Another year has flown by and my other half got a sudden bout of New Year’s blues a day early. He started the “What Ifs…” of the past couple of decades and doubting the decisions he’d made. (I’m going to assume that I wasn’t one of these decisions that he’s now questioning because he doesn’t, and didn’t, ever have a say in that…!!)

Me: “Don’t question what could have been – look in the back (as we’re driving along), 4 little people that we’ve created and managed to keep alive for over a decade. If that’s not success I don’t know what is.”

The magic philosophical bubble was soon popped as soon as we arrived at his sister’s house when the arguments over whose room they were each staying in began and where the controllers for the playstation had been hidden. But it did make me consider my NY’s resolutions. There’s the obvious ones like going on a diet after the hideous amounts I have over-indulged in before, during and since Christmas; getting more organised; booking in trips to see family and friends; hiding all the chocolate in the house (unlikely); having a dry January (v. unlikely) but I’d like to resolve to being more positive and getting to know our new neighbours better. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt since we started Mum’s guide to Harpenden it is the strength a community can have and the positive changes it can make when working together. It’s one of the reasons we started MGTH, so that parents felt confident about using the facilities and businesses in their local community and not feel isolated at home with children.

This year we have been celebrating 5 years since we launched the website and now over ONE MILLION pages have been visited. As 4 local mums we’re so excited to see the progress of the site and we’re always thrilled (possibly too much!) when we receive feedback from parents and businesses. So, we’d like to say “THANK YOU for your support and here’s to the next 5 years!”