The day I wasn’t prepared

Preparation is key for a successful excursion in our house but sometimes I drop the ball. This was the day I wasn’t prepared. It should have been so simple to take Big Bear to get his haircut that Saturday morning. J had taken Little Bear to a swimming lesson in the car and was planning to meet us at the …

My Kids Have Magic Limbs

My kids have ‘magic’ limbs

It’s quite difficult to play the piano when you’re hypermobile. I know that now but I didn’t when I was five and practising ‘flying to middle c’ with my finger. I could never quite hit it properly because the tip of my finger kept bending back when it landed. I didn’t really question it at the time because I didn’t …

When Special Interests Turn Into Dangerous Obsessions

When special interests become dangerous obsessions

How do you deal with a dangerous obsession? It’s a question that has been concerning me for some time. You see, Big Bear is obsessed – and I mean OBSESSED – with putting things around his neck. Mainly lanyards but if  he hasn’t got one to hand then anything will do. Yesterday he was walking around the house with two …

Surviving A Sleep Thief

We have a sleep thief

Surviving a sleep thief can sometimes feel like a tough military expedition with the SAS. Everyone has their own tolerance levels. I’m often up during the night with Big Bear but it’s the early mornings that are the toughest and I can’t function pre-6am. Which is a problem really, because he NEVER sleeps past 4.45am. 4.45am. CLICK, the landing light goes …

Child Doesn't Play

Help! My child doesn’t play

I can’t remember how old Big Bear was when I realised my child doesn’t play like their children. From the moment he could pick things up he would generally throw them. Balls, bricks, cars…he just didn’t seem to know (or care about) what to do with them, despite my endless demonstrations. During a group holiday to Portugal when he was …