Wondrously Other: September 2012

Day of the Sling

Right as the clock struck midnight on Alfie's second birthday a couple of things happened: He gave up napping, and second, he decided he was too grown up to be pushed in a buggy. That'll have parents everywhere sucking their teeth because if there is a bad combination, it is a two year old who is over tired and unwilling to sit down. We struggled with an answer for a few...

Sunday, 30 September 2012 Comments: 0

Adventures Around Castles

Yesterday I found myself in Southsea with a morning to kill and two small children to do it with. I make it sound like I opened my eyes, stretched, rolled over in bed and came face to face with the seaside. My life is not that mystical, I did know we were on the way to Southsea, not least because I was forced to deal with some spectacular car sickness from the...

Friday, 28 September 2012 Comments: 0

Baby Led Weaning Esme

It looks like a girl, and moves like a girl …

A new and mysterious beast has moved into FTC. It is about 2 foot tall, has lots of squishy bits and causes my son to walk round in a constant state of confusion. It looks exactly like my baby daughter, except now with added cowbag. I was warned about little girls and their attempts to pull on the heartstrings from an early age. I refused to believe it: No, I thought,...

Tuesday, 25 September 2012 Comments: 0

Activism Inspiration Midwifery Pregnancy

Why One World Birth Is Asking The Right Questions

Last night, along with thousands of other people worldwide, I attended a screening of a new film called Freedom For Birth. The film surprised me, expecting as I did an impassioned plea from the great and good of the birthing world to reclaim birth. I got some of that, but what I also got was a very logical legal argument about how pregnant women are being disabused...

Saturday, 22 September 2012 Comments: 0

Comments

This post is being created as a temporary home for comments from anyone who has received a Breastfeeding Card. If you want to say hi, or let me know where you were handed the card, please do...

Saturday, 22 September 2012 Comments: 5

That's Life Toddler DoOm

Who’s In Charge Here? Being Present and Accountable as a Parent

I love how you can happen across new blogs sometimes that just make you think. My parents must be so proud of their highly educated daughter trying to argue with a machine, but it’s what I do. I found a new blog today called Hands Free Mama who was linked to a thread discussing parents who walk their children to school with their iPods on. When I first read the blog post I...

Friday, 21 September 2012 Comments: 0

Alfie Crafts

Those Damn Secret Squirrels Get Everywhere!

I have started one of Alfie’s Christmas gifts and I thought I would share some sneak peaks. Any ideas? Well here’s a clue, he likes to burrow and eat porridge and lives on a park on an island. Anyone without a working knowledge of Cbeebies probably has a twitching eye right now. I’m going to spare you the mock coyness* because we all know I am dreadful at keeping...

Thursday, 20 September 2012 Comments: 0

Activism Breastfeeding Feminism Inspiration

One Fierce Mama Bear

This is a mum feeding her baby. At work. Posted on Twitter. A mum who happens to be famous and fabulous and a pretty damn good role model for young mums. A mum who, when asked on national TV about whether she is still breastfeeding said: "It's healthy, and natural and it's a comfort to my baby so I couldn't give a shit what somebody else thinks." Pink, I hope like...

Tuesday, 18 September 2012 Comments: 4

Alfie Learning

Autumn Classroom

I was once again home alone with the children on Saturday and because I hate tidying the house, I thought it might be nice to make the best of a sunny day and go somewhere that I don’t have to scoop into boxes at the end of the day. We headed out to a local woods: Esme chilled out in the sling and I gave Alfie a little jute bag and asked him if he wanted to go and collect...

Tuesday, 18 September 2012 Comments: 0

That's Life

What is Tragedy?

This year seems to have been filled with tragedy. Yesterday some long overdue papers were released about Hillsborough and Keith’s was the first post I saw talking about it on Facebook. I started a chat with him asking him why it mattered, surely nothing changes the fact that these people died? Knowing someone was to blame doesn't help heal the hole they have left. If anything...

Thursday, 13 September 2012 Comments: 0

Esme

The Beginner's Guide to Emmie Expressions - Henry VIII

My daughter has several things in common with the eponymous tyrant: Strawberry blonde hair, a love of wanton violence and this slitty eyed look. If you see this look do not approach and do not make eye contact. This is a look that say “I am tired, and I am not happy about it”. This is a look often accompanied by a low droning growl – if she had a tail she would be...

Wednesday, 12 September 2012 Comments: 0

Activism Stay At Home Dad

TOO MUCH 'LYMPICS!!

The family have been at the 'lympics again today and I think Emmie is starting to get delusions of having won a medal. Incidentally, who told athletes to bite their gold medals? I mean I know why they do it but who actually told them it was a good idea? Did nobody think about the fact it is just slightly insulting to look as if you are "checking it's gold"? Jeez...

Saturday, 8 September 2012 Comments: 0

Activism Breastfeeding

Free Breastfeeding Cards To Anyone That Asks Nicely

I am so damn excited about this project I can barely speak. Social media is a controversial development in the sense that it divides people into those who fear that it will steal their soul, and those who embrace it because it has connected them with the rest of their tribe. I fall into the latter category. I know, I so didn’t need to tell you that, but hey, I like to...

Thursday, 6 September 2012 Comments: 0

Alfie Learning Stay At Home Dad

School Starts Next Week.

Next week is a scary time for us at FTC. Somehow, without us quite noticing it, the time has come for Alfie to start preschool. You may remember me banging on about Montessori educations, and how I felt it would be right for Alfie. Well I believe that more firmly now than I ever have, even though it has left me struggling with a decision I still don’t feel we have entirely...

Wednesday, 5 September 2012 Comments: 2

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