Typecast

In May 2012 I wrote a post showing my support for parenting classes and admitting that I attended them when my children were younger.  I'm a huge believer in that, with the right course leader, these types of group sessions are valuable for your growth as a parent.  We don't get given a parenting manual - I mean, who wants to be told how to raise your own child?  Not me, that's for sure.  But having access to someone who will listen to you, understand what you are going through, have access to advice and complimentary materials and be there to help see you through the tough times is how parenting classes should be structured.  As we all know, there are A TON of myths out there about what you should or shouldn't do as a parent to give your child the best start in life.  CANparent created this video short  with some of the more well-known ones.  See how many you recognise.  What can you add?  CANparent Classes and Advice Ne...

Firstly, if you've got an idea and you want to market it maybe run it by a targeted focus group first.  Not your mates and your mum who are going to pat you on the hand and tell you that you've done a good job.  OK, I'm an aged grandmother.  What the fuck do I know?  Oh yeah, I've actually raised three children and they're all still alive.  They may not have been though if I'd have used one of these: screenshot from the website Don't even expect me to link to this shit because I ain't.  The name is there and I'm sure you're brilliant at Googling.  Anyway, this contraption - a "bottle bib" - is designed to allow babies to have their bottle unaided so that you can get on with the ironing and cleaning because (and I quote) " holding a bottle for up to an hour [..] for months on end [..] is so frustrating ".  It is aimed at babies of three months and over and, in my opinion, is exactly the same as laying a baby up on t...

I'm not normally into inspirational quotes, however sometimes something just stops me in my tracks, even though it might seem 'cheezy'!  I am not sure whether it's a new state of mind within my new job role or just old age.   Anyway, I saw these two posters at a meeting today (immediately Instagrammed them, natch) and thought that we could all use these quotes either for ourselves or our children.   What do you think?  "The choices we don't make are as important as the ones we do make" "No two flowers bloom in exactly the same way"

My children in 1999 There was never, ever a moment that I thought I would agree with a Tory Prime Minister's proposal but, hey, I'm also not afraid to speak up about it either.  And this is only "in theory" at the moment. * holds hand up * I attended parenting classes. Twice.  Not because I felt the first time was crap but because they were offered to me due to my circumstances at the time.  And, yes, I do feel as though I benefited greatly from them. I was brought up in a traditional family setting - my dad had a good job, mum stayed at home, we had holidays every year, I was well provided for and I had a good education.  I had a job and a career vision.  I still got pregnant at age eighteen. I was a fucking fantastic babysitter but that was always because there was an end in sight.  Motherhood never came naturally to me.  Of course, I knew that I was responsible for the provision and nurture of my child/ren and I'd fight to the de...

I'm the first one to  take to my blog for a good old rant  come out fighting in my child's corner but that is because I know them best.  I would not allow them to be placed in a position that I knew they would possibly not feel comfortable in or be able to cope with.  Are we at risk of singling our children out more by wrapping them up in cotton wool?

I'm sure it's not just me but in my twenty years as a parent I have never been able to clear up any of those little mysteries that seem to happen with great regularly. No-one, other than me, ever seems to be able to change a toilet roll Whenever I send someone to the corner shop, there's never any change I buy a roll of sellotape a week but can never find any when I need it Why do I look at my wrist for the time, even though I haven't worn a watch for about 12 months? What’s yours?

Welcome to a guest post from someone I know from Twitter.  @EhMum makes me laugh so much with her random tweets so I asked her if she'd like to write me a guest post.  This heartfelt and honest post really touched a chord with me as my daughter wanted a boy so much each time she was expecting. Jude prefers to remain semi-anonymous but blogs at " EhMummy " and you can find her on Twitter as @EhMum ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

We probably don't babysit the grandchildren as much as we should.  Rachel only lives around the corner so we see them quite regularly and I never really expected to be a grandparent quite so soon.  In a very selfish way I wanted some time to myself where I didn't have to change shitty nappies and get up at 5.30am because there was an unpaid demand for it.  However, I also didn't want to be the type of grandparent that never babysits and last week it seemed that Rachel was at her wit's end with some personal worries and just the general stresses of being a parent to two toddlers.  I've been there, I know how it feels.  So, after a prompt from Kev we offered to have them both overnight last night.

