Time is such a funny thing, it can feel endless at times, then before you know it that season of your life is over and the days feel as though they have slipped away from you. Today marks ten years since I decided to step into the world of blogging. Creating Boo Roo and Tigger Too, highlighting my nickname alongside my then two children.
Why I started Boo Roo and Tigger Too
As the final days of my maternity leave with Tigger counted down I thought about my time away from work. Noting that maternity leave the second time around was so very different to when I had Roo. With no friends who were having babies at the same time as me and no visitors to brighten up or break up the long days, I was lonely. Turning to the family and parenting blogs for tales of motherhood, the highs and the lows, how they filled their days and learning from their trials and tribulations.
Life as a working mum
Realising that my time at home was limited I decided on a whim ten years ago today to start my own blog. Not that I had any grand plans for what I would share or offer in my own little corner of the internet. However, many of the blogs that I read and followed over the months were from stay at home mums.
Whilst this was wonderful, I wanted to share what life as a working mum was like – Such as the parental guilt of leaving my children in childcare whilst I returned to my day job in the NHS. To the constant juggle of children when you don’t have a support network – Pulling your hair out when you get a call to say that one of the children are ill and you need to leave work.
Boo Roo and Tigger Too 10 years later
Did I think that ten years later I would still be sharing updates on here? Nope! If I’m honest, I thought it might be just a passing fancy, something to keep my brain occupied for a while before it falling by the wayside. However, Boo Roo and Tigger Too have quite honestly changed our lives. Not something I say lightly as it can be taken in so many different ways.
Starting a blog has enabled us to experience things we could only ever dream about. Opening the door to amazing opportunities, collaborations and campaigns. Enabling me to become a full-time work from home mum after being made redundant whilst on maternity leave with Piglet. Allowing us to spend quality time together as a family and travel across the UK to different attractions and activities – Even a magical trip to Disneyland Paris for their 25th anniversary celebrations.
Riding the highs as well as the lows
It’s not all been about riding the high life, there have been some dramatic lows along the way too. Feeling censored on what I can write about, what I can share, the opinions I have from readers, brands, other bloggers and even family members. Dealing with backlash from campaigns I have worked on, keyboard warriors and trolls who have spammed me, leaving both public and private messages as well as the tittle-tattle behind my back. Honestly, there have been some truly heartbreakingly moments when I have thought about walking away from it all.
The COVID effect
The pandemic hitting the world last year has had an impact on everyone’s lives in some way. The blogging community was also affected with campaigns and collaborations put on hold leaving my freelance earnings taking a nosedive. The government SEISS grant offering some support to me financially at a time when I wondered how we would make our everyday bills. Although having been on maternity leave in the tax year 2016-17, it meant that the amount I should have received was reduced due to this – I can’t really complain as at least I was able to receive some support during the pandemic.
Returning to the NHS
Although I had been pondering about the prospect of returning to employment outside of the home for a little while as Piglet was due to start full-time school last year. The pandemic meant that this was no longer a possibility but a necessity for our family’s finances. After a temporary festive contract, that lasted for almost 6 months at a local supermarket I finally landed a role back within the NHS.
The friends in my computer
It’s been a rollercoaster over the last 10 years, with so many changes in the blogging community, social media and algorithms. But one thing that I am truly grateful for is the friends inside of my computer. People who I have followed on social media read their blog, worked together on a campaign or met at a blogging conference. These people have been there along the way, supporting me, nudging me when I need to pull my finger out and complete tasks, offering support when things were looking bleak – thank you to each and every one of you, you are truly amazing!
Here’s to the next 10 years of Boo Roo and Tigger Too
