Everything parenting and family oriented. Milestones, our family, growing up
Whenever I hear parents at the start and end of school term worried about how tired and grouchy their children are, I think I’m relieved and pleased that so far N doesn’t show these traits. I’ve certainly lucked out with him, especially now he’s no longer waking at 5am every day, and mostly stays in his own bed. I just want to show that kids don’t always follow the usual expectations that we always hear, and that if your child… Continue Reading “Child development myths – my child is different”
The long summer holidays are almost upon us which brings pleasure for children, and some parents. And horror for other parents. School holidays are when many parents (mostly mums) probably wish they only worked term time or were stay at home parents. For working parents holidays are a different matter. Employed parents probably find it harder with restricted time off. Although for self-employed parents, and even those working at home, there are changes that need to be made if they’re… Continue Reading “School holiday childcare options”
For a working mum things are a bit strange and detached when your children start school. When I compare my life and interaction with school compared with my mum’s (who was a SAHM until we were secondary school age), it’s so different. I work full time, although compress my hours earlier in the week so I can do 2 normal time drop offs and 1 pick up on a Friday. The rest of the week, N is in morning club… Continue Reading “When kids activities mean more than just activities”
Talking about the birds and the bees to our children. Always one of the topics that is sprung on us before we’re ready or prepared for it. Nowadays children are so much more savvy compared to when we were children. Added to that, they learn about sex education in schools much younger, so I want to be the one to tell N rather than waiting for him to find out from school. I remember my mum giving me a ‘how… Continue Reading “Birds and the bees talks with 6 year olds”
When children start school the one thing that is the most confusing (other than where do all those lost jumpers and water bottles go?) is reading. Not the learning to read because phonics system makes sense. But reading schemes, book bands and reading levels. Back in the 70s and 80s when I was learning to read it was easy to understand. Everyone seemed to do Roger Red Hat, Billy Blue Hat etc, and then whizzed on to whatever books were… Continue Reading “Reading levels and book bands in Key Stage 1”
Considering I didn’t ever really think I’d want to have children, I think we’ve had a pretty easy ride of it so far. Making the decision to try for a baby was a good one and it’s worked out well. Easy pregnancy, easy ‘labour’ (most calm unplanned c section ever), easy baby and so far, not too much trouble since then. While N has been a pretty easy going child so far, he does have selective hearing, never does the… Continue Reading “Teacher’s pet or super keen kids”
When I was a child I always struggled with my lack of imagination. I read lots but if I was tasked with writing a poem or story and I would find it really hard. I’d clam up and not know how to start. My teachers never really helped with how to improve. I just always thought I had no imagination. But now N says the same thing that I used to feel. He’s got the actual writing part sorted he… Continue Reading “Ultimate tips to encourage imagination for kids to write”
I am partial to watching the occasional Disney films. Back in our 6th form we used to watch Beauty and the Beast quite frequently – it was one of 5 videos we had in our girls house. And the classics are classics for a reason. (*post contains affiliate links) But N will not watch them. There’s no love for Disney movies when it comes to N. Well, I tell a lie, he’ll watch Jungle Book. But that is the only… Continue Reading “This boy says no to Disney films”
When I was a child, only children were a mystery to me. I thought I didn’t really know any. Because all my friends were mostly 1 of 2 children, with the occasional 4 thrown in. But it wasn’t until secondary school age when I realised I knew 2. Yes 2. One at dancing, and one at school. None through music or sport, most seemed to have a sibling. And similar with my brother’s friends. Even at uni, I knew very… Continue Reading “Ode to an only child – is only child syndrome real?”
The worst thing when your children are at school or nursery, has to be seeing the school office number coming up on your phone. It’s happened a lot in the past. At nursery for permission to give calpol and various bumps and scrapes warnings before I turned up and was horrified (well, that one was only once). And school it seems that a bump on the head is N’s favourite method of injury. In reception year, the school got a… Continue Reading “A bump on the head / what to watch out for”
