This week Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has spoken in the news about the need for a greater emphasis on structured learning within school-based nurseries. “More than two-thirds of our poorest children - and in some of our poorest communities that goes up to eight children out of 10 - go to school unprepared”. Dear Sir Michael Wilshaw, I do not want my children being put under academic pressure BEFORE they start school. Why can’t […]

This weekend saw people flocking from far and wide to Hove Centre for all things vegan and veggie. VegFestUK celebrated everything vegan, from food to clothes, gifts and toiletries. I’m not vegan, but attended because I wanted to sample the food to see whether the negative stereotypes were true that I’ve heard over the years (you know the age-old, ridiculous jokes about vegans only eating leaves and cardboard). I was also interested in the free veggie speed […]

We all think our mums are the greatest and they deserve the best right? But did you ever think that rather than chocolates, flowers, trinkets, spa vouchers, what mum really wants may not cost any money at all. Some of the most precious and memorable gestures are where you have put maximum thought and effort, not where you have splashed the most cash. These are just a few ideas of what partners or husbands could […]

Parenting is tough. Period. That’s even when the children are at school or nursery for part of your day. Throw in a school holiday when you are all at home together and it can turn wild, especially when you are 3 hours in and you hear the dreaded words “I’m bored”. You don’t need to miraculously turn into a full time entertainer for the fortnight or feel the need to have activities lined up to cover […]

Mother’s Day is this Sunday! Yes, you read that correctly fellow parents - this Sunday!   I had a very panicked man approached me in Waitrose last Friday, red faced and sweating: “Excuse me,” he said “Is it Mother’s Day on Sunday?” Sensing his fear I replied calmly, “No, it’s on 30th March. You’ve got over a week to go.” Relief washed over his face, “Thank god for that!” he replied, and off he went to get his free […]

It seems the source and reason is still unknown but on Tuesday a bunch of people on social media, started posting pictures of themselves with no make-up on - otherwise known as ‘a week day’ in my house. Culminating in £1m of donations to Cancer Research UK and other cancer related charities also reporting an uplift in giving, the road to ‘awareness’ has not been a smooth one. Social media aficionados and cyber geeks came […]

“You know Mummy,” my 5 year old daughter says, “when people grow up, they have babies.” “Yes, some people do.” I reply. “But you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

During December I started to go off coffee, have waves of tiredness, and yep there is there ever so pleasant nausea. It is almost certain that there is something going on. I am never EVER off my coffee.

I never thought I would breastfeed. In fact, I never thought I would have children at all. After a chaotic and ‘adventurous’ early adulthood, I felt that having children looked too much like hard work. The hormones kicked in at about 35. A combination of a ticking body clock, finally being settled and in love with a wonderful man and searching for a bit more meaning in life than my career offered.

Did you make New Year’s Resolutions? Now we are half way through February, how are you doing? Have you already fallen off the wagon? Maybe my journey will give you some ideas of what to try next. In January 2013, I made one single resolution. To improve my health. I was 3 stone overweight, achy, tired and lower than I had ever been. The vessel I called my body was alien to me and hung […]