And we are off!!! Under starters orders....

Exam week hit hard this week, with Lucy completing five exams in four days, some of which were the howlers she has been dreading such as maths. Not an easy experience to go through and I am very proud of her resilience, perseverance in studying every night, talking openly to manage the stress and drive to get through that first challenging week. She's worked so hard and despite the huge disruption to her education in the past couple of years, motivated herself, driven her self on and focused with her eyes on the prize. Lucy has always planned ahead and given herself targets to focus on. I did worry that this would be her undoing and perhaps driving too hard towards a single goal. I was wrong, it's given her the armor to  take the bullets of the first week, as well as a pragmatic nature about the subjects she struggles with. She has approached the first week with a maturity beyond her years. She's a tad exhausted now! With less exams next week and then half term the week after, that initial hit is waning for now. Of course, like everybody whose ever taken an exam, we have had the post exam doubt, the worry about the questions you may have got wrong. She can't change things now and I know she has done her best and some. That is all a parent can ask for. I couldn't help myself and had to buy her a well done, you got through the first week cactus for her bedroom! Those in the know, will realise this is a good gift for my Loobychick. Well done darling. Rest up and reset as more to come next week. Really proud of you as always 😍 x

Lucy only went and did it as well!

Subject to exam results it looks likely that Lucy will be getting her wish fulfilled and studying for her A-levels at Long Road in Cambridge. She wants to study English, History and Criminology. I am so proud of her and all her hard work. The last round of GCSE mocks went really well, with her improving in some areas such as science where she often struggles. She is a superstar and coping really well with all the pressure, having lost so much teaching in the run up to these exams in the last couple of years. I think she must get her intelligence from her father!!  I did nearly have a heart attack researching the cost of the yearly train ticket to get her there in well over £1200!!! She's worth it though as she perhaps sees this a bit of new start, making new friends and starting to get some wider life experience. She's so brave to branch out. My natural inclination, after all this madness would be to stay close to home, but as Lucy says 'she loves us, but doesn't like us and hates most people!' 😆 Keep going in the coming weeks and the rewards will be yours. Go forth and enjoy the adventure xx

She only went and did it!

Anna did so well at her trial for the England Women's talent pathway and she smashed it. We proudly got an email this week stating that she is going to be a player who they will watch and support to nurture her talent. How awesome is that! I am so proud of her and sincerely hope this will give her more confidence to grow and develop, building on the talent she has. Maybe, just one day, I will proudly watch my daughter in her first professional game. You've got to dare to dream! We all believe in you, so much and love watching you play footy even in the howling wind and rain! Keep working hard, keep striving to improve, stay humble which I know you will and the rewards will come your way. Good work Wiggle x

Continuing to grow in confidence...

The space that Anna seems to feel most comfortable in as she negotiates teenage life is most definitely on a football pitch. Today she has gone to Carrow Road to watch the England Lionesses play and my hope is it inspires her to dream and show her that anything is possible. She continues to work so hard with her training and playing. She gets hurt and stands right back up and has pulled off some magical saves this season so far! On the 5th March she has a trial for the Lioness Talent pathway and a few hours to show them what she is made of. I know she's nervous, I know she carries so much self doubt, but I also know she is capable of amazing things on a football pitch. She will do herself real justice and I am confident perform well. I simply love watching her, her courage shines through in all she does, learns from her mistakes and builds on this. For example, she has really focused on rushing an oncoming striker and making herself big in recent months and it's starting to pay off. Think big Anna, be bold and anything is possible 😊

Oh for simpler times...

Oh how I am struggling with these things called teenagers. What being created such things - they are argumentative, moody, hormonal, disaffected and unsociable. Add into this the impact of a pandemic, the isolation, loss of social contact and the kids having to compromise when they should be in a time in their lives of freedom, learning and expression through social experiences. I see things changing around me but there is a long way to go to get back to normal, and it appears a new normal is developing and one that takes away all the amazing experiences of being young and growing into an adult. The result is frustration, agitation and upset with many arguments in our house at present. I am not doing well as a dad, I get frustrated and stressed with the challenges of providing for a family financially and the cost of living going up daily, I am going backwards fast as I desperately try to support the girls and help them build a platform for the future. I am not out of the game, lets just say I have lost this round and am coming out fighting. In the meantime, I will try my hardest to be more empathetic and patient with the girls, and not expect them to understand the madness of all this situation, after all most days I don't either! Onwards and upwards as they say and keep focusing on trying to be a better dad and person every day...

Looking from the outside in....

It's been a strange festive period for me with the start being a horrible work day like no other on Christmas Eve when I was supposed to be having my first day of the holidays. It took me quite a few days to get over the shock of events and settle into resting, festive fun, relaxing and calming down. In between days such as the anniversary of Auntie's passing and having to go into work have made it even harder, not allowing me to switch off. I folded this week and found Auntie's absence this year so difficult. I did manage to spend some time with Amy and the girls, a lovely Christmas lunch, plenty of swag, some time with Libby and company, a wedding anniversary meal out which was lovely and tonking the girls at Monopoly. It wasn't the Christmas I had hoped for and I struggled but it was lovely to have some family time and this is the only thing that's important. Poor Amy now poorly in bed with a sickness bug, so it's just me and the girls this New Years Eve and ready for Anna's meatballs and pasta! 😋  I pray and hope that 2022 brings a different kind of year for my girls, one of freedom, joy, new experiences, new friendships, happiness, love and opportunity. They really do deserve it and it's my only wish for them both. My kind, feisty, belligerent, argumentative and lovely young ladies xx 

Starting to feel a tad festive!

The big push towards a family Christmas break is on as the Hammond's could only be described as a bit 2021 battle weary. Me, I've got a huge amount to get through to get to that point, wrap up work so that I can breath and spend time with Amy and the girls. I'm acutely worried with new Covid variant and winter pressures looming darkly on the horizon that I will not get this time with them over Christmas or time to relax either, which is greatly needed. The pandemic has taken complete control away from me in an attempt to find a work life balance. Some days the only thing that keeps me going is my coffee! The attached picture is definitely my virtual Christmas card this year! A lovely afternoon spent yesterday getting the house festive with Anna, under the watchful and authoritative eye of Mrs Hammond. Her constructive guidance and mentorship meant we got through it calmly and without incident😆 It does look sparkly and some of her ideas do look good. She creates and we implement! Big push ladies. Two more weeks of school and three more weeks of work for me. We can do this and find a bit of festive sparkle at the end of it!