Both girls are decent sleepers, now. I say that, aware that many other parents are reading this, already thinking, “Bitch,” but I promise the sleep is hard-won. For the first six months of YoungestGirl’s life, she would not sleep night or day for longer than 20 minutes. Imagine it. You have given birth. You are knackered. You … [Read more…]
We have previously touched on the facts of life with EldestGirl. I was pregnant with YoungestGirl when EldestGirl was coming up for three, and she had a few questions about how the baby got there. At the time, she was easily placated with, “Mummy and Daddy wanted a baby, so we put a seed in … [Read more…]
As it was half-term, we decided that the whole family should go and visit my parents “for a break”. Mr and Mrs Nunn are very good at taking the children when they wake early, and entertaining them for an hour, before TheBloke (TM) and I crawl out of bed. I suspect they use this time … [Read more…]
I stopped breastfeeding a long time ago – back in February when YoungestGirl was 15 months old. She is now not far off her second birthday, so a long, long time ago. So you can imagine my surprise when we were in Aldi Waitrose last week, and she was sitting in the trolley, as usual … [Read more…]
The blackberries finished early this year. We picked our share, and have more in the freezer. Blackberry-picking with YoungestGirl is a chore; for every one you manage to get in the pot, you have to put at least three in her gawping mouth, or else the shouting starts. In the meantime, EldestGirl will either prick … [Read more…]
Yesterday YoungestGirl was supposed to be getting her second and final chickenpox vaccination. We chose to vaccinate both girls privately; the immunisation isn’t offered as standard on the NHS. We chose to do this for a couple of reasons: firstly chickenpox can be a really, really unpleasant (and in rare cases, fatal) illness, and secondly … [Read more…]
Last week, my friend Mel and I decided we would take our children “somewhere nice”, and hopefully try and fit a conversation in somewhere along the way too. We decided on Willows Farm, who categorically have not paid me for this review. I wish they had. I’m happy to take cash retrospectively. Just let me … [Read more…]
I have a fairly high embarrassment threshold. As a former stand-up comedian, there is quite a lot I am willing to put myself through before beginning to feel embarrassed or awkward in any way. I wasn’t always like this. As a teenager, I had overactive blushing syndrome, where if any adult, especially but not limited … [Read more…]
This weekend, YoungestGirl has us to herself. EldestGirl is visiting Grandma and Grandad, as she felt she hadn’t been spoiled enough recently. It is astonishing how much easier it is with one child rather than two. Where we are normally wrangling porridge out of the children’s hair, this morning we managed a bacon sandwich and … [Read more…]
Pinterest loves to tell me all of the beautiful things I should be doing with my children. From homemade silly putty, to baking soda volcanoes and gorgeous, photogenic activities that you too can do with your lovely offspring. None of this has worked for us. Not ever. Here are some of the highlights. 1. Baking … [Read more…]