This post was submitted to me within the ethos of  Blognonymous .  This contributor has requested the Blognonymous platform because she she always imagined that she would want to publish it on her own blog but still doesn't feel ready .   If you would like to offer any kind of support in the comments but prefer to remain anonymous yourself then there is  a "guest comment" facility - sign out of Disqus (if you have used it before) and you will see "guest" appear as an option. If you would like to contact the Blognonymous team please click on the image to the right for more details.

This post was submitted to me within the ethos of  Blognonymous .  It was in sent to me on the same day that my own father emailed me to tell me of his own shock redundancy notice.  This author wants to remain anonymous because of her professional position and her desire to remain dignified  She is asking for some advice and feedback from people who have been in a similar situation .   If you would like to offer any kind of support in the comments but prefer to remain anonymous yourself then there is  a "guest comment" facility - sign out of Disqus (if you have used it before) and you will see "guest" appear as an option. If you would like to contact the Blognonymous team please click on the image to the right for more details.

Counting the ripples on your Bloggers Paunch is like counting the rings on the inside of a tree.  One ripple for each year of blogging.

Last night the realisation hit me that my babies are not babies any more.  It full on smacked me in the face, not once, but twice.

When you live in Blackburn and you are the parent to tweens and teens, it is hard not to take notice of the rumour mill cranking its way round the local schools.  Moreso when you have the utmost responsibility of selecting a high school for them.  Luckily (if you see it that way), we don't live in a "lottery area" so the choice of schools is pretty much on an even keel, with the faith schools slightly out-performing the traditional comprehensives.  We do, however, live in an area that is performing below the national average . I come from the era of "old school" when teachers were respected, you stood up at your desk on the rare occasion that the headmaster entered the classroom, blackboard dusters were thrown with regularity in the direction of unnecessary behaviour and if you got a detention you missed your bus home and had to yomp into town to catch another.  There were only ever one or two students that were recognised as being 'difficult' or ...

My blog is all about me, me, me.  It totally amazes me that people want to read about me... and enjoy it! Many people don't "get" blogging - as noted on the Bounty forum last week - and no matter how much us bloggers stand here and try to explain it, someone will always brand you a freak. Blogging is cathartic.  It's therapy.

I often sit and wonder what memories I am providing my children with.  Are we, as parents, conscious of providing good (or bad) memories?

There's an old saying when you are a child of the Seventies: "If you fall off there and break your leg, don't come running to me!" I may have taken my harsh form of parenting one step too far back in 2006 on a day trip out to Blackpool: "Your arm is sore?  Oh, stop moaning.  It's not hanging off, is it?  We'll go and get an ice cream."

The Daily Express (amongst other publications) reports that: A MOTHER who left her son of 14 to mind his three-year-old brother while she went to the shops was given a police caution for “cruelty” and was suspended from work.  Last night the case ignited a debate over when it is acceptable for parents to briefly leave older siblings home alone as carers. (source: Daily Express, 07.02.11 )   Before I even offer my opinion on the very nature of this subject, please have a read of the full article and make an informed decision about what was going on ( the link will open in a new tab/window ). How much information is missing?  If every parent who "nipped to the shops" was arrested and cautioned, how much police time do you think this would take up?  On what grounds did the police consider that this mother was guilty of cruelty?  Was it really 30 minutes or had it been a few hours?  Was this a nosy neighbour sticking their beak in or had there been a n...

This post was submitted to me within the ethos of  Blognonymous .  This post will strike a chord with many readers and the author explains that she has used the Blognonymous outlet because it is hard to find someone to talk to who isn't connected to work.  This post is more for moral support than finding the magic cure .  Please feel free to offer your invaluable support, advice and even personal experiences in the comments section.  There is a "guest comment" facility if you prefer - sign out of Disqus and you will see "guest" appear as an option.

* beep be-be-beep. beep be-be-beep * Text : gonna b late i will make ma own tea

There are a number of blog posts this week about the lies that parents tell to other parents to portray themselves as the perfect parent: Of course I cook a home made meal from scratch every night. Or there are the lies that parents tell their children just for a quiet life: Yes, your picture is beautiful . The glitter looks brilliant on those pasta shells. A lot of these blog posts have stemmed from the results of a survey compiled by NetMums that suggested around two-thirds of parents admitted that they told a few white lies whilst many more admitted to covering up financial struggles. Seriously, why bother?  Why should you be embarrassed about the way in which you choose to bring up your child(ren)?  I get a bit pissed off with all the "Yummy Mummy" types who profess to fill up their child's life with activities and fun.  When does the child get any time to be themselves?