2020 The year we stayed home....

Well well well, what a year it has been. 

If someone had told me this time last year exactly what was to come from 2020 I would have laughed myself silly and called them ludicrous. We've all had quite a ride this year from heartbreaking lows, stress and worry to the highs of community spirit, clapping the the NHS and finding joy along the way.

I wanted to end this year focusing on the positives that I myself have found this year and chosing to focus on the things i've learnt and accomplished this year rather than the negatives (turns out i'm not quite as good at home schooling as i expected! eek!)

Homeschooling

Now this was both a positive and a negative, it was way more stressful that I expected and I've realised im less Mary Poppins and more Mrs Trunchball when it comes to patience but I came out with a new found understanding of my eldest capabilities , he is brilliant at maths!! I knew he was good but he actually blew my mind at how good he was. I feel much more connected to my childs education now and I have an even more profound respect for teachers.

Celebrating at home

We have had so much fun celebrating various celebrations at home, from our front garden afternoon tea for VE day, to an easter sunday spent in the garden with egg hunts and prosecco in the sunshine, zoom birthday cakes, christmas day just the 4 of us too many to count. Of course we have missed celebrating with loved ones but equally we shared some pretty special occasions just the four of us which we wouldn't have before and my goodness do I love my little humans! They will never know how proud I am of their resilience this year.

A new found appreciation for nature

Now I already knew that I love living in Hertford (who wouldn't) but lockdown forced us to stay more local for our daily walks and we discovered gems on our doorstep that we had either not visited before (such as The meads) or fall back in love with ones we hadnt visited for a while. Hertfordshire really is beautiful.

A new sense of confidence and resilient

Both my husband and I are self employed, my husband owns a zoo and I run Mum's Guide to Hertford. When lockdown happened I remember very clearly sitting in the toilet and sobbing. I like so many people had no idea what the future would hold. I love running Mum's Guide to Hertford and I was worried that due to lockdown my business would no longer be relevant. It's always been more than a job for me , I genuinely love everything the company stands for and am hugely passionate about raising children in Hertford. Everywhere I looked local businesses that I loved were closing, I remember Hertford Theatre closing being a huge blow at the time.

I allowed myself to wallow for a day and then I cautiously sat at my computer and started to type. I started researching online classes and activities and was so proud when literally overnight many local companies adapted , they switched to take away services and virtual activities clubs and classes and we all found a way forward and adapted. This has really been the year that my business has thrived and grown, with nearly 100,000 webpage sessions this year which is frankly beyond my wildest expectations. My blogs have also placed in the top 15% of the Tots 100 chart in the UK for the past 5 months which is a huge personal highlight for me. 

I now feel much more confident at adapting to change quickly, and I know im not alone, you have all done amazing things this year.

An enhanced appreciation for local business and community 

How amazing has the newfound support local campaign been. Everyone has been discovering local hidden gems for shopping and more and its wonderful. On top of this the sense of community has been amazing , from clapping for the NHS to checking in on neighbours, offering to collect prescriptions for neighbours isolating or popping to the shops for friends and family who couldnt it really has brought out the best in a lot of people. Lets not forget the amazing Brothership and all the money they raised for the NHS through selling their amazing rainbow prints. 

A new found appreciation for the little things

Things we used to do day in and day out were suddenly taken away and my goodness doesnt that make you appreciate them more!? From trips to the beach, to a cup of tea with your best friends in a coffee shop, from going on the tractor at willows farm, to a meal out. When the things we normally do are taken away it really makes us appreciate them more doesnt it. I remember the first time we were allowed to travel a bit further afield for exercise we went (in the car!) to Tewin and it felt like a mini break haha.

So these are my positives of 2020, I leave 2020 feeling (aside from the expected worry about what's to come from covid in the future) empowered by the things I have learnt this year, with an enhanced appreciation for those I love, my local area and the things I love to do. I have no idea what 2021 has in store for us but I hope that with the things 2020 has taught me, whatever 2021 throws my way I'll be able to tackle it. We will be able to tackle it. After all if we got through 2020 we can do anything!

And whilst we are all so keen to rush back to normal, lets take a moment to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back for. I know 2020 has certainly changed my priorities. 

Wishing you all a very happy new year .

All my Love

Kayleigh 

XxxX