Welcome to my Lifestyle Parenting Blog, where I explore topics related to chronic illnesses such as ME/CFS, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia while embracing a passion for yoga, books, and blogging.
We are Lucky to Live In A Place With So Much Natural Beauty
The Guardian newspaper recently published an article about my hometown, Lowestoft, and how stunning the town centre and our golden beaches are. As a resident of this beautiful town, I completely agree with their sentiment. We are lucky to live in such a stunning location, with no shortage of amazing natural surroundings.
Tips for a Smooth Transition to Secondary School
Big news! My youngest is finally making the big switch to secondary school this September! We're all thrilled now that the SATs are over and done with and now we can focus on preparing for the big transition. I've done this before (3 times), so I've picked up some great tips and have a few up my sleeve that I can’t wait to share to make things a little smoother for my little one. Moving from primary to secondary school can be overwhelming and daunting, but with the right preparation, it doesn't have to be stressful at all.
The Trials of Mixing Kids' Laundry: A Parent's Struggle
Discover the challenges of managing kids' laundry - from never-ending stains to sorting chaos. Explore tips for making this daunting task a little easier.
Having A Chronic Illness Is A Full Time Job
On one of my previous posts about my chronic illness journey a reader left a lovely comment “it honestly feels like a part time job sometimes” – this comment hit home, it resonated with me because it captures the reality of the situation. It was the first time I’d thought of it in that way, but she is correct, being chronically ill is a Part/Full Time Job.
How a Puppy Helped With My Health Grief: The Power of Dog Companionship
Dealing with the grief and challenges of a disabling health condition can be an arduous journey. I lean on my husband and children for support, but I also look to my two 7 year old beagles (Poppy and Kiwi). But, we had yearned for a third dog for a while, but delayed it due to my illness, and also the barmy high prices during lockdown. On my birthday I had a quick look for puppies like I had many times prior, but this time I spotted one that caught my attention.
What a ME/CFS Crash Feels Like
What a ME/CFS Crash Feels Like
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) was first mentioned to me when I was at the spinal clinic at my local hospital. I got angry because I didn’t want a diagnosis of ME/CFS, I felt I was being dismissed with an untreatable illness that has a huge stigma to it; an illness that has a long-term history of being dismissed and ignored, not only by the public but by many in the health profession.
Things No One Tells You About Cleaning As An Adult
With 4 children, 3 dogs, and a bearded dragon cleaning as a parent is a never-ending task, and I can feel overwhelmed at times - it’s a thankless task that can be rewarding, i.e. a labor of love.
Here are a few things that often don't get mentioned about cleaning as an parent:
5 Lessons I learnt My Kinship Daughter Taught Me
We’ve had Special Guardianship for 10 years now… wow, where has time gone. As with most, if not all SGO’s the child comes into your life completely unexpected, and with little or no notice. It flips your life completely upside down (that’s an understatement).
Over the 10 years I have reflected on the journey and the lessons I learnt My Kinship Daughter Taught Me:
Being a Mum Can Be Hard
Whether you’re a mum by birth, legal guardian, step-mum, or kinship, its bloody hard.
Yes, being a Mum is hard, but it’s also amazing. It is full of oxymorons, fear, doubt, joy, love, and so much more; it makes you feel like a failure, but then makes you feel like you are super human. It makes you feel like you are crazy. And makes you feel like the most patient person in the world, but makes you feel like the most impatient person in the world.
The Unwelcome Transition To a Chronic Illness
Transitioning from a fast-paced, demanding job to a slower-paced life due to chronic illness can be a significant change. The shift in responsibilities, daily routines, and priorities can be challenging to adapt to, especially when lifestyle changes are necessitated by conditions like chronic fatigue and chronic pain.
Appointment Fatigue With Chronic Illness: When Medical Care Becomes Overwhelming
The past couple of years have involved GP / consultant appointment, after GP / consultant appointment, test, after test as well as results and referrals. It’s all so very exhausting.
"Appointment fatigue" is a phrase used colloquially to describe the exhaustion or weariness that can arise from having numerous healthcare appointments, particularly when managing a chronic illness. It can be physically and emotionally draining over time.
The Impact of a Disabling Health Condition: A Personal Journey
A diagnosis of a debilitating health condition is like receiving a double-edged sword; it provides the much-needed answers, yet heralds an era of gruelling challenges. It's an overwhelming experience, one that left me feeling defeated, not by some unseen enemy but by my own body.
7 Things Man's Best Friend Needs From Their Owners
There's no doubt about it, our dogs are our best friends. They provide us with companionship, unconditional love, and furry cuddles when we need them most. In return, they ask for very little - a comfy bed, regular meals, and the odd belly rub here and there. However, there are certain things that every dog needs from their owners in order to be happy and healthy.
Coiled Sausage Bake with Toffee Apple Gravy, Mash and Spring Greens
This Autumn, a coiled sausage in puff pastry with smooth toffee apple sauce is sure to warm you up.
Swaledale Butchers sent us a voucher to use on their website, and we opted for the Cumberland Coiled Sausages, so we could share with you one of our mouth-watering family friendly and fun dishes we make; a meaty, rich and creamy meal. What more could you want during these colder months?!
How I am Keeping my Dogs Cool in This Heat
Hottest day ever (in the UK), luckily I live on the coast, so we do get a bit of a sea breeze, which is a godsend!! The kids have gone to school in their P.E Kits, packed with plenty of bottles of water, and suncream. But my poor beagles…they are not enjoying this heat and I am definitely not taking them out on a walk, It’s not fair to do that to them. It’s simple to hot and the risk of heat stroke is real, as well as burnt paws, it’s just not a risk worth doing. Also, they wouldn’t enjoy a walk in this heat.
5 Ways To Treat Your Dog This Summer
The warmer weather that the summer brings means you can spend lots of enjoyable hours outdoors with your dog. The summer sun will make you feel happy, and you'll want to spend much of your time outside soaking up the sun.
4 Ways to Create a Kids' Workspace for Fun and Learning
Creating a kids' workspace can be a daunting task. There are a lot of things to consider when setting up an area for children to play and learn. The first thing to keep in mind is safety. You don't want your child getting hurt while playing in the space you've set up for them. Kids are stuck in schools for hours a day, and they don’t get to decorate their little spaces there.
Improving Your Crafts With Different Techniques
If you are someone who likes to do some arts and crafts, you are not alone - and you are probably always on the lookout for some way in which to make it a little more interesting and engaging. One way to do that, and to widen out your repertoire in general, is to ensure that you are working on your crafts with a variety of different techniques. This will help to ensure that you are going to have a much better chance of creating what you want to create, so it’s something that you should bear in mind.
7 Considerations When Picking out Dog Toys
There are so many different dog toys to choose from that it can feel overwhelming, and it is important to choose the right one for your dog, not only for its safety but also to make sure he gets the maximum enjoyment from it as well.
The right toy can help support your dog emotionally and help with difficult behavioural issues, so getting the perfect choice for his needs can make a big difference to your dog’s happiness, attitude and your enjoyment with him.
Decorating with Teapots and Teacups
There’s something quaint and inimitable about the delicate beauty of a teapot and a teacup. The only downside is that people rarely use teapots and teacups for their standard cuppa these days. Don’t you wish you could get a little more out of these pieces outside of drinking tea? Well, if you’re a lover of all things tea and teaware, here are a few ways you can decorate with teapots and teacups.