On BritMums we’ve just launched our Joy of Swimming Linky Challenge, sponsored by British Gas. You could win a year-long family pass to theme parks and zoos or £250 to spend in JJB Sports. While as a founder of BritMums I can’t compete, I love this theme. The smell of chlorine and the percussiveContinue reading “The Joy of Swimming”
Category Archives: Parenthood
How to make and print your own advent calendar
Instead of the usual store-bought advent calendar with chocolate in it, I decided to make a personalised one this year featuring pictures of the family and past Christmases. I did this for the Kodak #printerprojects Christmas challenge – post a picture for the Linky challenge and you could win a camera or a printer package.Continue reading “How to make and print your own advent calendar”
Cool event at Foyles: Are our kids oversexualised?
Later this month I’m honoured to be on a panel at the Battle of Ideas, speaking about Online Communities: cyber-village or anti-social network? Organised by the Institute of Ideas, the Battle of Ideas is a fantastic weekend of discussion and debate on topics ranging from politics to food, society wars to sporting contests. I’ve beenContinue reading “Cool event at Foyles: Are our kids oversexualised?”
Is breast really best?
When I was settling into the routine with my newborn daughter, a health visitor came to our house and said, in a finger-wagging voice, “You know breast is best.” I mentally rolled my eyes. Of course, I knew breast is best. Everybody who reads a newspaper or a baby book knows the evidence that showsContinue reading “Is breast really best?”
The truth about teaching children to knit
Because our parents lived through our own childhoods and then endured those years when we thought they didn’t know anything, the grandparent years must be a rich time. It’s when they can spoil your kids, reverse your decisions whenever your bring your brood to their house, and hand over a big bag of sweeties justContinue reading “The truth about teaching children to knit”
How do paint-your-own-pottery stores survive?
There are plenty of unanswerable questions in parenthood – the root causes of colic, how to stave off the first drink til after 7pm – but the latest one dogging me is: how do those paint-your-own-pottery stores survive? I know they’re popular. My daughter has been to a party at one and loves to goContinue reading “How do paint-your-own-pottery stores survive?”
What makes the world go round: other parents
It was the kindness of strangers that Blanche Dubois relied on, but for people with children, the largesse of other parents makes all the difference in our lives. This was especially brought home to me this week, with the month-long school break yawning before us, unimpeded by school or any other form of childcare. AContinue reading “What makes the world go round: other parents”
Clash of the Christmas traditions
For the first time in years I’m going to be celebrating Christmas in my hometown, the place I spent the first 18 years of life and frankly couldn’t wait to leave after graduating high school. Now I’m absurdly excited about having Christmas there with my English family and also seeing my siblings and their familiesContinue reading “Clash of the Christmas traditions”
8 British gifts to get Americans (that I would never give to a Brit)
I’ve updated this post with new ideas and links. Go read it here. In an era when every shopping mall and high street plays host to the same set of shops, one of the exciting things about living in a different country from your family is that you can actually give them gifts that surprise, astonishContinue reading “8 British gifts to get Americans (that I would never give to a Brit)”