We’re so fortunate in the UK to be able to take 12 months maternity leave (or shared parental leave) and accrue holiday allowance fo that year. I’m approaching the end of my time away from my job. So what happens next for me? I’ve decided not to go back to my job, for a number…
I wrote this in October 2012 and published it elsewhere. I can now say that yes I am a writer – in addition to the many other things I do. I blog, I contribute to newsletters, I’ve published creative and factual ebooks, and I also write stuff in my job. It’s an interesting rambling read…
Spring has almost sprung, and I now have a 9.5 month old baby. Time is going quickly! Life has got busy, and I have no idea where my days go. So once again I’m going to step back from my blogging. I’ll still be posting photos on Instagram from time to time, but I doubt…
I started this blog post when there was snow all around. Now there’s not and it does feel a little out of date. But, some important life questions remain: Do they make gloves for babies? Because mine doesn’t like mittens. What about baby balaclavas to protect their faces against the cold wind? What happens to…
I see other people with their lovely one topic blogs, and I’m a little envious that they can describe their blog’s content so easily. Not to mention that they’re seen as experts on that subject, which often leads to other opportunities for them. I’ve been writing this blog for almost 6 years and it’s still…
I was talking to a couple of friends last weekend about post-natal mental health. In particular how motherhood feels 6-8 months in, after the intense early phase is over. Two of the themes that came up in my conversation were comparisons and loneliness, both of which impact a new mum’s mental health, but for different…
I’m having an attack of the new mum January blues. Not enough sleep, changes in routine, worrying about stuff that’s a few months away, miserable weather. So what can I do? See people every day – be around other mums and babies, or family or friends. Talk to people – share problems and challenges, ask…
So I’ve been through the fourth trimester, had a glorious phase with a great sleeping and napping baby. But right now, she’s not so great at those things. And approaching 6 months we’ve got quite a few changes coming up – the pram, the cot and weaning. So it’s time to simplify my mind and…
I published a new ebook! It is (I think) the final in my small series of creative ramblings, published before I move onto some non-fiction projects. Called Creative Connections, it’s a bit of an eclectic mix, as it’s got a few left over pieces of prose, a load of poems, and a couple of styles…
And in a break and slight tangent from recent blog posts, this one is about blogging, not babies…. I’ve been blogging for quite a few years now, and I find it interesting that people don’t comment on blog posts as much I’d like them to. I feel as if a blog post with no comments…
Every so often I wonder why I bother with Facebook and Twitter. I sometimes feel like it’s a pointless waste of my time. 98% of my Facebook friends don’t have babies less than a year old, although many have children of school age. I have a couple of Twitter acquaintances who have just had babies…
I was having trouble thinking of something to write about. Then I saw this Facebook update being shared, and it prompted a whole train of my own thoughts. People joke about maternity leave being one long holiday, eating cake and wandering round National Trust gardens. And yes, I do a bit of that. But there’s…
Until I had one of my own, I hadn’t really come into contact with many babies, newborn or otherwise. You go to antenatal classes, which are very useful for learning about birth, breastfeeding and general baby care. But there are lots of things you don’t find out until you’ve got your baby in front of…
There’s no chance of a longer post this week, between a grumpy baby and my lack of sleep. So here once again is a gratitude list….. things I love this week. Fancy shower gel – a couple of people bought me new mum presents of lovely smelling shower gel and bath stuff. My morning shower…
When I’m not on maternity leave, I work as a project director, managing communications projects and all the associated finances and resources. I like managing projects, but what I’m particularly drawn to is writing and photography. So it’s nice to indulge in both of those when I have time. Why do I love writing? It…
I’ve drafted a couple of longer blog posts but I don’t feel motivated to finish them. So I thought I’d write something shorter instead. These are the things on my mind right now. Being a new mum – after 3 months it’s no longer weird, and I do get sleep. But the only time I…
I now have limited spare time, and if I’m alone with my newborn baby, I rarely get to finish anything in one sitting. Meals, writing emails or text messages, thoughts, blog posts…… (ironically at this point I was interrupted…..) So this means I have to focus on a very small number of projects, not dabble…
So I had a baby four weeks ago. It’s an easy enough sentence to write, yet it encompasses so much. The moment of finding out I was pregnant. The 2 months of knowing but not telling people beyond family and a couple of friends. The following 6 months of pregnancy and its many ups and…
I’m stuck. I had grand plans to do much more blogging while I had time before the new arrival. But it seems that everything I start writing about just doesn’t work, so I’ve got quite a few half finished posts lurking around. I don’t know what it is that stopping me. Could it be lack…
I decided last week to start writing on my blog again, while I have some time between finishing work and baby arriving. However, I’ve been struggling to work out what to write about the last few days. I’ve half written two posts, but neither really came together satisfactorily. Part of that is of course because…
