Tag Archives: childhood

Dinner date

24 Friday May 2013

Posted by in Motherhood, Speech

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Newborn toes

Photo credit: CP Photography

Next month, my tiny baby will turn three years old. She is no longer a jumble of miniature fingernails and nappies. Where her head was once only covered in a soft down, rubbed bald where she slept, she now has loose curls and a fringe.

Those bendy little limbs are now long and strong. Any hint of soft pudge has disappeared, leaving a gangle of arms and legs that almost fill the bath when she lies down.

My baby is no longer a baby.

This week I had one of those moments. You know the one: it hits you like a jolt and you see your child as they are for the first time. Continue reading »

Flying from one era to the next

28 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by in Family, Play

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Bumblebee craft

This is a bumblebee I made with my toddler this week for her last ever tots’ music session. I wanted to make the effort to actually bother with the herculean task of crafting with a two year old, as this week felt like a bit of a milestone.

Not only has my toddler just had her last music session but, more importantly, she has had her last day with the two childminders who have cared for her, cuddled her and played with her since January last year.

Today has been a day of ends. Continue reading »

Childhood

01 Wednesday Aug 2012

Posted by in Charity

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A couple of weeks ago I was asked to think about what childhood means to me.

I thought.

And then I thought some more.

And then I thought again.

Every answer I came up with sounded incomplete and contrite. “Childhood means splashing in puddles”. Nope, not quite right. “Childhood means wallowing in unconditional love”. Well, sometimes – but it’s not everything about the formative years. “Childhood means….”

I mused on the subject during our week away and I drew a blank.

Until tonight, when I was scrolling through my phone for inspiration. For me, childhood isn’t about one thing. It’s about a whole set of things. Continue reading »

These moments

06 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by in Family

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Life has a habit these days of rolling along at high speed, threatening to leave us behind, struggling to catch up.

So these moments – snatched with grasping fingers and held close – are ones to treasure forever.

The sense of anticipation on a Friday evening, as a long four day weekend stretches ahead of us. The excitement as we arrive in Devon, on the way to see my parents’ new home, taking in the Jubilee bunting strewn through various villages. Continue reading »

What were you doing on 21st October 1994?

03 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in Family

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The diary

This is a transcribed entry from my actual diary, started in 1994. I was 11. In my infinite wisdom I decided to write up this diary and then put it on the radio. You can listen to some of the past entries either here or here.

It’s all rather embarrassing, but going through it has brought back some funny memories. So read on and then tell me, what were you doing on 21st October 1994? Continue reading »

The Diary. Or *cringe*

26 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by in Family

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Me. Aged 10. Or 11. Or thereabouts.

Remember 1994? When everyone was wearing those heatglo T’shirts you could turn flourescent just by blowing on them? Before owning a pair of GHD’s was the norm and Take That were big the first time round?

Well I’ve been right back there this evening.

I found my diary you see. It contains the thoughts, angst and lists of loves from my Year 6 self. I had just turned 11 and thought I had the world sussed. Clearly, I hadn’t (especially not Maths or boys), but who was I to correct myself? Continue reading »

I know I’m going to regret this…

18 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by in Family, Uncategorized

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The tattered diary

I may have taken dedication to my job too far. And, in another lack of judgment, I may have taken dedication to my blog too far.

I found my old diary, you see. It begins in 1994, aged 11. It’s cringeworthy, to the extreme.

But it’s also a gold mine of content. References to subjects at school, friendships, tiffs with boys, favourite games, crushes, favourite films, favourite clothes… It’s an insight into my actual mind of 18 years ago.

I couldn’t sit on it. Continue reading »