I’ve come to the conclusion that kids are weird. It has taken me nine years and three children to reach this verdict, but I definitely believe it to be the case. Of course, I’ve long suspected young humans of being a bit odd and have witnessed plenty of compelling evidence since becoming a dad – …
Toddlers are funny little things, aren’t they? Youngest, for example, has been at her contrary best of late. We should have called her Mary. Here are five kid-friendly things she has a complicated relationship with. Pyjamas Thanks to hand-me-downs from her brothers and cousins as well as ones we’ve got her, she has a veritable …
Before having kids, I was pretty squeamish about certain things. I didn’t like getting my hands dirty and was always at great pains to avoid doing so. That’s not to say I was afraid of hard work, you understand. Just that I’ve always been a bit Lady Macbeth with regards handwashing. Things have changed a …
I’ve never been a fan of snow and events this week have only served to reaffirm this. As is always the case with me and minor annoyances, there are a few reasons. It starts with the threat of snow and the resultant behaviour of people. The most sensible and rational of folk suddenly become giddy …
Somehow or other youngest is three years old already. I can’t believe how quickly the time has passed, but three years have definitely elapsed since her frankly terrifying arrival. I haven’t written an update about her for a little while, so it’s about time I remedied that. So how’s she doing? Well, in a word, …
This morning, I somehow managed to whack myself in the face with a stair gate. That’s quite some achievement, I’m sure you’ll agree. I feel I should explain how. I needed to use the plug socket on the landing at the top of the stairs. Tired and aching from yesterday’s game of five-a-side, I took …
Youngest is going to be three next month. Three! I can’t quite believe it. All clichés about the passing of time are spot on. I remember her birth more vividly than those of her brothers. Not simply because it was more recent, but because of how far removed it was from the quiet homebirth we …
I’ve never been any good at complaining. I don’t know why, because I still have a strong sense of injustice when I’ve been wronged. Last week, for example, I sent what I thought was a sternly-worded email about a ridiculously late payment for some work I had done. Immediately after hitting send, I re-read it …
Despite being a dad of three and with eight years’ parenting under my belt, I feel my capacity for being surprised should be dwindling. And yet it’s not. I often catch myself incredulous about some of the most basic of occurrences. Here are five things I really shouldn’t be surprised by anymore. The passing of time …
I always like to see the best in people. Particularly my kids. When they do something naughty, I try to look at things from their point of view. I’ve struggled with one member of the family recently though. The toddler. For, try as I might to give her the benefit of the doubt, I’m starting …