Mummy&Roo

In the Internet age there's so much more out there about when your child should be doing what and people talking proudly about their child hitting milestones. It's brilliant that people have this platform to share their pride, it's great your child is ahead of the curve etc. HOWEVER Do not push your goals, timelines and achievements on my child Your child was potty trained at 18 months? That's great, you must be very proud, my child wasn't and guess what? I don't care. Your child knows all their timetables? Fabulous, mine isn't there yet and that's okay. Let me be clear, I am not saying we should ignore developmental delays or anything like that. I'm saying you shouldn't make another person feel bad because their child isn't as advanced as another. This doesn't just go for parents online, this goes for friends and family too. When Roo was younger I used to get so upset when family would say things like "oh she isn't walki...

Today we joined our childminder and the gang at Forest School. Forest school is an opportunity for the children to play and learn in an outdoor, messy, fun setting. There's a mud kitchen, bug viewers, a den, mud art. They make natural crafts and then have hot chocolate and biscuits around a fire. While I was there they were planning future visits (they go weekly) and how they would fit them in with their topics. I now know this is going to involve making bird feeder and some food adventures with the fire. I can hear some of you already "there's a fire, and children?!" yes there is a fire but the children go no where near it, there is a visual barrier of sticks, lots of supervision and most importantly they are taught. How can children ever learn about fire safety if they're never exposed to fire? I agree that it's better they are exposed to and experience risk at an early age so they can learn to handle that risk rather than just developing a fear. This go...

Today I have not stopped, I know this is the case for most Mums but I'm dead on my feet. My day started when Roo woke me up at 6am. Daddy has a serious case of man flu mixed with an undiagnosed musculoskeletal condition so he was totally out of action last night and this morning. I got Roo ready and fought the traffic to drop her off with her childminder. I fought back through rush hour traffic to get home to the germ and the work I had to do. Cue 2 hours of making shopping bags, writing address labels and packing everything away. At 11am I got in the car to start the main part of the day, drop 11 parcels at the post office and jump back in the car to head to Hull, an hour and 20 minute drive. Got there an hour early but thankfully they saw me early. The reason I drove all the way to Hull is because I'm taking part in a voluntary (read unpaid) drug trial into the possible treatments for PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and that's the centre running the trial. Somet...

Today we've done our usual twice weekly hair check and once again she's managed to pick up head lice. We use repellent shampoo, we have combs all over the house, we comb her hair regularly and still they come back. There must be something about her that they really like because every time we've got rid of them they come back. If you do not check your child for nits regularly and don't treat them promptly then you are not a good parent. They're itchy, they're awful and they give ammunition to the bullies. We live in the 21st century, we are modern men and women, between us we should be able to keep a little parasite under control. But no, there'll be someone out there who just doesn't bother, doesn't check their child and then rest of us are suffering as they pass them on to every child they interact with! I've reached a point where I no longer bother with the harsh chemicals, they come back anyway and Roo hates having them on her head. Inste...