There’s no denying that the baby and toddler years are hard. The physical exhaustion, the constantly being covered in someone else’s body fluids sometimes outweight the marvel of having created a child. The neediness, supreme dependence, the constant need for the child to be held, the lack of lie ins,…
I have three children. Looking back at the early days of parenthood, eight long and sleep deprived years ago, I often reflect that really we were just practising on our firstborn (sorry son, we didn’t know what we were doing). We were uber-cautious about some things, and over-sensitive too, and…
There wasn’t much sleep had in our house last night. My three-and-a-half year old seems to have reverted to the sleeping habits of a newborn and was let’s say “wakeful” for many hours during the night. What started out as reassuring hugs degenerated into abrupt shouts to “get back into…
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” Fingers crossed. “‘Tis the season to be jolly” What if I’m not? Or the teething toddler isn’t? The whole perfectly happy Christmas thing is what we’re all striving for. Everyone together. Perfect food. All delighted. Photos of smiling families in matching outfits…
As I walked through the carpark on the way to collect my small girl from playschool on Tuesday festive tunes hung on the air. I continued on my way and the music got louder. Voices, singing, piano accompaniment, coming from the church. I checked the time on my phone, I…
Ask a parent what’s their least favourite activity to do with their kids and you’ll usually get a resounding chorus of “swimming lessons”. It’s all the getting dressed you see. And the wetness. And the heat in the dressing room as you try to dress one child and argue with…
The morning is a struggle for the children of this house. Some more than others. Despite being up (of their own accord) before 6am they face a series of challenges, some nearly insurmountable, many of which their inconsiderate parents just don’t seem to appreciate or give sufficient weight to. The children…
Do you have a “Fussy Eater” in your house? I think all kids go through phases and by us parents obsessing about it we make it worse. Parenting magazines and websites are full of tips on “how to get your fussy eater to eat their veg” (In fact I recently contributed…
I’m in the supermarket, my toddler is complaining that this is the wrong shop, kicking, shouting, making herself heard. I’m on the school run, one child runs ahead purposefully, not wanting to be seen with the littler ones, another wants to balance on every kerb along the way. I’m at home in the…
This time three years ago we thought that we were as ready as we could possibly be for our precious firstborn starting school. We’d done all the stuff you’re supposed to do, the stuff that’s covered in the letter that you get from the school and in the back to…
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