‘The Pumping Mama’ is my Blog of the Year 2013

Thanks for reading this special blog post.  I would like to present a star for ‘Blog of the Year 2013’ to The Pumping Mama.

Despite the best efforts of the ‘experts’ and those who have experienced it first hand, Post Natal Depression is still a bit of a taboo.

Talking about it, even thinking about it, gets in the way of everything pink (and blue…) and fluffy that is preparing for a baby, having baby and bringing up a baby.

Nobody, but nobody wants to experience PND (or any kind of depression) be it themselves or through someone else.

‘Thankfully’, because I’ve experienced mild depression many years ago, I can recognise the pokes and niggles of the ‘black dog’ in my field of vision and I can nip it in the bud.

I really look forward to blogs from The Pumping Mama.  Her posts are frank.  They ‘pull’ you into her experiences of PND but not in such a way that you can’t dust yourself off and leave by the stage door.  I’ve got a lot of respect for her.  She’s got the guts to admit she has PND, to talk about it, and to bare her soul.

Her feelings of guilt and resentment come through in her blog but even deeper, even stronger is her love for her family.

I hope you will pop over to say ‘hello’ to The Pumping Mama and learn a bit more about what contribution factors led to her experience of PND.

Here is one particular post that particularly touches me titled ‘Please be grateful’.

…and this one is about her breast feeding journey ~ ‘My breast feeding journey’.

http://www.thepumpingmama.wordpress.com

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To get involved with ‘Blog of the Year 2013’, here’s how to pay the award forward.

1 Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2013’ Award.

2 Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there are no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ the blog(s) with their award.

3 Let the blog(s) that you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the instructions with them – (please don’t alter the instructions or the badges!)

4 Come over and say hello to the originator of the ‘Blog of the Year 2013’ Award via this link –http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/blog-awards-2/blog-of-the-year-2013-award/

5 You can now also join the ‘Blog of the Year’ Award Facebook page – click the link herehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/BlogoftheYear/ and share your blog posts with an even wider audience.

6 And as a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog … and start collecting stars…

The instructions for this award are simple:

 

1 Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2013’ Award

2 Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there are no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ the blog(s) with their award.

3 Let the blog(s) that you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the instructions with them – (please don’t alter the instructions or the badges!)

4 Come over and say hello to the originator of the ‘Blog of the Year 2013’ Award via this link – http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/blog-awards-2/blog-of-the-year-2013-award/

5 You can now also join the ‘Blog of the Year’ Award Facebook page – click the link here https://www.facebook.com/groups/BlogoftheYear/ and share your blog posts with an even wider audience.

6 And as a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog … and start collecting stars…

Yes – that’s right – there are stars to collect!

 

Unlike other awards which you can only add to your blog once – this award is different!

When you begin you will receive the ‘1 star’ award – and every time you are given the award by another blog – you can add another star!

There are a total of 6 stars to collect.

Which means that you can check out your favourite blogs – and even if they have already been given the award by someone else – you can still bestow it on them again and help them to reach the maximum 6 stars!

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Read my emotional and inspiring true story ‘Diary of a Complicated Pregnancy’. Available now through my website at Virtually All Sorts. 50% of sales to the charity Action on Pre-Eclampsia. …and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @ComplicatedPreg

Also available – my indispensable guide to avoiding Working Mum Guilt. Whether you are about to return or have already started back, this book offers practical solutions and feedback from real Mums with real families in real situations. Covering topics such as Post Natal Depression, childcare options, yours and your child’s development and time management – Ditch the guilt today! … and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @WorkingMumGuilt

 Thank you.

Blog Your Heart Out…

The rules are simple: answer five questions, nominate five more blogs to continue the meme and learn a bit more about the person writing. Below are my answers and nominations…

What/Who encouraged you to start blogging?

Way back when, my newly-revived hobby of baking inspired my blog.  I would share my successes (or not!)  I have since closed that blog down and started my current one, which focuses on my real passions of writing and parenting.  Although blogging had been around for years, I was brand new to it.  And it intrigued me…

How did you choose what topics to blog about?

At first it was a bit of a mish mash about ‘virtually all sorts’ of things.  But it soon became apparent that I needed to categorise and focus more.  With discipline and support, I have been able to follow blogs, comment on them and write every day.  So my Thursday blog for Virtually All Sorts of writing was born.

