I'm sure that there are blogs galore talking about Justin Bieber, his arrest, his behaviour etc. etc.
But it appears to me that no one has stopped to think that this is a teenage boy! he is not product or a commodity he is a teenage boy who needs love and care and some understanding!
Ok, he's making a lot of mistakes but what teenage boy doesn't, the problem here is he is a victim of his fame nothing he does goes unnoticed, he blows his nose and it makes the front page.
I think this boy needs a hug and someone to listen to him and he needs parenting! now I'm not blaming his parents by any means. I just think his dad has forgotten that he is in fact his father not his 'friend' and his mother perhaps feels that he is successful, financially independent and this makes him an adult and I know there are many 19 years olds that no longer need parenting just perhaps that parental advice every now and then but this young man has been living in an adult world for some years now and I think many have forgotten he is a child.
I'm sure Justin has enjoyed the freedom and the success and power attracts many different people but many for the wrong reasons and knowing who to surround yourself with, knowing who to trust and who has your best interests at heart is difficult for any of us but this young man has people throwing themselves at him on daily basis.
He is feeling depressed and he is being bullied yes bullied from complete strangers, those in the public eye, those that should know better and comment against bullying yet think because this young man is famous he is somehow impervious to the effects of bullying? I think not!
What he needs is to take himself back to his roots to his real friends who loved him before the fame and he needs some counselling, someone to talk to who will listen in a non judgemental way, giving him unconditional positive regard and empathy.
And above all he needs his parents and if they're not up to the job of parenting a 19 year old... well Justin you're welcome to come here, I'll be honest with you, I won't take your crap but I will take care of you!
And do you know the thing is until this recent arrest I hadn't really thought about him as a person he was just some singer my daughter liked but all this negative attention, all these things that wouldn't make the news if he wasn't famous, all the jokes about him and nasty negative comments 'the bullying' of him made me think if these comments, these jokes were being made about any other kid there would be public outcry!
So what makes him any different?
Thoughts please?
Showing posts with label Parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parenting. Show all posts
Saturday, 25 January 2014
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
School uniform and dress codes
A friends daughter got sent home today because she was wearing false nails not long talon like ones that could be potential health and safety issue, no these were average length with a small design. In fact I don't know how they were even drawn to a teachers attention anyway it got me to thinking about the whole school uniform and dress code issue.
Now I agree with school uniform I think it's a great leveller, it stops kids thinking about what they're going to wear and as long as it isn't one of those ludicrously expensive ones from a school uniform shop (don't get me started there, that's a whole other issue) it saves us parents money but what I do have issue with is schools telling parents how their children can have their hair or makeup.
Please someone tell me how this affects their learning?
How differently is my child going to learn if they have blue streaks in their hair or have their ears pierced twice, seriously someone please tell me?
Shouldn't we be allowing our children to express their individuality? within reason of course but surely that's a parents decision not a schools.
How do you feel about this issue?
Now I agree with school uniform I think it's a great leveller, it stops kids thinking about what they're going to wear and as long as it isn't one of those ludicrously expensive ones from a school uniform shop (don't get me started there, that's a whole other issue) it saves us parents money but what I do have issue with is schools telling parents how their children can have their hair or makeup.
Please someone tell me how this affects their learning?
How differently is my child going to learn if they have blue streaks in their hair or have their ears pierced twice, seriously someone please tell me?
Shouldn't we be allowing our children to express their individuality? within reason of course but surely that's a parents decision not a schools.
How do you feel about this issue?
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Parenting teens
Some words of wisdom in poem form by a parent in one of my groups I just had to share it.
By Tina – words of encouragement for parents
Mother of three girls
Through the panting and pushing, the swearing and screams
Giving birth to my children, fulfilled all my dreams
When they were little I would hold them so tight
And when they were sick I would sit up all night
Sing all the nursery rhymes and dance to their tune
Then BAM the baby years were over too soon
WELCOME to the teenager who just slammed the door
To the bedroom they own, all their possessions on the floor
The one word answers, the ignorance too
The feeling you get when you think they hate you
This weren’t in the manual, nobody mentioned this
I mean SERIOUSLY were they taking the piss?
I guess I never knew what motherhood entailed
And why I constantly think I have failed
STOP, hold on, this is a test
Sit down a minute, breathe and rest
You were once a teenager too
And what was your parent’s reaction to you?
Most would scream and no doubt shout
Probably to let their anger out
But problems can’t be sorted unless they are shared
Talking to your child shows them that you love them and you care
Special time with your child the two of you alone
Turn the ‘tele’ off, light candles, lock off your phone
Just half an hour daily could do you no harm
Then watch your relationship turn from madness to calm
Don’t be downhearted, it won’t happen overnight
With parent/child relationships it’s an ongoing fight
But never give up, it’s part of your life
Wouldn’t it be boring without some turmoil and strife
God has blessed us with the bundle of joy
Whatever your baby, be a girl or a boy
Before you start screaming, calm down, make a drink
And just for a minute, sit down and think
If you were having dramas and really felt glum
Who better to talk to, there’s no-one better than mum
By doing this just watch the effects
Then be thankful to the Building Blocks of Success
By Tina – words of encouragement for parents
Mother of three girls
Through the panting and pushing, the swearing and screams
Giving birth to my children, fulfilled all my dreams
When they were little I would hold them so tight
And when they were sick I would sit up all night
Sing all the nursery rhymes and dance to their tune
Then BAM the baby years were over too soon
WELCOME to the teenager who just slammed the door
To the bedroom they own, all their possessions on the floor
The one word answers, the ignorance too
The feeling you get when you think they hate you
This weren’t in the manual, nobody mentioned this
I mean SERIOUSLY were they taking the piss?
I guess I never knew what motherhood entailed
And why I constantly think I have failed
STOP, hold on, this is a test
Sit down a minute, breathe and rest
You were once a teenager too
And what was your parent’s reaction to you?
Most would scream and no doubt shout
Probably to let their anger out
But problems can’t be sorted unless they are shared
Talking to your child shows them that you love them and you care
Special time with your child the two of you alone
Turn the ‘tele’ off, light candles, lock off your phone
Just half an hour daily could do you no harm
Then watch your relationship turn from madness to calm
Don’t be downhearted, it won’t happen overnight
With parent/child relationships it’s an ongoing fight
But never give up, it’s part of your life
Wouldn’t it be boring without some turmoil and strife
God has blessed us with the bundle of joy
Whatever your baby, be a girl or a boy
Before you start screaming, calm down, make a drink
And just for a minute, sit down and think
If you were having dramas and really felt glum
Who better to talk to, there’s no-one better than mum
By doing this just watch the effects
Then be thankful to the Building Blocks of Success
Thursday, 15 March 2012
Lost and Found
I know Its been a while and I have no excuse except life!
Life is hectic at the moment I seem to be on the go constantly with each day blurring into the next!
And one thing I could really do without on a daily basis is that line "Muuuummm have you seen my( insert any word of your choice here, chances are my kids have lost it!)" unless it's waving a flag shouting "wooHoo, Here I am look at me!" they will not find it!
In my house I apparently am the only person who can find or see things seriously I could dance around naked with whatever item it was between my teeth doing a fandango while balancing a parrot on my head and they still wouldn't see what they were looking for! In fact the only thing they would probably notice is that I wasn't looking for said item!
And then the really annoying thing is it's usually in plain view, I walk in wherever it is that they are having their mad panic and I see it straight away!
