I was 16 years and 3 months old when I found out I was pregnant for the first time. At the time, my home life was pretty unstable. My parents had separated 6 months before, the next sibling down from me (there were 6 of us at the time) was in foster care and I… Continue reading Becoming a teen mum
Category: children
The Truth About Low Income Families
the British public in general have formed an image of what they think a low income household looks like. An image which I think is not only wrong, but also
It’s Halloween, but not as you know it
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
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?
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???
How many times can I press snooze?
Like many parents over the last 6 months, I have discovered a newfound respect for teachers. Homeschooling my 2 primary aged children was a lot like herding cats and I honestly have no idea how teachers manage with a class of 30. We started off well, there was a timetable and a plan to get… Continue reading How many times can I press snooze?