tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.comments2012-03-30T00:46:13.132-07:00Parenting expert. Not.Hollie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08150717818239464169noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-77394785245347980172012-03-30T00:46:13.132-07:002012-03-30T00:46:13.132-07:00A very enviable situation, in many way. This is w...A very enviable situation, in many way. This is what I'd envisaged would happen with my own mum but illness took over and she died 7 years ago. <br /><br />I was interested in James' comment as I have German connections and this is exactly how my own grandmother embraced the family - the house was always an extension of family and always welcoming and inviting. It was the place to feel safe in and you could easily imagine the house being extended to fit more family in if it was on its own land.Nickie O'Harahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13945338904756339422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-18165161077055798612012-03-29T10:09:56.011-07:002012-03-29T10:09:56.011-07:00This is something that I've thought about a lo...This is something that I've thought about a lot - we lived in Germany where it is entirely normal for extended families to live together; the whole German mortgage system is based upon this.<br /><br />My (widowed) mum lives with us on a Thursday and Friday to look after the boys whilst Katharine works; and although she's only 69 and her health's fine, eventually she'll need help, we all do.<br /><br />She unfortunately only had boys, and so frankly this was always going to be my gig as although my brother is caring, kind and sensitive - my mum and his wife don't get on at all. Apart from anything else, I owe her 19 years of care (and a ton of money, natch).<br /><br />My mum's adamant that she doesn't want to be a burden, and that we should shut her in a home when the time comes. But at Christmas as a favour for a friend who's a Beaver leader, I had to play guitar in an old people's home whilst the kids sang carols. Now this home is veeery expensive, in Chalfont St. Peter with views over the common, caring staff, spotlessly clean etc. But was, without question, the bleakest place I have ever visited... It was hateful - like some kind of lavender-scented prison for the confused.<br /><br />Apart from anything else, it'd be ace to have a babysitter on tap!<br /><br />JamesJames Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14961663012827331549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-44999096362702950892012-03-19T15:22:57.009-07:002012-03-19T15:22:57.009-07:00I live by parenting manuals. I felt clueless sinc...I live by parenting manuals. I felt clueless since the day my daughter was born, and with every new stage more and more so. Therefore really appreciate all the help that is out there - please keep it coming.Gus&Marikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11442379823976608116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-48105105640161441982012-03-19T14:38:44.415-07:002012-03-19T14:38:44.415-07:00Thank you for this Hollie - I couldnt agree more. ...Thank you for this Hollie - I couldnt agree more. My book ' Be A Great Mum' is ALL about mums working out for themselves what approach they want to take ( when they can, some of the time...) and I know it's helped lots of mums who have felt much more confident reading about case studies in my book too. My mission is to make parenting support easy, valuable and fun - no stigma attached! Keep up the good work, Judy , Parenting People.co.ukJemima Reithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07382608416240369484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-35251463993531972862012-03-19T07:52:59.798-07:002012-03-19T07:52:59.798-07:00They do help parents Hollie, because it's read...They do help parents Hollie, because it's reading about the experiences of other mums, and being inspired to try new things (whether that's about weaning, breastfeeding, potty training), in other words stuff that has worked for other mums, is where your books are so damned handy...Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634434551585043460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-43320429195422413922012-03-06T12:27:02.608-08:002012-03-06T12:27:02.608-08:00OMG, does she have a clue about motherhood at all?...OMG, does she have a clue about motherhood at all? I couldn't sit down comfortably for 4-6 weeks after an episiotomy, never mind anything else!Lisa @FacelessFoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12034893936321956118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-4383578144619184432012-03-06T08:52:58.686-08:002012-03-06T08:52:58.686-08:00"Which, of course, you would know, if you had..."Which, of course, you would know, if you had."<br /><br />Nice point...there's no way I could have anticipated the carnage down below pre childbirth. Any suggestions I can make to help her understand sound like I'm wishing torture on the woman. It takes a long time to get back to 'normal' and a good deal of partners are actually understanding enough to realise this.thisisnotamumbloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12624753085632416546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-58091195810095225522012-03-01T01:57:33.308-08:002012-03-01T01:57:33.308-08:00A genius invented 'Parent Mail'. Never be ...A genius invented 'Parent Mail'. Never be in the dark again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-11756216839416395862012-02-29T06:30:58.542-08:002012-02-29T06:30:58.542-08:00Love it! I once took my kids to school on an Inset...Love it! I once took my kids to school on an Inset day!Lisa @FacelessFoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12034893936321956118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-45656630817750357942011-05-03T15:50:21.224-07:002011-05-03T15:50:21.224-07:00Nothing at all wrong with charity shops! I bought ...Nothing at all wrong with charity shops! I bought my 2 yr old a pair of Clarkes shoes recently for 2 quid. Bargain!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10374023547325497872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-75653749922052489612011-04-23T15:54:01.129-07:002011-04-23T15:54:01.129-07:00Hi
