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Mother's Always Right

~ If not, ask Gran

Mother's Always Right

Monthly Archives: April 2013

Glammed up wheels

30 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by Molly in Baby and toddler products, Play

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

hypermobility, Micro Scooter, toddler play

This time last year, my diva daughter was only just learning to walk. With hypermobile joints delaying her physical development, she had regular physiotherapy sessions to try and get her up and about. During those sessions we were encouraged to invest in a ride-on toy and, later, a balance bike (this year’s planned birthday present) as we were told these would be great activities to strengthen her overly flexible joints and hone her balancing skills.

I laughed at the physiotherapist back then, unable to dream of my non-walking toddler having the physical ability to even stand unaided, let alone scoot herself around on a Micro Scooter. But, today, I was taken right back to that room in the hospital one year ago, vividly reliving the memory of my bendy daughter trying to pull herself onto her feet like a gangly baby giraffe.

Micro Scooter Glam Continue reading »

Unique gifts for a newborn

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by Molly in Baby and toddler products

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

gifts for babies, newborn babies, Parenting

Review

Having a baby is better than Christmas, in present terms. You get showered with all sorts of new items that you never knew existed, many of which you won’t even get to take out of the wrapping. Having been the new mum with a million and one cuddly toys, there are a couple of items I look out for now when I buy a present to welcome a new baby into the world. I’ll always try to find unique gifts for a newborn, rather than something they may already have, no matter how cute it is.

Last Saturday I got to test my baby present giving skills to the maximum, as I met (and cuddled and got broody over) our lovely friends’ new baby girl. There was a moment when my two year old gave her “new baby friend” a cuddle, when I thought my heart might actually burst in two, leaving me with nothing but a mushy puddle on the floor. Luckily my heart is actually made of stone and I’ve lived to tell the tale.

So, new unique baby gifts… Continue reading »

New mum: you ARE doing it “right”

27 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by Molly in Motherhood

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

.motherhood, babies, new mum, newborns, Parenting

Parenting - no right wayI’ve lost count of how many pieces of advice I was given when I was pregnant. Eat this, don’t eat that, do this exercise, you shouldn’t over-exert yourself, have a birth like this, definitely don’t do labour like that… the pearls of wisdom came at a constant trickle, refusing to ebb.

And then I had my baby and that stream turned into a tidal wave.

From sleep positions to breastfeeding positions, the merits of the bottle to the best babygrows, my head was left spinning from the barrage of well-meant opinions sent my way. Whether it was an old lady in the street or the person taking my cash at the supermarket, everyone seemed to have something to offer me. It was like I was walking round with a huge placard above my head saying, “I AM A NEW MUM AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING, PLEASE HELP ME”. Continue reading »

My cure for feeling sorry for myself

25 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by Molly in Recipes, Weaning and eating

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

food, poorly, recipe, soup

Easy chicken noodle soupThe sun is shining, everyone’s enjoying themselves outside and I’m… ill.

I’ve been feeling sorry for myself all day today with blocked sinuses (ow) and a constantly streaming nose. Although I don’t remember my mum making me chicken noodle soup when I was poorly as a child, I do remember her making other soups. There’s nothing like the feeling of comfort from a homemade soup, even if it hasn’t been made by your mum.

Yesterday we had roast chicken with salad for tea. As I was feeling pretty rotten, I started off making a chicken soup for the following day, but ended up abandoning it in favour of my bed at 5.30pm. Continue reading »

Good parents throw birthday parties

22 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by Molly in Family, Motherhood, Play

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

birthdays, Kids, kids birthday parties, party

Birthday cupcakesWhen I became a mum, there was one aspect of motherhood that I was determined to succeed at: the throwing of a successful child’s birthday party. After all, good parents put on good parties, no?

It seems to me that the ability to plan and host a child’s birthday party is a staple part of being a good parent. From the carefully designed, hand-crafted invitations, right down to the unique and personalised gifts in the party bag, if you can’t do a good party you have failed at being a good parent. Continue reading »

Products to help a busy working mum

18 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by Molly in Baby and toddler products, Motherhood, Play, Work

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

products, Review, time poor, working mum

There are a few products that have made my life as a busy working mum easier these past few weeks. These are new discoveries, that have either saved time, added a bit of luxury to an otherwise sparse day (my motto is “feel good, work better”) or just been handy toddler distraction techniques when I’ve needed a second to get something done.

In no particular order, they are:

Mia Tui picThis is my new Ella bag by Mia Tui. You wouldn’t know to look at it, but it’s actually a baby change bag. It has compartments for nappies, side pockets for baby wipes, an attachment to clip your keys to, pouches for bottles and a smaller handbag that slots inside, if you want to have a seperate bag for your own wallet and cards. Continue reading »

Headspace – my writing rituals

16 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by Molly in Social media, Work

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Blogging, creativity, working, writing

You know how some people can work in any environment? Those people who can just zone out on a train and focus on their laptop, or the ones who can sit in a busy cafe and tap away at their iPad without noticing anyone around them?

That’s so not me.

When I’m writing, I need the following:

BloggingThis is my (tiny) home work space. It’s where I write this blog, write features for magazines and websites, blog for companies, send emails, edit websites and take my client phone calls. Continue reading »

The things that will make me beautiful

15 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by Molly in beauty

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

beauty, beauty products to make me young, turning 30

As I hurtle toward my 30th birthday I’ve become a bit addicted to finding new, quality beauty products offering the illusion of “radiance” that I rarely feel. As I peer at myself in the mirror, I can see the ghostly spectre of fine lines beginning to form, along with under-eye shadows a panda would be proud of. It’s not a good look.

When I got married back in 2011, I invested in some beautiful Liz Earle hot polish cleanser, some very posh Dior make-up and a shampoo and conditioner from Aussie Hair. Frivolous? Yes. Indulgent? Too right. Worth the cash? Of course.

Since then, I haven’t splashed out on many beauty buys for myself. That’s slowly changing though, as I recently invested in a Bioderma Sensibio H20 cleanser, as recommended by Alice at More Than Toast. I’ve also got some Emma Hardie products on order, along with a Touche Eclat Radiant Touch from Yves Saint Laurent. Continue reading »

A family adventure to London

14 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by Molly in Family, Play, Travel

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Family days out, family time, London

Review

I make no secret of the fact I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to sharks. I love nothing more than a good shark documentary and still have my collection of shark fact books from when I was a kid (don’t judge me). So I jumped at the opportunity to take the rest of the family along for a trip to London Aquarium and see if my toddler shared my interest.

After my two year old got over the HUGE excitement of getting on not one, but three trains, her eyes nearly popped out of her head when she spotted The London Eye next to our destination.

London EyeIt was a refreshing change to see the sun shining in the sky when we stepped off the train and the excitement of being in the capital was tangible – even in the usually reserved husband. Continue reading »

On not having a plan

10 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by Molly in Family

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

babies, family, family planning, life, life plans, siblings

Newborn toesJust over three years ago, when I became pregnant with my little girl, I had a plan. It was so refined that it even had capital letters: The Plan.

I became a mum at 26. We didn’t own our own home and we weren’t married. But that was all OK, because that was part of The Plan. We moved from our town centre flat to a little cottage in a village, with the intention of saving and enjoying life as new parents. We had always discussed having two or three children, about four years apart.

The Plan involved buying a house before another child came along, getting married at some point and continuing with my career as a journalist. That evolved along the way, as we realised that childcare is blooming expensive and my meagre salary would barely cover the cost of a morning at nursery. So we made some adjustments and Ta Da! The Refined Plan was born. Continue reading »

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