by Josephine Hughes | Oct 3, 2018
Jennifer Quinn says there are two times when parenting is most difficult. When the baby first arrives home, and when the adult child first leaves home. Most of us are familiar with the chaos and disruption that a new baby brings to a family. There are so many...
by Josephine Hughes | Sep 25, 2018
When people have low self-esteem it can be difficult to recognize when they’re being treated badly. Simply, if they have not experienced respectful relationships, they do not know when someone is being unkind, controlling or bullying. They do not believe that they...
by Josephine Hughes | Sep 13, 2018
It’s Friendship Month. Friendships have been so important to me as a Mum, and in fact, it was becoming a Mum that helped me to make friends in my local community. Having friends who share the ups and downs of parenting has sustained me for 25 years and I’m looking...
by Josephine Hughes | Sep 5, 2018
Change. What do you think of it? Do you like it or hate it? I asked the question on my Facebook page and received a variety of answers. Someone said they find change interesting and think they learn from it. Someone else said that if the change involves learning...
by Josephine Hughes | Aug 29, 2018
The end of the summer holidays may bring a mixture of feelings to parents: Exhaustion from juggling childcare with work or with being available 24/7 Delight that the holidays are nearly over Guilt about wanting some time to themselves Sadness about the passing of time...
by Josephine Hughes | Aug 21, 2018
The other day I found a diary from the time my oldest was in Year 10. This is the year before they sat their GCSEs and I’d just read their school report. I was so upset and worried. It seemed like they weren’t working and were wasting their potential. They’d missed...
by Josephine Hughes | Aug 14, 2018
If you’re a parent with a student expecting A Level results you don’t need me to tell you the results are due this week. Naturally the focus is very much on students but for parents this can be a terrifying time. Sometimes it feels like the results reflect on us,...
by Josephine Hughes | Aug 7, 2018
The summer holidays in the UK is a time when the academic chickens come home to roost in terms of exam results. Graduations, A-Level and GCSE Results Day are all happening. If children have not performed well, or as well as expected, parents may experience a range of...
by Josephine Hughes | Jul 30, 2018
The long hot spell in the UK has well and truly broken and after the very humid weather, rain feels like a welcome relief. However it also made me wonder how parents looking after their children are faring. It can be hard when everyone is stuck indoors and ideas...
by Josephine Hughes | Jul 25, 2018
This time of year is a time of transitions for our children and for ourselves. There are a lot of lasts. Last time at toddler group before pre-school. Last time at pre-school before school. Last time at primary school before secondary school. Last exams, last time...