Though there are those times that I can't find it( usually means they've left somewhere other than the place they think they have or it's under their bed, trust me no one wants to go there!) and I too do lose things but that usually because I'm running round like a headless chicken trying to sort out something for one of them!
So am I alone in this or is anyone else out there blessed with the ability to see things invisible to teenagers eyes?
Life is hectic at the moment I seem to be on the go constantly with each day blurring into the next!
And one thing I could really do without on a daily basis is that line "Muuuummm have you seen my( insert any word of your choice here, chances are my kids have lost it!)" unless it's waving a flag shouting "wooHoo, Here I am look at me!" they will not find it!
In my house I apparently am the only person who can find or see things seriously I could dance around naked with whatever item it was between my teeth doing a fandango while balancing a parrot on my head and they still wouldn't see what they were looking for! In fact the only thing they would probably notice is that I wasn't looking for said item!
And then the really annoying thing is it's usually in plain view, I walk in wherever it is that they are having their mad panic and I see it straight away!
Though there are those times that I can't find it( usually means they've left somewhere other than the place they think they have or it's under their bed, trust me no one wants to go there!) and I too do lose things but that usually because I'm running round like a headless chicken trying to sort out something for one of them!
So am I alone in this or is anyone else out there blessed with the ability to see things invisible to teenagers eyes?
Friday, 20 January 2012
Let the children play
There was a conversation on the radio today about children not being allowed out to play without their parents and the alarming fact that we have become so scared of what might happen that many children these days don't even learn how to ride to bike!
I understand that parents are afraid of what might happen, I am one after all! But in trying to protect our children from every little thing are we in fact hindering their growth as people? How will they learn to assess situations, decide what is dangerous, learn common sense if we as parents do it all for them.
Times have changed and mainly thanks to the media we are more aware of the worse case scenario but to what expense?
When I think back to my childhood I went out to play for hours on end without a mobile phone I might add(had they even been invented then?) and if my mother wanted me she would come out into the street and call me! I was told how far I could go and if I went to the park with friends not parents, I know how bizarre! I was told not to speak to strangers, cross the road carefully and be back by what ever meal time was next. I climbed trees, hid in bushes, made dens and did dares and from what I remember had fun!
Now when I think back to all my children growing up I can see that times and attitudes have changed, when my sons were little I let them play out (still without mobile phones) and told them the same as I was told, they would mostly ride their bikes and play football all thankfully without incident but then the world seemed to change a little, the fear of pedophiles, the increase of gang crime and I started to worry more, by time my daughters were old enough to play out I was a lot more cautious I let them play out, ride their bikes but they were told to stay close so if I came outside or looked out the window I could see them and park trips were accompanied by a parent.
I now have a 3 year old and I'll be honest I don't know how I will react when she reaches the age that she wants to play outside of our own garden, I hope my common sense will kick in but who knows, at least I have a while to think about it!
I understand that parents are afraid of what might happen, I am one after all! But in trying to protect our children from every little thing are we in fact hindering their growth as people? How will they learn to assess situations, decide what is dangerous, learn common sense if we as parents do it all for them.
Times have changed and mainly thanks to the media we are more aware of the worse case scenario but to what expense?
When I think back to my childhood I went out to play for hours on end without a mobile phone I might add(had they even been invented then?) and if my mother wanted me she would come out into the street and call me! I was told how far I could go and if I went to the park with friends not parents, I know how bizarre! I was told not to speak to strangers, cross the road carefully and be back by what ever meal time was next. I climbed trees, hid in bushes, made dens and did dares and from what I remember had fun!
Now when I think back to all my children growing up I can see that times and attitudes have changed, when my sons were little I let them play out (still without mobile phones) and told them the same as I was told, they would mostly ride their bikes and play football all thankfully without incident but then the world seemed to change a little, the fear of pedophiles, the increase of gang crime and I started to worry more, by time my daughters were old enough to play out I was a lot more cautious I let them play out, ride their bikes but they were told to stay close so if I came outside or looked out the window I could see them and park trips were accompanied by a parent.
I now have a 3 year old and I'll be honest I don't know how I will react when she reaches the age that she wants to play outside of our own garden, I hope my common sense will kick in but who knows, at least I have a while to think about it!
Monday, 12 September 2011
Sometimes life gets in the way!
I once again haven't posted anything in a while and this is getting to be a bit of a bad habit, a pattern if you will but what it basically is, is life getting in the way! I try really I do but between the children, there are 6 of them although some of them are supposed to be adults! The family,the house and everything connected with that time seems to just fly by before I even realise it's gone and all my good intentions, all the things that I enjoy doing seem to just fall by the wayside.
A very good friend of mine (if we were 10 she would be my BFF actually I'm 40 and she is my BFF!) recently told me that I give too much of myself and don't look after 'me' enough and as is usual she was right! She is very wise! The more I thought about it the more I realised that the time that I make purely for me is actually non-existent! I don't even get to have a bath without the little one begging to get in, me time, what is this elusive me time that you speak of and how do you get it? No, seriously I'm asking because I haven't figured it out!
So my mission this week is to try and put myself first sometimes! No, I won't try, I will! And on actually a quite pathetic part to putting myself first I'm off to make a doctors appointment to have my painful heel looked at , an appointment that I've been putting off making for 2 months because I just couldn't get round to it! So no relaxing massage or manicure for my 'me time' no my first step is a doctors appointment! I think I may need a little help with this concept don't you?
Tell me how do you make time for yourself? And do you think it's important?
A very good friend of mine (if we were 10 she would be my BFF actually I'm 40 and she is my BFF!) recently told me that I give too much of myself and don't look after 'me' enough and as is usual she was right! She is very wise! The more I thought about it the more I realised that the time that I make purely for me is actually non-existent! I don't even get to have a bath without the little one begging to get in, me time, what is this elusive me time that you speak of and how do you get it? No, seriously I'm asking because I haven't figured it out!
So my mission this week is to try and put myself first sometimes! No, I won't try, I will! And on actually a quite pathetic part to putting myself first I'm off to make a doctors appointment to have my painful heel looked at , an appointment that I've been putting off making for 2 months because I just couldn't get round to it! So no relaxing massage or manicure for my 'me time' no my first step is a doctors appointment! I think I may need a little help with this concept don't you?
Tell me how do you make time for yourself? And do you think it's important?
Thursday, 25 August 2011
The joy that is the School holidays!
I have just noticed what a poor month I've had blogging wise, just 9 posts well 10 now and the only difference this month is school holidays! I never quite realised how much time is taken up by the children I know that sounds a bit weird parenting is a full time job after all but what I mean is when they're at school you manage your time better or at least I manage my time better, how presumptious of me to assume it's the same for you, please tell me it is the same for you? Please? I would hate to think that I'm the only one who struggles with time and routine during the holidays!
The thing is apart from the little one the others are teenagers they should be entertaining themselves surely?
It just seems all routine goes out the window and twice as much work for me happens, something not right there, I may go on strike, mums have rights too! I may make a placard and a picket line across the kitchen door chanting, "what do we want? A clean house! When do we want it? Now!" that would get their attention or perhaps just sit and watch the washing up pile up no one seems to have figured out how to load and unload the dishwasher I think they still believe in the cleaning fairy!
