advice

14 years at the school gates: what I have learned so far….

September 13, 2018 By Ellen

Update: This was written a couple of years ago – now the baby is in P5 (still cute though). My baby, he’s all grown up. It doesn’t seem a minute since… Yada yada yada. You know the stuff – uttered by runny-mascaraed mothers waving children off to school before returning to their bleak and […]

Things I want my sons to know…

August 28, 2017 By Ellen

My sons learning team destruction Always give your spouse birthday presents in bed. This rather baffling bit of advice is number 21 of 25 things the Good Men’s Project thinks a son should learn. Excuse me? What difference does it make where you give a present, as long as an appropriate and timely? In […]

Shitty-gritty: The bottom line on parenting

November 21, 2016 By Ellen

I wrote this a couple of years ago and, mercifully, it’s not so much a part of everyday life. Though it can, erm, bob up occasionally. However, I thought it worth another airing if for no other reason than to reassure those of you with crap under your nails that it does get better. Poo […]

The things you should open at Christmas and the things you shouldn’t

December 6, 2014 By Ellen

Oh yes. It’s all about secrets, surprises and unwrapping some delights at this time if year. And that’s the best and the worst of the season. Worst? Yes. Think about it, how often have you ripped open a wrapper only to have your hopes crushed? “What a super jumper! How did you find such an […]

Things I’ve learned about the first day at school

July 13, 2014 By Ellen

In less than a month my youngest son, Boy Three, will be joining the ranks of school pupils as he goes through the classroom door for the first time. For him it’s the start of a huge adventure during which he will tell me that his day was “OK” but that he learned “nothing much” […]