Kelly Pegg is a journalist and broadcaster working in radio for more than 15 years. She is a mum of two who was born and raised in the East Midlands and loves living in Nottinghamshire with her family. She hosts the podcast The Hot Mess Mums' Club with TV Presenter Jenny Powell, supporting and empowering women everywhere. You can find it on Instagram @thehotmessmums
Is it just me or does life still feel uncertain and a little strange?
Some things appear to be going back to normal but there feels as if there is still this threat that at any moment everything could change again.
The roads are busier, parks and playgrounds are full, everyone is heading to the coast at weekends and thankfully the sun is shining.
However, we are still hearing about how the third wave is looming over us all and for some reason, I just can’t seem to shake it off.
I want to relax and think "Ahh it’s behind us" but the truth is our lives have been so severely affected by Covid and lockdown that it just doesn’t feel like I can.
My working life has subsequently changed forever and the majority of what I do – running a production business and hosting my own podcast – is now done from home.
We record with guests remotely and yes there are some positives of course but I fear I have forgotten what it’s like to be around people in an actual working environment and worse still a part of my confidence has disappeared.
When speaking to different people I hear so many different views and feelings surrounding life right now.
A good friend of mine was supposed to be off abroad on a hen do but because of all the uncertainty around travel and the ever-changing rules, she has decided not to chance it.
When we were discussing this, she got so upset because it’s a memory that won’t be made with her friends, it’s something she won’t be part of.
I see the impact lockdown has had on my 7-year-old daughter. She turns 8 in July and recently told me that "It was easier last year because she didn’t have to worry about a party and inviting friends".
This year she’s told me that she just wants a family party with one school friend which is so unlike her but to a degree, I feel that life returning to some normality is bringing its own stresses right now.
We have all had to make sacrifices, and changes that will naturally have an adverse effect on us all in different ways.
I’m of course grateful that we can all go out again, shops are open, and we aren’t living in lockdown.
I’m loving going to the gym and doing my yoga lessons in an actual studio with other people has just felt magical!
So, I’m not sure why I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with life and uncertain of the future?
The last year has been traumatic and we all know trauma takes a long time to get over and heal from.
I guess it’s a case of one day at a time and being grateful for all the small things.
Being parents, we carry a lot of worry with us daily and that can often drown out the ability to soak up the here and now and enjoy it.
As we head into our summer here in the UK let's hope we can all do a bit more of that, after everything we’ve all been through we deserve some joy.