But it's not just the added cleaning and shopping because you're constantly running out of bread, milk and cereal (or is that just my house?) its that they all hog the computer, laptop, iPads etc etc when they're indoors and as we haven't had the best summer we've been indoors a lot! So finding a time slot for me to do anything has been difficult to say the least!
Still back to school soon then I'll be moaning about the early mornings and getting them out of the house on time, oh the joys!
Well, I'm off now to make a placard and perhaps a banner if I can just find the time and a marker!
The thing is apart from the little one the others are teenagers they should be entertaining themselves surely?
It just seems all routine goes out the window and twice as much work for me happens, something not right there, I may go on strike, mums have rights too! I may make a placard and a picket line across the kitchen door chanting, "what do we want? A clean house! When do we want it? Now!" that would get their attention or perhaps just sit and watch the washing up pile up no one seems to have figured out how to load and unload the dishwasher I think they still believe in the cleaning fairy!
But it's not just the added cleaning and shopping because you're constantly running out of bread, milk and cereal (or is that just my house?) its that they all hog the computer, laptop, iPads etc etc when they're indoors and as we haven't had the best summer we've been indoors a lot! So finding a time slot for me to do anything has been difficult to say the least!
Still back to school soon then I'll be moaning about the early mornings and getting them out of the house on time, oh the joys!
Well, I'm off now to make a placard and perhaps a banner if I can just find the time and a marker!
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
Summer Holidays
So the summer helidays holidays are once again upon us and so far I've had a barrage of I'm bored from teenagers
My responses "clean your room, it would be nice to know you had a floor" apparently that's not entertainment! "Ok, how about you entertain yourself then?" apparently this is not actually possible and the parent is supposed to entertain at all times! I did offer to dance or juggle perhaps but was told that I was just being silly now!
Seriously I can't win!
The other problem I have is because I have a broad age range to appeal to and appease it's difficult to come up with a one activity/day out fits all so, so far there has been a lot of swimming and sending teens off to friends so they can be bored at someone else's house, cinema, always a winner and of course when they've whined enough or done enough to earn some money, shopping! The teenage girls favourite but it would be nice to find something that we can all do together that everyone would enjoy, is there such a place? If so then I need to know about it! Oh and it mustn't cost a fortune, in fact preferably it must be free!
So what do you do with your brood?
Can you please everyone?
So if you'll excuse me until you all bombard me with ideas, PLEASE BOMBARD ME! I'm off to don my jesters hat before I hear "Muuummmm!!!!!" again
My responses "clean your room, it would be nice to know you had a floor" apparently that's not entertainment! "Ok, how about you entertain yourself then?" apparently this is not actually possible and the parent is supposed to entertain at all times! I did offer to dance or juggle perhaps but was told that I was just being silly now!
Seriously I can't win!
The other problem I have is because I have a broad age range to appeal to and appease it's difficult to come up with a one activity/day out fits all so, so far there has been a lot of swimming and sending teens off to friends so they can be bored at someone else's house, cinema, always a winner and of course when they've whined enough or done enough to earn some money, shopping! The teenage girls favourite but it would be nice to find something that we can all do together that everyone would enjoy, is there such a place? If so then I need to know about it! Oh and it mustn't cost a fortune, in fact preferably it must be free!
So what do you do with your brood?
Can you please everyone?
So if you'll excuse me until you all bombard me with ideas, PLEASE BOMBARD ME! I'm off to don my jesters hat before I hear "Muuummmm!!!!!" again
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Toddler taming..... Really
I have a toddler and anyone who has a toddler knows that they go through a stage commonly known as the Terrible Two's!!!!!!!!
And my toddler is trying to break the record for being the most terrible of two year olds! I think that there may be a secret organisation of 2 year olds and she is competing to be the Don! If this is the case trust me she is going to win!
She goes from cute and adorable to Tasmanian devil in a matter of seconds! No surface left uncluttered or covered in paint, food and god, I hope that's chocolate!
I'm not an inexperienced mother she is the youngest of 6 but she has found new and exciting ways to test my patience and make sure that underneath my bright red hair my real hair is actually grey!
And so now to the reason I wrote this post I decided to do a little search on the Internet for some tips on dealing with a particularly high maintenance 2 year old and I came across a book called Toddler Taming! Seriously all I can think of is standing there with an upturned chair in one hand whip in the other shouting back back! I know some toddlers are bad but really!
Anyway of course I ordered the book!
Though seriously I've always thought that toddlers behave this way because they're learning, they're learning about the world around them, learning about boundaries and it's our job to lead by example and show them how to behave.
But all that being said it never hurts to have some tips on dealing with those tantrums or how to get the green felt-tip out of everything! So what are your tips with dealing with toddlers?
I'd love to hear
And my toddler is trying to break the record for being the most terrible of two year olds! I think that there may be a secret organisation of 2 year olds and she is competing to be the Don! If this is the case trust me she is going to win!
She goes from cute and adorable to Tasmanian devil in a matter of seconds! No surface left uncluttered or covered in paint, food and god, I hope that's chocolate!
I'm not an inexperienced mother she is the youngest of 6 but she has found new and exciting ways to test my patience and make sure that underneath my bright red hair my real hair is actually grey!
And so now to the reason I wrote this post I decided to do a little search on the Internet for some tips on dealing with a particularly high maintenance 2 year old and I came across a book called Toddler Taming! Seriously all I can think of is standing there with an upturned chair in one hand whip in the other shouting back back! I know some toddlers are bad but really!
Anyway of course I ordered the book!
Though seriously I've always thought that toddlers behave this way because they're learning, they're learning about the world around them, learning about boundaries and it's our job to lead by example and show them how to behave.
But all that being said it never hurts to have some tips on dealing with those tantrums or how to get the green felt-tip out of everything! So what are your tips with dealing with toddlers?
I'd love to hear
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Really, I just said that!
Firstly I would like to start today's session by apologising about the lack of blogging over the last few days, I made a promise nay a pledge to blog every day even if it was just one word and as is my life I have failed you! I will take my punishment like a man! That is if my punishment is being put in the corner or isolated alone in a room, frankly I good do with the break! But if it's say 50 push-ups you'll find me snivelling in the corner, I have no upper body strength!
So I've been away for a few days because my daughter has been suffering from a headache/migraine for 5 weeks and we have been to and from hospitals, doctors and this week has been appointment after appointment which is horrible and we're no closer to finding an answer but the doc's are pretty sure it's nothing sinister so until the CT Scan results are back we're being as positive as possible while trying out 3 million pain meds and preventative mads, she now rattles when she walks! But all this leads me to this..... The lines we utter as parents that out of context sound absolutely bizarre! Or maybe it's just me that has to utter those lines, oh god is it just me? Someone tell me, please?
This is the line that initiated my little thought process
"No, I don't think decapitation is the answer!"
Could be talking about the death penalty in some far off country, next assassination attempt by trained assassin perhaps? No this was my response to my daughter saying "I'm so fed up with this headache, can't we just chop my head off"
"Please stop poking your sister with that horse"
First thought perhaps, how does one poke someone with a horse perhaps visions of someone astride a horse making said horse head butt someone? No just my twisted mind!
This was me having to tell my 17 year old to stop poking my 2 year old with a hobby horse, trying to make her laugh but instead of just making her laugh it was making her screech at decibels only audible to dogs!
"that's a bloody cat not a parrot"
Ok, that's stating the obvious but one of my daughters insists on walking around with the cat sat on her shoulder!
