Five years ago, I found myself on a panel at a Mumsnet event for soon-to-be parents. I was a father of two at the time, with youngest due a couple of months later. At the end of it, we were each asked to give a three-word tip for the expectant dads in the audience. Thinking …
It’s amazing how much parenting can change you as a person. I’ve learned all kinds of new skills, plus incredible amounts about a vast array of topics. Perhaps the biggest change, however, is one that is there 24 hours a day yet is rarely consciously considered. It seems to have given me a new way …
One thing that never ceases to amaze me about parenting is my ability to forget things. Specifically how to negotiate tricky phases. And, yes, we’re in one of those at the moment. I call this particular tale of parenting woe The Princess and the Peas. You see, youngest seems to have something against vegetables. And, despite …
Last week, parents were nervously waiting to find out their kids’ school places. We were among them and, for me at least, it was strangely nice to worry about something other than coronavirus and its wider implications for a day. Having gone through the process twice before, we were braced for a long wait. It …
I love taking part in radio conversations – it’s something bloggers are invited to do quite a lot – but hadn’t been involved in any since starting my new job. When I was offered the chance to take part in one on BBC Radio 5 Live this week, I jumped at the chance. It was …
Like many parents, I experience self-doubt all the time. I’m forever wondering whether I’m doing enough for my kids and if I’m giving them the same kind of happy childhood that I enjoyed. I often feel that I’m average at best and somehow letting my children down. Times are tough and modern life is becoming …
I’ve been busy getting settling in my new job this week. As is the case in most workplaces these days, the majority of my time so far has been spent completing all the necessary training tasks. This got me thinking: what if the workplace policies, procedures and practices I’ve been ticking off the to-do list …
I’ve now been a parent for nine years so have experienced many highs and lows along the way. You may think that, after this long, the capacity for surprise would be somewhat limited. However, I’ve realised that there are a fair few things that I’m still not used to as a parent… Having three children …
Every now and then, I’m asked to take part in radio debates about parenting topics. It’s something I never imagined myself doing but that I enjoy nonetheless. This week, I appeared on two different BBC local channels – Kent and Three Counties, for the record – discussing the same topic. Namely, the demise of the …
I made an interesting discovery yesterday. I’m becoming a panda parent. I’ve heard of numerous nicknames for parenting approaches over the years but this was a new one on me. Coined by American author Esther Wojcicki, being a panda parent is about taking a more relaxed approach. That’s not to say it’s a licence to …