Julie Helen: 'It's a joy to share my stories with you'

I was musing on one of the mornings when it was lashing rain; do all the animals have the right idea when they just go to ground and hibernate? Then, after this last week, I realised I would miss a lot of magic.

During the week, we had my nephew Peter’s second birthday. He is going through a lovely phase of really enjoying Toy Story toys so Auntie Julie came up trumps with a lovely set of character bath toys.

Ricky, Peter and Katie are a lovely little gang now and they are awaiting Peter’s sibling in January. Being an auntie fills my heart so much, seeing their glorious personalities shine. We had yummy dinner and cake. The kiddos played until they were so tired they were fit to drop. It was special.

Then, on Friday, Ricky and I had to go on a mission shopping for party bags for his class birthday party. He was beyond excited about being in charge of choosing nice things for his classmates. His birthday isn’t until the middle of December, but for the class birthdays we join up with three others and get it done before the Christmas madness, and it worked out so well.

When we were just inside the door of the shop, I was speaking firmly to Ricky, reminding him that it was a big place and if he lost me for a few minutes, I would not leave the shop without him and he was not to leave the shop without me either. I was in full-on mom mode. I could see a lady watching us and I presumed she was thinking I was being a bit stern. She approached us to say that when she heard me use Ricky’s name, she knew I was in fact Julie who writes for The Echo and that my words really resonate with her. I could have hugged her, it meant so much to me.

It was particularly welcome when only moments before, we had been outside the shop trying to find a dish in the pavement so that I could get my wheelchair up and in the entrance. Ricky had been running from corner to corner, already knowing at his young age that a corner was our best bet, yet there was no dish and I had to ask passers-by for help. They obliged without blinking, but those moments give me a jolt of frustration, most especially when I’m in Mom mode, it takes away from how capable I feel.

As I always do, I tried to shake it off and get on with the job at hand.

To have that lovely reader tell me that my words matter made me feel so valued.

The party bags went down a treat and the whole party was great fun.

On Sunday, it was time to visit Santa in Magical Blarney with David and Granny, of course. Even the smell of the shop in Blarney Woollen Mills makes me think of my own childhood when Mum brought us for our annual visit to the Big Man. We were a bit early so Dave and I found somewhere to sit and Granny and Ricky went off for a look at the toys. Another lady approached me to say she reads this column every week and finds my stories fascinating. I was smiling as David rarely sees any interaction I have with my readers.

A huge thank you from the bottom of my heart to all you lovely readers. A few weeks shy of 22 years and I love writing more than ever, and it’s a joy to share my stories with you all.