In recent years, there has been a massive surge in the popularity of Halloween partially thanks to an increase in programmes from America depicting extravagantly decorated houses and groups of children trick or treating. Whereas in the past, families would have mostly ignored the occasion or maybe carved a slightly dubious looking pumpkin, now it’s… Continue reading It’s Halloween, but not as you know it
Author: Kimberley Johnson
All Hail the Cleaners!
I have worked many jobs over the years. Everything from working in a fish and chip shop to being a duty manager for my local community centre. But the job I think is hardest and most unappreciated is cleaning, specifically domestic cleaning. For about 4 months I worked as part of a company that… Continue reading All Hail the Cleaners!
I think I stepped back in time
Today I was told that societies problems are due to hard-working mothers and that if I want to do best by my children then I should just get a little part-time job and let my husband be the breadwinner for our family. What kind of message does it send to my daughters if they… Continue reading I think I stepped back in time
Any more?
Are you done? Do you think you will have more? When’s the next one? You’ve got so many already, what’s one more? Is that it now? These are all questions I’ve been asked over the years. With 5 children of my own and a step-son, people always think I’m going to have more; especially now… Continue reading Any more?
I have one of those too!
As parents, we’ve all been there. You’re standing in the supermarket, school playground, doctors surgery or some other important location and all of a sudden your child drops to the floor screaming. No, they haven’t hurt themselves. Instead, they’ve chosen this particular moment to have a hysterical temper tantrum over something or other. You stand,… Continue reading I have one of those too!
The fascination with birth stories
I became an auntie again over the weekend and it got me thinking. Wherever you find a group of mums, you will find birth stories. It’s a regular topic of discussion at toddler groups, coffee mornings or even at the school gates; and it’s not uncommon for visitors to a new baby to… Continue reading The fascination with birth stories
Educating a large family during lockdown
When the country first went into lockdown, back in March, I think I felt the same combination of fear, panic and dread that all parents felt. Whether you have one child or an entire football team, the prospect of being confined to home with only an hours exercise each day was daunting. Prior to lockdown,… Continue reading Educating a large family during lockdown
Don’t even think about coughing!
Now that the children have been back to school for a little while, there is only really one conversation that happens in our house. I find myself repeating it like a mantra every morning as they get their uniforms on. “Don’t cough! Don’t even think about coughing! Definitely don’t pretend to cough!” 6 months out… Continue reading Don’t even think about coughing!
Where does it all go???
We are now a few days into term and I already find myself asking how things can simply vanish without a trace. After just 3 days at school, my 7-year-old has managed to lose his brand new school jumper and apparently it is nowhere to be found. He promises me that he was wearing it… Continue reading Where does it all go???
Going back to school when you have additional needs
This September has been different for all students and every single one of them will have had their own worries and fears after so long away and with so many changes involved. Worries including whether they will know where to go, will their friends still like them, will they even be allowed to play with… Continue reading Going back to school when you have additional needs