When life gets hard

Last updated on November 19th, 2023 at 12:33 am

Life isn’t always easy. It’s not all about the styled instagram shots or that perfect smiling capture of your little ones. Those are the things that make us smile as we live our life. As a blogger, you want to share the pretty, the beautiful, the smiles, the styled captures,and most important the fun times too. It’s a hard decision to make when things aren’t going well whether to share them or not. For me, I always wanted this space to be true to our reality. I may share the adventures and the milestones along with hundreds of styled photos but I also want to share our real life moments, the struggles that we face, and the hardships that come to us when we least expect it. If we don’t share these things then we are only showing half of our reality and others that are in the same boat just feel isolated and lonely as much as I would bottling it up inside. 

For many of you, you will have noticed I haven’t blogged as much as I normally have about family life and I haven’t been on social media as much either (except instagram because it makes me feel better). But I have been struggling with a few hardships in life lately and I am not afraid to admit it. I am more afraid that my positive, happy, bubbly attitude has been tainted.  

Without spilling my dirty laundry all over the internet, we have had some situations come up that have put us in a hard place. A place where we have had to cancelled plans, change and alter holidays and decide what we need to do next. Along with these issues that have recently come to head, I had a bad fall in Portugal last week. 

Coming home with a chin full of stitches, a leg that was in pieces, and lack of sleep to receive such news was overwhelming to say the least. Added on top of a few other little bits not going smoothly i.e. my laptop breaking down, EU vote results today (devastating news) and having to miss Blogtacular conference last weekend (which both disappointed me and cost me a small fortune) I am definitely finding it hard to smile lately. I guess the old saying when it rains it pours is coming true. 

I have had to have a real sit down with myself and try to pull myself up to find the bright side to all this. Is there a bright side to everything? Well, the old me would have said for sure! The new me, is worried what our future holds both for my family’s situation and for this country we live in. Today has me, putting aside my own crap and wondering what the EU results will do to the future of my children. 

I think no matter what we are going through in life there is always someone worse off. It’s hard to see it that way when you are in the thick of crap being tossed at you. I definitely will admit this past week or so it’s been hard to find a silver lining and not feel totally broken. A friend told me today, it’s ok to feel broken. It surprised me but she is right. We should share our experience good and bag in life as everyone knows and understand life has it’s ups and downs.  Even if my problems seem trivial or small to others out there. I have always been one of those people that think sharing my experience and my stories may help someone else not feel lonely or feel they aren’t the only ones. It was one of the reasons I became a blogger. 

I think the hardest thing when I am struggling is trying to stay super wife, and super mommy on top of it all. I feel guilty that I haven’t had the best patience with my children as I normally do. I haven’t had the energy or time to sit on the floor and play one on one with them as much as I normally do. As parents, we probably have had a lot more stress on our shoulders than normal so we are short fused with each other and with our toddlers. Doesn’t mean we are bad parents just means we are humans. At least we are recognizing that times are tough ahead and we still need to put the effort in as much as we possibly can. 

We are all living our life the best way we can. When challenges are thrown our way we shouldn’t bottle it up and hide from it. It only makes us feel worse. So unfortunately today, you don’t get a styled beautiful blog post, you don’t get my happy, beautiful children (don’t worry there is always time to share them later) but you get the truth. My life isn’t going so well right now and my smile has faded. 

when life gets hard

12 thoughts on “When life gets hard”

  1. Lovely as a regular reader of your blog I have noticed something is different. I too am a naturally positive person but the first 5 months of the year have took me to a dark place – it’s hard to keep smiling when life keeps throwing bad things at you. I hope your situation improves lovely and please know it’s fine to admit life isn’t perfect – it makes us human. Sending love. Xxx

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  2. I hope it all works out – sending love whatever you are going through. It’s impossible to be super at everything all the time and sometimes it slips – often for no fault of your own. We’re all human and nothing is perfect all the time. Lots of love Jenny x

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  3. Oh lovely Jenny! I’m so sorry to hear this. You are definitely right to share – it’s all part of life, the ups and downs, isn’t it?
    Sending you huge hugs sweet lady. I hope things are brighter soon xxx

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  4. My dear Jenny, I am so sorry to read this, I had noticed you were quiet but hoped that you were busy and just didn’t have time, not that you were upset. Huge hugs to you hoping everything perks up . I am one of those people who always looks for the positive, things happen for a reason but lately I to am trying to make sense of things and staying upbeat is hard. Believe me when I tell you that you got this, and you will come through it stronger than ever. Lots of love xx

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  5. Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that things have been tough for you. Your friend is right, it is so good to acknowledge you’re feelings and FEEL them. Bottling them up and ignoring them isn’t recognizing that you are a person and you are allowed to experience emotion <3 I hope things start to look up for you, and you find your smile soon. And just know, just because someone may be worse off than you, it doesn't minimize the absolutely real things you're going through. Much love! <3

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    • Thanks Savannah for your kind words and support. You are so true and I actually feel better not having to pretend like is roses at the moment. But on the other side of it you have to pick yourself up and move on. Right? I am looking for smiles and holding on that it will look brighter soon. 🙂

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  6. Oh Jenny, I’m sorry to read this. It’s hard to keep everything going when times are tough so try to give yourself a break, you are not alone and everyone has spells like this no matter what they may project out there. I’ve found the weekend so tough – just trying to process the result and balance the worries about the future. You’ll get though it lovely but be kind to yourself xx

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  7. Oh Jenny, I hope you’re okay. Sometimes you have to cut yourself a bit of slack. Give yourself a break and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You’re such a sunny, positive person that I truly believe you’ll get through anything xxx

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    • Yes I really do need to learn some of those cutting slack skills I just wasn’t born with them. I hate though to sugar coat it and keep on styling and making life look unrealistic because sometimes it’s just a crappy time and others like to know I am not trying to say life can be perfect. If that makes sense. I think as parents we should share our ups and downs because otherwise it gives a false sense of people can do it all and never have any lows in life. On the mend, trying to focus on positive things and set a few realistic goals to help out too.

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    • Thanks Isabella that’s kind of you. Sometimes it makes you feel better to share it and get advice and work through it. I hate bottling things up inside and I don’t like pretending either. Neither help me. But everyone’s kind words are definitely motivation and lovely to hear.

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