Parenting is...

...wondering where your youngest child has hidden your eldest child's glasses?

47/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year

Apparently we are the best mum and dad ever. So why has Esme tied us all up?
"Doh, Mummy, we are having a group hug!"

FRAMED - Mother Nature

A mother's role - A poem

I don't want to come in and look at you.

Tonight as I go to bed.

I ll leave that to your father

To check you, kiss you, tuck you in.

And lovingly stroke your head.

TOP TEN UNIQUE Christmas gift ideas (put together by LIFE AS IT IS)

THIS CHRISTMAS WHAT WILL THE CHILDREN BE DOING?

Here are TEN great ideas for gifts that for one reason or another, 

are just that little bit more unusual...

What have you done today to make you feel proud?

Please help The Trussell Trust and Fareshare to feed people in need this Christmas, by donating food at your local Tesco store this week.

In store you’ll find collection points. Simply add an item to your basket and donate it on the way out. Tesco will top up all donations by 30 percent and will ensure delivery to your local food bank.

Thank you

46/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year

Fia rockets into space

The brand new Tiny Diner Company - eats & ethics

Are you a mum that buys in premium baby and child food products? If so, did you know that a company called Tiny Diner has launched? Not only will it support you in feeding your little one with healthy and nutritious food, it also supports the work of anti-violence against women charity Eaves - offering support to women surviving violence in the UK. Tiny Diner is creating employment opportunities for the many vulnerable women supported by Eaves, helping empower them. Tiny Diner recently went live with their campaign, and need to spread the word re their great food and great ethics. Please take a look here. 

FRAMED - Simon and Fia out for a bike ride

1 in 10 babies need (EXTRA) SPECIAL CARE - A feature

1 in 10 babies need special care

This week, World Prematurity day has recognised the babies born too soon. Someone I know recently gave birth to twin girls - born 10 weeks early. The following texts reveal something about life for this new mum, who like millions of others, has been totally thrown in at the deep end. Then the following feature, hopes to reveal something about life as it is on a neonatal ward.

Morbid musings of a 6YO

E: Mummy when I die, I hope we are having a cuddle, because I really want to die with you

45/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year

Esme creates a robot birthday card for a friend. I love the fact that it talks in a robotic fashion, which she cleverly depicts using full stops.

Even Superheroes are infallible

After my last post, Children In Need - appealing to all Superhero Mums out there, I have to add a further post on how the day ended...

Shortly after finishing lunch, I received a phone call from school. Esme had collided with another child in the playground, (hey, I'm not a meteorologist).

She sat with her braided beaded bumped and bruised bonce, quietly cuddling the teaching assistant, with cape intact and ice pack administered. She flashed a hint of a smile when she saw me and Fia approach.

Brave or what?

A real superhero.

Love you kid.

Children In Need - appealing to all Superhero Mums out there

We are all Supermums.
Don't forget that.
And Dads.
Don't forget that either.
Balancing the act of parenting.
On little sleep.
We juggle balls.
We spin plates.
We hold the fort.
We nurse the sick.
We fill the fridge.
We pay the bills.
The list is endless.
There's no denying,
We have a lot on our plates.
I have a lot on my plate.
Accept for cakes.

Will I lose my Supermum status by not making cakes for a bloody school cake sale?
Or for using the word 'bloody' in the previous sentence?
I'll take some shop bought ones later instead.
Plus I stuck a fiver in the tin this morning...
I didn't have any bloody change.
I gave it all to nursery yesterday.
We ran out of time to get more change, as I was helping Esme look like the Superhero she is.
So headteacher, don't be giving me that look today. You know the one.
The one that doesn't really exist, and yet nonetheless makes me feel like a child in disgrace.
I've a lot on my plate. Accept cakes. I know.
But that's okay, you have a lot of Superheroes to save the day.
A day that will result in caped kids flying out of the school doors, revved up by the rain stops play factor, and all hungry for the sugary cakes on sale.
Which they'll gorge, eager to top up their Superhero powers.
We daren't say 'no' and 'wait for after your dinner.'
For being real life Superheroes, they would stop us in our tracks.
SuperEsme for example, could take me out with one flick of her braided beaded bonce.
I've no doubt.


This post is to salute the parents that made cakes. 
Shine your badge. You're bloody amazing.

If you enjoyed this post, why not vote for me in the UKBlogAwards2015? Thank you!

FOOTNOTE
If you want to know how the day ended, read my follow on post
 Even Superheroes are infallible

Bullied at five - a poem to raise awareness

Oh little girl of mine, stood tall.
So chipper and so cheery.
Where are you? And who is this?
My shadow, always teary.

Lullaby & Goodnight - A feature on SIDS

The pain of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Did you know that ‘cot death’ is a phrase now considered outdated? Sadly, babies die unexpectedly, and in all manner of locations. I talked to two families torn apart by SIDS, both eager to explain the real meaning behind this cruel syndrome.

Earlier this year, the NICE consultation on safe sleep was published. It did little to explain Sudden Infant Death Syndrome adequately to many of the parents left behind by babies who had SIDS as the cause of death on their death certificates. 

The Lullaby Trust, a charity providing specialist support for bereaved families, is committed to supporting research to understand why five babies a week die suddenly and unexpectedly in the UK, and to find out more about how to prevent these tragic deaths.

Jennie Henley, age 38, is mum to four beautiful children. Twins, Esther and William, age 4, that recently started infant school, 8 week-old Beatrice Hope, aka Rainbow baby. And, Matilda Mae, angel baby, who at nine months-old, went to sleep one day as usual, and never woke up.

VOTE FOR ME UKBlogAwards2015 entry

Hi one and all,

A little while ago I was contacted and asked to enter my blog LIFE AS IT IS into a competition.

The UK Blog Awards recognises 'talented individuals within the industry' -

And as they asked me to enter, I figure I've nothing to lose.

The public vote starts today.

If you like what you read on my blog and would like to encourage me to write more...

Please vote for me here

I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you!

Pudsey: The Movie - A review

Remember Pudsey, everyone's four legged friend that jumped through hoops and won the British publics' hearts, and the Britain's got talent contest a couple of years ago? 

Well he's back, and starring in his own movie - named, yes you guessed it: Pudsey The Movie. 

Frivolous and fun this is entertainment for the entire family, and the brand new release is out today, just in time for the Christmas shopping period. 

So is it worth the buying?

44/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year

The conundrum of the worry stone

On a recent visit to Arundel Castle (you can read my review here), Esme purchased a 'worry stone' from the gift shop. This was the least of my worries on the day as it was potentially the cheapest item within the shop. However, since then, it has proved to be a right royal pain in the arse.

Arundel Castle - a review

Whether it is the grandeur of the fine castle rooms and the treasures they behold, (think Gainsborough and Caneletto), the exquisite gardens, the gift shop and restaurant, or simply the magnificent structure itself, Arundel Castle is a fantastic day out for everybody.

No smoke without fire: The importance of writing as if no one is reading

My recent post Half Term-inal was cathartic. I love that my blog is a place for me to rant. Sharing my inner thoughts with the public was never my initial intention, but sharing to help others realise that Life As It Is can be utterly crap at times, is. Somewhat self-indulgent? Probably. Thinking about that however, my mother always said that my sister was the private one, whereas I would have told my life story to the milkman if I could. So here, not just for the milkman it would appear, but for you all, is a further tale of my Life As It Once Was...

Currently my 1Grace1Faith

Half Term-inal

Bleak, that's what it's been.
A bleak half term.
Very little colour indoors.
Losing the will to live,
For you girls are fighting again.
In competition for my attention - good or bad.
I could have walked away this week.

43/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year