Ordinary Lass Blog

Writer. Thinker. Mum.

Category: Wellbeing

Ready for a change? 3 ways you can reset yourself this autumn

September 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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The To-Do List Can Wait

Letting 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 things I’ve learned about success

5 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?

Committed or quitting? Can we let go of perfection and aim for progress instead?
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New Beginnings: Stepping into a brighter future

A renewed sense of self-discovery and gratitude after family separation.
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Mother’s Day

Last 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

It’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!

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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Ordinary Mum: My War with Worry

Have 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: Picture perfect parenting

In February 2017, our baby daughter was born and we became parents. I caught the bouquet at our friend’s wedding in May and Ordinary Lad proposed in December. I’ve announced our engagement on the ole social media on NYE and posted a photo of us in black and white (‘cus we look better with a…
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New Mum: Trusting your instincts

This 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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New Mum: Reality of being back at work

I’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?

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!

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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Ordinary Mum: Going back to work

The 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?

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

Dear 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: Grieving for a grandparent

What does it feel like to grieve with a newborn? Last week, I went with my Dad to register my nan’s death and then went straight to a Baby Massage class. People probably saw just another chatty mum playing with her baby; it’s the Brave Face, you see? Inside, I was emotional. For Dad. For me.…
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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…

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

You’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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Pregnancy: Lady in Labour!

Inevitably, as a first time Mum-to-Be, I was becoming increasingly curious about labour. I wondered what our story would be. Specifically, how to know when it officially starts (apparently you just know. As it turns out, I did!), how long it’ll last (how long is a piece of string?) and what to expect (anything!). In an…
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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

When 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

“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?

“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

As 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…
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New Year, Same You?

Happy new year everyone! It’s time to reflect on the year that has passed; the start of a new year is a natural time to look forward to what lies ahead. There’s a sense of optimism in the air. For the last couple of days, I’ve scrolled through social media to see timelines full of…
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Should we remember, remember the 5th of November?

It’s Autumn. Time to get wrapped up in your big coat, scarf and wolly hat. Imagine yourself in a photoshoot fit for an autumnal catalogue, complete with playful smiles, kicking piles of scattered auburn leaves. In reality, the combination of hat, scarf and big coat can leave you sweating profusely because it’s actually a wee…
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Pregnancy: what’s it all about?

Pregnancy: What does it mean? Aside from the obvious of course – You get fat for 9 months and a stork delivers a bundle of joy to your doorstep. At first, pregnancy for me meant daily vomit, a dose of a purple prickly rash on my face and continuous munching on packets of ginger biscuits…
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Saturday: I’m doing nowt!

How about today, I just post a photo of my ass on the settee doing bugger all? I’m a cricket widow today while the other half continues his boyhood hobby and aspires to be the next Alistair Cook. I’ve spent the morning with my two year old godson. We’ve been bonding – putting the body parts onto…
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What’s your excuse?

Excuses. Excuses. What kind of a writer doesn’t write? Me, it seems. Procrastination is a killer; it’s the reason that I’ve missed two weeks of blogs and have no real reason why. Don’t judge me, will you? Possible excuses for the absent blog: 1. My dog ate my blog Perfectly valid excuse, right? Except I…
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Modern Love: Couples Spa Day?

A treat day. We all want one. Time alone away from phones, work and other people. I’ve only ever been to a spa with ordinary women so it’s a change for me and Ordinary Lad to experience some R&R while we’ve got a few days off of work. There’s a sense of optimism in our…
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The Brave Face

“This week has been about the Brave Face and the power of female friendship”. I have worn the metaphorical mask that is the Brave Face, full frontal this week following some recurring bad news (which is deliberately generic because we have all been there – we all have ordinary problems). Concerned relatives, female friends and…
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The truth about us Fat Fighters

Biscuits are sly. On the surface they are the perfect accompaniment to a cuppa tea, for sharing at a meeting or to devour in one sitting. But they know how to get us. Covered in tempting milky chocolate, they softly whisper to us and slowly corrupt us. We are weak and they know it. I…
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