Category Archives: Opinion

Confessions of a baby spammer

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Baby and toddler products, Family, Motherhood, Opinion

≈ 12 Comments

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Baby spam

Mixed in with the sleepless nights, bowling ball boobs and baby brain, there’s one more thing that I’d forgotten happens to you when you have a baby: you can’t stop taking photos.

There are the sleeping photos. (Baby sleeping. Baby sleeping in new position. Baby sleeping while being cuddled. Baby sleeping in new baby-grow. Baby sleeping on grandparents. Baby sleeping in moses basket.)

Then there are the awake photos. (Baby pulling funny face. Baby pulling another funny face. Baby wind face. Baby in cute outfit while looking thoroughly unimpressed.)

Then there are the “firsts photos”. (First bath. First outing outside of the house. First trip to the supermarket. First time in car seat. First trip to the park. First time in pram.)  Continue reading »

The recipe for happiness

16 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Family, Motherhood, Opinion

≈ 23 Comments

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Happiness

Happiness. At this time of year, more than ever, we seem to be bombarded with ideas of happiness and told where we need to go and what we need to buy to be happy. As we strive for that elusive happy there are lots of people ready to tell us what’s missing in our lives – the things that will provide that extra bit of happiness we’ve been missing.

The Christmas ads roll out, full of smiling families all laughing merrily over their glasses of champagne and beautifully lit Christmas dinners. Is this what we need to do to be happy? Add some posh candles to the table and – hey presto! – the happiness factor is ramped up by at least ten points, supposedly.

And then there are the adverts for kids’ toys. Every one promises to make that child’s day “extra special”. Our children are told they need all this stuff to be happy. The latest Frozen toy will complete their life. All kids need an iPad or an Elsa costume to be properly fulfilled. You’re a bad parent if you can’t provide this for your kids. Shame on you – don’t you want your child to be happy? Continue reading »

Siblings are not personality changers

16 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by in Family, Motherhood, Opinion, Pregnancy

≈ 10 Comments

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Lake

“A brother or sister will be SO good for her.”

That’s a sentence I’ve heard a lot in the past nine months. It’s always meant well, coming from a place that refers to the excitement my four year old will feel at becoming a big sister. But, in some cases, I think there’s another meaning too. One that alludes to sharing, not always being centre of attention and having to accept a shift in the family dynamic. In short, “It will be good for her not to be an only child”.

Only children can come in for a lot of stick. Spoilt, egotistical, unable to share, doted on too much, opinionated, loud, unable to socialise… these are all some characteristics that I’ve seen associated with only children. You only need to think of Violet Beauregarde in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to get the idea.

There have been times in the past when my daughter has displayed one of these traits and I’ve had a, “Time for a baby brother or sister!” thrown in my direction. As if her behaviour isn’t just normal toddler stuff, or part of her personality, but is a direct consequence of being an only child.  Continue reading »

Just the two of them

05 Tuesday Aug 2014

Posted by in Family, Opinion, Play

≈ 3 Comments

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Dad and daughter time

It’s fair to say, the (self-proclaimed) Northern Love Machine didn’t immediately “take” to fatherhood. He was never one of those happy clappy, hands-on dads, singing to his baby in the changing rooms or diving head-first into the baby groups. Of course he loved his baby girl with a fierce protectiveness, and would tenderly give her cuddles and do all the things expected of a new dad. But he didn’t immediately enjoy it.

I remember when Frog was about 5 weeks old. She was screaming, wouldn’t stop. We were all exhausted, didn’t know what was the matter. It was one of those moments that every parent goes through with a new baby – when you’re frustrated and panicked and not necessarily thinking straight because you haven’t slept more than 2 hours in a row for a month. The NLM just shouted “WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?!” and walked out of the house.

He came back half an hour later, apologised, and admitted he was struggling a bit. He hadn’t had nine months of a baby growing inside him. Nine months to bond and live an enforced change of lifestyle (no wine, no smelly cheese etc). Although we had very much planned this baby, he suddenly felt hit by the full force of responsibility when he was holding his newborn in his arms. “Anxious” was the word he used to describe this feeling in the pit of his stomach. Continue reading »

What’s wrong with being a “mummy blogger” anyway?

30 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by in Opinion

≈ 23 Comments

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Mummy bloggerWhen I tell people I have a blog, their first reaction is often, “Oh, what’s a blog?”, swiftly followed by, “And what do you blog about?

I never know how to answer the second question because, the truth is, I blog about almost everything. Politics, Michael Gove rants education policy, my outfits, interiors style, life as a working mum, parenting struggles, opinions on current affairs, pregnancy, relationships… the list goes on.

I started this blog for two reasons: to have somewhere to air the thoughts that were in my head as I pushed my baby on never-ending walks in her pram, and to create an online portfolio for my writing. But, mainly, I wanted a voice. Somewhere to say stuff.

And say stuff I have. For the last three and a half years I have said a lot of stuff. In that sense, this blog has most definitely served its purpose. More than that though, people have responded. I’ve made genuine, real-life friends with other mums who also blog (hello Jane, Gemma and Emma!) and we’ve agreed and disagreed on all sorts of topics. It’s one of the things I LOVE about being a “mummy blogger”.  Continue reading »

Being busy is not a badge of honour

06 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in Opinion, Work

≈ 9 Comments

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Life lessons

A couple of days ago I saw a tweet. It came at just the right moment, speaking to me through my haze of tired eyes and puffy feet: “The idea that we always have to be tired to be successful is wrong. We need new role models.”

It seems SO simple. But in a society where so many of us are rushing around all the time, proudly declaring how busy we are, it seems almost controversial to suggest that being busy and, ultimately, being tired is not always a good thing. There is such a thing as being too busy.

This week has been a bit of a strange one for me. After my pregnancy health scare last weekend I’ve been more aware than ever of the need to slow down a bit. And when I say “slow down” I don’t mean sitting on the sofa all day. I mean reverting back to a normal pace of being, that doesn’t involve running up and down the stairs, rushing everywhere and constantly fretting – to the point of waking in the night – that I’ve forgotten to do something.  Continue reading »

Testing 2 year olds? Time to emigrate

03 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by in Opinion

≈ 17 Comments

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Do you ever get the feeling you’re living in a parallel universe? Like you’re in a dream, suddenly finding yourself in a world that you don’t much recognise?

I get that feeling a lot at the moment. It comes on me in a rush, like an instant cold sweat, every time I read about proposed changes to the education system in this country.

This morning, I read the latest idea touted by Ofsted, to test two year olds in numeracy and literacy, to make them “better prepared for primary school” and I had to pinch myself. Continue reading »