The Cityparents Blog
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Sonya’s Blog: Returning to the office after a pandemic
When I returned to work after having my son in 2016, I found the process really stressful and upsetting. I had just over a year off work, and I had an amazing time on maternity leave. ... Read More
Victoria's blog: Feeling valued
In my previous post, I looked forward to some nice routine surgery for a break from my work and my life. Unfortunately, my routine surgery became emergency surgery that knocked me out for six weeks. ... Read More
Ruth's blog: Last week of term
I am writing this on Monday evening, this being the last week that my daughter will spend in Reception. We have been amazed that she has managed a whole school year and bar a few days of self i... Read More
Maggie's blog: Masks off, diary full, so why am I not rejoic...
As I write this Boris has just announced that from 19th July masks, and all of the other COVID regulations that we’ve lived with for the best part of 18 months, are finished. I thought that thi... Read More
Addy's blog: Leaving on a jet plane (don’t know when I’ll be...
I write this blog coming to you live from the sunny hot beaches of Alicante in Spain. After much heated debate in our household my husband and I decided we would be brave and make our annual trip to ... Read More
Marion's blog: One hour at a time
This pandemic has been raging on now for what feels like forever, but in reality, is a little short of a year and a half or so. During this time, we have followed the rules, stayed inside, stuck to w... Read More
Caroline M's blog: Failing
I suspect I won’t be alone in saying there were many days throughout the lockdowns where I felt I failed at everything- work, childcare, home schooling, nourishing and nurturing not just my fam... Read More
Ally's blog: Your back-to-the-office training programme
At one point the declaration was made that the office was dead - long live WFH! But no sooner did we adjust to that than - hey-ho - the office has been resurrected. Apparently even Google... Read More
Barbara's blog: The persistence of memory
My Italian mother broke her femur on 23 June 2020, just as lockdown was easing in Italy. She spent a whole month in hospital recovering, because she lived alone and could not be discharged, as she ha... Read More
Dolly's blog: London baby
And it goes a little something like this…
After 15 months marooned in a scenic but achingly dull corner of rural Wiltshire (devoid of non-supermarket retail, decent coff... Read More
Linda's Blog: Let's talk about grief
In a few weeks it will be the 5th anniversary of my mum’s death. Writing that, even now, feels strange and wrong. My mum died suddenly and unexpectedly. I had a child at ... Read More
Uchenna's blog: Life lessons from the tooth fairy
When we run out of household items these days, the tooth fairy is our go-to banker.
A lover of yoghurt, my five-year son, aka Commander-in-Chief Junior, was upset that none was provided for brea... Read More
Sonya’s Blog - Friends at two metres
My son started school in September 2020. Whilst it was in the midst of global pandemic it felt completely natural and my son adapted extremely well. There was the understandable anxiousne... Read More
Victoria's blog: Burning out
I like googling the symptoms of ‘burn out’ during my copious free time. It gives me the same sense of satisfaction as acing a quiz. Difficulty concentrating? Tick. Trouble sleeping? Tick.... Read More
Ruth's blog: How was your weekend?
[Monday morning. Two colleagues start a video call]
Hello! Happy Monday!
Hi! Yes, you too! How was your weekend? Get up to…anything?
[They exchan... Read More
Maggie's blog: It’s a birthday but not as we know it
With the anniversary of going into lockdown 1.0, everyone in the UK has presumably experienced a COVID impacted birthday. In our family of 5 people, our birthdays are concentrated into 2 months. We h... Read More
Addy's blog: Be the challenge
Last year I had a rough year, which is a probably a massive understatement as we have all had a rough 2020! But on top of all the challenges that Covid threw at us, I lost part of my bowel, my job&nb... Read More
Marion's blog: Discovering the power of a helping hand
I met my husband in London but we are both originally from Australia, moving over to the UK in 2004 and 2005.
Because all of our family is still in Australia we've never experienced the supp... Read More
Alison's blog: Normality hopes
The time we were all waiting for is finally here. Schools are re-opening and we will have some of the much awaited freedom and peace.
This second lockdown has been so much harder than the first ... Read More
Caroline M's blog: Pet therapy
A year ago, our beautiful Poppy cat had to be put to sleep. She was my baby before I had babies. Everybody in my circle, from colleagues, to family and friends, was invested in her, having been treat... Read More
Ally's blog: How did we do that?
This week my employer sent out a fairly lengthy questionnaire to everyone in the firm to ask us about how we thought we might want to work once the pandemic restrictions are no longer in place. It&rs... Read More
Caroline P's blog: Lockdown 3
As we settle into Lockdown 3, we’re all feeling a bit blue in my house. My sleep is all over the place, and if something threatens to shift the delicate house of cards routine I’ve b... Read More
Barbara's blog: Puppy love...
There’s been a theme in recent blogs that it is important to find time for oneself. This seems counter-intuitive, because the world has shut down and turned into an introverts’ paradise a... Read More
Dolly's blog: I must go down to the seas again
It’s day 9865 in the lockdown household. Positivity is dwindling. Food is running low. The Wi-Fi has forsaken us. All is lost. Thirty years and several kilograms s... Read More
Linda's blog: Me time (what’s that?!)
When did you last do something for you? I mean really for you. Not something that was with or for the family or someone else that you were looking forward to. Something that was ind... Read More
Uchenna's blog: Toy Story on Laminate – An art installation ...
New Year, same deal: 2021 has not yet distinguished itself from 2020.
With the return to full lockdown, I‘m still incredulous at the sci-fi horror thriller unfolding with COVID-19 bei... Read More
Sonya's blog: Presents
It is really exciting to be writing my first blog for Cityparents. When I received the rota list, and found out I was to write my first blog in December, it felt that perfect opportunity to wri... Read More
Victoria's blog: The holiday season
I have failed at Christmas. Completely and utterly failed and it’s only mid-December. My husband has failed too which takes the edge off a bit.
We both have deals which are meant to close ... Read More
Ruth's blog: A day in the life from 2020…
I am not new to home working, but COVID-19 has brought the experience to another level to my colleagues and family. My partner and I are now professional children-and-work-jugglers (no fancy costumes... Read More
Maggie's blog: And they’re back... but for how long?
Along with many parents around the country it was with a huge sigh of relief that we waved our 3 children back to school at the start of September. Our 12 year old twins went off loaded down with the... Read More