Life at home can change so much for different people. As children grow up their personalities change. As parents get older their interests may differ or they might stop doing a lot of things. This can change the family and how they live. As people get ill, move out or have a change of personality, the way the family works and interacts with each other changes. 

For me personally, the past two years have changed so drastically. My mother passed away, leaving only three of us left in the house. All heartbroken. All lost. All clueless and scared. Then my brother moved down to Portsmouth two and a half hours away to participate in an apprenticeship. Thus leaving only two. Halving the original number of people living in our family home. 

It was quick change for us to get used to but we all managed it, even though it does seem very strange and surreal if you think about it sometimes. When my brother comes back to visit for a long weekend or week off it's difficult for me and my dad to get used to his presence, especially as his attitude has changed from living in a dorm with 4 other guys. And it's hard for him to behave nicer and be less vulgar as his younger sister and dad are not about that life and really will not be taking any crap off him. 

It's weird to think back over how life at home has changed. With all the chores, bad-day-at-work rants and isn't-our-family-a-bunch-of-crazys offloaded onto me it can be difficult to handle. Especially with trying to revise, do homework and go out socialising with friends. I'm surprised I haven't completely lost my mind. 

I tend to just keep myself busy and focus on the task at hand. Balancing family, friends, hobbies and a levels is so difficult but you've just got to perceiver and when you get an ounce of motivation, act on it, you might even get in the zone and get so much more done.

Don't take too much shit from "princesses". They may treat you like their slave ("do this", "fetch me that", "listen to me") but you should - and can - only take a certain amount of crap, so when you're getting irritated by them or have had enough of them, walk away and do something productive. Don't go to your room and scream into a pillow or cry, do something with that angry energy. Put clothes away, organise your desk, make your bed or do a page of work. Don't waste your energy getting even more annoyed at them, ignore it and move on. 

And never forget that you're not immune to being a "princess". We all have our moments so don't be surprised when people stop taking shit from you. They've probably taken enough already, so ease off from time to time. Everybody has a bad day, but don't let the good days pass you by. 

Cheerio my little hot cross buns, and happy Easter weekend :) - Beky x