How has 2023 been for you?

[baubletits]

Reflecting on this year as I know it's been a shitter for many people with the cost of living etc.

2023 - jobs steady, first family holiday abroad, DD1 applied for secondary school, promised ai would lose weight and currently am heavier than I was this time last year, absolutely no idea where the year as gone as it feels like it's flown by without me noticing

2024 - DD1 will be starting secondary school (Welp!), new kitchen as ours is falling to bits around us, mortgage fix coming to an end in March so going on to the variable to see what is happening with the rates, no other exciting plans and no holidays for at least a good 6 years!

So just because I'm nosy, how has your 2023 been and what is 2024 looking like for you?

I had our miracle DD in May after 13 miscarriages, nothing will ever top this year for me ♥️

It's been one of the worst years of my life. I lost my lovely Dad. House move, DS not settling well in a new class amongst other really stressful goings on! I'll be glad to see the new year.

Positives - enjoying my job, teenage DCs are happy and doing well, my parents are in good health, financially we are ok.

Negatives - DH is unhappy in his job and his parents have had a bad year with their health. So he's had a much worse year than me, and I'm trying to support him through it.

I can post this cos it’s anonymous!

2 weeks ago I found out I had a fertility ‘isssue’ which is why we weren’t conceiving our second all year but couldn’t believe it, this week I’ve found out I’m pregnant!!!! So I’m ending 2023 pregnant and prey for a healthy pregnancy and birth in 2024!!!

Congratulations xxxx

It’s been a good year, I like to always be grateful when nothing awful has happened as you never know what’s round the corner.

I got a new job in February, not my dream job but a step in the right direction and I was hugely frustrated in my last job.

Excellent family holiday abroad.

Two in my household also received ADHD diagnoses this year. DH and I aren’t perfect parents but I feel we’ve made a lot of progress this year. DC with ADHD has had a much more successful time in school this year.

Kept up my fitness this year which is integral to my mental health, but I really need to sort my diet out. Which I’ve been saying for years!

Congratulations!! That’s wonderful news!

Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy x

Its been a big one for me.

Started the year with abusive ex in prison.
Lost my job in Jan.
Ex's Trial in Feb. He waited until very last min to plead guilty so I was already in court ready to give evidence.
Got a new job in march
Ex released from Prison April.
Lost a major volunteer role I've done for years due to restructuring.
Divorce hearing in July. He's awarded the house (I'm OK with this- no desire to live in house he tried to burn down)
Moved to temp rental beginning August.
Diagnosed with PTSD
Moved again to my new (small but all mine) house three weeks ago.
2024 is going to be better.

Got covid December 2022, spent half of 2023 recovering, still not quite there...went back to work 2 months ago....reached a milestone birthday and tendered my intention to retire...32 years frontline NHS.....2024...retire in March and start next chapter of my life

Busy.
DH has had spinal surgery.
I've had cardiac surgery.
DS1 in final year of uni.
DS2 did A levels and started uni. Became an empty nester.
FIL diagnosed with aggressive cancer and not likely to see Easter.
MIL increasingly frail and not likely to cope alone.
Had a couple of lovely holidays, long missed after COVID.
So mixed but eventful. Next year will be pretty challenging I predict. Although have booked two holidays already so stuff to look forward to.

Got married in March, DS started year 1, DD turned 1. But lost my MIL (not close but still sad), my own mum has a lot of health problems which don't seem to be getting better despite surgery. The cost of living has hit us hard!

2024 - I turn 30, im hopeful things will look up, I really want to take the kids on holiday abroad but none of us had passport and that's a cost in itself so we shall see!

It’s been a really hard year for me with some glimpses of hope. I’d say it’s been a year of grieving. Grieving the relationship I had with my mother, I realised that she has always put my stepfather and his family before me, it came to a head in February so I decided to go NC. I lost my best of 20 years in a tragic accident in April, she was a huge part of my life and I’m still adjusting to her not being here.

I’ve also been advocating for my DS (4) who is non verbal and has development delays. This has been a rollercoaster of a journey, lots of highs and many lows.

On the plus side we had a 4 week family holiday driving through parts of France, Spain and Italy, which was incredible. My business is ticking over and gives me the flexibility to fit around DS and his many appointments, IEP meetings. We applied for his EHCP this month so hopefully that’s in place before he starts school
in September.

I’m hoping 2024 will be a little less intense and not as much loss. I’m turning 40 so looking forward to that!

2023 was a good year for me. Lots of memories made with my DC and work has generally been a success.
However, about a month ago I realised I needed to quit alcohol after a particularly explosive argument with DP. This has left my life plans in the air as I now no longer know if he and I are compatible long term, but I'm heading into 2024 focussed on me and my DC and I'm determined to make next year a great one.

I’m getting divorced. It’s been shit. But it’s a continuation of 2021 and 2022 being shit.

Maybe 2024 will be better.

