new stationery.

Does anyone else have these feelings? I'd love to hear your experiences and solutions!

Having it all

Working full time in quite a demanding job with a two year old is clearly not conducive to keeping up a blog. I remember before I started working full time in March 2012 I asked on Twitter for recommendations of any blogs from mum's who worked full time. I thought a few tips from those who were 'doing it all' would be useful. I had a couple of recommendations but the responses that have stuck in my mind are those that said 'don't be crazy, mums working full time won't have time for blogging'. I scoffed and thought I would be able to.

So, no it is pretty much impossible. Getting through the days and the weeks is enough for me. I get home and once little one is in bed, which unfortunately isn't at normal small people's bedtimes, I crash. Completely.

But, I have missed it, missed writing and having something that is mine.

To be honest I had given up on the blog. Decided it was from a different point in my life but then Blogtacular was announced on Twitter.

I've never been happy with the 'mummy blogger' tag as there is so much more to me than being a mum - boy there was so much more to me BEFORE becoming a mum - and finally there is a blog conference that is about creativity and inspiration rather than being a mum, or being female.

So, here's the thing. I can't really be part of Blogtacular if I am not blogging. Just because once upon a time I 'had' a blog doesn't really cut it.

All I need to do now is work out how to fit blogging back into my world. Advice welcome!

I have 9 months to sort myself out before Blogtacular. Crikey I could have a baby in that time, surely I can type some words and collate some pretty photos?!

It's been a while

So I have lost count with how many of these types of posts that I have written over the years. You know the score. I haven’t blogged for x weeks/months/years. Well it has been 7 months on this occasion.

My last post was celebrating E’s first birthday and just a couple of weeks after I started working full time. My ambitious vision of working full time and managing to keep up a blog failed quite quickly. Not necessary due to a lack of time but a definitely an increase in tiredness. Seriously there just aren’t enough hours in the day! However, I seemed to decide that being a full time mum and full time employee wasn’t enough and took on even more by volunteering as a marketing coordinator for a new Oxfam Fundraising Group and arranging and promoting events to raise money. 

Um, yes. There is a reason this blog was called ‘the project lab’ as I always seem to have to have something going on. This certainly hasn’t changed. 

So, as nothing stays the same forever we move into October with me due to change full time jobs and a personal vow to start blogging again. I often read back through old posts and they really do bring my memories of E’s first year to life. It’s time to start capturing his second year properly…and making the time to do so.