Last night a new future was decided. Regardless of your political opinion the results of the EU Referendum changes the whole future of our country, and most importantly, our children.
Like us, I’m sure many of you will be wondering how their lives will change and what this means for them, and you, in the short and long term. Everything seems so uncertain. It won’t be a sudden change necessarily but things will change one way or another.
This is by no means a political post about which way we should or shouldn’t have voted but we felt that this momentous occasion should be acknowledged. However you voted is entirely your choice and everyone has their reasons. I know people who voted in and those who voted out. Everyone had a reason for doing what they did and unfortunately I don’t think any of us really know the consequences, and may not for many years to come.
What I do know is that I woke up this morning and looked at my two little girls wondering what their lives will be like. They may be better, they may be worse, but whatever happens I just hope they are lives filled with love and happiness. Most importantly I will teach them to be loving and kind and to explore and appreciate the world they live in. Excuse the mush but it is days like this that really make me contemplate what their future looks like.
We would love to hear your thoughts on the results and to share your worries or hopes for your children. As always please respect each others opinions as each and every one is valid.
That is exactly my thoughts this morning. I wasn’t expecting that result so it’s left me wondering what life will be like. I am planning on having a little one by the end of next year (fingers crossed) and hope that the future is steady for them whenever they arrive. I do worry about the affects on us being able to provide for them financially etc but as you say, they would be loved and cared for whatever the situation.
Sharon, I’m sure the future will work itself out. It has to one way or another. I’m very unsure about a lot of things right now. Short term and longer term but am trying to remain positive. The girls are too young to know anything of how this may affect them so I will just keeping doing my best to give them a happy childhood and perhaps go and eat a large chocolate biscuit to get me through! xx
I was shocked by the result and feel very sad that we will be leaving the EU. Particularly sad given the proportion of young who voted in and the older generations who voted leave. I have so many fears of what will happen next and how this decision will effect Europe, the UK and also my own little life.
My baby is due in November and my thought as soon as I heard was about him or her. Will they have the freedom of movement I have enjoyed? Will they be welcome in other European countries? Will we be in a state of recession for their whole childhood?!
On a positive note this is one of the first time my thoughts went straight to child’s life over my own…..and I loved that feeling 🙂 I guess that’s me slowly learning what being a mummy is really going to mean.
Thanks so much Sarah – your last paragraph made me smile because I felt exactly the same way about my 12 week old son – and that’s a lovely, if small, silver lining in all of this! ❤️
Sarah, this is so so true and you have put exactly the right perspective on it all xx
I grew up in Brussels with a father who works for the EU. I went to a European school with lots of Germans, Italians, French, Dutch. Our similarities and differences were what made me both European and British. I’m absolutely gutted today because I have spent 34 years being so proud to call myself both of those things and now one has been taken away from me and I’m really sad for the other. Sad mainly because my baby son will never get to experience the commonality and sharing that I did growing up as part of a union of many, varied countries. It was such a privilege and I wanted that for him.
Emotions aside, I am worried because uncertainty is never good economically and there is a lot of uncertainty now. Yes, the U.K. was once not part of the EU but that was when the world was a very different place; we have evolved as part of the EU and it’s going to take a long time to extricate all of those deeply entrenched ties. And, while we are busy doing that, what happens to all of the other things that the government and civil service should be doing instead of devoting its time to unpicking us from Europe? That’s my big worry – how much effort, money and resource this is all going to take.
I want to be positive; I want to find something good in this for the sake of my son but I’m really struggling today RMF, not going to lie!
I’m trying to stay positive too Kate. I think it is the only thing we can do. It’s strange not knowing how our, or our children’s futures will pan out. So much we don’t know yet. My Dad lives in Germany and has done for over 30 years so I also wonder what will happen there from the reverse point of view. Let’s keep hoping that this all ends well xx
Such a sad day indeed! When I heard the news this morning my heart sank and then my daughter came into our room and I felt such guilt for what had just happened to the uncertainty of her future (I voted ‘IN’ btw). I just can’t seem to sake off a really horrible feeling today. It has most certainly been a horrible referendum and I for one am glad it over (one way or the other). There has been a lot of hate out there and unfortunately I expect a bit more as people fling around the blame.
I completely agree with Kate though, the loss of freedom we currently enjoy is often overlooked/taken for granted when discussing some of the key issues that have dominated the headlines. How sad for our little ones.
