It was the third time of asking that the optician managed to get a sense of my son’s prescription. The first time he’d hated having an eye patch on and barely responded to the questions. I had suggested he might not be able to see the shapes but the optician insisted he could (it being the…
Parenting
What I’ve Learnt About Glamping
Most bloggers write reviews in exchange for free products and experiences, some even get paid for their words. As my blog is unknown niche, I’ve never quite managed such a feat which, whilst slightly disappointing for me, means I get to continue to use this blog as my own personal therapy session and tell the truth…
Holidaying in Wales with Baby, Child and Grandparents
I’ve just spent a week in North Wales with my four year old (A) and two month old (Z), plus nanny and grandpa (and one aunty and her boyfriend for a couple of nights). North Wales – the place renowned for stunning scenery, beautiful beaches and wonderful weather. Well OK, maybe not the latter. As…
Bonding with my newborn: A story backwards
When you see that new mum rocking it – multitasking and then some – fulfilling every need of their newborn and other children to boot, don’t be fooled. Going through the motions says nothing about what’s going on inside our hearts and heads. Here’s a small snapshot into the bonding process of me and my…
Dads
Dads, dads, dads. Daddy, daddy, daddy. Papa, baba, tata, abba. It doesn’t matter what way you say it. Kids seem obsessed. My son claims he doesn’t have a daddy. Though I tell him he does. But according to him daddies live with their children. I try to explain people he knows where the daddy doesn’t…
Preparing to Share My Love: Expecting A Second Child
I used to scoff at people who wrote about how they didn’t know how they could love another child. How ridiculous I thought. Perhaps – being the last of four – meant I didn’t want to acknowledge that my own parents might have had the same thoughts before my arrival. Now, I’m shitting my pants.…
Second Trimester Pregnancy As a Solo Mum By Choice
After the nausea and dizziness of the first trimester, I was really holding out for the second trimester to be easier. I remember it being physically pretty easy first time round – it was the emotional side that was a real struggle then. I didn’t relax with my son until I was about 27 weeks…
My New Year’s Resolution: When Being Selfish Is Kind
My new year’s resolution this year is clear, simple and to the point. I’m going to be selfish. By the end of last year I was at breaking point (again). Most nights ended up in tears (mine, and occasionally little man’s), I got angry in a way I never wanted to and at times it…
Childhood Chores For Three Years Old
Is it just me or are there a load of posts going round about the chores that kids can, and should, be doing lately? I thought perhaps I could bring some added insight on this debate as a solo mum. Raising a child alone means doing all the housework, and – ironically – it means…
Another Reading of the Single Mum Research
You might have seen in the news recently that a study has just been released about the long term effects of growing up with a single parent (read mum). It’s the usual kind of gumpf – single parents are useless, blah, blah, blah. Only this one claimed to have long term data to prove it,…