Monthly Archives: March 2007

First, you long for them to utter a word, any word, but preferably Mama. Then you’re waiting for something that could be loosely described as a sentence. You marvel over their first complex construction involving prepositions, adverbs and the like, … Continue reading →

Well, it wasn’t as bad as her brother’s last party. When he was eight we agreed to a sleepover – four of his friends from 6pm until 11am the following day, a night which felt like a lifetime and featured … Continue reading →

I was talking to my son while he was on the loo, as you do, and he said, “I’ve decided Jay isn’t my friend any more.” “Why’s that then?” “He doesn’t know how to play Dodge Ball.” I don’t even … Continue reading →

For the first time yesterday, my son (8) asked me to teach him something. He then retained interest in that thing until I’d finished teaching it to him, learned it willingly and was pleased with the result. “So what?” you … Continue reading →

I thought it was time to let the kids have a go. Hannah (5) dictated this to me after we spent an afternoon walking on Dartmoor. Things went a little, just a little, wrong. But everything was fine, eventually. Hannah’s … Continue reading →

Is blogging a better use of time for a freelance writer than playing Spider Solitaire? (with four suits of course, and I have managed to get it out twice, which shows how much I play it). Does it reveal that … Continue reading →

“Have you brushed your teeth?” “Oop, i forgot.” Forgot? How can an eight year old, who seems of sound mind and body, go up to the bathroom specifically to brush his teeth, and instead spend five minutes wandering about in a … Continue reading →

Why do they do it? Why do they watch you, struggling with a toddler flailing at your side shrieking “Want toklit now” while the baby grizzles in the pram that you’re rocking violently in the vain hope that she’ll fall … Continue reading →

When they first mention it, you think “what a lovely way of getting used to public speaking”, then you start wondering what your child is revealing about life at home. I’m talking News Time. My daughter has just started sharing her … Continue reading →