Yesterday, I began answering the question I probably get the most emails asking: How I encourage sibling relationships, covering up until B5 was born. At this point everything changed. Life went from being pleasant in every sense of the word to being really rather difficult. Parenting goals and aspirations went right out of the window…
Category: About Us
Reader Question: How do you encourage sibling relationships?
From the depth of my being I have always desired have a happy peaceful home. Not having grown up with that it would be high on my goal list for both marital and family relations. This means I have parented intentionally, with that goal in mind, right from the start. I am blessed now with a…
Out of the Mouth of Babes
I was blow-drying my seven year old's hair when she turned and asked me a question, A7 - 'Mummy, when can I start to wear deodorant?' Me - 'When you start to get a bit niffy.' A7 - 'When will that be?' Gary - 'Don't worry, we'll let you know!' Me (at about the same…
T14’s Physics IGCSE came through!
Just heard and thought I'd share. T got an A in his very first IGCSE in Physics. I'm just a little bit proud 🙂
Why I won’t be Making any Money out of my Blog Anytime Soon
In November I asked for help to make money from my blog. The government was, at the time, threatening to take away tax credits if you had children over five and did not go out to work. For us that would have been hard, so we looked at other ways to bring in money. A…
Flower Fairy Party for a Five Year Old
The day began with a mammoth present opening session. We make big deals of birthdays here and the children always have lots of lovely gifts to open: She was delighted with them all but particularly liked her Flower fairy musical jewellery box, which she trails around the house with her, everywhere she goes! I had…
Happy 4th Birthday, Gorgeous Girl!
B blasted into our life four years ago with a huge wail and really didn't stop wailing for a good couple of years! She has by far been my hardest child, but with hard comes a deep love and an utter joy which is very difficult to put into words. She has a huge, huge…
Introducing……The New Bedroom!
Gary's parents have been visiting for the past week and Gary and Tom (his Dad) have been working some magic in our lovely but small cottage. We live in what is essentially a two bedroom 200-year-old cottage. Gary and I sleep in what was the office down stairs, the four girls sleep upstairs in one…
What Kind of Home Schooler am I Anyway?
In my quest to organise my blog, I am gathering all related posts into one post to make them easier to find. I tend to reflect often and change what doesn't suit. These posts will contain my reflections and I am sure will be added to in the coming years. My thoughts on what…
Seven things you could all do without knowing about me….
A week or so ago, Sue from Stories of an Unschooling Family nominated me for an award. I am someone who is unsure what to do when given an award. Of course it is lovely to know someone enjoys reading your blog and I really am trying to embrace that rather than the awkwardness I…
A Surprise Day Out
This morning Gary and I were woken up at 6.50am by a cute little three year old repeating the word beach over and over. I turned over and went back to sleep expecting her to climb in next to me and snuggle down. She didn't. She was very shortly joined by her brother and sisters…
Habits for a Simple Life
During our four years in Ireland we learnt some important lessons on happiness. I am reposting one of the first posts I ever wrote on this blog because it sums up what I wish our lives to return to. It is called My Kettle: When I moved to Ireland (albeit kicking and screaming), I found, to…
Twelve Years Today….A Post For My Son.
Twelve years today you burst into my life and nothing has been the same since. I loved you the moment I met you. A love of an intensity I had never experienced before. A love that grows every day. It was a love that, in a single moment, ensured that you would be given the…
A very special present
Hello everyone and happy new year! I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are all looking forward to a brand new year, with no mistakes in it....yet. (sorry, one of my favourite near quotes from Anne of Green Gables) We had a great Christmas, which as usual was kept very simple. We…
The Angelicscalliwags School: Art, Artists, Music and Composers
For Part One: Introduction For Part Two: Why History? For Part Three: Era, Person, Dress Up, Geography, Explorer study For Part Four: Reading and Literature Studies For Part Five: Writing, Narrations and Re-enactments Art and artist study has to be one of my favourite past times. Whilst I can't draw a bit, I am very arty…