I really hope we as a country can recover from this quickly and come back stronger. Uncertainty does not feel good.
Never mind chocolate, I think wine is the order of the day!
Definitely wine. Is a whole bottle allowed? It is nearly 2pm! It is definitely the uncertainty that is getting me and I am thankful my girls are still little and we have time to get the country back on track before they grow up. Can you tell I’m trying my best to remain hopeful!! x
Ha, a whole bottle is a must! 2pm is definitely wine o’clock 😉
Hope is all we can in this situation. No one knows how it is going to pan out, so let’s hope the right decisions are made.
A very strange day indeed! x
I woke up with a feeling of complete devastation, as did most of my friends. All of my social media feeds are full of people my age who have really took this emotionally. I realise that the older generation voted this way but it is our generation that will have to fix it and our children that will have to live with it. My gran changed her vote when she heard how we all felt.
I have heard so many intolerant comments in the run up to it that it makes me ashamed that I have to raise my children in such a society that can use hate for political gain.
I live in the North East and I was genuinely gobsmacked with the amount of vote leave posters around my area.
Oh well. Onwards and upwards. We have to get on with it for our children’s sake
Like Kate, I grew up in Brussels and went to an EU school with all different nationalities. (Hi Kate! *waves*)
I feel absolutely sick at the thought that the country has thrown away its part in something so precious, and so very, very angry that my family’s life may be damaged by something so far removed from what I, or anyone I know wanted.
To be part of a wider cause, to ensure that the bloodshed that divided Europe in the past never happens again, to benefit from those huge advances in women and children’s rights was a wonderful thing and that has been thrown away.
Can we really come back from this?
What a small world Emilie! I was at Woluwe, which school were you in?
I don’t remember any politician driving home the point of why the EU was first created – to ensure the continent could never tear itself apart at war again. What an amazing, lofty goal and one that it has achieved. And yet…today we just threw all of that away. Heartbreaking.
Uccle! I think I would have been the same year or the one behind you! 🙂
We have been so lucky to get to see close up what the EU does and what it meant, and I feel so sick that it’s been lost. I don’t want my children to grow up in a world where they don’t understand what it means to be truly united for something bigger. Especially as with a referendum in Scotland and potentially NI, there may not even be a UK by the time they are old enough for me to explain all this.
Oh brilliant – I’m sure we know a few of the same people. I think they were great schools for helping you to realise how similar and yet how different each nationality is in Europe! What a sad day.
Ha! I was at Ixelles – where I met my now husband in our final years of school. We’d have been a few years behind you though.
There is complete devastation in our house at the result of the referendum, and we are now disappointed that the possibilities and opportunities we wanted for our daughter might now be shut down. Both sets of her grandparents are still based in Brussels, and as they are now retired/approaching retirement are having to work out their plans. It looks like one set at least will be looking at gaining Belgian citizenship. My father deeply regrets that he cannot apply to become a citizen of Europe – independent of any nation within it.
I didn’t realise how strongly I felt until I heard the news this morning (well, I had an inclinatin how it was going while lurking the internet on a 4am feed!) and I think I felt so emotional about it because, as Sarah said, I was thinking first and foremost about my little one and what life he’s going to have. It makes me sad that he may not be afforded the privileges and freedom that I’ve enjoyed so far as part of the EU. It makes me angry that he could suffer as a result of political ambition. I want so much more for him!
Thay said, I’m still going to try and bring him up to want to explore the world he’s been born into and be bigger than the hate that seems to have become a normal part of our society. I’ll be watching to see what happens next!
I find it hard to be on the losing side despite an enormous respect for democracy. I am 25 weeks pregnant and feel I didn’t choose this future for my child. My mother was adopted from Irish parents and so I am entitled to apply for Irish citizenship, if I manage to do so before baby arrives he/she will inherit it. I feel like if this is possible my child will be able to make some decisions for his/herself and may have more options than if I just see what happens. I feel I owe him/her this as this is a course of action open to me.
I was very sad when I heard the news yesterday. I am German, but have lived in England (Isle of Wight) for a while and am worried now about what this will mean for my friends’ lives and yes also what consequences this will have for Germany and the EU. I think none of us can foresee what changes this will bring and I hate the uncertainty!