Bullied at five - a poem for #Antibullyingweek

Time to revisit this poem, which no matter how many times I read it, brings a tear to my eye.

Esme is now nine years of age, and the events that led to my writing this poem about her situation happened four years ago, when, as a summer baby, she'd just turned five and moved into year one.

Back then, she clearly could not comprehend what was happening to her and taking a hold. Sadly, communication often goes out the window in this scenario. You see, it doesn't make any sense that others are unkind, when they have only ever known the opposite.

Fortunately for both of us, she has since learnt to be a fabulous communicator. I cannot tell you how different things are for her. She is a confident happy child. I could never have seen how she would progress at the time I wrote this.

If you have a child that is suddenly not themselves, talk to them, look out for any tell-tale signs... remembering that little ones can be also be affected by bullying.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - The Long Haul, A review by Esme

And so, this afternoon has been wet and rainy. The first day of our holiday. Never mind, Mum arranged for us to watch Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Long Haul. Here's what I thought...

Warwick Castle Maze - A review

WARWICK CASTLE'S NEW HORRIBLE HISTORIES MAZE IS OPEN

Warwick is a castle that thrills and delights, leaving you in no doubt of the mighty battles it has borne, those that fought and fell, those that lived like kings, not forgetting those that suffered such horrible histories. Of course, if you've visited Warwick Castle, you couldn't fail to know all of that. It is magnificent, and with so much going on you could easily spend multiple days there... amongst other things, watching the Birds of Prey show, visiting the Knight's Village, seeing the Trebuchet in action (flying fireball), touring the castle, or mingling with its inhabitants (meet the marvellously informed poo man, and the entertaining, if slightly bonkers, Countess Greville: I live here. I'm loaded). 

However, if you haven't visited for a while, you might not yet know about its most recent reason to return... its fabulous brand new attraction that opened at Easter: 
The Horrible Histories Maze...

14/52 The GraceFaith year long art project...

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

The ballet - A joy for ALL to behold

MY first ballet happened to be the Christmas classic The Nutcracker. I took Esme Grace - my delighted 7YO - with me. Rather wonderfully, both of us were totally unaware of the magic we were letting ourselves in for.

Chocolate & Teapots

My current slow mo style LIFE AS IT IS means that I'm not yet feeling the Christmas baubles. Even though Fia excelled at Mary in her nativity, (beauty, joy and even grace were mentioned), and Esme wrapped her gifts for us all, well over a week ago, I'm finding the countdown to Christmas 2015 hard to embrace. The building work has only been seven weeks; I can't grumble. Instead I give thanks and a massive shout out to everyone that's helping us. Chocolate and teapots clearly make the world go round. All rather welcome and very much appreciated. Thank you. We think we're going to be complete end of next week? We had better be, I will get the tree tomorrow, and I will feel the baubles, I will!

Turning clutter to potential cash (2)

Esme and I have planned a car boot sale. The thing about car boot sales, (the really big inner city kind), is that most of us only ever do them around once every eight years, and then after they're done, feel a number of things... relieved that we managed it and made some money out of our crap, but also relieved that, well frankly, we survived.

KING OF MOTHERHOOD - An interview with Jaime King

Actress Jaime King talks candidly to Emma Oliver, about infertility, motherhood and her latest design venture Sapling

As I wait by the phone for my interview with Jaime King, I wonder what she'll be like. I expect vulnerable, closed, and abrupt. What I get though is resilient, honest, and well, really rather lovely.

The once troubled teen model from Omaha who graced Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar at age 14, is now a contented woman, loving motherhood and living her dreams.

...When I lived in Australia

I worked in a cafe. The Queen of Tarts was situated on Cappuccino strip in Fremantle,
W. A., and was a small, somewhat shoddy set up, which frankly suited me. Over time, I pretty much ended up running the place. Making juice all day long.

It was a great place to work. Mainly because of the great people I met; commuters passing through on the way to the train station and their own place of work.

Digressing slightly... but when I was a kid, and again when I was in Oz, Alan Ball was the manager of my father's beloved Portsmouth Football Club, affectionately known as Pompey. And as a kid, all I remember of Alan Ball is a squeaky high pitched voice. This was because my mum, whenever his name was mentioned, never failed to pipe up (in a squeaky high pitched voice) 'Little Alan Ball'. Turns out, he's also little.

Cicciobello (Rumbly Tummy doll) - A review

To be honest, my girls don't play with dolls very much at all at the moment - although, like most young children they are massive fans of toilet humour. So when asked if LIFE AS IT IS would review the farting friend that is Cicciobello, naturally curious, I couldn't resist.

DETAILS
Cicciobello doll
Includes doll, interactive spoon, interactive orange juice box, customised potty, 2 wipes and a dummy
Size: H45cms
Ages suitable for: 3 years +
Available from: Argos, Toys R Us & Smyths
Price: £49.99
Batteries required: 3xAA

WARNING(S): Not suitable for children under 3 years old. Only for domestic use.

Turning seven years old

ESME

My darling girl, you are seven.

New words in your vocabulary to reflect this exciting step are: Awesome & cool. And my particular favourite: Seriously. And your particular favourite: Bottom (yes, still). Not forgetting the phrase: I don't just like it, I love it.

You get a kick out of making up rhymes, and you enjoy reading and writing. Indeed, this last year you have become quite studious. Your dad refers to you as his bookworm. 

