I’ve been awake since the small hours. I did my online food shop, watched an inspiring video, read some inspiring words. When it was clear sleep wouldn’t return, words of my own began forming, building, organising themselves into neat little ranks, and I felt a familiar urge: I needed to write. I crept downstairs, moving … Continue reading Real Life Problems: Lessons Learned from My Son’s Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis
Family
A collection of poems inspired by parenting and family life
Find the peace in challenging times
Troubled? Then stay with me, for I am not.Hafiz These opening lines of a poem have been on my mind a lot over the past few days. There is great power in being able to hold an open and loving space for the emotions of others, especially in times of grief and sadness. We can … Continue reading Find the peace in challenging times
S’mother’s Day
I’m a Mum on Mother’s DayWondering why I feel this wayWhy does a day that’s all for meConstrict me so uncomfortably?There’s cards and pressies, hugs and kissingWhy do I feel there’s something missing?Shouldn’t I just accept the praiseheaped on me and demand a raiseFor taking care of these kids of mine?Yet here’s the problem, clear … Continue reading S’mother’s Day
Do me a favour: passing the parcel of good feelings
I’ve been thinking about favours recently, and more specifically how I don’t like asking for them. I’m happy to offer them though, how does that work? It’s all to do with the feel goods. If I ask for a favour then I can feel indebted, and that doesn’t feel good, but if I give one, … Continue reading Do me a favour: passing the parcel of good feelings
Fed up with all the obligations? Try I want to, not I have to.
We’ve been a busy family lately. It seems like we’re all being pulled in different directions. My husband is working away a lot, my son has more school activities than my fried brain can keep up with and my daughter is approaching the teen years with all the accompanying social butterfly-ness and sleepovers. I’ve been … Continue reading Fed up with all the obligations? Try I want to, not I have to.
The Art of Compassionate Arguing
The Art of Compassionate Arguing I recently returned from a week’s holiday with eighteen relatives and friends to celebrate a family birthday. The trip was filled with love and laughter, but there were also some lively discussions (arguments, if you want to get technical) between me and another family member who we’ll call ‘Stevie.’ I … Continue reading The Art of Compassionate Arguing
Be With What Is.
My brother and his lovely family visited us last weekend and I booked us a trip to some Christmas illuminations (pretty lights in pretty trees in the grounds of a pretty castle, I'm a sucker for sparkle and beautiful surroundings so it was a winner for me). I imagined our families getting into the Christmas … Continue reading Be With What Is.
Family Fun at Halloween: Introducing Marvin
A few years ago I met a skeleton in the Halloween aisle of our local Wilko's. As soon as I laid eyes on him I knew I was taking him home, so I slung him over my shoulder and we've never looked back. We named him Starvin' Marvin and he was the very start of … Continue reading Family Fun at Halloween: Introducing Marvin
Is there a grown up in the room?! Parenting through the transition to high school
As anyone who has felt the stamped foot of their petulant inner child can attest, being a grown-up is more a fluid state than a definitive destination. The more unresolved issues we keep inside from our childhood (and I’m not necessarily talking ‘big’ issues, things we deem insignificant can still push those buttons, raise those … Continue reading Is there a grown up in the room?! Parenting through the transition to high school
Twins with Different Skins: Race, Ethnicity and Family Lineage
I've been looking for a platform for a while to share a very personal story. This week I have been lucky enough to feature as a contributing writer on WrongSpeak publishing, by author Adam B. Coleman. I first published a version of this story anonymously some time ago. As a beginner blogger, I was too … Continue reading Twins with Different Skins: Race, Ethnicity and Family Lineage
Rae Cod’s Writing 