Just wanted to say congratulations and let you ...Hi<br />Just wanted to say congratulations and let you know that your blog has been nominated in the MAD Blog Awards for UK parent blogs. <br />If you’d like to find out more about the awards and the prizes on offer, then head over to www.the-mads.com. <br />We will be publishing details of all the nominees in all the categories on Monday morning, and nominations are open until 5pm that day – so if you’d like to take part, make sure you encourage all your friends, family and readers to keep nominating! <br />Best of luck and well done on your nomination.<br />Sally<br />The MAD Blog AwardsSallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04035807777562486372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-72807534843804445882011-04-07T05:09:32.046-07:002011-04-07T05:09:32.046-07:00Ha ha...Adie, you don't know what you're m...Ha ha...Adie, you don't know what you're missing. Mind you, I have also tried to interest my girls in Star Wars, to no avail yet....Hollie Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08150717818239464169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-8474909359500296402011-04-06T15:12:03.749-07:002011-04-06T15:12:03.749-07:00Feel free to join are 'all boy world' down...Feel free to join are 'all boy world' down here anytime Hols! Well, all boy except Judy of course.<br /> Don't think we will be watching High School Musical anytime soonAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00930542614074543438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-80924074061756525662011-03-09T00:06:52.195-08:002011-03-09T00:06:52.195-08:00Ever hear the story of what led up me and your bro...Ever hear the story of what led up me and your brother getting the 'birds and bees' talk from mum? It's a goddamned laugh riot! And utterly arse about backwards, naturally. xBenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03947491037315969949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-45343317759412247522011-02-18T09:10:57.134-08:002011-02-18T09:10:57.134-08:00Love it!
Sounds like I can enjoy half term, guilt ...Love it!<br />Sounds like I can enjoy half term, guilt free now! <br />http://wedonteatanythingwithaface.blogspot.com/Lisa @FacelessFoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12034893936321956118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-20397450457421948452011-02-16T08:53:50.016-08:002011-02-16T08:53:50.016-08:00I make my children match and ball their own socks ...I make my children match and ball their own socks - 1 pair = 1 chocolate button, what a cruel mum!!Juleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741560938190672954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-81606708918838340842011-02-16T08:53:04.682-08:002011-02-16T08:53:04.682-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Juleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741560938190672954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-79585950646953517382011-02-10T06:32:16.332-08:002011-02-10T06:32:16.332-08:00Hello from another newbie blogger - found you via ...Hello from another newbie blogger - found you via twitter! Look forward to learning some tips and having a good ol' whinge ;-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12086321222796617293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-56970936360399358812011-02-10T06:22:13.648-08:002011-02-10T06:22:13.648-08:00Liked this - made me laugh - its all luck and gene...Liked this - made me laugh - its all luck and genes if you ask me!!The Camouflage Companyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17281570882550375291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-46580618929205704522011-02-09T08:20:33.433-08:002011-02-09T08:20:33.433-08:00Could it be that children in poorer backgrounds ar...Could it be that children in poorer backgrounds are more likely to eat crap, have lower expectancy and a lower drive to succeed? Or transversely, where parents are more likely to make an effort with nutrition they are also probably more likely to make an effort with education. While it could be a true statement regarding crap food and intelligence link I suspect its more circumstantial and not a direct link between the two.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-11584541705152439482011-02-09T07:06:53.950-08:002011-02-09T07:06:53.950-08:00Everyone knows Nutella makes you brainy though, ri...Everyone knows Nutella makes you brainy though, right?heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18181833525124733122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-77746281310205181392011-01-27T12:10:23.597-08:002011-01-27T12:10:23.597-08:00Hi Hollie,
Found this through the link from mediaw...Hi Hollie,<br />Found this through the link from mediawomenuk. Nice intro to your blog. I have the same quandry so tend to write assorted posts about either something that's inspired me at work or, usually, thrown me at home.<br />Find me!<br />JoJoanne https://www.blogger.com/profile/02607272640676537919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-57556452664549988392011-01-27T09:39:23.721-08:002011-01-27T09:39:23.721-08:00What a nice introduction! I don't have kids my...What a nice introduction! I don't have kids myself but can see myself stopping by here in the future ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356172021011982860.post-77371927876957310002011-01-26T08:53:00.040-08:002011-01-26T08:53:00.040-08:00Bravo! I have two Miss Ps as well. If you ever wan...Bravo! I have two Miss Ps as well. If you ever want a diatribe about what it's like to wait for an hour in a queue outside Hollister for an overpriced T shirt with both of them then I am your woman.<br />Look forward to more,<br />Lucy (Thorpe)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com