It’s almost impossible to believe that we’ve only known Rian for just five years..! When I look at him, almost every time, as his little face is animated with the story he’s telling me, or the deal he’s trying to negotiate with me: ‘Let’s make a deal, Mam, ‘k?? If I eat ALLLLL my dinner,…
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{Originally published January 2016} When Rian was born, we got loads of practical and thoughtful gifts for him. One of the gifts we got was a memory box – well actually we got two beautiful ones – and I love them. However, there are some things you can’t put into the memory boxes or the…
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“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched they must be felt with the heart” Helen Keller ~A letter to my sons~ Sometimes I wonder about what you’ll be like as grown men. Will you get married, will you have kids? Will you achieve all you want, will…
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When Rian was born, I used to hold him as a tiny baby during those long sleepless nights of feeding and think about what sort of little boy he’d be, what sort of teenager he’ll turn into, and what sort of man he’ll grow up to become. Back then, each stage seemed like light years…
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{Part 2 of 2} Monday 3 November, 2014 You were due on October 28th, which as we know now obviously is your little brother’s birthday. Incidentally, they originally wanted to deliver him on November 3rd – but I flat out refused and said that no, you can’t do it that day, that’s Rian’s birthday. The…
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{Part 1 of 2} Over the last four, and last two years, these boys have brought so much happiness to us, the sheer joy they bring each and every day is beyond words. To hear them say the word ‘Mama’ and know it’s me they’re addressing is just the best sound in the world. I…
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{Also embarrassingly features on The M Word} Picture the scene. It’s 1995 and a 14-year-old me sits in her room, listening to Oasis and Blur battle it out in the charts. I’m trying to tame my fuzz of red hair into something somewhat presentable because GHD’s hadn’t been invented yet. I’d probably just finished watching the new…
Read More{Also features on The M Word} There was a video doing the rounds online last year where these kids were handed a cassette tape and had no idea what it was. It got me thinking, and wondering what other things my boys will grow up not knowing. Not just things either, but experiences. Take Spotify as…
Read MoreLet me start by saying, I feel slightly betrayed by my parenting predecessors. I got warned about things like sleepless nights, explosive nappies, teething, and the start of the tantrums, right up to the Terrible Twos. So you could forgive me for assuming that once we cleared those murky waters that it would be more…
Read MoreThe Chair arrived before either of you did. I remember the day we picked it out, the day we went to do the Baby Shopping – the same day we had our 20 week scan with you, Rian, and found out to our immense relief that you were growing perfectly. We left the hospital clutching…
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The Scenic Route 