"stop throwing zombie sticks at your sister! Wait, what the? Zumba they're zumba sticks!"
That was in response to "Mum!!!, tell her to stop throwing zombie sticks at me!"
See how I have to live! There are loads more and as I think of them I will add them. Please add some of your own and let me know that I'm not the only Mum that has to utter these strange sentences, I'd like to think that my family is like everyone elses! I know right who am I kidding!
So I've been away for a few days because my daughter has been suffering from a headache/migraine for 5 weeks and we have been to and from hospitals, doctors and this week has been appointment after appointment which is horrible and we're no closer to finding an answer but the doc's are pretty sure it's nothing sinister so until the CT Scan results are back we're being as positive as possible while trying out 3 million pain meds and preventative mads, she now rattles when she walks! But all this leads me to this..... The lines we utter as parents that out of context sound absolutely bizarre! Or maybe it's just me that has to utter those lines, oh god is it just me? Someone tell me, please?
This is the line that initiated my little thought process
"No, I don't think decapitation is the answer!"
Could be talking about the death penalty in some far off country, next assassination attempt by trained assassin perhaps? No this was my response to my daughter saying "I'm so fed up with this headache, can't we just chop my head off"
"Please stop poking your sister with that horse"
First thought perhaps, how does one poke someone with a horse perhaps visions of someone astride a horse making said horse head butt someone? No just my twisted mind!
This was me having to tell my 17 year old to stop poking my 2 year old with a hobby horse, trying to make her laugh but instead of just making her laugh it was making her screech at decibels only audible to dogs!
"that's a bloody cat not a parrot"
Ok, that's stating the obvious but one of my daughters insists on walking around with the cat sat on her shoulder!
"stop throwing zombie sticks at your sister! Wait, what the? Zumba they're zumba sticks!"
That was in response to "Mum!!!, tell her to stop throwing zombie sticks at me!"
See how I have to live! There are loads more and as I think of them I will add them. Please add some of your own and let me know that I'm not the only Mum that has to utter these strange sentences, I'd like to think that my family is like everyone elses! I know right who am I kidding!
Monday, 13 June 2011
Why oh why can't our children just be children!
I wasn't going to comment about this as I thought so many bloggers would have done so and probably done a far better job that I at expressing the rage caused by pole dancing classes for children not just children, small children from the age of 3! but the more I think about it the more angry, annoyed and outraged I get so I need to vent that!
Here in the UK at a dance studio in Northampton, Pole dancing for children as young as 3 are being offered, the instructor defends her decision to teach this class by saying that it keeps them fit and gives them confidence um so does a drama class or gymnastics for that matter! This comes on the back of a week where we heard about a beauty parlour again here in England for under 13's offering fakes tans and makeovers to children as young as 1!
What the F*~k is the world coming to? Seriously this is how much this angers me! Let's start with the Pole dancing, what child would ask to do pole dancing? Seriously I'm asking you? Because this really worries me, children talk about and ask to do things they are exposed to, things that they see and want to emulate. My 2 year old has started asking to do ballet( hard enough to find a local class for her to do that ) we're pretty sure that this is because Peppa Pig went to ballet class, it's what they see! She's talks about going to the gym because I go to the gym! She wants to be a cadet because her dad is a cadet instructor, it's all about what they're exposed to! So what the hell are these kids being exposed to?
Now on to the beauty parlour, most little girls want to try on mummies make-up I'm sure most of you who have daughters have had the scenario where you're getting ready to go out and they're sat with you and ask for lipstick too so you let them have a little dab, you pretend to put eyeshadow on them you let them join in with you, see again back to what they see! You don't take them for a full makeover! They are children!!!! Children are supposed to play,they're supposed to get dirty in the garden making mud pies, digging for worms, not get a facial and a fake tan!
God this makes me angry, but who am I angry at the companies that provide these services? They see a niche in the Market and aim to fill it, the media for giving us sexualised images everywhere we turn, you only have to look at most music videos to see some semi-naked young girls writhing about in such a sexual manner that it would make your mother blush! No it's the parents, I'm afraid on this one it really is, it's the parents that pay for these classes, the parents that pay for theses services and it should be the parents that make the decisions about what their children are going to do or take part in but it seems that there are far too many parents that either have forgotten that they are the parent or are giving in to child and peer pressure we've all had the line "but so and so's mum let's them do it!", my response has always been well good for them but I'm your mum and I don't think it's appropriate! See it's called responsibility!
Then I wonder if these are the same parents that are buying their children bra and knicker sets at 4, future footballers wife t-shirts and of course let's not forget too many boys, too little time! All these clothes actually exist! But again they wouldn't exist unless there was a Market for them and again who has the money, the parents!
God this has me outraged and I'm not usually one to blame the parents, I look at contributing factors but on this there really is no one else to blame, We as parents have choice, we can choose what our young children watch, I still vet programmes for my 14 year old in case I find them inappropriate!,we have choice in what they wear and even if they beg and argue about an item of clothing when they get to a certain age, we are the ones paying for it so have a right to reach a compromise or simply say "no I don't think that's appropriate for someone your age" you can tell I've had to say this line more than once it also goes with the line "your dad would have a heart attack if he saw you in that! You don't want to kill your dad, do you?" see, parent of teenage daughters! But it's my choice, that's the point I'm trying to make there is far too much awful stuff going in this world, far too much that our young children don't need to be exposed to, children should be allowed to be children for as long as possible shouldn't they? And it's our duty as parents to let them be just that, surely?
I'm really interested in your thoughts on this so please tell me what you think and I feel so much better for venting my frustration! so Thank you.
Here in the UK at a dance studio in Northampton, Pole dancing for children as young as 3 are being offered, the instructor defends her decision to teach this class by saying that it keeps them fit and gives them confidence um so does a drama class or gymnastics for that matter! This comes on the back of a week where we heard about a beauty parlour again here in England for under 13's offering fakes tans and makeovers to children as young as 1!
What the F*~k is the world coming to? Seriously this is how much this angers me! Let's start with the Pole dancing, what child would ask to do pole dancing? Seriously I'm asking you? Because this really worries me, children talk about and ask to do things they are exposed to, things that they see and want to emulate. My 2 year old has started asking to do ballet( hard enough to find a local class for her to do that ) we're pretty sure that this is because Peppa Pig went to ballet class, it's what they see! She's talks about going to the gym because I go to the gym! She wants to be a cadet because her dad is a cadet instructor, it's all about what they're exposed to! So what the hell are these kids being exposed to?
Now on to the beauty parlour, most little girls want to try on mummies make-up I'm sure most of you who have daughters have had the scenario where you're getting ready to go out and they're sat with you and ask for lipstick too so you let them have a little dab, you pretend to put eyeshadow on them you let them join in with you, see again back to what they see! You don't take them for a full makeover! They are children!!!! Children are supposed to play,they're supposed to get dirty in the garden making mud pies, digging for worms, not get a facial and a fake tan!
God this makes me angry, but who am I angry at the companies that provide these services? They see a niche in the Market and aim to fill it, the media for giving us sexualised images everywhere we turn, you only have to look at most music videos to see some semi-naked young girls writhing about in such a sexual manner that it would make your mother blush! No it's the parents, I'm afraid on this one it really is, it's the parents that pay for these classes, the parents that pay for theses services and it should be the parents that make the decisions about what their children are going to do or take part in but it seems that there are far too many parents that either have forgotten that they are the parent or are giving in to child and peer pressure we've all had the line "but so and so's mum let's them do it!", my response has always been well good for them but I'm your mum and I don't think it's appropriate! See it's called responsibility!
