Doodling with Intent This weekend I taught my son how to draw expansively. At least that’s what I’m calling it. I don’t know what the word is for drawing doodles which connect to each other but it must be a thing. The rain poured outside. The little ones had tired… Read More »Doodles, Old Souls, and Koans: Lessons from a Rainy Afternoon
Cant catch a break? Try this. Unexpected, unprecedented. Resetting and refocusing. A kind of a break, and a new start of sorts. Three and a half weeks without my young family’s constant needs was just what the doctor ordered. Only, I didn’t know it until the opportunity was thrust upon… Read More »1 Tip to improve everything: Take an actual break
Is the playground a place of innocence? The local playground. A place of fun? A place of good times? Maybe. Yet also a place where children come together to socialize that can become a microcosm of society’s larger issues. I’m going to reflect on three distinct incidents that occurred in… Read More »Navigating the Playground: Bullying, Anti-Social Behaviour and Racism
What makes parenting so hard? From a parent in the thick of it (two under five) to any expecting or new parents. The below list is an exploration of ten of the big changes involved. Together they make parenting the challenge that it is. Written to explain what new parents… Read More »Why is parenting hard? What new parents need to know
A nearby temper tantrum Today, I witnessed a horrendous tantrum. I was waiting in a queue to pay for lunch at Thatcham garden centre café. I had my two young children there with me. As I was keeping an eye on them clinging to my legs, I heard an awful… Read More »Learning from children: adopting a playful attitude to life
Contrasting Experiences Round and round the garden he rode the bike excitedly. The happy curly-haired boy was seven or eight years old. Perhaps a little older. It was fun, it was a thrill. His mum looked on from the patio in pleasure at the newly learned technique. He was doing… Read More »Milestones in Parenting
Parenting is rewarding. Parenting is worthwhile. It’s the greatest thing you’ll ever do. Some people would give anything to be able to conceive so count yourself lucky if you can have children. I’m sure these were things I heard in relation to being a parent, possibly long before I actually… Read More »Is it me or does parenting suck?
The first Breakdown of the Day Communication matters. This was it. This was dinosaur day. A trip up the A34 to Oxford to the Museum of Natural History. Mostly to indulge my three-year-old’s current mega obsession with all things prehistoric and lizard-like but also to find a renowned cake shop.… Read More »On Communication and Stress (dealing with family days out)
Every Day is a Good Day I look deep into the eyes of my son and I see my likeness. It is a moment of joy, of perfection. He is happy here and I am happy to be in his presence. The now tired plastic rocking horse lies cast aside… Read More »Every Day is A Good Day: How a little bit of Zen can help lift our mood
Fatherhood in Focus Assuming fatherhood has been the most challenging obstacle which I’ve had to overcome in my young (ish) life. This may be saying a lot for those who’ve known me for ten years or more. It’s the truth though. Recently, after an autumn-themed photoshoot to celebrate marking my… Read More »Fatherhood in Focus: Friendly Advice for Dads-to-be
Musical Messages on My Mind A short while ago I had a tune stuck in my head. It went something like whop-whop whop-ding, whop-whop whop-ding and had to be some kind of dance music, but I just couldn’t put a name to the tune or remember what the rest of… Read More »On Parenting : Changes, the Slow Day, and the Timer
My son was 100 days old on Friday. My Chinese in-laws dressed him up in gold bracelets and a red and gold chain necklace, for the first time in his short life he looked bling. It made me think of how we make not only all of the big decisions… Read More »Reflections on a more Responsible Life and using Trello