As you probably know I’ve appeared on a few podcasts recently, the main one being with Shaun Attwood, a leading crime podcaster in the UK with over 900,000 subscribers.
Reflecting on my childhood during these recordings has been quite emotional. While I can laugh and joke about some parts of my past, it feels strange and unsettling once I’m home. I look at my kids and can’t imagine them experiencing what I went through.
For years, I’ve carried the shame of what happened to me at 17. I thought sharing my story would help me let go of that shame and before moving forward, I sat down with my children and explained the entire process of what I would be discussing. I made it clear that if they were uncomfortable or asked me not to proceed, I would respect their wishes. Their willingness to agree was incredibly admirable. However, I’m now feeling conflicted about whether exposing my past was selfish on my kids (the twisted dilemma of speaking out to support others).
Parenting both boys and girls is challenging. I need to teach my daughter about the boundaries boys and men shouldn’t cross, while also guiding my sons to ensure they respect those boundaries and understand the importance of consent.
The world feels chaotic, and despite women having more control over their bodies than when I was young, navigating safe interactions between boys and girls is still difficult, with concerns about false accusations. A topic I feel is important to discuss with my sons. I feel in today’s society boys/men need to get a disclaimer before even approaching a girl due to the anti men culture and numerous false accusations being made.
Life and parenting are confusing, and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed right now. If you’ve been following my blog please forgive me if they’re few and far between over the next couple of weeks.
Bipolar Mum Journey 
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