Then I wonder if these are the same parents that are buying their children bra and knicker sets at 4, future footballers wife t-shirts and of course let's not forget too many boys, too little time! All these clothes actually exist! But again they wouldn't exist unless there was a Market for them and again who has the money, the parents!
God this has me outraged and I'm not usually one to blame the parents, I look at contributing factors but on this there really is no one else to blame, We as parents have choice, we can choose what our young children watch, I still vet programmes for my 14 year old in case I find them inappropriate!,we have choice in what they wear and even if they beg and argue about an item of clothing when they get to a certain age, we are the ones paying for it so have a right to reach a compromise or simply say "no I don't think that's appropriate for someone your age" you can tell I've had to say this line more than once it also goes with the line "your dad would have a heart attack if he saw you in that! You don't want to kill your dad, do you?" see, parent of teenage daughters! But it's my choice, that's the point I'm trying to make there is far too much awful stuff going in this world, far too much that our young children don't need to be exposed to, children should be allowed to be children for as long as possible shouldn't they? And it's our duty as parents to let them be just that, surely?
I'm really interested in your thoughts on this so please tell me what you think and I feel so much better for venting my frustration! so Thank you.
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Accidental Parenting 101 plus a lot of hot guys!
Mine goes a little something like this,Oh and I've done this as we do it, we quite often don't know their real names so be warned! and the list are absolutely massive so we've just given a few of our favourites
And in no particular order may I present
Dude List
Eric Dane, Mc Steamy Grey's Anatomy
Justin Timberlake
Paul Rudd
Jonny Depp
Jessie williams again Grey's anatomy ,
Justin Chambers, Karev Grey's anatomy , seriously doing the job of casting for that show must be a bitch!
Justin timberlake
George clooney
Taylor Lautner
Vin Diesel
Chick list
Ellen dengeneers
Pink
Megan fox
Rihanna
Eva Longoria
Eva Mendes
Fergie
Gwen Stefani
Gloria from Modern Family
And our very favourite list of all, My Crushes you shouldn't have!
 | ||||
| I know, we just can't explain it! |
Simon Pegg
Paul the alien
Burt from Raising Hope
Benedict Cumberbatch
And my 14 Year Olds List
And Now my 17 year olds List
So who's on your list? We'd love to hear!
Friday, 27 May 2011
That Friday feeling
When I was younger, so much younger than today, sorry can't help myself, seriously now when I was younger Friday meant the weekend! The weekend meant clubbing! More often than not on a Friday and Saturday night now Friday means "Thank God I haven't got to get up at 6 in the morning!" I'm just so Rock and Roll!
Seriously the thought of not having to get up fills me with joy you wouldn't believe! of course theses days a lie in is more like 8 o'clock or whatever time I hear that lovely cry of "Mummy I need you!" from my 2 year old but still anything is better than 6 !
But how to fill the weekend?
Lazily doing nothing? I'm quite good at this but then feel guilty for not having accomplished anything.
Doing all the things round the house that I never got round to during the week? Boring! Mundane! And then I feel guilty for not doing things with the kids!
Kids activities? Ok this is one that we should do but in all honesty this usually ends up stressful as not everyone agrees on what to do, one of them is always 'bored' , the little one gets tired and cranky and all I think about is getting home to that bottle of wine!
So what to do, suggestions on a postcard please?
Seriously though, how do you spend your weekends and more importantly what shall I do with mine?
Seriously the thought of not having to get up fills me with joy you wouldn't believe! of course theses days a lie in is more like 8 o'clock or whatever time I hear that lovely cry of "Mummy I need you!" from my 2 year old but still anything is better than 6 !
But how to fill the weekend?
Lazily doing nothing? I'm quite good at this but then feel guilty for not having accomplished anything.
Doing all the things round the house that I never got round to during the week? Boring! Mundane! And then I feel guilty for not doing things with the kids!
Kids activities? Ok this is one that we should do but in all honesty this usually ends up stressful as not everyone agrees on what to do, one of them is always 'bored' , the little one gets tired and cranky and all I think about is getting home to that bottle of wine!
So what to do, suggestions on a postcard please?
Seriously though, how do you spend your weekends and more importantly what shall I do with mine?
Monday, 23 May 2011
I don't like Mondays!
Mondays suck! They herald the start of early mornings for 5 days! The morning chaos of "MUM" I can't find, can you iron, where's my bag/shoes/p.e. Kit/ blazer? the only good thing about Monday is tomorrow is Tuesday then so on and so until the weekend.
As you can no doubt tell I had a bad morning, I actually have nothing personal against Monday's it the school morning madness I really have a problem with!
What about you? Is there a particular day of the week you don't like and why?
As you can no doubt tell I had a bad morning, I actually have nothing personal against Monday's it the school morning madness I really have a problem with!
What about you? Is there a particular day of the week you don't like and why?
Monday, 14 March 2011
I blame the parents! Oh wait that's me!
Before I start I would like to make it very clear to my children if you are reading this that I love you very much just as you are but I can't help but wonder if you'd be different people if I had been a different parent! Oh and if you are reading this, get a job! And to my children still living at home, Put your clothes away!, clean your rooms and pick up your crap from all over the house!
I was determined when I started this blog that it would not be yet another blog that focuses on being a parent but the thing is when you are a parent it is innevitable that at some point it will come up so here it is!
I have 6 children they vary in age from almost 25 down to 2. I started young, VERY YOUNG! Down to a combination of poor sex education( I went to a catholic school, I'm sure that explains it all along with why I eschew organised religion), naivety, falling in love with the wrong boy who was older than me and of course rampant teenage hormones! The thing is what the hell were my parents thinking! They just kind of left me to raise myself I don't really remember much parenting but hey easy for me to say now that I'm a parent but as a kid I probably loved the freedom see parents fuck you up and I am a parent!
So anyway I was thinking about my kids and all the many mistakes I have made and the mistakes the grown up and almost grown up ones have made and I could cry, actually I do cry, a lot! I do what I'm sure most parents do, I blame myself! I have parental guilt no matter what they do it's my fault, I wasn't strict enough, I was too strict, I didn't encourage enough, I was too pushy and it goes on and goes on.
There's a line in that wonderful film Parenthood that goes something like "with your first you worry about everything every bump every sniffle but by the third you let them juggle knives" (probably got that very wrong but you get the picture and if anyone know the actual line please let me know)and that's the thing with my first I was so young and everyone was so against me keeping him that I thought I have to do this right, I read every book there was to read, I did everything thing that I could do, I was going to be The perfect parent! The joke is really on me because there is no such thing! what I have learnt is every child is different,
every circumstance is different and every child responds to a different style of parenting the only thing that I have learnt that is important and does work for all is be consistent, if you say something follow through and don't back down and above all love your children and be there for them to talk to, something that can't be forced!
You live and you learn and I feel that I messed up alot with my three oldest children but I have learnt so much that I have had and am hopefully going to have an easy time with the younger 3, two of which are teenagers so I must be doing something right to be able to say that but still I question everything and I feel that same guilt.
Here's some irony for you as I write this I've just had a phone call from my daughters 6th form telling me She wants to drop out can I talk to her, ggrrr, see just when you think you've got it figured they throw something new at you , also just got a text from my son asking to borrow money, something I definitely need to be strong about and just say no! Anyway I digress, I think that what I'm trying to say is that no matter what we do with our kids there's always going to be something that we mess up, something that we should have and could have done differently.
