Time to face reality of 2021

AS we enter a new year the beginning of January life feels very different to any other I have known.

There’s an uncertainty that is spreading like wildfire and you’d be forgiven for feeling anxious. Throughout Christmas, I was in my bubble with my husband and children and I was happy. There was no rushing around, no deadlines to meet and no to-do list, and I could just “be”,

I just felt like I was calm and in the moment – which is a rarity for me and something I would really like to experience more of.

As the tree and decorations came down so did my spirits. I felt sad that our time of being ocooned in our own little world was coming to an end and soon the harsh reality of working from home, to a timetable, would become a reality that I could not escape from.

The threat of Covid is everywhere and naturally just like you I’m sure, I feel frightened, I feel scared, and as life returns to some form of routine for everyone I will inevitably feel lonely.

Working from home requires quite a discipline and although there will be fewer distractions, I will miss everyone one being around me.

I posted on my Instagram account asking my followers if anyone felt the same and I had a lot of heartfelt messages from fellow mums all grappling with the start of January. One mum told me how she was worried about home-schooling again. Another was feeling anxious as she prepared to start back to work after maternity leave and was worrying about being away from her children.

It brought it home that all of us are feeling pretty similar at the moment and right now as mums there’s a lot that unites us.

We can use that to connect and support each other because as women and as mothers we should lift each other up however we can. It could be something as small as leaving a lovely comment on a fellow mum’s Instagram page, or sending a direct message to ask how that person is doing.

There is no room for what I call “parenting pretence”.

I don’t believe any mum or dad is sailing through life right now without worry or struggle which, given the unprecedented times we are living in, is totally OK to admit.

■ Kelly Pegg is a journalist and broadcaster who has been working in radio for more than 15 years. She is a mother of two who was born and raised in the East Midlands and loves living in Nottinghamshire. She hosts the podcast The Hot Mess Mums’ club with TV presenter Jenny Powell. You can find it on Instagram @thehotmessmums