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Ready for a change? 3 ways you can reset yourself this autumn
Read more: Ready for a change? 3 ways you can reset yourself this autumnSeptember brings with it a chance to reset; it often feels like a second New Year. A fresh start as school begins, routines shift, and we slowly transition into autumn. For working mums, teachers, students – it’s the perfect time to take a breath and hit reset…. not just for your family, but for yourself,…
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Summer Co-Parenting: 5 Real Challenges No One Warns You About
Read more: Summer Co-Parenting: 5 Real Challenges No One Warns You AboutUK Summer Holidays will shortly be coming to an end and as I write, we’re heading off for a week in the sun before the ‘Back to School’ prep starts. For coparents, summer can stir up a mix of emotions: excitement, dread, hope, anxiety. You’re trying to create magical memories for your kid(s) while also…
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The To-Do List Can Wait
Read more: The To-Do List Can WaitLetting go of pressure and choosing to be more present is easier said than done. Here’s how slowing down helped me as a busy Mum…
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5 Lessons from May: Holding it all together
Read more: 5 Lessons from May: Holding it all togetherHow do we find a way to keep going under pressure and personal loss? May was a month of juggling leadership, solo parenting and grief.
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The Comparison Trap
Read more: The Comparison TrapWe’re all guilty of scrolling and fantasising about the picture perfect landscaped garden, the dressing up room with built-in wardrobes or the Instagrammable lifestyle. We could be envying our friend’s new relationship, wishing we’d been able to afford a new home renovation like our neighbours or wondering how that woman from work seems to have…
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5 things I’ve learned about success
Read more: 5 things I’ve learned about success5 things I’ve learned about success – from speaking to wife, mum and award winning small business owner of Yorkshire based ‘Timmins Candles’ Image: Sarah Timmins at Yorkshire Prestige Awards What is it that makes us go for our goals and dreams and how can we make them a success? I’ve always admired women who…
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Goals: Is 80% commitment enough?
Read more: Goals: Is 80% commitment enough?Committed or quitting? Can we let go of perfection and aim for progress instead?
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Should you create a Vision Board for living your best life?
Read more: Should you create a Vision Board for living your best life?Can we really visualise our success and make it a reality?
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No-Year’s Resolutions
Read more: No-Year’s ResolutionsThe goals we set are ours to own; we can change them, adapt them or simply throw them away.
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New Beginnings: Stepping into a brighter future
Read more: New Beginnings: Stepping into a brighter futureA renewed sense of self-discovery and gratitude after family separation.
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Mother’s Day
Read more: Mother’s DayLast Mother’s Day, we spent a sunny Sunday together at the seaside. Our group day out was a walk on an east coast beach, dinner of fish & chips and some quality family time. Fast forward to this year and life is so different … the Coronavirus pandemic means no group day out. No group…
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First Day at Nursery
Read more: First Day at NurseryIt’s the eve of the Full Day at Nursery. We’ve done the taster sessions with success. The first stay-and-play felt like a trip to playgroup as I watched Little Lass discover the new surroundings, her eyes lit up when she spotted the water table and dressing up boxes. As I asked her key worker some…
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Dear Little Lass: You’re turning Two!
Read more: Dear Little Lass: You’re turning Two!Dear Little Lass, I’m writing this message on the eve of your second birthday. We had a party at home for you at the weekend, have a family meal planned for tomorrow night and you’ll have a playcentre party with mini people at our local play area on Thursday. You’re a very lucky lass to…
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Preschool Playgroup
Read more: Preschool PlaygroupBefore we’d even left the house for playgroup, she’d tipped a full box of Jacobs crackers all over the kitchen floor. Who knew they would break into so many teeny tiny pieces? Wonderful. There they were, my guilty pleasure, destined to be cheeseless and uneaten. It was 9am and she’d been rummaging in the cupboard…
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Ordinary Mum: My War with Worry
Read more: Ordinary Mum: My War with WorryHave you ever felt like your head is cloudy and you have a million things to do but you just don’t know where to start? When people ask if they can help but you’re not sure how to explain what you even need help with. Maybe you’re not even sure what the problem is. You…
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New Mum: Trusting your instincts
Read more: New Mum: Trusting your instinctsThis last fortnight, I’ve learned the importance of trusting your own instincts as a new mum. Our Little Lass has been coughing constantly and has been off her food which developed into green watery nappies as she began to refuse milk. After two trips to doctors with our Little Lass, we are now treating a…
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Poorly Baby: Teething or Testing Us?
