Blog List

There are times when I have my head in the game as a mum and then there’s every single other day. While I’ve come to terms with this and accept myself for who I am, I clearly don’t expect other people to have followed suit. This is probably why I found myself apologising profusely to the mother of Joshua’s classmate when she called over unannounced late last week. In my more lucid moments...

I remember being about nine-years-old and presenting my mother with a form I had brought home from school. “The teacher said you have to fill in all the boxes,” I told her. Dutifully, she sat down and set about her task, but moments later she got up, phoned a friend and asked if she’d seen the form for herself. I had paid no attention to the words on the piece of paper, so had no idea what...

My daughter has only just turned 13-years-old and while I knew she was completely up to speed on the subject of sex, I figured she was happy to consider it in a vague, abstract way. In other words, I was content for her to know it was something that existed, but didn’t play an actual role in her daily life. Like, good home cooking, for example. So when she hung her legs over the end of the couch...

To cut a long story short, my daughter and I were driving along in the car listening to the radio when suddenly a clip that used the phrase ‘kick-ass’ came on. I admit it’s not one of the worst things she can say or ask about and, technically, 'kick' and 'ass' aren’t really bad words (well maybe 'ass' if used in a certain way...), but it’s not something I want to...

As parents, we make judgement calls every single day. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we get it wrong and sometimes we get it very wrong. Obviously none of us set out to screw up, but having recently reflected on one of my more ill-advised parenting choices, I do sometimes wonder. Upon being told by Grace that she felt unwell the night before her class were due to change seating groups, I...

Back before I had kids, I used to do a fairly regular stock-take of my wardrobe. Around this time of year, for example, I would pack away my winter boots and heavy jumpers and jackets, leaving them wrapped, cleaned and ready for the next autumn. Anything that hadn't been worn all season, I would donate to the fight against breast cancer. I had the time back then to check for items that needed...

Last month I blogged about my eldest son’s decision to move out of home. No, I’m not going to say he’s moved back - that would be disastrous all round. The boy moved out on his 24th birthday and he made it a very simple and hassle free transition. There were no big goodbyes, just a “see you later”. And sure enough we did see him later. He needed a shirt for that night and hadn’t packed...

There’s nothing quite like a rain drenched May bank holiday weekend to test parental patience to its frayed end. My beloved offspring, confined within four walls for hours on end, decided to occupy themselves by honing their bickering and squabbling skills. This weekend I’ve been exposed to a myriad of arguments over who sits where on the sofa. Apparently, prime real estate is the right hand...

As a mum I have to say one of my greatest joys is watching my children learn new things, forming new words and meeting their milestones. Like many parents we always like to think that our children are advanced and fantastic at learning! Then there comes a time when they begin to listen to everything we say and do, and we parents have to watch our ‘Ps and Qs,’ becoming masters of code and...

I have a secret, well, it’s not really that much of a secret considering a few people know about it but one which until recently I didn’t want the online world to know. It’s something I didn’t really want to make public knowledge as I thought people would see me as less – less of a mother, less of a businesswoman, less of a person, just less. I was diagnosed with PND (Post Natal...