The Cityparents Blog

I am so over kids’ parties.    Even when I was a kid they caused me trauma.   Not being invited confirmed my gnawing fear that I didn’t fit in, but being invited was e... Read More

They say that if you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning. Sadly, it was into this second category that our recent au-pair experience fell. Whilst we ca... Read More

I recently went to a Cityparents lunchtime seminar on Stress and Burnout and realised that I was very stressed and running dangerously close to burning out. One thing that really resonated with me wa... Read More

With summer holiday season almost upon us, I have found an unpublished blog I wrote last summer after returning from holidays (I hope you don’t mind the recycling!)  I had just finish... Read More

The youngest son breaks up for school at the beginning of July for a full 8 weeks of kicking back and doing nothing (at least in his opinion). Think of the fortnights of Fortnite and other incredible... Read More

Three months ago, I decided to take the semi-calculated risk of leaving my current employer, without having a job-offer in place for another position.  For a single parent, with ever-increa... Read More

At a recent parent teacher information session, the Headteacher discussed the importance of online safety and safe guarding procedures that have been put in place for the pupils. I found that the ses... Read More

Our big drive at the moment is to make new friends. It’s a strange mission to have in your mid-30s (37 is still ‘mid’ isn’t it?) but we moved back to my wife’s home town... Read More

I had an amazing experience last week at the CityParents event “Living with Anxiety” with Nick Elston. When I walked into the room, I felt (as I do again now) an overwhelming urge to cry;... Read More

It’s been 12 years. Can I leave my kids on their own yet?!  After a decade of live-in childcare we are now fending for ourselves and I’m enjoying the freedom of walking naked ar... Read More

With Mental Health Awareness Week looming, I’ve been thinking about one small concept I believe has a massive impact on our mental wellbeing. Conveniently, it’s one we can easily track in... Read More

I have decided I am Schrödinger’s cat. For those of you who are not up on your quantum mechanics or fans of “The Big Bang Theory” here’s a layman’s guide to wh... Read More

I realised as I was about to start writing this that, other than writing on here, I have written a lot less over the last 12 months than I did in the 12 months before that. I used to write regular bl... Read More

The change of season is upon us and the warm sun and longer evenings are welcome as leaving for work in the dark and getting home in the dark seem like distant memories. It’s a time of year for... Read More

I read an article once which I think summed it up perfectly – life as a working mum can seem like one long exercise of never measuring up! I think the guilt factor is ever present for all ... Read More