Happy Mother's Day Mum!

I am very lucky to still have both my parents alive and well. I don’t get to see them very often though, and I only usually talk to them once or twice a week, but I just wanted to let them both know how much I love them.

A couple of people I know this week have lost loved ones, and it's really reminded me of how much you should appreciate and look after your family, so I thought I would write this impromptu post since it is Mother's Day after all!

There are lots of reasons and memories why I love my mum, many of them may seem random or trivial but to me they mean a lot. Here are just a few of them...

 ♥ She has always encouraged me to be artistic, from those early days of mixing up buckets of flour and water glue for me, to letting me paint to my hearts content at my easel when I was a toddler. I’m sure the enjoyment I got out of creative activities when I was small has played a massive part in what I do now.

♥ She would always have the fire lit when me and my brother came home from school when we were little. Home was always a welcoming place to come back to, still is, even though I am in well into my twenties!

♥ When my cherished blanket got packed up by mistake by the removals people when I was small, she spent the next few hours sewing me a replacement toy clown so I wouldn't be sad instead of helping pack up the rest of the house.

♥ She would spend hours helping me out with projects and homework when I was younger, thinking of ideas and going out of her way to buy me materials for what I needed. I'm sure I wouldn’t have done half as well at school if I hadn’t had her help and inspiration!

♥ When I finished my A-levels, and lots of people were encouraging me to do something more academic, I know she supported my decision to go to art school instead. It was one of the best decisions I have made, and I’m really glad I was encouraged to follow my heart.

♥ She made sure we learned how to swim and ride a bike, as she never had the chance herself.

♥ She is my mum and hairdresser all in one. Whenever I go back to visit, I always have a trim and hair-dye session!

♥ I know things can’t have been easy for her over these last few years, with all of us children now having flown the nest. I’m really proud of how she has got back in touch with old friends, joined the gym and is making more time for herself.

♥ She has also recently started to learn to use a computer and it’s something I am also really proud of her for. It’s not something she grew up with, but I think it’s wonderful she is taking it on now, and even fathoming out the mysteries of facebook!

♥ When I was sad and upset last year, she was the one I called first. She listened and gave me advice and never once said ‘I told you so’.

♥ She always listens if I call her up to have a moan (quite often!)

♥ I know she will always love me no matter what.

So mum - and dad too - if you are reading this, I love you lots... Hope you have a good rest of your day and I will talk to you soon xxx