As parents of the 21st century, it’s becoming harder and harder for us to navigate the politics of food, and quiet our conscience over what should be the simple and pleasurable act of buying food for our family. With exponentially-rising food costs, recent family-targeted benefit changes, the pressure on parents to work more and the [...]

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" – F.D. Roosevelt

As loving parents, we instinctively want to protect our children from fear.  Yet fear is a vital part of life. Without fear there would be no courage or bravery. “You have to feel fear in order to be brave, otherwise you’re simply reckless.” [...]

Dressing your children for parties can be such fun – the look on their faces when they see a new party outfit or fancy dress costume you have bought them is adorable.
However if you are like me and your life seems to be one continuous children's party, the option of buying something new for them to [...]

The baby sister had arrived and Harry was feeling a little put out. She made a lot of noise which meant that Mummy spent all day cuddling and feeding her rather than taking Harry to the park. When she wasn't crying, she did nothing interesting. She certainly wasn't the playmate Harry had been expecting. To [...]

Moving house is extremely stressful for all concerned. The last thing the adults need, on top of all the other pressures, is anxious children.  But our children are usually very attached to their homes and they don’t understand the real world influences that influence our decision to up sticks and move our home from one [...]

If, like me, you are hoping that Spring is around the corner somewhere, you may be in the mood for a cheeky weekend away. Here’s my guide on the best places to escape with the family and a few special retreats that are for grown-ups only
WITH LITTLE ONES ....
Gleaneagles, Perthshire, Scotland
With its equestrian school, off-road [...]

I love Easter! The promise of an end to this interminable winter; the family all around the table again; and chocolate. The children have given up this, their favourite addiction for Lent, and it feels as if this year’s celebration is even more special and exciting because we’ve earned it. Even eschewing birthday chocolates and [...]

I got a bit ahead of myself this Easter, and decided to try silk-dying some eggs.  I even persuaded my husband to cull some of his ties for the job, but alas, as my children would say, “epic fail”!  The eggs looked like they had been daintily touched by a flash of pink pen and [...]

The arrival of a new baby heralds many changes for the family – especially for the older sibling(s).  There is much joy and reason for celebration for the parents, but jealousy and resentment at some level is inevitable as the older sibling now has to learn how to share his parents with another….
There is much [...]

“Look Mummy!” said my daughter, peering at a photograph we had found in a dusty shoe box. It was of me, aged five, standing proudly next to a sandcastle.“Is it me?”, she asked. It did look like her. The girl in the photo had the same hair as her and seemed to have the same [...]