Read more: Poorly Baby: Teething or Testing Us?Why are they always more poorly at night? For days, our happy 9 month old baby has been coughing, spluttering and screaming. Poor little love; she’s got a runny nose and chesty cough, keeps tugging on her ear and crying. We’ve got stinging eyes and a dose of irritability syndrome (me & her dad that is).…
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New Mum: Why blog about ordinary life?
Read more: New Mum: Why blog about ordinary life?With a massive community of women/mummy bloggers doing their thing, there’s a world of support waiting for mums like us and yet sometimes you can still feel like you’re alone. I’m a fellow follower of so-called ‘mummy blogs’. They make me laugh at loud, they touch my heart and they all make me relate to…
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New Mum: Reality of being back at work
Read more: New Mum: Reality of being back at workI’m living the ‘back to work’ chapter; I’ve almost survived the first half term as a part-time teacher and first-time mum! Looking back over the last six weeks, I can reflect on the ups and downs. Things have changed. Have I changed? Teacher Vs Mamma After the birth of Little Lass, I’ve gone back to…
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Back to School: How are Mums feeling?
Read more: Back to School: How are Mums feeling?It’s time to go back to school! Cue the online posts from gushing parents of kids in their uniforms. This week will be a period of transition for many of us, as parents and school staff as well as the pupils themselves. It’ll be a week of firsts. Someone’s first day at nursery or pre-school,…
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New Mum: Random things I say to my baby!
Read more: New Mum: Random things I say to my baby!You know you’re a mum (or dad) when you begin to say sentences which you’ve never uttered before. The funny thing is that they make perfect sense to you. Usually, the random phrases are in response to your child’s behaviour at any given moment. You use your calm, rational, authoritative voice. You mean business. You’re…
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New Mum: Counting down to our First Family Holiday Abroad!
Read more: New Mum: Counting down to our First Family Holiday Abroad!Our First Ordinary Family Holiday abroad is fast approaching. I’m so excited, given that the last time Lad and I went abroad I was pregnant and therefore sober… and a holiday is just not the same without Cocktails & Gin. And Cocktails. I keep picturing myself indulging in the all inclusive bar whilst simultaneously rocking…
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Ordinary Mum: Going back to work
Read more: Ordinary Mum: Going back to workThe new chapter began today: Ordinary Working Mama. I’ve returned to teaching secondary English but on a part-time basis in an attempt to achieve a ‘work life balance’. I hear a roar of laughter…yeh, there probably is no such thing! Just humour me, ok? After suppressing tears before I left home this morning, I had…
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New Mum: When should you lose your baby weight?
Read more: New Mum: When should you lose your baby weight?When is the right time to lose weight after giving birth? Are you proud of your MummyTummy or are you keen on improving your post-baby body? My Little Lass is 4 months old now and maternity leave has so far involved a few baby classes, catching up with people & (you’ve guessed it) lots of…
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Manchester Attack: An open letter to my baby girl
Read more: Manchester Attack: An open letter to my baby girlDear Little Lass Today, I have hugged you tighter than ever; I am devastated for the victims of a terror attack at a concert in our nearby Manchester. I feel a heightened need to keep you safe. Ordinary people were simply enjoying a night out. I am heartbroken for the victims, their families, and for…
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New Mum: Leaving Mini Lass for a Girls Weekend
Read more: New Mum: Leaving Mini Lass for a Girls WeekendIs a girls weekend away any different when you have a newborn baby? Should you give them up once you become a mum? My little sister turned 30 recently and to celebrate, a group of us girls rented a house for the weekend. Our main aims were to consume copious amounts of Prosecco, Gin, Wine…
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New Mum: The changing faces of Easter weekend!
