Family Wellness Mama

We have some cool little friend living with us this winter… stick insects!  I absolutely adore them, it’s so interesting to watch them swinging from side to side and munching their way through brambles, and the rate at which they grow is unreal.  Our twig like friend have provided an excellent opportunity for the little man to learn some interesting facts about living creatures. Did you know that a female stick insect can lay fertile eggs without the help of a male? Or that a stick insect has no skeleton at all! For more fun facts about stick insects visit  This site If you liked this, you might also like: Nobody loves me, everybody hates me! Five tips for saving money The case of the amazing vanishing glove Here's one we made earlier snowstorm News feed bombing

For the past year I've well and truly caught the running bug. It started off innocently enough, a little jog here, a park run there. Before I knew it I'd signed up for my first half marathon, then another and another.  Emboldened by my success I signed up for the mother of all races, the full  marathon. I'm pleased to report that, as of three weeks ago, I became a marathon runner! But, my running journey hasn't been a solo voyage. My two favorite guys have been with me every step of the way. They came to cheer for me at the finish line, they cycled along side me as I ran around the parks and they even let me laze around on a Sunday with sore legs after my long runs! Then something truly amazing happened. My guys caught my running lurgy too! The big man pulled on his running shoes and trained hard to join me for my second and third half marathons. He completed his first solo half marathon in September, with the little man and I waiting to che

For the final week of the summer holidays we decided to take a little trip to the Lake District. It proved to be a wonderful end to an amazing summer of family fun. I'm slightly relieved that we saved the best till last. Our little glamping trip took us far away from the fast pace of life in Liverpool and helped us all to relax and recharge just in time for the start of term. Now without further ado, let me bore you with some snaps... #Podlife took us back to basics, aka no telly time: The Lake District had some amazing views:  And some cool mushrooms:  We had lots of family fun, especially in the forest: And we saw some animals too:  If you liked this, you might also like: Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I think I'll go and eat worms! five reasons why I'm glad to see the summer holidays Back from our hols! The case of

(picture by  heroethic ) So I feel like I've blinked and the summer holidays are here again. Aside from that fact that I’m still reeling in shock that as of September I’ll be mother two a class 2 (aka top infants!) student. I’m rather excited about the school holidays and here’s why: Sundays Last Longer – On a normal Sunday my weekend buzz wears off at about six o clock. This is around the time that I realise I have a week’s worth of uniforms to iron. I then have to locate a book bag and my sons other school shoe, both of which can usually be found under his bed. Not for the next five weeks though, now I can have an extra couple of hours weekend time! Bed Times Are Negotiable – Having the little man in bed by 8pm every night invariably sets the tone for the next morning. If the little man misses his curfew our morning routine is forced into a frenzied dash around the house as I simultaneously try to feed, brush and dress my sleepy child. The lucky neighbours who

A friend of mine recently made a dramatic announcement. She’s giving up on social networking. Yes, giving up on Social Networking! Once I’d picked myself up from the floor I was able to enquire as to the reason for such a drastic ‘life event’.  Apparently my dear friend, and fellow mother, has grown sick and tired of seeing pictures of ‘couples and kids’ in her news feed.  So nauseated is she by the sight of loved up couples and bouncing babies that she’s had to throw in the social networking towel completely.  Although, my friend is a bit older than me and her children are all grown up, she is very much ‘down with the kids’ especially where technology is concerned. I decided to check it out for myself and quickly discovered that she was right. When I browsed my own news feed, it was indeed full of happy couples and brand new babies. Far from needing a sick bucket I actually enjoyed seeing so many happy pictures in my news feed. So why was my friend so bothered by it?

Lately, it feels like every other story in the news has been about some kind of horrific crime or accident involving a child. Although I try to avoid reading such stories, it’s hard to tune out and the snippets I've been exposed to are just heart breaking. It would seem, in today’s modern world, that there are dangers and eerie strangers lurking around every corner. Parents have instant access to shocking, fear inducing stories from around the world. And although it’s good to stay informed, I feel the sheer volume of information at our fingertips is striking the fear of god into us. Though many might disagree with me, I’m not convinced that there’s any more danger around now than there was 20 years ago. I do believe that the nature of these horrendous crimes and accidents have changed over the years but has the number? It’s sad that our streets are scarcely filled with the sound of children out playing and there’s hardly a camera in sight at the local swing

So, we finally found something useful to do with the survivors of the sock monster's  latest attack...sock puppets!a We made some funky friends for our sock puppets using straws, feathers, googley eyes, pipe cleaners and glitter.

A couple of months ago we went along to the little man's parents evening. The teacher told us that the little dude was making good progress since starting Class but he did have a tenancy to become easily distracted and not listen. We were prepared for this, we have had previous  experience  of the little man's short attention span in after school clubs. So my partner and I set up a rewards chart system that focused on rewarding the little man for listening and following instructions, it seemed to work. We were cautiously confident that we'd see an improvement at school in no time. Imagine our dismay  when, just before Christmas, the teacher called us in again. Our second meeting was more serious. The little man's teacher informed us that he had fallen behind with his work and as well as being easily distracted, he was now disrupting the other children's learning too. In short, he was the naughty child! Now, i'm no deluded mother but I was sure that there w

Is it me or is everybody reproducing? It feels like everywhere I look my friends, family and workmates are either pregnant or have recently given birth. Now I'm not usually the type to succumb to peer pressure but, I am feeling a wee bit broody and this madness needs to stop! I absolutely love being a mum and every day with the little man is magical and fun. But, being a mum of one means I always have a free hand! Recently there's been a little voice in my head that just won't quit "It's just one more," or "look how cute they are," my treacherous mind tells me. To help me to stay strong and ignore my broody self, at least for another decade, I've made a little list of some of the reasons I love being a mum of one. I always have change in my purse: Sure it's only a little bit of change but I have noticed an increase in financial freedom since the little man started school and I don't want to go back to the nursery fees hell.

The cat had grown rather fond of a cardboard box which had been lying about the place. Today the little man and I gave it a ten minute makeover! What do you think?

Today the government's new child benefits criteria came into effect. Apparently it will stop high earning families from claiming benefits. The government  guidelines  say that families with one parent earning over £50,000 a year will be affected by the change. I agree with idea, people shouldn't receive benefits unless there is  a genuine need for support. However, I don't think the criteria is very clear or fair. Especially when you consider that two parents earning £49,000, respectively, would still be fine and dandy to receive all of their child benefits.  But, a family with one breadwinner earning £51,000 would not be so lucky. Where's the sense in that? While we're on the subject of senseless actions. The government has also unveiled plans to change the housing benefits system. Under new rules , which come in to effect in April, People on housing benefits will be penalised if their home is considered too big. the government doesn't seem to think that