A personal take on the challenges and joys of parenting.
Recently, I have felt like a beanbag for my children. The shape I am in doesn't matter; what matters is that I can make them comfortable and provide support, regardless of how angular their elbows or how heavily they are feeling the weight of the world. You don't think about beanbags. You just need them … Continue reading Beanbag Parenting
The scale of our unintentional consumption is terrifying. I realised this recently when the school requested odd bits of plastic and recycling for an art project. I haven't dared to ask what will happen to them, but took the chance to amass some bulging bags of bits that I won't throw away and can't recycle, … Continue reading The unintended consequences of ‘free’ gifts
My last post was about the plethora of children's stuff. In two months time we will have the festival that sees most families make their greatest accumulation of childrens stuff in the year. I like getting presents. Through Christmas and Birthday presents, I have been introduced to my favourite authors, acquired jewellery I wear frequently, … Continue reading Breaking the taboo that it has to be new….
Not long ago, (within my parents lifetime), we lived in a time where the acquisition of new stuff was exciting, a treat. You could go shopping for something and not be able to find it - even a trip to London to buy clothes didn't always guarantee success. Now I feel the opposite -and the … Continue reading Desert Island Toys
A five year gap between children means you can be very deliberate second time around and I certainly am with telly. There is good stuff out there but its not always widely known. As I keep promising to follow up on conversations, here are my picks. Frankly, now the school holidays have started it's ever … Continue reading Beyond Peppa….my top picks for pre school telly
"1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, We believe its not too late, Together we can change the world" sang my daughters' year 2 class to their parents at the end of the year. We sat there with a feeling of warm hopefulness that the next generation, steeped as they are in recycling campaigns and eco-councils at school, will bring a … Continue reading “Together we can change the world”…just not for my birthday
Imagine your secondary school introduces a new facility. At any given moment, the school auditorium can be filled with everyone you know, and at any time you can go up on stage and say something about anything you like. Everyone in the audience is issued with cards they can hold up if they like what … Continue reading We are what we think about..
Like many children, my six year old daughter has a wonderful imagination. It can be a joy to hear her play alone or with others and to find the evidence of her detailed creativity. Yes it distracts her from the simplest of tasks, and yes perhaps it is why she isn't very methodical about reading … Continue reading Just Imagine…
This is the excerpt for your very first post.
Grain of Sand 