LIFE: Do we ever really know what happens behind closed doors?

Do we ever really know what happens behind closed doors? The simple answer is no, not even the start of it. Miscarriage, the breakdown of a marriage, abuse, mental health issues...the list could go on, which is both heartbreaking and reality. Our friends, loved ones and those we follow, even admire, on social media. Any of these things could be happening to them and we could be completely oblivious. Blissfully wittering on about holiday plans, what they did at their Grandma's last week, watching the children play and commenting on how quickly they are growing up, how the weather has been etc., without a thought that something may not be quite right. That actually inside, behind closed doors, their heart is breaking, they are experiencing yet another loss, they are being subjected to physical/ emotional/ domestic/ sexual abuse, mental health issues that see them hiding away crying silent tears for hours on end. In reality, how well do we know those we are about? Do we know everything about their lives or do we only know what they choose to share?

EXPOSURE THERAPY: Three Months In

In 2016 I was involved in a serious car accident (you can read more about it here and how it impacted my life one year on here - warning - if you're an anxious person you may not want to). Though my physical injuries were minimal for the severity of the crash, the impact it has had on my mental health has been intense. My struggled with anxiety aren't something I write about very often, so to many it may come as a surprise. My Instagram feed and blog are filled with happy photos of my family adventures, but what you don't see is the tears, panic and almost constant twist of worry in my stomach. Travelling anywhere in the car is hard for me, which not only makes my day to day world very small but it also means that I have to confront my fear almost daily.

LIFE: One year ago today our lives, quite literally, flipped upside down

One year ago today our lives, quite literally, flipped upside down. We were just coming off the motorway when another car decided that they also needed to be going that way too. Long story short, they crashed into the side of us causing our car to flip multiple times and skid across the road on the roof (read about the whole event here). When we finally came to a stop we were on our roof; I remember hearing Isabella cry once and then nothing. Nothing but my screams for her. Those moments will forever haunt me. Luckily, after what felt like a lifetime a member of the public had managed to get to her through the driver's side (bearing in mind she was upside down) and get her out. A few minutes later a quick response ambulance arrived, followed closely by two fire engines, two ambulances and ten police cars. The whole motorway had to be shut for some time and we were taken away in the ambulance.

MOTHERHOOD: How I have changed since becoming a parent...

Becoming a parent is a life changing event and one that completely consumes, in the nicest possible way. I really feel like becoming a Mummy was my purpose in life and it's even me a new sense of being. With that many aspects of my life have changed, some obvious to the outside world and other's not as much. Below are a few things that have changed over the past 16 months of being a Mummy...

MOTHERHOOD: Saying goodbye to anxiety...

I used to suffer with anxiety pretty badly, I was talking to a councillor and started having CBT. I used to think that if I became a parent my anxiety would go into overdrive and every little thing would be a cause for worry or concern. I used to never leave the house by myself, would always be worrying about anyone I knew dying and have really bad social anxiety. If someone didn't answer their phone straight away then a million horrible thoughts would run through my head - have they been in a car accident? Are they ok? Have they been robbed? Are they lying somewhere needing help and no one knows? etc. Then I got pregnant and everything changed.