What’s my status? That’s a photo of me ( taken by my Dad)  when I turned 16, unbelievable right! I was a teenager once! Now everyone can easily update their own status and profile pics unapologetically and seemingly unself-consciously. My status seems to be Mum.

Mum can you help? Mum can you buy? Mum can you pick me up?

This week I learnt that sometimes this Mum can’t fix everything.

On Tuesday I got called into the school office when my son knocked the top off a mole. It was bleeding profusely; they thought that I could help, but no instead, the sight of my son’s blood pouring down his chest, saw me turn white and queasy. Then there were two patients not one!

Later after helping with History and Religion assignments I tried to remain jolly and upbeat and not buy into my teenager’s melancholia. It can be hard work being a grown up and even more so when your status seems to be” just Mum”.

I remember the moment a date went bad when the guy muttered,  almost to himself

” The last girl I dated was a single mum with 3 children and so are you,”

He almost said this whimsically to himself. At that moment I knew he hadn’t understood me, despite walking through a museum for hours and sharing ice cream cones, he still saw me as just a single mum.

Maybe I should update my status? It seems updating your status is a way to express who you are and reach out and stay connected.

Currently my FB status says separated, but it’s been years and maybe it should say something else?

Like:

• Gorgeous !
• Hoping my ex divorces me soon, like he said he would!
• Single and mingling
• Dating
• looking
• Almost a girlfriend Ha ha!

Then there is the question of whether to update which groups you’re following or part of, or who you identify with. the list can become quite long: Geeky, Preppy, Academic, Hippy, Emo, Sporty, Political, Anarchist, Artist, Nature lover, Conservationist and Professional.

Can I just tick all the boxes? Is that okay?  Or just update my status on a given day that I am one of those and say something cute like,

“Today I am in full geek mode watching Star Wars movie marathon”

and another day;

“Feeling disappointed  and wondering why we pay our politicians so much when they ask us to vote on something that we made clear when we voted them in!”

In the end it’s up to you how much you share and wish to update but if you want people to know so they’re not left wondering and conversation can flow, go ahead and update your status, I just might do myself!