"Mummy, how do you make a baby?" It's a question we all expect - but I was expecting it later. Certainly not at age 4. >>Talking to our Teenagers about Sex, Relationships and the Bible<< However, I need to explain something about Missy. She is baby-obsessed, … [Read more...] about THE SEX EDUCATION OF A 4-YEAR-OLD
Parenting
Parenting is such a challenging role! And there are so many people telling us how we should do it.
I am not one of those people. But I hope that by sharing my own - often highly flawed - experiences, I can offer reassurance and empathy to others going through similar challenges.
#TOOMANYCHILDREN
It's not that I don't love them all. I do - madly. But there are a lot of them. Maybe they seem more numerous because all of them are so very small - of course lots of people cope admirably with 5+ kids, so why should I be complaining at having merely four to raise? The fact that, … [Read more...] about #TOOMANYCHILDREN
7 WAYS ADOPTION IS DIFFERENT FROM BRINGING HOME A NEWBORN
The time is getting closer - we are preparing to adopt! Later this month, we will meet and bring home our little boys for the first time. This season has got me thinking back to when our birth children were born, and the differences between bringing home a newborn and bringing home an adopted … [Read more...] about 7 WAYS ADOPTION IS DIFFERENT FROM BRINGING HOME A NEWBORN
MINION-THEMED 6TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
I'll be honest and tell you that this wasn't my son's first choice for birthday party theme. He's known for picking quirky themes (like a Robot party for his 4th birthday, or his Peter Rabbit 5th birthday party), and this year he decided he wanted a Home Alone party. Of course. Like I'm going to … [Read more...] about MINION-THEMED 6TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
FROZEN-THEMED 4TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
I am no Pinterest-able Super Mum, but I do like a good party - and, ever since I started to blog about my kids' birthday parties, distant friends and families have started to ask what I did for the latest party. So here goes... Traditionally, my kids have been spot-on at picking interesting, … [Read more...] about FROZEN-THEMED 4TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
2 MYTHS ABOUT STAY-AT-HOME PARENTING
The pros and cons of stay-at-home parenting are something that's never left my mind since I quit work to have kids six years ago, but recently - perhaps prompted by Shared Parental Leave and associated press articles - I've been working through two particular lines of thought often expressed by … [Read more...] about 2 MYTHS ABOUT STAY-AT-HOME PARENTING
ADOPTION IS NOT PLAN ‘B’
Although there was a time when I thought it was. Back in my idealistic youth, before we had kids, adoption was our Plan B. "If we can't have children, we'll..." and all that. Truth be told, I was bloody scared that we wouldn't be able to have children - because then we'd have to face the messy … [Read more...] about ADOPTION IS NOT PLAN ‘B’
HOW WE ARRIVED AT OUR DECISION TO ADOPT
I promised there'd be a couple of surprises here on the blog for 2015, so here's the first: I'm excited to share with you that Famille Desert are in the process of adoption! Whoop! It's something I'm buzzing to write more about in the future but, for now, let me take you back a few years and share … [Read more...] about HOW WE ARRIVED AT OUR DECISION TO ADOPT
NITS AND THE SACRIFICES OF PARENTING
Missy has had nits. I've dealt with a lot of grossness in my 5+ years as a mum: poo in epic proportions, wind which factors on the Richter scale, and vomit to make our house resemble a University halls of residence in Fresher's Week. I've been drenched in wee, baby sick and blood; wiped noses, … [Read more...] about NITS AND THE SACRIFICES OF PARENTING