Read more: New Mum: The changing faces of Easter weekend!How have you celebrated your Easter Weekends over the last few decades? For me, it goes something like this! 1990s Easter: Primary school hymns in assembly & Easter Bonnet competitions in the hall. Made chocolate cornflake nests with mini eggs on top. Proudly knew the story of Jesus – off by heart! 2000s Easter: Day…
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New Mum: 10 truths about raising a newborn baby
Read more: New Mum: 10 truths about raising a newborn babyWhat are those early days really like for a first time mum? I’d read the books and spoken to friends but over the last few weeks I’ve been experiencing the reality of motherhood for myself. If you’re pregnant, a new mum or just remembering what it was like in those early days, you might relate…
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New Mum: The Fear, The Responsibility & The Love!
Read more: New Mum: The Fear, The Responsibility & The Love!I’m a Mum; I’ve joined The Club! I actually have a baby daughter and it feels weird and wonderful all at the same time. As it’s Mother’s Day weekend, I’m sure that Mini Lass (her Dad) is scanning the internet for a thoughtful gift as I write. I know that my 6 week old baby…
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3 Things my Mum has taught me…
Read more: 3 Things my Mum has taught me…I appreciate my Mum’s guidance, whether it is intentional or just a fluke. Knowing my Mum, she’s probably just been winging parenthood for the last 30 odd years. Reflecting on Mother’s Day, had me thinking about some of the things I have learned so far, albeit accidentally. Here goes… 1. The importance of accessorising… My…
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New Mum: 5 things people ask when you’ve got a newborn
Read more: New Mum: 5 things people ask when you’ve got a newbornYou’re never fully prepared for life with a newborn nor are you prepared for the curiosity of others. Well-meaning or plain nosey, here are some questions I’ve been asked this past month. You might recognise some; no doubt you’ve been asked them too. They appear to be the standard post-labour conversations for new mums! 1. Is…
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Mini Lass is born!
Read more: Mini Lass is born!Our Little Lass was born on 12th February 2017 weighing a healthy 7lb 1oz (why do people want to know this?) The labour was a story in its own right but she’s one week old now and I’m totally smitten. The three of us are still in our new impenetrable family bubble of kisses, cuddles…
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Pregnancy: Uneventful Due Date
Read more: Pregnancy: Uneventful Due DateWhen your due date passes by without incident, it can be frustrating. Your phone alerts you to a constant stream of “any signs yet?” messages and well meaning “happy due date” texts. Yeh, because this baby knows she is going to evicted this very day and should depart my uterus accordingly and in a timely…
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Pregnancy: Attending Antenatal Class
Read more: Pregnancy: Attending Antenatal Class“Forewarned is forearmed as they say!” As first time parents, we were weighing up the pros and cons of attending Antenatal Class. We figured we’d learn something new so thought why not? Prior Expectations Friends of ours had told us stories about the lady leading the class who walks round leaning on furniture in mock labour moaning “ooo” and “ahhhh” at…
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Do you have an Attitude of Gratitude?
Read more: Do you have an Attitude of Gratitude?“Life is too short”. How many of us have heard that before? How many of us consider this during our everyday lives? We’re not always able to do everything we want or get everything we want because life has other plans for us and sometimes we can feel negative. In recent weeks, either myself or someone I know…
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Maternity Leave: Countdown to Due Date
Read more: Maternity Leave: Countdown to Due DateAs people return to work after their New Year celebrations, I’m writing the next chapter of my life. Maternity Leave. When is the right time to finish work before having your baby? Like many pregnant working women today, I didn’t want to take too much time off before the birth, preferring to have longer with…