And what do YOU want to do today darling?
I remember being very small and really not wanting to go to my ballet class (isn’t it weird how certain childhood memories just stick?)
I was standing at the top of the stairs and my Dad (a bit of a softie) was quite happy to let me skip the class. But my Mum told him that they’d paid for it, I’d enjoy it when I got there and playing with my toys or watching television would be no better for me.
Of course, I went to ballet that day, loved it as usual and continued for years. In retrospect, I can see that it was entirely the right call. Thank you to my parents for making me stick at something.
If you are a parent, you might be considering how you approach these situations with your children. In my own case, I see the different ways that parents react almost every day and my conclusion is that parenting has changed quite a bit since I was a child. Read more »
Sibling Rivalry
Whilst sibling rivalry is common, it can be nonetheless upsetting for all involved.
As a parent and as someone who deals with children on a daily basis, I’ve both experienced it first hand and have had numerous conversations with parents who are struggling too.
So, why do siblings squabble? There can be many reasons -
Should Siblings Attend the Same School?
Yesterday I met a fellow Mummy for coffee and cake; her two children are a little older than mine – her eldest is 11 and her youngest is 9.
To date, (that is to say, until her eldest started secondary school) they have always attended the same school.
It seemed like a good plan – not least because of the practicalities of picking up and dropping off, and of course the emotional benefits of having a sibling at the same school; however she’s now beginning to think about whether or not it’s necessarily the best idea.
Now, I realise that depending upon whereabouts you live, there’s not always a choice when it comes to schools; but as she’s living in London and there are a couple of good schools in easy reach, there’s no issue there.
I asked her what had brought about this thinking – not that I necessarily think it’s a bad idea – it’s just that I had always assumed that she would send them both to the same school. She said she’d always assumed much the same thing, but she wondered whether it really ought to be such a given.
Helping Your Child Adjust to a New Baby
This week I thought I’d share a story about my own experiences as a Mum.
Our son was 23 months when I brought our daughter home for the first time. Now, there are lots of different opinions over what to do when introducing a new baby to your toddler for the first time. It can be a difficult time for the firstborn child. Of course they’ll need lots of love and reassurance as you don’t want them to feel like they’re being replaced by a newer model!