When our children are born we have such hopes and dreams for them we imagine them with fabulous lives fabulous careers then the little buggers go and get personalities of there own and no matter how much you want to argue about the nature over nuture debate, where you live, the schools you go to, the people you hang around with have a massive impact on the person you become It's not just about how you were raised unfortunately.
All that being said and all the challenges and obstacles we've overcome all the stress they have caused me and believe me there has been and still is alot I am still really proud of them, for what they have achieved, for how they have dealt with and handled situations so what if its not the stereotypical things that parents are proud of as long as they are doing their best and they're happy then I should be happy too, right?
Plus hey, theres always the little one to work on! just kidding!
I was determined when I started this blog that it would not be yet another blog that focuses on being a parent but the thing is when you are a parent it is innevitable that at some point it will come up so here it is!
I have 6 children they vary in age from almost 25 down to 2. I started young, VERY YOUNG! Down to a combination of poor sex education( I went to a catholic school, I'm sure that explains it all along with why I eschew organised religion), naivety, falling in love with the wrong boy who was older than me and of course rampant teenage hormones! The thing is what the hell were my parents thinking! They just kind of left me to raise myself I don't really remember much parenting but hey easy for me to say now that I'm a parent but as a kid I probably loved the freedom see parents fuck you up and I am a parent!
So anyway I was thinking about my kids and all the many mistakes I have made and the mistakes the grown up and almost grown up ones have made and I could cry, actually I do cry, a lot! I do what I'm sure most parents do, I blame myself! I have parental guilt no matter what they do it's my fault, I wasn't strict enough, I was too strict, I didn't encourage enough, I was too pushy and it goes on and goes on.
There's a line in that wonderful film Parenthood that goes something like "with your first you worry about everything every bump every sniffle but by the third you let them juggle knives" (probably got that very wrong but you get the picture and if anyone know the actual line please let me know)and that's the thing with my first I was so young and everyone was so against me keeping him that I thought I have to do this right, I read every book there was to read, I did everything thing that I could do, I was going to be The perfect parent! The joke is really on me because there is no such thing! what I have learnt is every child is different,
every circumstance is different and every child responds to a different style of parenting the only thing that I have learnt that is important and does work for all is be consistent, if you say something follow through and don't back down and above all love your children and be there for them to talk to, something that can't be forced!
You live and you learn and I feel that I messed up alot with my three oldest children but I have learnt so much that I have had and am hopefully going to have an easy time with the younger 3, two of which are teenagers so I must be doing something right to be able to say that but still I question everything and I feel that same guilt.
Here's some irony for you as I write this I've just had a phone call from my daughters 6th form telling me She wants to drop out can I talk to her, ggrrr, see just when you think you've got it figured they throw something new at you , also just got a text from my son asking to borrow money, something I definitely need to be strong about and just say no! Anyway I digress, I think that what I'm trying to say is that no matter what we do with our kids there's always going to be something that we mess up, something that we should have and could have done differently.
When our children are born we have such hopes and dreams for them we imagine them with fabulous lives fabulous careers then the little buggers go and get personalities of there own and no matter how much you want to argue about the nature over nuture debate, where you live, the schools you go to, the people you hang around with have a massive impact on the person you become It's not just about how you were raised unfortunately.
All that being said and all the challenges and obstacles we've overcome all the stress they have caused me and believe me there has been and still is alot I am still really proud of them, for what they have achieved, for how they have dealt with and handled situations so what if its not the stereotypical things that parents are proud of as long as they are doing their best and they're happy then I should be happy too, right?
Plus hey, theres always the little one to work on! just kidding!
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Wonder woman ....That's me!
Ok I might not wear my knickers on the outside (though there was that one occaision!)and I don't spin around like an idiot carrying a lasso (that was another occasion and the occasional saturday night!)but to my family with all that I have to do I may as well be you see I live the life of that unacknowledged super hero I'm Stay at home mum girl! Not quite as catchy eh but just as extraordinary!
I wake up every day at 6, earlier if the little one decides it's time to get up and start playing then on a weekday it goes something like this, I wake the kids up, I iron, I chase to get ready, I help with hair, I get breakfast for the little one, I sort out lunch or lunch money while loading the dishwasher, tumble dryer and washing machine while hoping that I put the right things in the right machine! Teenagers leave for work and school, I spent 30 minutes or so playing with the little one then I unload all machines reload all machines put everything away sometimes in the right place, I make appointments,chase up calls, do paperwork,pay bills,play with Izzy, then lunch read a book to Izzy nap time for her me I sweep floors, tidy rooms, unload and reload machines, mop floors, kids start to come home I ask about days, homework, prepare and cook dinner, referee arguments, serve dinner, answer phone calls, questions, chase them about rooms, laundry and homework, unload and reload machines bath Izzy, read a story, put Izzy to bed, tidy away the stress of the day and then maybe just maybe if I haven't fallen asleep collapse on the sofa and watch tv this at usually around 11pm that's a 17 hour day! So why is it when I'm at party or function and I'm asked "so what do you do?" and I reply that I stay home with my children am I made to feel like a second class citizen or that I must be stupid or unable to get a job. They don't know how to respond and that's women too and I get the feeling that they think I have nothing to offer to the conversation but guess what I choose to raise my child until nursery age because I don't understand why I should pay someone else to raise the child that I chose to have and ok it might mean I have less money in my pocket and others might think I'm not a productive member of society( yes that opinion was voiced )but I haven't missed any milestones and I know what's going on in my kids lives, well for the most part, I do have 3 teenagers after all. I have opinions, lots of them! I read, I'm educated and I work just as hard as any paid profession, So the next time someone asks me what I do, I'm going to reply with a serious face that I am in fact a Super Hero!
I wake up every day at 6, earlier if the little one decides it's time to get up and start playing then on a weekday it goes something like this, I wake the kids up, I iron, I chase to get ready, I help with hair, I get breakfast for the little one, I sort out lunch or lunch money while loading the dishwasher, tumble dryer and washing machine while hoping that I put the right things in the right machine! Teenagers leave for work and school, I spent 30 minutes or so playing with the little one then I unload all machines reload all machines put everything away sometimes in the right place, I make appointments,chase up calls, do paperwork,pay bills,play with Izzy, then lunch read a book to Izzy nap time for her me I sweep floors, tidy rooms, unload and reload machines, mop floors, kids start to come home I ask about days, homework, prepare and cook dinner, referee arguments, serve dinner, answer phone calls, questions, chase them about rooms, laundry and homework, unload and reload machines bath Izzy, read a story, put Izzy to bed, tidy away the stress of the day and then maybe just maybe if I haven't fallen asleep collapse on the sofa and watch tv this at usually around 11pm that's a 17 hour day! So why is it when I'm at party or function and I'm asked "so what do you do?" and I reply that I stay home with my children am I made to feel like a second class citizen or that I must be stupid or unable to get a job. They don't know how to respond and that's women too and I get the feeling that they think I have nothing to offer to the conversation but guess what I choose to raise my child until nursery age because I don't understand why I should pay someone else to raise the child that I chose to have and ok it might mean I have less money in my pocket and others might think I'm not a productive member of society( yes that opinion was voiced )but I haven't missed any milestones and I know what's going on in my kids lives, well for the most part, I do have 3 teenagers after all. I have opinions, lots of them! I read, I'm educated and I work just as hard as any paid profession, So the next time someone asks me what I do, I'm going to reply with a serious face that I am in fact a Super Hero!
