Author: snatchedwords

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Dealing With Post-Mini Break Aftermath

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This weekend we went to Wales for a few days with friends. It was so nice to have a break together and we had a wonderful time. We all came back fired up and full of new memories. We also came back with bag loads of stuff to be unpacked and washed, and even bigger bags under our eyes thanks to several late nights combined with the 4 month sleep regression. So I knew yesterday wasn’t going to be easy. Going from 4 adults back to just me, and dealing with tired kids to boot. Plus the weekend is when … Continue reading Dealing With Post-Mini Break Aftermath

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How Breastfeeding Support Can Help: Our Story

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I didn’t expect baby number 3 to be the one I’d struggle to breastfeed. With my eldest two children, establishing breastfeeding was straightforward and, although each of those journeys had a few little bumps along the road, mostly we were lucky to have an easy time of it and be surrounded by supportive friends and families. I wanted to pay that support forward so I trained as a peer supporter. So feeling experienced and armed with knowledge, it didn’t even cross my mind that when Nate arrived things might not go so smoothly.  I like to cook my babies well … Continue reading How Breastfeeding Support Can Help: Our Story

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Superheroes And Butterflies: Preschooler Bedroom

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This week I’ve ‘finished’ Eleanor (4) and Fraser’s (2) new room (as much as I ever manage to finish a room). To recap, they started sharing a room fairly recently to make space for Nate (4 months). I wanted to decorate their new room so that it felt more exciting for them and less like they’d been moved for Nate, to try and avoid any resentment towards the new baby in the house.  I asked them what type of room they’d like (probably a mistake). Eleanor asked for butterflies, Fraser asked for superheroes. To combine the two without it clashing, … Continue reading Superheroes And Butterflies: Preschooler Bedroom

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The Falcon Of Sparta: Audiobook Review

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This week I finished listening to The Falcon Of Sparta by Conn Iggulden on Audible. I’ve recently read two other books by Iggulden called Darien and Shiang. I’m not sure what category to put those books into, possibly fantasy or magical realism. I really enjoyed Iggulden’s writing though so I wanted to read more of his work. Iggulden is better known for his historical fiction, which is a genre I love so I decided to dive into one of those. I nearly went for a book about the War of the Roses (and probably still will at some point). But … Continue reading The Falcon Of Sparta: Audiobook Review

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Giving Too Much Or Too Little Attention

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I worry a lot that I don’t give my children enough attention. I also worry a lot that I give them too much attention. Contradictory but hey that’s how my brain works.  I worry I don’t give Nate (3 months) enough attention because he’s left to cry a lot more often than I ever did the other two. It’s unintentional. Just a consequence of there constantly being competing demands for my attention. Today it was because of a particularly disgusting toilet training incident.  I worry I don’t give Fraser (2 years) enough attention because everybody keeps warning me middle children … Continue reading Giving Too Much Or Too Little Attention

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Little Moments

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Today was a fairly typical day. The boys and I dropped Eleanor at preschool, went home for a tidy up, picked her back up, had lunch, went back to preschool for sports day then to the park before a friend came round for a catch up over a cuppa. Except we all know the facts of a day don’t really tell you what it was like. It’s all the little moments that do that. So here are some of today’s moments.  Nate woke up earlier than I was ready to so I got a bit more sleep by feeding him … Continue reading Little Moments

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In Defence Of Health Researchers

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A news story on the radio about fruit juice caught my ear this morning. It was about new results from a study that found a link between sugary drinks and cancer. It got my attention because at the end of the story the news reader said something along the lines of ‘The researchers say there is no evidence of a causal effect and more research needs to be done.’ In that line I could hear the researchers’ trying to make sure all of the nuances of interpreting scientific research weren’t completely ignored in favour of a good headline.  The thing … Continue reading In Defence Of Health Researchers

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A Man Called Ove: Book Review

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I wrote before about my love of reading. The most recent book that I’ve finished is ‘A Man Called Ove’ by Fredrik Backman. Unsurprisingly, this book tells the story of Ove, who on the surface is a grumpy old man who partakes in ongoing squabbles with his neighbours. As the story unfolds we learn more about Ove and his past so that we understand how he got to this point and why he approaches things in the way that he does. I found this an easy and reasonably satisfying read. Because I tend to read in short chunks, I like … Continue reading A Man Called Ove: Book Review

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3 Kids And A Wedding

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My parents throw legendary parties. My dad reckons the key to this is prepping loads beforehand and then going with the flow on the night. I think the same principle works for taking young children to a party as well. So for my brother’s wedding this weekend I started packing for the overnight stay several days before and made sure I had loads of entertainment options on hand if needed. In keeping with the prepping beforehand, I’d planned our morning out to make sure I had enough time to do everything. It was actually our wedding anniversary as well so … Continue reading 3 Kids And A Wedding