Blog

It has been way too long since I have last blogged for my own website (as I am often reminded by Mr MM!) but today I have had a turning point so I have made a commitment to myself and Let’s Party Additive Free that I will regularly blog – about anything, just blog!!

I am not sure why I have this fear of blogging but I do. I think it relates to fear – fear that people won’t like what I blog, that there is nothing valuable in my blogs, fear of sharing and hence being vulnerable. It is a self worth fear that only I can overcome.

My turning point came today as Miss 8 was feeling anxious about swimming club tonight. Here is a little background information: Miss 8 has always found trying new things difficult whether it be food, friendships, activities and so on. Miss 8 participates in swimming club, where they are graded into race groups according to their times. Here we have A, B, C and D with A being the fastest. To move up a grade, you must reach the cut off time for that particular swim style. Miss 8 has achieved the time for D in 3 strokes but C for backstroke. While in D grade, swimmers only have to swim one 25m lap of that particular style. Once you are in C grade, you then have to swim two 25m laps of that particular swim style. As this is something new and unknown, Miss 8 has been quite resistant (with the odd meltdown or two!) to participate “why can’t I just stay in D, I want to stay in D!”

Tonight I was explained to Miss 8 that she is in C grade for backstroke because she swims it well and she should be proud that she has achieved a place in C grade. I said that Mummy and Daddy are so very proud of you for trying your best and it is okay to be proud of being good at something. “Trying new things does make you a little scared and nervous but afterwards you feel so good about yourself for going ahead and doing it, even though you were scared. Be brave and be proud” were the words of Mummy wisdom that I gave her. As I watched her line up, waiting her turn to swim in her event I could almost feel her nervous energy as she focused to be brave. She took the start and swam the first lap with confidence and I wondered if she would stop after that lap or turn and complete the second lap. She toughed the wall and hesitantly turned and swam the second lap – not a prouder moment could be had by this Mummy!!! She had overcome her fear and the smile and pride in her face said it all! After a wet hug and a; “I am so proud of you! Well done for going through with it even though I know you were nervous” from Mummy, Miss 8 proudly tells me that she just LOVES swimming club and can’t wait for next week.

So how does this relate to my turning point? Well quite simply, I had just helped Miss 8 through the life lesson of feeling fear but giving it a go anyway because the outcome is often amazing and isn’t this just the life lesson that I need to embrace with my blogging? Feel the fear and blog anyway? The outcome will be amazing and I will love doing it! This is me, feeling the fear and blogging and before I know it, I have written a page!

Children are all too often providing us with the life lessons we need it is just that the fast pace of life sometimes makes it difficult to see what the lesson is. Let’s all take time to slow it all down, even if just briefly, to see what life lessons are waiting for us – they could be just what we need.