Bye 2017, hello 2018

Our 2017 has been good! This is the year my kids have grabbed all the opportunities they were offered to share their passion and showcase their talents.

Let’s start with Laksha! It al started with International Women’s Day when she received a book about some of the greatest women but didn’t have much representation! On the same day, we visited the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich where we saw a special exhibition on women and saw lots of women whose name were never mentioned in the books she has read. And that’s where her Great Women project started. This has led to many opportunities and pen pals. Laksha has now 2 pen pals where she exchanges letters/emails about the different women they have researched. We also found out some amazing gems in London to help her with her research from The Feminist Library to WoW (Women of the World) at Southbank Centre. She has been recognised for this special work at school and got 2 Headteacher’s Award.  Wherever possible, we have showed her work from WoW Thinkins we attended where they were impressed by her work and got an opportunity to work with them in their next festival. 2017 has also been were Laksha has started to raise her voice against things she didn’t agree with. She is now part of the National Children’s Bureau where she worked on their anti-bullying campaign. She voiced for their main animation video and was invited to parliament to talk about her experiences of being bullied. She shared her ideas with prominent figures who encouraged her to share them with the school. So she did! She wrote a letter to her headteacher about what can be changed which not only prompted a personal 1hr meeting with her and headteacher talking out the ideas but also a massive recognition at school for this. She has now found her voice and knows that complaining about things isn’t enough! That she needs to go on the ground and get dirty to make things happen. This doesn’t mean she has grown-up too quickly. Oh no! My firstborn is still a crazy and wonderful child. Our  arguments have gone up but my unicorn-and-history-loving baby girl is still a child and I will do anything for her to stay this way. 2017 made her discover new interests including violin and martial arts. She took part in concerts and competitions without any fear! 

Talking about babies, the baby of the house is now in school and his first milk tooth has started to wobble😭😭😭😭😭 . Mahi had a good year too with doing really good at school and gaining a headteacher award within the first month of starting which is apparently every rare! He entered his first competition using his passion, Lego, and was the youngest to enter that Lego competition! Mahi planned his first birthday party and loved to beer him grow and make his own decisions even if Mummy didn’t agree with some of it! Mahi has started to read and write earlier this year and really good with his numbers. His artistic skills have literally gone through the roof and sometimes am speechless as to what he draws. To encourage what he’s good at, we have started going to art classes and took part in our local food festival to showcase his work! He has found new interest such as martial arts! However, the down side is in his practise buddy and thus the punching bag. Oh motherhood is so rewarding... sometimes!!!

For me, I had to put my masters on hold as I couldn’t juggle all the balls. But that doesn’t mean I stopped studying and so whenever I could I picked up the books and became a student again. In terms of work, I am loving it! I love my patients who make me feel special! So special that they have nominated me and awarded me a special award for making their cancer journey a little bit more easier! On my campaigning side, it was great to see the Power to the Bump campaign taking shape and been applied! Using that campaign me , other young mums along with Pregnant then Screwed have formed our own little group called Young Mum Collective which deals with maternity discrimination amongst young mothers! It was great to see the workshops we have created help other young mums. I’ve also attended events with Young Women’s Trust and lended my voice wherever I could. I was also involved in a little ad for a prominent shop. I loved being a star for the day and the money was used to buy the kids all their Christmas presents! 

As a family, we took our first trip abroad which was a month of full bliss! We also experienced new things such as snorkelling, skateboarding and fishing. We discovered more hidden gems around London and made more amazing memories!

I hope 2018 will bring us more memories and wish the same to you! Happy New Year!!!