Life as a Mum and Student; the good, the bad and the downright ugly!

So, I've not been blogging for the past couple of days as my schedule had been so busy and I really feel like I've been meeting myself coming back!

We had some great news two nights ago though, my best friend Paula gave birth to this wee handsome man. Meet my GODSON Austin!! Yes I'm saying Godson as I am so honoured to have been asked to be this wee ones Godmother, how lucky am I?!?!  Paula asked me the night he was born and of course I accepted! I am absolutely delighted and over the moon about this! Tuesday had been another one of those days where I felt really stressed, anxious and annoyed and I was getting really emotional over things. So when this happened it was like a little ray of sunshine peeking through. Needless to say the waterworks started with me again, only this time it was happy tears! I've turned into such a blubbering wreck since I've had Isla-Rose, I really need to calm down!

Anyway, aside from this great news, I've been running around like a headless chicken trying to get loads of different things organised. Cerys has to dress up in school tomorrow for World Book Day (yes I'm aware it's a week late, but that's a story for a different day!) So between Tuesday and Wednesday I've been trying to organise something for her to wear, which really is a job in itself!

I wish I was one of those mums who can whip something out the wardrobe, stick it under a sewing machine and create a masterpiece, but no, unfortunately the bank card has to come out and shopping on Amazon we go, desperately trying to find something that has next day delivery, because in typical Emma fashion I've left it to the last minute AGAIN! Anyway, due to the wonders of the Internet it has arrived today, yaayy, so Cerys will get to go as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz rather than attempting some creation with a black bin bag lol!

Today I've had to sit and try and make red ruby slippers for Cerys' costume. The actual sparkly red numbers were way too expensive, so I bought a pair of flat red pumps for £7 from New Look and bought red glitter and prit-stick and attempted makeshift shoes. I'd say my attempt was not too bad, and cost less than £10, woohoo!

So in between all this I've been working and trying to study. Next week could play a pivotal part in my life as I have an interview on Tuesday which is a full day assessment for a Graduate position. The closer it gets the more my belly aches and I have so much material to study. The following day I also have a presentation on my Honours project so far, which is a 15 minute talk on my progress. This scares the hell out of me as I'm not one for presenting. I'm also worried as I haven't received all my feedback from my primary research yet so I may not have anything to even present on.

I have Cerys' parents evening tonight at school AND it's the last appointment in the whole night, so this is another night we are out the house and my studying is disrupted. It's always the same when I have so much to do! 

If only I was a FAIRY Godmother, I'd wave my wand and have it done in a jiffy!

Emma xxxx

What a strange couple of days it's been. There has certainly been a major mix of emotions over the weekend. 

So firstly, I've not been very well over the weekend, suffering from fluey type symptoms. It's been one of those weekends I've felt really sorry for myself and have had many emotional breakdowns. I always feel so emotionally unstable when I'm unwell, lol it's quite funny actually! Mark thinks I'm such a drama queen at times but I really cannot afford to be unwell just now, there's just too much to be done! So Saturday afternoon I spent in my jammies feeling rather sorry for myself, doing dissertation work.

A spinning plate which Cerys made me xx

Yesterday I woke up to a beautiful bunch of flowers and some home made goodies from my 2 girls for Mother's Day. This was fab and made me feel much better getting so much love from my girls. I had a few things to do in the afternoon and rushed around getting them done, thinking that I was beginning to feel better. But oh no, life had other plans ofcourse and all of a sudden I felt so ill again, I took a slump and the flu had hit me again, which felt twice as hard this time! 

Beautiful flowers, card and picture from my girls xx

We were going to Mark's mums for dinner but an hour before we went, Mark gave Isla-Rose tomato soup, who subsequently decided to rub her hands in it and get it all over her face, hair and brand new outfit!! So it was stripped, bath and new outfit on, grrr! 

Messy monster covered in Tomato Soup!!!!!

We had a quick, but lovely dinner at Mark's mums house and I had to give my apologies and leave. Then it was back home where I was in my bed for 7.30pm! I've got to say, it's been a very long time since I had done that. 