Ford C-Max review (includes the infamous Test Drive Dummy footage)

FORD C-MAX 2015 - REVIEW

PROS

Economical, comfortable, family friendly, with good safety features.

CONS

C-Max (five-seater) is unable to sit three car seats in a row, and the Grand C-Max, 
(seven-seater) sits four car seats, but leaves little boot space.

Back in 2012, MadeForMums tested the then new Ford B-Max and found it to be an eerily 
futuristic ride. So much so, we were left wondering what on earth could possibly come next? 

Hello the C-Max range, and the recent launch of which, proved Ford are still heading 
up technological advancement.

Make no mistake, as the 2015 offerings are unveiled, MadeForMums found themselves going 
back to the future and a ‘Look mum, no hands’ experience.

The new five-seat C-Max (and seven-seat Grand C-Max with sliding doors), are designed 
with families in mind, making day-to-day living easier - and safer with hand-free tech 
and numerous smart driver assistance features. But a few years on, would the new car prove 
to be a help or a hindrance when put to the test?

Eight years of marriage later & on our wedding anniversary...

...I look back at how I met my husband (and how serendipity lent a hand).

I was a prefect at school. Leavers year, age 16 and taking my badge seriously, even if I did mess about in maths - sorry Mrs Mellow.

Peanut Allergy & Anaphylaxis - A feature

CAUSE FOR CONCERN - Peanut Allergy & Anaphylaxis

EMMA OLIVER REVEALS A STORY THAT’S VERY CLOSE TO HOME AS SHE INVESTIGATES THE EXTREMELY HARMFUL ALLERGIC REACTION ANAPHYLAXIS

Esme a few minutes after eating peanuts 

New Year’s Eve didn’t quite turn out how it was planned. Sitting in A&E with my six-year-old daughter having steroids for an allergic reaction to peanuts, had definitely not been on the agenda. She only ate four, and then began to swell immediately, saying her lips felt funny and her throat hurt.

En route to A&E, as Esme began to cough and wheeze, I was just thankful to have administered anti-histamine. And to have left straight away.

20 minutes later at hospital, the steroids eventually calmed her hive-covered body, and after a few hours we were all able to leave: with an epi pen and a referral for blood and skin prick tests.

We’ve yet to discover the severity of Esme’s peanut allergy. The doctor thinks it is likely she will suffer with anaphylaxis, as this first reaction was both intense and immediate.

Anaphylaxis will take some getting used to for all of us, but especially Esme. A peanut allergy is almost certainly for life, and of course she does not yet fully understand the implications, saying: “At least I get to go to the front of the dinner queue at school now Mummy.”

Yorkshire Pride - England’s favourite holiday destination

Camping in Yorkshire with kids

For the last couple of months, I've been telling hubs that we ought to visit Yorkshire again. I have such fond memories of our last trip there, years ago. 

Pre-kids we had enjoyed a stunning holiday to Whitby, and all at once fell in love with each other and the destination to boot. It was in a gorgeous hotel on the cliff top that we had lain for a few days, and that our lives had been as wildly beautiful as the nearby moor. But before I go all Wuthering Heights on you:

STOP PRESS. Kids happened. Haven't been back since.

Simple step by step dress-up ideas for World Book Day

World Book Day is coming, celebrate with great costume ideas

Not all of us are good at throwing fancy-dress together for the kids. I get it. Fortunately, I also get PRs giving me amazing costumes like this to advertise for them in the form of a review. However, if I didn't have something for the GraceFaith girls to wear on World Book Day, I would head to www.bookaid.org/worldbookday where there are lots of ideas to help kit the kids out this 5th March. To make it that little bit easier, the charity has produced dress-up sheets like these below, with easy step-by-step instructions, to get the kids ready. It's all for a very good cause, so donate £1 to school, spread the word and get involved...

Healing homeopathic medicine - Arnica (Nelsons Arnicare)

The healing properties of Arnica (Nelsons Arnicare)

The Arnica Montana plant is mainly found in Europe, and is a relative of the sunflower. It is the flower of the plant that is used to make the medicine which can be taken in tablet form or applied to the skin for pain and swelling associated with bruises, aches, sprains and arthritis. Interestingly, most of us assume it's only for bruising, but it can be used topically on insect bites, muscle and cartilage pain, chapped lips, and even acne. I took the tablets during labour, (at the advice of my midwife), but on this occasion I used it for...

A private matter...

In the last couple of weeks, Esme Grace (my loving 6yo), has adopted a new vigour for testing her parents. But, in a solitary moment of tender calm last night, the following was shared:

M: I love you so much Esme. I am so glad that you are mine, and that I am the one that gets to look after you. 

E: (Turning to hug me) And I love you so much Mummy. And I am so glad, that I am the one that came out of your bottom. 

The traumatic truth about having kids - a post on birth control

The Traumatic Truth about having children is finally here...
Cutting through the sugar coated enthusiastic crap of what many think family life is like. Time to let them know what they are really in for, if and when that extra line shows up on a freshly peed upon stick.

Childless couples don't get it. They stare at your misbehaving child like you are solely to blame.

Expectant couples (with their first baby), don't get it. They can be overheard smugly talking about how different it will be when they are parents.

On the other hand, people that don't want kids – now perhaps they do get it?

If you're thinking 'get what?' Of course the answer is... the trauma, or rather, the significant traumatic event that is otherwise known as having children.

FRAMED - Fia's first nativity