While as a mum and wife, I’m interested in reading parenting blogs.  Enter my Sunday blog on parenting!

Writing and parenting are both topics I have a huge passion for and some knowledge/experience in too.  So choosing my blog topics was logical really.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I once dyed my hair red but when it started to wash out it went yellow.  Very yellow!

…and I’ve written a children’s book which will become a series and it’s almost ready to go!

What 3 words describe your style?

Hippychick, positive, day dreamer

What do you like to do when you are not blogging?

Family time: gardening and crafts aka making a mess in the summer; baking and the park in the winter.  Oh and reading blogs too 😉

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My nominations are to the following fantastic five… I love reading their blogs and I hope you’ll show them some blogging your love too!  Blog your hearts out ladies 😉

Emma @ http://myliquidlife.wordpress.com

Kiran Chug @ http://mummysays.net

Shaz @ http://apinchofshaz.blogspot.com

Vicky@ http://prettywittythings.com

Miss Marzipan @ http://missmarzipan.com

Thanks to mummytries.wordpress.com for giving me a starter for ten!

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Read my emotional and inspiring true story ‘Diary of a Complicated Pregnancy’. Available now through my website at Virtually All Sorts. 50% of sales to the charity Action on Pre-Eclampsia. …and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @ComplicatedPreg

Also available – my indispensable guide to avoiding Working Mum Guilt. Whether you are about to return or have already started back, this book offers practical solutions and feedback from real Mums with real families in real situations. Covering topics such as Post Natal Depression, childcare options, yours and your child’s development and time management – Ditch the guilt today! … and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @WorkingMumGuilt

Thank you.

Ode to ‘Man Flu’ ~ The Tissue Issue

Ode to ‘Man Flu’ ~ The Tissue Issue

The common cold is, well,common – it’s a virus
That goes, well, ‘viral’ quicker than Miley Cyrus.
There are 3 in our house and we’ve all got a cold
But for the ‘man’ it’s the worse thing ever to behold.

As ever, I soldier on through tissues and sneezes
But hubby moans n whinges, I’m sick of his wheezes.
To him, it’s ‘man flu’; oh please, man flu?!
To me it’s a commotion and such a to-do.

My head is so woolly, my nose is so sore,
Any more whinging, he can sleep on the floor.
Our first aid cupboard is full with pills and with potions
To deal with man flu and other such commotions.

All night long, I’m not joking, I hear cough, I hear splutter,
“Oh man up,” under my breath you may hear me mutter.
“Here, take this ‘dear’, you’ll sleep better,” I say,
And as the fairer sex I ‘keep calm and carry on’, come what may!…

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Read my emotional and inspiring true story ‘Diary of a Complicated Pregnancy’. Available now through my website at Virtually All Sorts. 50% of sales to the charity Action on Pre-eclampsia… And visit my Facebook page or follow me @ComplicatedPreg.
Also available ~ my indispensable guide to avoiding Working MumGuilt. Whether you’re about to return to work or have already started back, this book offers practical solutions and feedback from real mums with real families in real situations. Covering topics such as Post Natal Depression, childcare options, yours and your child’s development and time management – Ditch the Guilt today!… And visit my Facebook page or follow me on twitter @WorkingMumGuilt.

Picture source: http://www.dotcomgiftshop.com/couch-potato via Pinterest

Are you a ‘mumpreneur’ who needs a helping hand?

Mumpreneur Mentor can lend a hand

 

If you want to break away to the promised land.

 

 

 

A wealth of good knowledge, friendly and nice,

 

She’ll guide you and help you with a word from the wise.

 

 

 

A mum of two, a wife for good measure,

 

With tips and tricks, she’s a real treasure.

 

 

 

She’s passionate and knows that ‘anything goes’,

 

With a family to feed that keeps you on your toes.

 

 

 

The balance – where is it?  It’s over here

 

Click the link and it will all become clear.

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Read my emotional and inspiring true story ‘Diary of a Complicated Pregnancy’. Available now through my website at Virtually All Sorts. 50% of sales to the charity Action on Pre-Eclampsia. …and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @ComplicatedPreg

Also available – my indispensable guide to avoiding Working Mum Guilt. Whether you are about to return or have already started back, this book offers practical solutions and feedback from real Mums with real families in real situations. Covering topics such as Post Natal Depression, childcare options, yours and your child’s development and time management – Ditch the guilt today! … and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @WorkingMumGuilt

Thank you.

