After having Isabel I became fascinated with breastfeeding. The whole thing is a pretty amazing process, and some of the components of breast milk are beyond compare. However, I soon discovered articles from “feminists” arguing that birth, breastfeeding and the associated period of fairly intense parenting that a newborn requires are oppressing; career crushing even. […]
Category: Parenting
I became a parent in November 2009 and, as the cliché goes, my world turned upside down. PHP posts turned to pregnancy, midnight gaming turned to midnight (and 1am, and 2am, and …) feeds. Here lies documented tales of poop, boobs, toddler tantrums and the nitty gritty that goes with being Mum.
Resorting to Child Labour
I’m so freakin’ knackered from all the moving malarkey that I’m resorting to child labour: But hey, at least she’s earning her keep ;D Move is progressing well, touch wood. We exchange contracts on Tuesday, and assuming the mortgage company get their arses in to gear and release the funds straight away we complete on […]
Shit You Don’t Need to Raise a Baby
When I was pregnant with Isabel, I used to devour little blog entries and articles on major parenting websites telling me everything I’d need for when my bundle of joy arrived. I even had Amanda write me a list of basics based on her experience working in maternity stores. It’s all bollocks. Every article, every […]
Coping Without TV
In the weeks after Isabel’s arrival, Karl and I stopped watching TV. It wasn’t planned; in fact, we were really pleased originally that the cottage had such an awesome aerial compared to the old flat. It just seemed so… low priority. I’d vowed not to let Isabel be babysat by the TV anyway, so I […]
Breastfeeding and Booby Traps
I started this draft when my application form came through from the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers to train as a Mother Supporter. You have to include a covering letter talking about your breastfeeding experiences. I started writing, and before I knew where I was I’d covered 1500 words and had no idea where to stop. […]
I Blew It
Aye, there goes my posting-every-day. (Although hopefully I can pick it back up again.) Isabel came down, very suddenly, with some sort of virus yesterday. She spent the majority of the day sleeping on me or nursing. By the time I’d finally got her down for the evening I was knackered and just wanted to […]
Labial Frenectomy
Have spent all evening trying to do some research into the labial frenectomy procedure, ENT specialists in the local area, etc. Am getting absolutely bloody nowhere, apart from more and more frustrated. To cut a long and boring story (about breastfeeding, mostly) short I am convinced that Isabel has a maxillary lip-tie: i.e. there is […]
The Self-Settling Myth
There are many contentious issues on parenting websites. Right up there with the grand breastfeeding vs. formula debate is sleep, and more specifically, sleep training. I’ve talked about my problem with certain methods of sleep training before, so I won’t rehash things. In the grand scheme of things I am quite moderately middle, possibly leaning […]
Breastfeeding a Toddler
When I was pregnant with Isabel, and I started looking into what was out there in the way of breastfeeding support etc, I read tale after tale of mums who’d been removed from buildings, asked to leave buses, told to cover up and so on, just for breastfeeding in public. I’ve read horrific stories of […]
Stilton Sauce
It’s Karl’s birthday today (happy birthday, you old fart) so I cooked him some stilton sauce to go with his chips (I know, I spoil him rotten). He’s about half way through when Isabel gesture wildly at the sauce and says “dib dib”. So, Karl picks up a chip, dip dips it into the sauce […]