Memories from being a young mum

Being a young mum was a long time ago…..another lifetime. Do we look back to those days and wish they were still here…..I know sometimes I do.

Son no 1……was born  I think on a Wednesday on 26th April 1976….that long hot summer. We lived in a tied cottage on a cattle farm between Bracknell and Maidenhead and hubby got the chance to work alongside a manager as a general labourer on Peter Cadburys estate(yes the chocolate man)…We had a lovely bungalow as part of the job.

Anyway, we moved and then I was whisked off to Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot because I was suffering from high blood pressure. I was terrified….first baby……I did not know what to expect…I really thought that they would do something that would make the baby come then.

I spent almost a month in the hospital and was allowed home Easter weekend. On my return, I had two more weeks until my due date but son no 1 decided that he did not want to wait another week and decided to be born. Twelve hours labour and an emergency caesarian weighing 8Ib and 2 oz I became a 1st-time mummy.

Was kept in hospital for 9 days, learnt how to bathe a baby then was sent home to look after him ourselves!!! I have never forgotten that first health visitor…..Miss Pugh!!!!.

The only memories from those very early baby days were feeding him baby stewed apples and for tea baby stewed prunes then panic because of the unpleasant nappies. I soon learnt.

That was a very hot summer so instead of being in the garden….he was laid on a nappy in the shade indoors with the curtains closed.

Sos no 2 and three were born in St Lukes hospital in Gildford Son no 2 being born a week early and son being born on the same date as he was due….clever stuff

Living in Shackleford as hubby was working on a farm. I used to walk up to the farm with all three. aged 5,3 a newborn….life was very busy. But it’s all happy memories that I always treasure. Christmas mornings all 3 in bed with me to open a stocking the walk up to the farm to meet Dad as animals have to be fed whatever the day is.

Walks through to the other side of the village where a community of young families lived…..their hubbies had jobs at the residential school and the families lived in a terrace houses on the site and these were the other mums  I knew. They helped me, always there if I needed company to bundle our three and walk along….. a cup of tea and a chat and the freedom for toddlers to run about.

Playgroup and I ended up on the committee were we but on small panto for the kids. My two starring roles were the pig in one(I cannot bring the title to my mind), The second one was a dog in the enormous Turnip…..and as I was pregnant with son no 3…..we all had to “carefully” fall into a heap.

Days I will never forget. I will save any more for another time.