I am going to be 40 in a few months and I’m just wondering, when will I become a real life grown up?
I’m getting older for sure but is it just me that feels like I’m still not quite like all the others and am yet to reach womanhood?
In this post I talk about feeling like an imposter adult, what it means to be a woman and how society has created an idealised version of womanhood which is not realistic.
As a strong feminist could spend many an hour ranting and raving about all the BS women have to go through as the result of living in a society structured, constructed, managed and maintained by men at the top, but you know what is also a feminst issue?
The devaluation of fathers!
The role of a father is just as important and the narrative that men can just work and it has no impact on their children is false and damaging.
It robs our children of that precious time, it robs fathers of value and worth beyond rough and tumble and money earners, and it perpetuates the gender roles within families.
In this post I talk about how in order for us to really have equality in the workplace we need to stop devaluing the role of fathers in the home.
If you are a mum, you are very quickly put into a box. You are either a “working mum” or a “stay at home mum”. Because in society we love to label a mum. Where are all the “working dads” at?
In this post I unpack some of the problems with labelling mums, parental inequality and the devaluation of fathers, and how in order for women to truly be able to “have it all” something needs to shift.
Before having children and taking a career break I worked with children struggling with complex mental health conditions.
I have a degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Child and Adolescent mental health as well as being a qualified children’s nurse.
For 13 years I worked in inpatient CAMHS and the components I learnt for providing a therapeutic environment in my work, I also feel are important components for providing a therapeutic home, conducive to raising happy and healthy minded children.
In this post I am going to discuss the basic underpinning principles used in my previous work, which I find to be useful foundations to utilise in my daily parenting. In my experience they promote and foster an environment that nurtures and encourages a healthy narrative around the expression of emotion.
Like most things connected to women and women’s bodies, society has served to keep us uninformed and feeling unable to talk about it openly.
Miscarriage is not a secret burden to carry.
In silence we only serve to perpetuate the expectation that the grief of miscarriage should occur behind closed doors.
In this post I discuss the experience of miscarriage, the NHS services journey and what we need to do in society to support people in their grief.
Maternity leave is often the longest period of time we get to spend with our children. This precious time is often woven with difficulties and pressures both internal and external to be the perfect parent. For many maternity leave is when mothers first start to experience mum guilt. The constant evaluation and criticism of everythung you do and whether it may be good enough. In this post I look at maternity leave and the pressure to be a good homemaker.
With so many alternatives on the market and more awareness of the impact of single use plastics on our planet, we are all trying to find ways we can incorporate more eco friendly practices into our homes. But it doesn’t have to mean major lifestyle changes.
In this post I outline some swaps you can make in your life from the very easy through to the more committed, to significantly reduce single use plastics in your home.
I wanted to have a family, a career and to be financially independent.
By putting my career on hold to look after my children am I reinforcing the stereotype of the mother and not furthering the pursuit for women’s equality in the workplace following childbirth?
By not working am I dependent on my male counterpart and not sending the right message to my children about women’s roles?
Feminism is about empowering women to make informed choices about their own lives but as a ‘stay at home mum’ I feel most judged and unsupported by other women and mums.
What is it about being a stay at home mum or parent that gets to people?
Since I chose to quit my job to be home full time I am constantly questioned about when I intend to return to work and the inevitable “what do you do all day?”.
In this post I discuss why stay at home parents, and mothers in particular are undervalued this way and why we do not owe people an explanation.
What is the role of the stay at home parent? Is it to nurture and care for our children or is the unspoken expectation that your role is to do it all?
In this post I discuss the difference between what we expect from a paid childcare provider and what we expect from stay at home mums (or fathers) and whether society needs to rethink how it values the role of parents at home.
Have you considered making the switch to natural deodorant? Natural deodorants are much better for your body and the planet, but many of the commercial products on the market are very expensive.
In this post I show you how to make simple easy homemade natural deodorant using 4 ingredients you will likely already have in the house.
New year. A time where we are bombarded by advertising for new holidays and gym memberships.
The articles pushing new fad diets, self improvement and the focus on the new year and a new you.
The pressure to make resolutions and to declare to all what pursuit you will make to be better, look better and do better.
In this post I discuss the damage of diet culture and the constant strive to change. And how its only now, at 40, that I feel able to say “I am enough as I am”.
Is it normal to grieve your children growing up and mourn each stage as it passes?
As exciting as it is to watch them grow it can also be emotional saying goodbye to each part of their development. From the baby, to the toddler, starting school and moving into adolescence.
In this post I discuss the emotions of missing your child in each part of their life and the sadness of thinking ahead to ‘the lasts’.
Looking for ways to be more eco friendly and sustainable this Christmas whilst also saving money?
Looking for homemade, DIY eco wrapping alternatives?
Here are some easy swaps you can make this Christmas to cut down on waste that are also more economical long term without breaking the bank.
Are you looking for an easy, all natural recipe to make your own homemade DIY body products?
This super easy to follow and quick recipe makes the perfect natural make up remover, nappy cream and general multipurpose body balm great for dry skin.
Don’t tell me you’re tired, if you have no kids or work a nice 9-5 job and aren’t unwell, even if you really are bloody tired. Because this mama hasn’t slept through the night for 7 years and I’m gonna rant.
School holidays where family fun meets fights, tantrums, mess and a gazillion snack requests.
So I’m now a ‘school mum’. How did I get here so fast?
Having avoided all the cliques at the playgroups here I am now with the actual real pressure to mingle and speak to parents in the wild.
In this post I talk about the awkwardness at the school gates, my ongoing imposter syndrome and my impressions of the other parents.