 

Picture source: Pinterest.com

 

 

A Fussy Faddy Journey…

One gone, two gone, three gone, four…

Five gone, six gone, seven gone, more!

More? Are you sure? Really?

Yes, and I’m losing… well, very nearly.

 

She’s always eaten well has our little one

And we try to encourage by making meal-times fun.

But you might describe her food as ‘unadventurous’

Because she won’t eat greens for anyone, especially not us.

 

Yet this last week has raised our eyebrows somewhat,

With the question, “Mum…Dad…is that carrot hot?”

Trying not to choke with surprise on our chicken casserole,

Our faddy food journey has reached a turning point, a goal.

 

On her plate each night, the veggies have been jostling for room,

I could name them all with ease, thanks to Mr Bloom.

 

So here’s a message for stressed out mummys,

Don’t worry if they won’t have veggies in their tummys.

They may change their mind one day… when? It matters not one jot

But when they do, make sure their greens are not hot!

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Read my emotional and inspiring true story ‘Diary of a Complicated Pregnancy’. Available now through my website at Virtually All Sorts. 50% of sales to the charity Action on Pre-Eclampsia. …and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @ComplicatedPreg

Also available – my indispensable guide to avoiding Working Mum Guilt. Whether you are about to return or have already started back, this book offers practical solutions and feedback from real Mums with real families in real situations. Covering topics such as Post Natal Depression, childcare options, yours and your child’s development and time management – Ditch the guilt today! … and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @WorkingMumGuilt

Thank you.

Picture source: www.growfruitandveg.co.uk via Pinterest

I saw the sense in this…

As the warmth envelopes me

From the tips of my fingers,

To my mouth

Nose

And

Forehead…

I get a comforting feeling.

 

This sets me up and energises me.

It’s like a meeting and catch-up with

An old friend.

An anticipated break,

A chance to sit down for 5 minutes.

As we sip our coffee

(de-caf for me his time),

I don’t want the heat from the cuppa or conversation to end.

 

Savouring every delicious mouthful,

The warmth lingers

And I enjoy the familiarity,

My safety net.

The net that I can turn to

Which encourages and

Makes me feel that all is well.

 

I can face anything now…

Thanks to my cuppa!

 

So where did this piece of writing come from?  Well, I follow a blog by Sandra Danby in which she has a feature called ‘Writer’s Block’  This piece came from her blog on coffee.  I love that this piece came from focussing on one of our 5 senses.  I hope you like it…

Thanks for reading.

Picture source:  http://zoeaustin.tumblr.com via Pinterest

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Read my emotional and inspiring true story ‘Diary of a Complicated Pregnancy’. Available now through my website at Virtually All Sorts. 50% of sales to the charity Action on Pre-Eclampsia. …and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @ComplicatedPreg

Also available – my indispensable guide to avoiding Working Mum Guilt. Whether you are about to return or have already started back, this book offers practical solutions and feedback from real Mums with real families in real situations. Covering topics such as Post Natal Depression, childcare options, yours and your child’s development and time management – Ditch the guilt today! … and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @WorkingMumGuilt

Thank you.

How to win a stand-off with your child…

So, have you ever had a stand-off with your child?!  Well who hasn’t?…

To parents and non-parents alike, here’s a funny old tale:

It’s bedtime.  We’ve had the bath and our little bear has decided that she doesn’t want a story downstairs.  Okay, no problem.  I tell here that in 5 minutes it’s time to go upstairs, clean teeth, story in bed and night night time – as it is every night.  This routine has worked wonders for us in truth.  I’m not trying to be a smug mummy by saying that.  Yes, we have our over-tired nights where Daddy’s working and she will push and push (and push) and I wonder if I’m doing it ‘right’.  But generally, the bedtime routine is great for us.

This night however, like an episode of Holby City, I knew something was afoot…

Our little bear asks if she can take 2 of her princess books to bed to read to her teddies.  I tell her that she can, but I have to take the DVD out of one of them first because it doesn’t go in her bedroom. This is because she once made something at playgroup with a CD.  It snapped at home and was razor sharp.  Too dangerous for her bedroom.

I digress…  I tell her the DVD lives downstairs.  Knowing this was not going to be the right answer, I told myself to stand firm.  Sure enough, our bear got a vice grip on the books and rang off with them, through the kitchen, through the hall and up the stairs!

