My thoughts and reflections on parenting since becoming a father for the first time in October 2018. Generally, parenting is a hard task and my blog posts usually detail my reactions to the arising challenges.
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)
Feeling near death bringing forth life “Help me!” she screamed “I need it now! Please… help!” The screaming continued. I could just about make out the words amid the gargled noises as my wife thrashed about on the hospital bed. My second son was attempting to make his way into… Read More »On Birthdays: Why you should feel more enthusiastic about them
Up and at ’em Today I woke up less then pleased. It was 5am, still dark, and the three-month old was bright and breezy. He was making his cute little utterances that are beginning to resemble vowel sounds. It wasn’t the early hour which annoyed me. It wasn’t the need… Read More »On Responsibility: The Importance of Social Support
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
We all have an internal ranking system where we put the happenings in our lives into hierarchies of importance to us, which includes rating the profundity of certain events. Specific and circumstantial happenings come to determine how we structure the narratives we use to present ourselves to the world. They… Read More »Early Parenting and the Importance of Coincidences
The Start of a Young Family Today marked one calendar month since the birth of my firstborn son. It’s been a ride so far, up and down, peaks and troughs, a blur of broken sleep and an overload of chores. The first two weeks were certainly the most challenging –… Read More »Entering Parenthood and a New Mindfulness
My last post was a reflective one and I’ve been thinking about other formative experiences I have had that set me on the course leading to where I am now. On a personal level, I am also probably seeking to reassure myself that I’ll make at least an ok parent.… Read More »Motivation for doing the Best for Ones Children