It's now official women get no "me time". They did a poll. Seriously just asking for "hands-up who doesn't have a minute to themselves" at the school gate would have done the trick but nevertheless 1000 women with children aged 16 and under were surveyed by Galaxy Research for Procter & Gamble. The outcome - mums average less than 40 minutes a … [Read more...]
Happy Birthday Hippie Child
Sunday was the 15th anniversary of my becoming a mother. Hippie Child you arrived at 4.26am on a very dark and rainy night. You cried very little and spent a substantial amount of time lying in your father's arms looking up at him with big, wide eyes contemplating the world. It was the first sign of your philosophical, dreamer-like nature. Over … [Read more...]
When Your Kids Have Hobbies You Know Nothing About
It is inevitable your children will one day develop an interest in things outside your scope of experience. Now on one hand you can consider this a learning experience, expand your horizons to include areas you have never considered. On the other hand, it can be annoying. My children play musical instruments and like to sing, I think they are … [Read more...]
Eating Out With Kids or My Failure as a Food Blogger
Eating out with small children is not an enjoyable experience. There was a long period when fine dining became a distant memory for us. MacDonalds became our restaurant of choice because THEY HAD A PLAYGROUND. Anyone who has tried to keep toddlers or preschoolers confined to a seat for any longer than three minutes knows the importance of that … [Read more...]
School Days
There's nothing that marks the passing of time more than the start of the new school year. Mothers everywhere crying softly in their cars having deposited their baby for the first day at pre-school, big-school, high-school. Doing our usual mother-worrying "will they be alright", "will they find someone to play with", "will they get lost" ... and so … [Read more...]
Before I Had Children
Before I had children ... I knew good behaviour was just a matter of proper discipline. I knew sexism and inequality were the result of gender stereotypes inflicted on children by parents - no child of mine was going to play with a Barbie Doll. I knew consistency was the only sure way to deliver a well rounded individual to the world. I knew my … [Read more...]
Top Pick of Parenting Books
When I knew I was pregnant I went seeking advice in a plethora of parenting/pregnancy books. I read everything that was published at the time. Many of them set up impossible standards that even then I knew I was going to struggle with, others spoke down to me, while yet more espoused beliefs that I didn't feel comfortable with (and often in a very … [Read more...]
Ten Golden Rules of Parenting
This is not the advice in the parenting books - this is advice you take when you have ditched aspirations of perfection and are simply in survival mode. Never wake a sleeping child. If they are not bothering you don't bother them (admittedly this is how my kitchen came to be painted pink - but it was old and needed a facelift). Children don't … [Read more...]
The trials and tribulations of a techno connected life
We aren't exactly the most technical of families The desktop computer is four years old. My laptop belongs to a time period pre-everything, any attempt at internet connection allows you to go off and cook a three course meal while you wait for it to load and it won't let you type the letter "g". This proves somewhat difficult given my email … [Read more...]
The Day I Killed Santa
It is now 12 months since I committed the crime. It began as such an ordinary day. I was trying to clean up. When the Princess Child approached me mid sweep. "Mum, Sam* said his mum told him Santa wasn't real. Santa is real isn't he?" Now look I've never been comfortable with the Santa thing, it always felt, well a little deceptive. However, … [Read more...]
