It’s my birthday. I’m 36. And for all that I’ve lost; for all that I’ve grieved; for all that I’ve wept, I am suddenly overwhelmed by all that I still have. For the husband who loves me, the children who need me, the friends who send birthday messages by the dozen. For my health, my […]
Parenting
Wanted: the Time Thief
Parents are warned to be vigilant after UK-wide sightings of the Time Thief reach an all time high in the run up to the start of the school term. Particularly prevalent among communities with a high population of young children, the Time Thief preys on the vulnerable and the needy, stealing time from parents of […]
Where children lie
The churchyard is still and quiet, no matter what time of the year I visit. The church sits squarely in the centre, its heavy oak doors never locked, and few sounds to interrupt those seeking sanctuary. A cobbled path meanders through the churchyard, between ancient chest tombs and gravestones too weather-worn to read. Years ago […]
A case of mistaken identity
I had to stay in London for the night a couple of weeks ago, which necessitated a raft of childcare arrangements as my husband was working. I called my mother from the hotel room to see how things were. ‘Oh yes, we’re alright now,’ she said. There was a short pause while I digested the […]
The rocket ship
The park we go to has a wooden playhouse into which my children love to drag me for make-believe tea parties. Despite living in the glorious Cotswolds, we are sadly not immune to the effects of the disaffected youth, and the interior of the cabin is regularly adorned with graffiti. Usually this is relatively harmless […]
Surviving half-term by being French
Yesterday I spent a fair proportion of the day hiding in the downstairs loo, while pygmy warriors masquerading as children hurled themselves at the locked door. The Jubilee extravaganza has caused an overdose of sugar and late nights, and with half-term running helpfully on from the four-day weekend, by 10am my wits’ ends were far […]