ALL THE THINGS NAPTIME GAVE ME, AND WHAT IT DIDN’T GIVE ME!

Before I became a parent, I was under the impression illusion babies and young children consistently slept for hours on end during the day, lying down comfortably in their cots or carrycots or prams. Yes, even those children who would not sleep at night, gave their parents the gift of naptime, from where I stood. I was also under the impression that parenthood gave you some sort of access to a secret energy potion like Obelix’s, which allowed parents to run whole profitable businesses exclusively during naptime. Needless to say, I knew nothing (Jon Snow). Spoiler alert, there’s no secret…

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SUN, SARDINES, AND WELL, SALTWATER

SUN, SARDINES, AND WELL, SALTWATER

Sometimes you* need a fresh start. A clean fresh start that reminds you of who you are and what your take on life is. A new dawn that makes you feel yourself amidst the loss and the grief and the sleep deprivation. I am happy. First and foremost, I am happy. Happy now too, yes, even in the painful aftermath of forever missing my Dad, but above all, happy in nature. Happy even as tears roll down my face at the memory of what was and the sadness of a whole future of forever missing him. Happy in fresh starts.…

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MUM GUILT IS ALIVE AND WELL

MUM GUILT IS ALIVE AND WELL

The mum guilt is real! There’s nothing you do as a parent that couldn’t be done better. By you. And there’s nothing you do as a parent which the alternative for wouldn’t leave you feeling guilty either way. You cannot win as a parent, and that’s just considering your own opinion (let alone the multitude of unsolicited personal views – mental punch!). The other night, after nursery, the toddler wanted to watch some TV and I let him. For 20 minutes, he watched some sweet cartoons in Portuguese (BONUS!) as I cooked a fresh homemade meal (like all our meals…

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