When dreams aren’t always what they seem (by Mel Johnson)

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After a period of back to back illnesses, associated sleep deprivation and a variety of other time-sucking things that required my full attention, I’m back with one of my promised guest pieces. I have a few ready to go and am excited to start with this one by Mel Johnson.

Long time readers will know I’ve mentioned Mel, who runs the Stork and I community for people who are solo mothers by choice or considering going down that route. Those of you who have read my book Single will also recognise her name as I interviewed her for a couple of the chapters.

I asked her to write this guest piece as I’d been watching her stories on Instagram for years and had followed her journey from living in Manchester to moving to the coast to be nearer her family and was amazed and incredibly jealous when she moved into a really big house, painted candy pink. It looked like such a dream. I loved watching Mel renovate the house and lovingly decorate it to her taste and so my jaw dropped when she announced she was moving and downsizing significantly.

When she shared a reel explaining that one of the reasons she bought the house in the first place was that she wanted to prove that she could have whatever her coupled up friends had, I knew I had to get her to do a guest piece as that’s definitely something I think a lot of us will relate to.

I hope you enjoy reading it. I also thought it might make a good discussion point so do comment below if you have ever done something to try and keep up with your coupled up friends and what the experience was like for you. I’ll also start a chat in the app as well.

Have a good week,

Nicola

Order my book Single here | Follow me on Instagram: @Nicola_Slawson

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When dreams aren’t always what they seem: my journey from the big pink house to a simpler life

The dream house.

By Mel Johnson

Three years ago I made a decision that I thought was a dream come true: I bought a big, six-bedroom, pink house for my daughter and me, right round the corner from my parents on the north-west coast of England.