Busy and fun. New house, new area, 2 young dcs. DH's job is secure and going along fine as usual. I started a new small business and completed an OU course. Getting used to a routine with one dc in primary and dc who went from baby to toddler. Went to loads of activities in new area. Health and family are all fine. Had wisdom teeth out which was uneventful. We had a few nice family holidays (we continued to have holidays in 2020-2022 too so no long break from them).

Next year dc2 will be in a preschool for mornings from September so I can finally get some child-free time. House has lots of small jobs that need doing, and I'd like to get back to a hobby that I stopped doing 6 years ago.

So sorry to those who have had a hard year, I hope thing improve for you all very soon.

It has been a weird one for me. I finally got the job I've been working for and holding out for for over 20 years, and it's permanent so for the first time in my life I have a reliable wage and don't need to constantly think about what comes next (yay acadmeia). Job seems to be going well so far, lots of progress and I think I'm having a positive impact on students and colleagues, but also a lot of stress, extra work, and additional responsibilities taken on due to the toll of the last few years on everyone and students who need so much support to get through.

DH had a breakdown in the summer and is still not OK, so I've felt very talked at and useless as I can't solve any of the causes. Our relationship isn't great. Not bad, but not really feeling like a marriage anymore. TTC just seems to have become a thing we aren't doing 2 years after agreeing to try again after a loss. I understand it's too much for him, but am massively resentful if I'm honest.

I’m grateful to have had a good 2023.

DCs all happy and healthy and doing really well at school and in their chosen hobbies. Also though teens we haven’t hit any horrible behaviour yet.

Parents are still relatively healthy, manageable amounts of support needed.

My job is going well, I got a pay rise this year that was much more than expected and has allowed us to start saving for DC’s university, and a Summer holiday.

Paid off all credit cards.

DH and I are getting on really well even after 20 years.

I feel very lucky 🍀

So sorry to all those who have had a shitty 2023. I hope 2024 is better all round.

It started off really well! My job took gave me new experiences that I never thought I'd have. Went camping for the first time in my life! Thought I'd hate it, absolutely loved it 😂
My lovely step Dad (my Dad's husband) passed in the summer, totally unexpected, fine one day, gone the next.
My beautiful Mum passed away 10 years ago, so we're facing another Christmas without a loved one. But, whilst it's hard and sad, I'm getting to spend Christmas with my lovely Dad, which is something we haven't done since I was a child and I'm really looking forward to it!
DS met his lovely gf in January and he's so loved up 😂 I was starting to get worried he'd never settle down! He's nearly 30. This has given me and DH more time on our own, which was definitely needed.
So the usual ups and downs. Hopefully 2024 will give us all something to look forward to!

Worst year of my 40 something life! Was suicidal for months over a work issue. However, I’ve been very very privileged to never have had a terrible year before and it reminds me that life goes on in peaks and troughs.. you can have a great few years and then can suddenly be hit by tragic/difficult (normal, sadly) events eg bereavements, financial problems, mental health etc. nobody escapes tough years like these, so I accept that this year was my turn to experience a horrendous time.

im happy that I’m not longer suicidal and now have a largely clear and happy mind and hoping that 2024 will start afresh with some nicer things to come 🙏

Re the non school attendance, are you a member of not fine in school on Facebook? So much helpful advice on there x

Absolute shite. I've spent the year either at peak anxiety and stress levels, or with an injury. I've put loads of weight on, my business is on its arse and I'm finishing it off run down to my very core, with a nasty virus, because customers decided last minute shopping for items handmade to order is their thing this year and I can't afford to turn business away 😭.

I turned 40 this year.
I’ve been single for a year now, following another dead end relationship. For the first time I’ve got used to being alone and feel that I never want to date again.
17 y/o has been dropped by camhs so seeking alternative help, currently on an 8 month waiting list for adult services.
She’s also started college this year, settled in well but has missed a few days.
Son in second year of secondary school, doing well.
Got a new kitten.
Dad been diagnosed with vascular dementia so that sucks a bit, but he’s not too bad at the moment so trying to spend more time with him and the kids.
Business doing well.

so a mixed bag really!

Really bad year:
Lost a job, got a new one ,now seeking again
Relationship of 44 yrs with Db broken completely

Dd diagnosed with medical condition
I can't wait for it to be over with

Are you a member of Not Fine in School on Facebook? Lots of helpful advice regarding non attendance and fines. I’ve been there myself, sending hugs.

2023- very uneventful for me till about June! Before then my mental health was the worst it had ever been.
June- left my long term partner and father of my child and went on stress based leave from my horrible job in education.
June- Finally reported the horrible thing that happend to me (unrelated to ex) to the police
Took a month off work and handed my notice in immediately before the summer holidays. Had a lovely summer holidays sorting through all the shit I'd accrued over 4 years that needed to go.
September- started an access to HE course and met my current boyfriend.
November- a life changing (for me) sum of financial compensation was awarded to relating to said horrible thing that happend
December- getting ready for Christmas. Lucky to have an excellent co-parenting relationship with my ex. Dating a genuinely lovely guy. New job!

I feel so much more balanced and happy now than I was at the beginning of the year. I feel more like myself now than I have inn about 4 years. It's been a year of deep lows but a lot of personal growth