Parenting Skills

Attitude of Gratitude

I have been a widow for a little over a year now.  In the midst of silence and  profound pain, I have come to terms that in his short 39 years, my husband fulfilled his purpose here on Earth.  I also recognize that I am still living and breathing and therefore, I still need to fulfill mine.  As I navigate this untraveled road, I honor who I am every day of my life, as I have never been a…
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Travel with kids

Travel with kids: Sardinia beyond the Coast - The murales from Orgosolo, the walls that speak

I have chosen Sardinia (Orgosolo in particular) to start my narrative journey into my origin country hoping you will love it as much as I do. In a series of travel features I will tell you everything I love about Italy above and beyond the negative aspects that might put a shadow into a fascinating culture. And I will also uncover lots of things that might not be on the typical tourists&#8217…
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Feeding the Family

Fussy eaters – Should we be worried?

Having a fussy eating child can be extremely stressful. As a family nutritionist I have seen many parents in tears over this issue and most of my initial consultations are spent reassuring them that they are not bad parents and have not really done anything wrong. Cue a big surge of relief being lifted from their heavily burdened shoulders. Now, I am not a child psychologist but I have had the…
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Parenting Skills

Joy in the Midst of Pain - Moving beyond Grief after loosing a partner

As I waited for my husband to take his final breath, I cried desperately  because I knew that my life would never be the same. His heavy labored breathing distracted me from any further thought. There was a seven second pause in between each breath. I waited for eight seconds, but he was constant at seven seconds. I held his hand as he took that final breath, I made a choice at that very moment…
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Get Creative

Get creative: Art & Craft ideas inspired by Musicals - No Sew Stage Curtain

I love music and musicals! I try to instil my love for music to my son and I think I am achieving the goal of making him appreciate classical music as well as Pop stars such as the Beatles rather than current hip hop tunes. Most kids probably think their mum’s taste in music is light years apart from theirs, but they might actually be surprised. I don’t need an excuse to celebrate good…
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Schooling

BACK TO SCHOOL AND BACK TO SLEEP & 'NORMALITY'

Is there any such thing as normality with kids? Of course not, but a decent routine is likely to help us run a smooth family life. With children heading back to school after the long Summer break, it’s important to help them get back into a sleeping schedule to ensure they are well rested and prepared for the day ahead. As a bonus, more sleep for the children generally means more sleep for…
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Travel with kids

Travel with kids: Poole (Dorset) sand beaches, cruising & ghost town tours

Poole’s official motto is Surf, Rest and Play. Whether this resonates with you or not, Poole is a great destination for families with kids of any age. The official tourism office calls Poole the Coast with the Most. For families based in London, Poole is the ideal weekend getaway not just during a hot Summer but also in Winter and here is why. Here I am with Diego cruising Poole Harbour A…
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Recipes

Recipe: Pea & Sun-dried Tomato Bread

My 7 year old son loves making bread. He loves eating it. We all love eating bread in any shape or form or type of flour. We love experimenting with the ingredients too. Here is a great and relatively simple recipe for Pea & Sun-dried Tomato Bread courtesy of www.peas.org which mums can make with kids.  © Copyright Michael Powell. 17 Cow Lane, Tealby, Lincs. LN8 3YB. 01673 838040. Pea &amp…
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Schooling

A Tear Free First Day at Reception

Starting school is a milestone for both you and your child. It is a big change where you will have to start a routine, go to school every day, get used to a new and larger environment and wear uniform. While it is an exciting time, 5 years ago on my daughter’s first day in Reception she started playing and I burst into tears! So here are my top tips on how to prepare both mentally and…
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Get Creative

Practical Home Solutions to create extra family space

Life as a mum is certainly rewarding most of the times, but, as we all too well know, comes along with huge challenges. We need to give our children a great upbringing while maintaining our own lives and relationships, a conservatory can be a great way for mums to do just that. For both children and adults alike, a conservatory can be a transition area between the inside and out, it can serve as…
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