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Sunday bloody Sunday
It's Sunday morning and the sun is actually shining,how long for is any ones guess but at the moment it looks like spring has finally sprung!
The thing about Sunday's is you never quite know what to do with them should they be a lazy day? I wish! With kids that's impossible, a day out with said kids? Sometimes more stress than it's worth, A day of DIY there's always something to do that never quite gets done but for me as I imagine most parents with children of school age it's going to be a day of getting school uniforms ready for tomorrow, cleaning the house, cooking Sunday dinner(my favourite part) and nagging at children to get uniform sorted bags ready and rooms cleaned, ah the excitement, I may just explode! But that my friends is the reality for most of us normal folk and we either embrace it and get on with it or spend the day in moaning and groaning about all that has to be done! For me I intend to embrace it, the sun is shining, my family is healthy and for the most part happy so I'm going to cook Sunday dinner.... Roast pork with crackling,roasted root vegetables and lovely spring greens with lemon puddle pudding for desert, with a nice glass of wine in hand and I'm going to remember to count every single one of my blessings no matter how small. And if anyone is reading this and feels a little less than happy make the lemon puddle pudding it is so delicious I promise it will put a smile on your face!
Lemon puddle pudding
Ingredients
50g butter
200g caster sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
100ml lemon juice
3 eggs separated
50g plain flour
250ml milk
Heat the oven to 180c/gas 4, cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest until pale and creamy then add the egg yolks, flour lemon juice and milk and mix together until you have a smooth batter.
In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites until firm but not stiff and then fold into the batter.
Pour into a buttered ovenproof baking dish and put it in a roasting tin half filled with hot water.bake for 45 minutes until the top is lightly browned and set and there is a gooey lemon curd below. Serve hot with cream or even on it's own . It really is delicious the recipe I've done serves 4 so if you have a large family like mine or you just feel greedy double the recipe but you only need to increase the cooking time by about 5 minutes , hope you enjoy and it brightens your Sunday. *
* Disclaimer : Emma_ps would like it known that she is not usually one of those bright breezy positive people and 'those people' do in fact freak her out but with all that is going on in the world at the moment she thought what the hell lets try this positive thing!
The thing about Sunday's is you never quite know what to do with them should they be a lazy day? I wish! With kids that's impossible, a day out with said kids? Sometimes more stress than it's worth, A day of DIY there's always something to do that never quite gets done but for me as I imagine most parents with children of school age it's going to be a day of getting school uniforms ready for tomorrow, cleaning the house, cooking Sunday dinner(my favourite part) and nagging at children to get uniform sorted bags ready and rooms cleaned, ah the excitement, I may just explode! But that my friends is the reality for most of us normal folk and we either embrace it and get on with it or spend the day in moaning and groaning about all that has to be done! For me I intend to embrace it, the sun is shining, my family is healthy and for the most part happy so I'm going to cook Sunday dinner.... Roast pork with crackling,roasted root vegetables and lovely spring greens with lemon puddle pudding for desert, with a nice glass of wine in hand and I'm going to remember to count every single one of my blessings no matter how small. And if anyone is reading this and feels a little less than happy make the lemon puddle pudding it is so delicious I promise it will put a smile on your face!
Lemon puddle pudding
Ingredients
50g butter
200g caster sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
100ml lemon juice
3 eggs separated
50g plain flour
250ml milk
Heat the oven to 180c/gas 4, cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest until pale and creamy then add the egg yolks, flour lemon juice and milk and mix together until you have a smooth batter.
In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites until firm but not stiff and then fold into the batter.
Pour into a buttered ovenproof baking dish and put it in a roasting tin half filled with hot water.bake for 45 minutes until the top is lightly browned and set and there is a gooey lemon curd below. Serve hot with cream or even on it's own . It really is delicious the recipe I've done serves 4 so if you have a large family like mine or you just feel greedy double the recipe but you only need to increase the cooking time by about 5 minutes , hope you enjoy and it brightens your Sunday. *
* Disclaimer : Emma_ps would like it known that she is not usually one of those bright breezy positive people and 'those people' do in fact freak her out but with all that is going on in the world at the moment she thought what the hell lets try this positive thing!
Friday, 25 February 2011
My Mountain became a Molehill
I have a floor in my utility room! ok this might be stating the obvious I'm sure everyone has a floor otherwise how would you walk on it! but the the thing is I haven't seen mine for weeks thanks to the ever increasing mountain of washing but now I can reveal that thanks to hard work and much nagging on my part I have a floor and its dark oak, I also have about 3 loads of washing until I am laundry free! this may all sound very mundane and boring to those without children i.e. those of you who probably have a real life! but to me this is exciting and big and it makes me happy! and now after the complete unadulterated over use of exclamation marks I will stop talking about my laundry.
So this my third attempt at a blog page and I have realised how technologically challenged I am, I have also realised that my laptop may have a secret vendetta against me as it doesn't seem to do what I tell it do, It must be in league with my children! So anyway I'm trying to get the look of this thing right but between the constant cry of "MUM!" usually screamed at levels that only animals can hear, the limited time available to actually sit in front of the computer and my complete inability to understand what I'm doing this is proving a slow process , so if anyone except me is reading this , this your chance to give me some tips on my page , yes I'm really asking so please guys leave some comments.
And as if my magic there goes the Mum cry so I'll catch up later!
TTFN x
So this my third attempt at a blog page and I have realised how technologically challenged I am, I have also realised that my laptop may have a secret vendetta against me as it doesn't seem to do what I tell it do, It must be in league with my children! So anyway I'm trying to get the look of this thing right but between the constant cry of "MUM!" usually screamed at levels that only animals can hear, the limited time available to actually sit in front of the computer and my complete inability to understand what I'm doing this is proving a slow process , so if anyone except me is reading this , this your chance to give me some tips on my page , yes I'm really asking so please guys leave some comments.
And as if my magic there goes the Mum cry so I'll catch up later!
TTFN x
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
I'm wearing mens pants! we all have days like this.....Don't we?
I'm wearing men's pants, not in cute quirky sexy kind of way, no I'm wearing them in a I have no clean underwear except thongs kind of way! This really is my life and lets face it and be honest girls and guys if you like that style, (no judgement here) the thong is not the most comfortable item to wear and I feel should be resigned to the days when you're wearing something that you really don't want that knicker line or Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries etc when you know sex is as good as guaranteed anyway I digress the point is my life is such that my laundry pile, yes I did say pile is always growing no matter how much I wash they add to it. My 2 year old pointed at it and said "can I climb the mountain mummy" that to me says it all! I have now given strict instructions to all that if they go near the washing machine and its not on , fill it up and put it on, its kind of working the mountain is now more of a hill but I still don't have any clean knickers so I need to get on top of that immediately.
