It would be superfluous to call the last decade “life-changing”, given that I was 13 at the beginning of it. Nonetheless, there is no other way to describe it. I lost my brother and my Nan within 2 weeks of each other, met Karl, left school, gained a niece and nephew, completed college, got my first job, found a better job doing what I’d wanted to do for years and of course, had a baby. Life, death, milestones, personal achievement… it’s all in there.
I could try and make a guess as to what the next decade will hold, but I’ve not got a clue what the next year is going to mean for me so would probably find myself laughing at my own ideas in as little as 6 months.
It’s no understatement to say that I’ve had to quickly re-evaluate my thoughts, opinions, feelings, priorities — my entire life, even — in the past 6 and a half weeks. I’ve known for a long time that I’d be a good mother, but I had no clue exactly how strong my maternal instinct would be, and the massive impact that would have in going forward. I can’t really articulate what this means for my future, but suffice to say that the next 10 years will definitely be an adventure into the unknown.
And to think that this time last year, my biggest goal was to break 1,000 feed subscribers! How unimportant that seems now…
01 Jan at 2:07 pm
It would be pretty sad to live through a decade that wasn’t life changing. :P I think you probably had the most interesting end to the year out of the group of people I consider myself to be "rather good friends with." Good job, I mean, you can’t say you have nothing to show for 2009! You have, like… living, breathing, farting LIFE. :D
Sucks that we don’t get to talk more, especially since I have a rather fondness for you and the other lovely q*bee IRCers. I definitely could not have made it through the really crappy part of the year that I had. Thanks for putting up with my whining (at least to my face, because I’m sure I warranted behind the back bitching!), and making me feel like things would be okay (which they are!).
01 Jan at 2:54 pm
Don’t lie, you still want those 1000 subscribers. :P
01 Jan at 2:59 pm
Well, there’s no reason why I couldn’t have them TOO ;)
01 Jan at 3:11 pm
This is exactly why I’ve always maintained that it is impossible to ever write a book on parenting. Each and every one of us goes through life with each day offering differing points of view and throwing different challenges for us all.
We learn as we grow, these lessons then partly prepare us for the things we have to do in order to live our lives. Well all have our own views on how things should be, or be done, this too shapes the people we become and how we treat others or what we do with our lives and as life changes, so do we all.
I am incredibly proud of you both, as I stated before Isabel was born, I think that you are both very suited to parenthood, and that you will both succeed in whatever you choose to do with your lives. You have already proved very capable in whatever you set your mind to Jem, and being a Mum is no different to all that, you are, in my eyes a very good Mum, Isabel is a very lucky little girl, to have two parents who very obviously dote on her and who will continue to provide a safe, loving and sound basis for her life and I look forwards to watching her grow into a little person in her own right.
You are both strong intelligent adults who have coped admirably with the trials that life has already shown you, and I have the utmost faith that you will both continue to do so in the future.
I am proud to call you my Daughter, and Karl my son in law too :)
Here’s looking forwards to the next 10 years and the interesting if somewhat testing at times challenges it sets us.
01 Jan at 3:58 pm
I don’t even remember the beginning of the decade but I was seven years old at the time! It’s definitely been life-changing :P
01 Jan at 4:39 pm
You’ve definitely had a life-changing year, let alone a life-changing decade! And adventures into the unknown are the best. It keeps things interesting :D
01 Jan at 4:56 pm
I was wondering if you’d make a recap post, since the past year has brought some big changes into your life.
I guess 2009 brought some hard things for all of us, but overall it seemed like it was pretty good to you – I mean, you have Isabel now! :D Reading your Twitter updates about her always makes me smile.
Have a great 2010, Jem!
01 Jan at 6:04 pm
Your last decade, for anyone – only serves as a reminder of how much can happen in just 10 years (or less than that). These days, the next hour even is unpredictable, so to try to "look into the future" of what to expect in the coming years is a bit unlikely. I’m curious, for the next decade will consist of me transforming into an adult along with other pivotal events in my "youth life." Scary, yet interesting all the same. I wish you the best next 10 years and hope that being a mother, watching [your] new life’s ten years pass by is a joyous experience.
01 Jan at 7:17 pm
It’s shocking how much suddenly motherhood realigns everything in your whole life. People really can’t articulate it to make others understand until you walk through it yourself, it’s one of those truly experiential things. I’ll bet you’ll be an amazing mom!
02 Jan at 6:01 am
I think that my expectation of a ninja baby every year for the next decade is more than justified. Get cracking!
02 Jan at 3:39 pm
Awwwh @ Mumblies! Her comment made me grin like a fool.
I’m with Amanda… more ninjababies plz, chop chop! ;D I can already tell that you and Karl are fab parents, just by listening to you both talk about Izzybeeeee in IRC. :D I can only imagine how things will change for Chaz and I once we has one of those in a couple years, eee!
Wishing a happy and fun-filled 2010 to joo! <3>
03 Jan at 4:07 pm
Aww,
may 2010 be awesome for you!
03 Jan at 5:49 pm
so, how many more subscribers do you need? ;)
03 Jan at 6:12 pm
About 440, although I did break the 600 mark earlier in the year…
03 Jan at 8:28 pm
Happy New Year! Congrats for the accomplishments :D Best of luck!
04 Jan at 9:04 pm
I think it is a bit daft to say a period of time has been ‘life-changing’ — all of life is changing constantly. At the beginning of the decade I was still living in the UK on a temporary basis! I am sure it is one of the points where my time-line separates into alternate universes, so one Lil is now sat here commenting on Miss Jabella’s blog, and other Lil is sat in Texas celebrating her second year of legal alcoholism.
I wonder what alternate Jem is doing? :P Either way, happy new year and do not hesitate to continue being the awesome, accomplished person you are.
05 Jan at 11:38 am
Congrats Jem… :)
I’m not sure what I expected from this year except perhaps for it to be a better one than the last, as that was not a great time for me. And overall, I think it was… dreadfully BORING, though. I was off school, and well, I didn’t think I’d ever get sick of video games…
Hopefully this year I will get to realise the long standing goal of joining the army… if they don’t fail me on the psych test. :P
05 Jan at 7:42 pm
Wow. Congrats on the subscribers! And don’t worry, you won’t be laughing at your own ideas because no matter what happens, everything always seems to work on in one way or another!
05 Jan at 8:59 pm
Happy new year Jem ?
Those posts about the birth were scary to read…you’re very brave! x___x
I hope 2010 is a good year.
06 Jan at 9:03 pm
Crazy how things change in just a year. Having a baby will change everything (obvious statement is obvious), I don’t think it compares to anything else.
07 Jan at 6:46 pm
Its funny how fast a decade goes by. I certainly dont feel like the same person I was 10 years ago, but when looking back, 10 years doesn’t seem that long ago.
Children bring a new happiness into the world, they (along with all the stress and freakouts and everything else that goes with just being a mom) set your life on fire, and make you happy to watch everything burn. You have someone to start fresh with. You have a blank slate, and its one you get to draw all over. Its beautiful.
May 2010 leave you happy, sad, laughing, crying, and above all, TRIUMPHANT.