At this point, I didn’t want to turn it into a game but equally I knew she was having a paddy, a tantrum, call it what you will, and I didn’t want her to trip up and hurt herself on the stairs.  Grasping the books like a vice, she stood on the top step and told me, through tears, that she wanted to take the DVD to bed.

Firmly I told her to move onto the landing where it was safe because we don’t stop and talk on the stairs.  Again, I told myself to stand firm, keep my voice level and not to grab the book – otherwise she’s won – I mentally said.

It did cross my min that this truly was a stand-off with our 4 year old!  Oh boy!

Vice-like grip, back turned to me, bottom lip firmly out.

“E, give me the book please. I’m going to take the DVD downstairs where it lives and you can have the book in your bedroom.”

After maybe 4 times of saying this, she slowly glanced sideways at me, backed herself onto my lap and ‘sort of’ let me hold the book at the same time as her.  She was still unsure.. I took the book, slid the DVD out, removed her from my lap and took it downstairs.

You thought it was over?  I knew it wasn’t!

One 4 year old face down on the landing carpet kicking her legs and screaming… not the calmest bedtime to be honest.

And we hadn’t even cleaned our teeth yet.

She wasn’t keen on this either.

So I stepped over her and said I was going to clean my teeth.  She looked up and asked me to do hers for her.  I won!!  Yeeees!

How did I win?  In my humble opinion , I stood my ground, I didn’t raise my voice, I didn’t snatch the book off her and I repeated what it was I wanted her to do.

And. I. Did. It.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not SuperMum or SuperNanny (but I’ll bet she would’ve been  proud!) but yeah, I stood my ground and I won.

And I did a cracking job of uncorking that bottle with my teeth afterwards…

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Read my emotional and inspiring true story ‘Diary of a Complicated Pregnancy’. Available now through my website at Virtually All Sorts. 50% of sales to the charity Action on Pre-Eclampsia. …and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @ComplicatedPreg

Also available – my indispensable guide to avoiding Working Mum Guilt. Whether you are about to return or have already started back, this book offers practical solutions and feedback from real Mums with real families in real situations. Covering topics such as Post Natal Depression, childcare options, yours and your child’s development and time management – Ditch the guilt today! … and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @WorkingMumGuilt

 Thank you.

It’s working ~ creating writing in 15 minutes…

Are you guilty of procrastination? I am.  Too much.

Having realised that I had sent tweets a-plenty, liked and commented on blogs a-plenty and talked about writing a-plenty – but not actually written anything for a while, I ditched the procrastination.  Yes, I did it!  How?

I set myself the target of writing for 15 minutes a day, in between the general day to day lifey things.  I went back to my love of writing, put pen to paper and scribbled away.  What a great feeling.  Just scribbling, not editting, going with the flow.  The editting comes afterwards.

Now that I’m back in the swing of it, I’m much more creative and feel so much happier for it.

When I say ‘creative’, I don’t mean that everything I’m writing is fiction.  No, I mean that I’m creating written pieces  Pieces written by me.

My therapy.  My way of relaxing.  My way of emptying my head and de-junking.

So, let’s raise a proverbial glass to writing.

Is it working for you like it’s working for me?

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Read my emotional and inspiring true story ‘Diary of a Complicated Pregnancy’. Available now through my website at Virtually All Sorts. 50% of sales to the charity Action on Pre-Eclampsia. …and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @ComplicatedPreg

Also available – my indispensable guide to avoiding Working Mum Guilt. Whether you are about to return or have already started back, this book offers practical solutions and feedback from real Mums with real families in real situations. Covering topics such as Post Natal Depression, childcare options, yours and your child’s development and time management – Ditch the guilt today! … and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @WorkingMumGuilt

Thank you.

 

Picture source: http://www.georgiawooddesign.com via Pinterest

Showing me who’s the bossy one…

“Is there any chance you could pick up V up on Tuesday please?”

I was asked by a friend if I could pick up their little one from the childminder with our bear, and take him back to ours for a while.  A family illness meant they wouldn’t be able to collect on time.

Of course, it was no problem.  I mean, it can be hard enough to juggle work/childminding/life in general, without throwing in a curve ball.