So this it would seem is my life not enough days in the week not enough hours in the day and trying to figure out how to get the most out of what I do have so for me one those ways is to come up with meals that don't take long to prepare, taste great and hopefully please all, which is no easy task with one vegetarian in the family. I often make a meat option and a veg option along the same theme but today I'm making a one meal fits all dish that tastes great is really quick and easy to do and looks impressive enough for a dinner party. What is this amazing dish I here you ask? well ok I can't technically hear you but you get the gist anyway here it is my recipe for The amazing spinach and feta pie served with my extra tasty herby potato bites, hope you try it and love it , I will update with a pic later providing it turns out as well as it normally does, It will of course go wrong now but sod it either way there will be a pic , you've been warned!
ok here goes with the first recipe of my blog
Spinach and Feta pie with herby potato bites
Pre heat the oven to 200-220 c (gas make 6-7, 400-425f) everyones oven is a bit different you will probably know whats best for you.
Herby Potato bites
Another nice time saver here no need to peel your potatoes
Ingredients
Potatoes (enough to serve you or your family)
Italian herb mix or any herbs of preference
olive oil
salt and pepper to season
Chop the amount of potatoes into about 2inch chunks, sprinkle herbs and seasoning over them along with a good glug of olive oil , use your hands to liberally coat all the potatoes pop them on a baking tray and there we go just pop them in the oven on the middle shelf well you get on with the pie.
Spinach and Feta pie
Ingredients
small knob of butter
1 onion
1 bag spinach I prefer baby spinach but totally up to you
200 grams feta cheese
1 pack of filo pastry( around 12 sheets )
1 small cup of melted butter for the pastry
salt and pepper to season I also add a sprinkle of all purpose seasoning but it tastes good without
In a large pan over a moderate to high heat melt butter.
chop onion and pop in the pan allow to cook stirring occasionally until onions are translucent add spinach and seasonings give it a stir and put the lid on and turn off the heat , spinach wilts down quickly and by time you finish the pie case it will be ready.
I use a 9 inch spring form cake tin but trust me what ever you have will work as well. I use the cake tin to make it easy to turn out so I can show people how clever I am!
Grease the tin with some of the melted butter then put in one layer of filo just line the tin and let the pastry hang over the sides , butter the pastry and then add a another layer at a different angle , then butter and the same again now back to the filling.
the spinach should be ready now so all you need to to is crumble the feta into the mixture give it a stir and then pour it into the pastry case. now for the fun and effective top, take the remaining filo sheets and just scrunch each one up you can be as arty as you like , I just scrunch like paper balls and put it on top of the pie until its covered. brush with remaining melted butter pop it in the oven until a lovely golden brown and there we go!
hope that was easy to understand and I hope you enjoy it as much as me.x
So this it would seem is my life not enough days in the week not enough hours in the day and trying to figure out how to get the most out of what I do have so for me one those ways is to come up with meals that don't take long to prepare, taste great and hopefully please all, which is no easy task with one vegetarian in the family. I often make a meat option and a veg option along the same theme but today I'm making a one meal fits all dish that tastes great is really quick and easy to do and looks impressive enough for a dinner party. What is this amazing dish I here you ask? well ok I can't technically hear you but you get the gist anyway here it is my recipe for The amazing spinach and feta pie served with my extra tasty herby potato bites, hope you try it and love it , I will update with a pic later providing it turns out as well as it normally does, It will of course go wrong now but sod it either way there will be a pic , you've been warned!
ok here goes with the first recipe of my blog
Spinach and Feta pie with herby potato bites
Pre heat the oven to 200-220 c (gas make 6-7, 400-425f) everyones oven is a bit different you will probably know whats best for you.
Herby Potato bites
Another nice time saver here no need to peel your potatoes
Ingredients
Potatoes (enough to serve you or your family)
Italian herb mix or any herbs of preference
olive oil
salt and pepper to season
Chop the amount of potatoes into about 2inch chunks, sprinkle herbs and seasoning over them along with a good glug of olive oil , use your hands to liberally coat all the potatoes pop them on a baking tray and there we go just pop them in the oven on the middle shelf well you get on with the pie.
Spinach and Feta pie
Ingredients
small knob of butter
1 onion1 bag spinach I prefer baby spinach but totally up to you
200 grams feta cheese
1 pack of filo pastry( around 12 sheets )
1 small cup of melted butter for the pastry
salt and pepper to season I also add a sprinkle of all purpose seasoning but it tastes good without
In a large pan over a moderate to high heat melt butter.
chop onion and pop in the pan allow to cook stirring occasionally until onions are translucent add spinach and seasonings give it a stir and put the lid on and turn off the heat , spinach wilts down quickly and by time you finish the pie case it will be ready.
I use a 9 inch spring form cake tin but trust me what ever you have will work as well. I use the cake tin to make it easy to turn out so I can show people how clever I am!
Grease the tin with some of the melted butter then put in one layer of filo just line the tin and let the pastry hang over the sides , butter the pastry and then add a another layer at a different angle , then butter and the same again now back to the filling.
the spinach should be ready now so all you need to to is crumble the feta into the mixture give it a stir and then pour it into the pastry case. now for the fun and effective top, take the remaining filo sheets and just scrunch each one up you can be as arty as you like , I just scrunch like paper balls and put it on top of the pie until its covered. brush with remaining melted butter pop it in the oven until a lovely golden brown and there we go!
hope that was easy to understand and I hope you enjoy it as much as me.x
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
And so it begins
I've thought about starting a blog for a long time but never quite made it to the actually starting one but here it is Ta dah! I hope someone, anyone is going to enjoy it(Do I sound desperate enough?).
The advice given is to choose a topic or a theme but that's the thing I don't really have one and believe me I have thought about it a lot! I want to write about food,relationships,kids, life in fact you name it I want to write about it, Hence the mad ramblings.
My initial thoughts were a parenting based blog after all I've been doing this parenting lark for a long time now but there seem to be so many parenting blogs out there and so many that offer tips and advice but I'm not one of those 'Look at Me I'm perfect full make-up on the morning school run, 3 course organic meal, show home'yummy mummies I'm more of a been up since 5, haven't worn make-up in a week or used a razor for that matter, haven't seen the hairbrush since Friday and now it's Monday and be grateful you're getting a hot home cooked meal kind of mum, so you see my dilemma.
That being said I love to cook when I can find the kitchen under the mess of childrens stuff and I hope to offer to some recipes that people will enjoy once I figure out this whole blogging thing and setting up the page and although I won't give out any parenting tips, if I inadvertently say something that helps or gives you an idea for your own family then that's great. But mostly it's going to be just what it says on the tin, The Mad Ramblings of well.....Me! I hope you enjoy them and my introduction x
The advice given is to choose a topic or a theme but that's the thing I don't really have one and believe me I have thought about it a lot! I want to write about food,relationships,kids, life in fact you name it I want to write about it, Hence the mad ramblings.
My initial thoughts were a parenting based blog after all I've been doing this parenting lark for a long time now but there seem to be so many parenting blogs out there and so many that offer tips and advice but I'm not one of those 'Look at Me I'm perfect full make-up on the morning school run, 3 course organic meal, show home'yummy mummies I'm more of a been up since 5, haven't worn make-up in a week or used a razor for that matter, haven't seen the hairbrush since Friday and now it's Monday and be grateful you're getting a hot home cooked meal kind of mum, so you see my dilemma.
That being said I love to cook when I can find the kitchen under the mess of childrens stuff and I hope to offer to some recipes that people will enjoy once I figure out this whole blogging thing and setting up the page and although I won't give out any parenting tips, if I inadvertently say something that helps or gives you an idea for your own family then that's great. But mostly it's going to be just what it says on the tin, The Mad Ramblings of well.....Me! I hope you enjoy them and my introduction x
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