Living Arrows | Much Needed Magic

'You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth' Khalil Gibran. 

It's been a very tough few weeks for us as Grandad was diagnosed with Covid. It was completely unexpected as he's been very vigilant, has followed all the rules and hasn't really ventured out all that much. He didn't show any of the typical symptoms, he simply felt achey and off his food for a few days then he was hospitalized with chest pains. Fortunately he is now back home and is on the slow road to recovery. There's a lot I have to say about how his case was handled, and I'll do so in a separate post but for now all that matters is he's still with us and he's managed to keep the virus away from my Nan whilst still providing her with the daily care she needs as she's disabled following two strokes. It's so difficult being away from them, caring for Nan isn't an easy job for him when he's well so I am in awe of him doing it when he feels so ill himself. I hate how powerless I feel. 

Books | The Best Interactive Books For Children

It's no surprise that we love books in our house. Reading has been such an important aspect of my life and is an activity that the family regularly enjoy together. It's easy to think of books as being just bedtime stories but books have so many other valuable learning and playing aspects beyond just getting a child to sleep at night. Below is a small selection of our favourite interactive books.

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Living Arrows | Girls Best Friend

'You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth' Khalil Gibran.  

Here they are again, my two babies and the two bestest of friends. The media give Staffies a bad reputation and in a way I understand why, it seems that staffies attack and cause serious injuries more than most other breeds but I think it's more to do with the fact that they can more easily cause more serious damage rather than staffies being more prone to attacking. In my experience I've seen exactly why Staffies are often referred to as 'nanny dogs'. 

Living Arrows | Getting Outdoors

 'You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth' Khalil Gibran. 

This is one of my absolute favourite pictures for so many reasons. Firstly it was taken at Rufford Abbey which is my favourite place and wedding venue of choice (when Covid allows!). Secondly it's a picture with both my babies, something that never happens because neither one of them is ever still long enough! We only managed this one by chance as Iris was bombing down a hill shortly after this was taken.

Undiagnosed Autism and Mainstream School | My Experience

 The days are long but the years are short- the most significant parenting quote i've ever read. I vividly remember thinking "I can't wait for Iris to start nursery, only a few more years to go". Being at home with young babies and toddlers is immensely hard work. To me it felt like my entire existence was being swallowed by a teeny tiny, snack monster. Constantly on demand, constantly needing to be aware and constantly being 'switched on'. It all felt so constant. So unending. Now nursery isn't a few years away, it's now and I'm not ready. It isn't because Iris isn't ready, she's been ready for months, she's been craving the structure and mental stimulation that only a learning environment can give and it certainly isn't because I'm not ready for the break- I am chomping at the bit to get some time back to re-discover myself and give myself the opportunity to work, exercise and be creative again. The reason I'm not ready for Iris to start nursery is because I'm not ready to deal with what 'school' means to me. I'm not emotionally ready to send her into the system that destroyed me.

Living Arrows | The End Of An Era

 'You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth' Khalil Gibran.  

Just like that three whole years have passed and she's on her way to pre-school and whilst Iris feels like she's at the beginning of something special I can't help feeling like it's the end. The end of my baby being at home, the end of endless days spent playing together and the end of me being her teacher. I'm a little sad that she'll be asking someone else incessant questions about the whys, whats and hows of the world around her.