Our little bear was uber excited at her friend coming to ‘my house’.  “Is V coming to my house?  Is he coming here? Yeeeaaaahh!!”  Cue an uncontrollable jumping bean…

Jump to Tuesday.  As the afternoon progressed, I was looking forward to picking up 2 jumping beans.  I was slightly nervous, admittedly.  I’ve been to playgroups before and had the odd ‘play date’ but have never actually ‘babysat’ and been responsible for another little one.  How would our little bear react to sharing her toys?  Would she play up?  How would V be after a long day playing? I would find out soon enough!

The time came and, safely inside our house, our little bear took V under her wing.  “This is where you put your shoes…this is where you put your coat and bag.”

I asked if either wanted the toilet.  Both did.  That was an experience in itself.  I’ve never dealt with boys’ bits!  Sleeves rolled up, hands washed and dried, it was back down the wooden hill to play with toys.

I stayed in the open plan lounge/kitchen preparing tea while the 2 jumping beans played.  It was a lovely position to be in: it meant I could keep an eye without intervering; also having been to numerous playgroups, I’ve never observed our bear with a peer without the other parent being on hand.  Given that both were tired and getting hungry, they both coped very well.

Our bear was a little bossy showing V her toys! “Play with this… would you like to play with this one now?… no this one…”

V was very placid and towing the line playing with ‘pink’ toys!

I survived the play date. We all survived.  In fact, we had a thoroughly good time.  I learnt that our little girl is a big boss!

She was full of it at bedtime and when she heard Daddy come home from work at 8.30, she called out to him from her bedroom.  He sat on her bed and heard all about it for 5 minute, before our little bear gave in and went off to fairy dreamland.  At lights out, she told me that V would be having nice dreams too.  Possibly not about fairies though…

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Read my emotional and inspiring true story ‘Diary of a Complicated Pregnancy’. Available now through my website at Virtually All Sorts. 50% of sales to the charity Action on Pre-Eclampsia. …and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @ComplicatedPreg

Also available – my indispensable guide to avoiding Working Mum Guilt. Whether you are about to return or have already started back, this book offers practical solutions and feedback from real Mums with real families in real situations. Covering topics such as Post Natal Depression, childcare options, yours and your child’s development and time management – Ditch the guilt today! … and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @WorkingMumGuilt

Thank you.

“The Ship of Hard Knocks”

Be patient, just read and I’ll explain after…

“The Ship of Hard Knocks” by Carol Cameleon

As the ship of hard knocks 

goes sailing by,

I wait and wait and wait.

Will it stop and hit this rock

surrounded by seas so high?

With fingers, toes and everything crossed, 

my eyes shut tight, so tight,

as the waves come thrashing, they do toss this ship

and like a fish we will take the bite.

You’re never sure if you’re due good luck

from this ship in this tumultuous life.

You can take control, stick two fingers up

and make the best of hardship and strife.

So, the ship of hard knocks may well stop by,

I will stick those fingers up,

hold my head up high, so high.

For this rock has been dealt 

many, many woes

and it will capsize that ship

fear not, as it slow and bows…and bows…and bows.

Lately, I haven’t made much (let’s be honest, any) time for writing.  It’s annoying and frustrating.  So, I’ve made a little pact with myself to rekindle the writing and get my creative juices going for 10 minutes a day.  While I was inspiration-browsing, I came across a link from @robertleebrewer on good old Twitter.  He tweeted, “Write a poem today (and every day of November). You’ll be glad you did.”  The link in the tweet takes you to ‘today’s prompt’ to write a hardship poem.  So I did.

And you know what?  I’m glad I kept my pact.  I wrote “The Ship of Hard Knocks” in 10 minutes, with some polishing off and fine-tuning for 5 minutes afterwards.

What do you think?  (Intake of breath… did I really just ask that?!  Ok, I can take it!  On the chin.)

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Read my emotional and inspiring true story ‘Diary of a Complicated Pregnancy’. Available now through my website at Virtually All Sorts. 50% of sales to the charity Action on Pre-Eclampsia. …and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @ComplicatedPreg

Also available – my indispensable guide to avoiding Working Mum Guilt. Whether you are about to return or have already started back, this book offers practical solutions and feedback from real Mums with real families in real situations. Covering topics such as Post Natal Depression, childcare options, yours and your child’s development and time management – Ditch the guilt today! … and visit my facebook page or follow me on twitter @WorkingMumGuilt

Thank you.

Picture source: The Lighthouse Art Print by Romel Joson ~ Society 6 

http://www.society6.com/hello_oso/The-Lighthouse_Print via Pinterest