To make matters worse, I had a 4 hours assessment in university this morning which I was supposed to have studied hard for over the weekend, but I only managed 2 hours last night when I was in bed and even then I didn't retain any information, my head was thumping and my nose was running like a tap. 

Then this morning, Mark only went and put his back out! You really couldn't write this stuff. He literally bent down to pick something up and when he stood back up, craacckkk, his back just went, so now he can hardly move and when he does he looks like John Wayne! So the great help that he normally is, has all but disappeared, poor soul! 

After all this, my 4 hour assessment was absolutely horrendous , I really didn't feel like I knew what was going on and all I could think about was my PJs and my bed. 

When I finished, I came out to the sad news from my mum that her wee cat, Cleo had to be put to sleep this morning. I was so sad hearing this as we have had the cat since I was 10, so she had been a lifelong family pet! I know how sad my mum is and it's just a horrible thing to happen. Pets are definitely like children in the family. Seriously, could this day be any worse?! 

Me with Cleo the Cat when I was 10 xx

On a much more happier, positive note though, I have just had word that my best friend has been taken in to have her baby! I am so glad to be having a new wee addition to our group,  so hopefully the baby is born before midnight and we can turn a pretty terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day into a joyful, happy one! 

Emma xxxx

Mark filmed this wee terror 3 nights ago climbing up on the sofa, on to the window ledge and opening the window! I had been out collecting Cerys from dancing and when he showed me the video on our return. my heart was in my mouth! 

Now, it's not that Isla-Rose was in any danger this time as Mark was there the whole time, however it could have been much worse. There is roughly an 8ft drop from that window on to our decking in the garden so she would have certainly seriously hurt herself!

Today, Isla- Rose fell asleep on the couch and while she was sleeping I went through to fold some washing and tidy up before getting my study material out. The next minute I heard "Dada, Dada, Dada" and realised Isla-Rose had woken up. 

When I got to the living-room, imagine my shock when I found her standing on that infamous window ledge!!! Now her new party trick obviously! I honestly got such a fright, and was so thankful that she had shouted. Any longer she could have fell from there and hit the table or floor. Luckily this time we had locked the windows, but the thought of the possibilities of something happening is horrible!

It's this stage of childhood which I feel is the most tiresome and hard to concentrate. I was going to say worrying aswell but I reckon the majority of that comes in the teenage years! Isla-Rose hasn't even hit the "terrible twos" stage yet and shes already into everything and causing havoc! 

You really do need eyes on the back of your head

Emma xxx

So, I couldn't do a blog about being a mum at university without mentioning the people that have played an integral part of my journey. I really could not do everything I do without two very special people; my Mum and Mark's Mum, yip it's the grannies! We really are blessed to have mums who have good health and are able to watch our girls for us.

I would never have been able to do this journey through university if it wasn't for them, it has meant we don't need to pay for childcare and I know my kids are happy when having granny time.

I salute all you parents who need to pay for child care, it's awful that some people can't work because childcare is more money than their earnings are! Isla-Rose was 2 weeks when I went back to uni and these two very special people stood up to the plate and looked after wee bubs for 3 days a week, sometimes more when I had to study at home.

I understand many people don't have the luxury that we have of having two available family members to watch their children and this can be the make it or break it decision for parents thinking of returning to study or even going to work full time. Being at uni, it isn't just the time spent physically at uni, but it's the time required to study out with.

Each module you take at uni states 200 hours of self study is required over a 12 week period, out with your days in university, that's 16.5hours a week per module. Now, you have 3 modules a term so that works out at around 49hours per week for study alone, then there is the physical time you are in uni and of course any part time work you may have, which for me is an additional 17hours. You're really talking in excess of 72 hours per week! And of course not getting paid for any of it!  Breaking it down like this has given me the realisation of the effort that is required throughout the time at uni and the time that is spent away from my girls.

This is why my super sitters are so very special to us, I would never have been able to do this journey without them, especially then falling pregnant during my studies. It was a full family decision that had to be made about whether I could return or not. Luckily they were happy to do this and I've been fortunate to be able to carry on my studies.