Over at the Plenty Facebook page they are running a great giveaway until the 12th of December called the #12daysofPlenty . Each day there is a riddle to solve, with all kinds of exciting things to win. Prizes so far have included a Lego lighthouse, vouchers, and a coffee maker. You should head over to… Read More
Dear Sir, You encountered me and my children in a clothing store in a quiet Gloucestershire town a week or two ago. I was with my four-year-old son and my nearly-two-year-old daughter. Shopping for clothes is something I very rarely do these days, but unusually for me, I had a Christmas party to go to… Read More
When you live with toddlers, everything below waist height is covered in grubby little hand prints. Juice, cream-cheese, jam, toothpaste, snot -if it can be spilled or smeared on some surface, Biggest and Littlest have got it covered. That’s why I knew we had to try the Vileda Windomatic when we were contacted in order… Read More
I always feel like a child at this time of year. The first flashes of fairy lights are appearing on our street. The shops are in full festive playlist mode. The Christmas tree is up and twinkling affably as I type. As the Christmas traditions come thick and fast, I am filled with a sense… Read More
Westonbirt Aboretum run their Enchanted Christmas illuminations from late November right up to the 18th of December – and my goodness, they are magnificent. We were very lucky to be invited to Enchanted Christmas last weekend and the event surpassed all my expectations in terms of spectacle and organisation. However, we did have some significant… Read More
Arty Apple create beautiful personalised gifts for babies and children that are suitable for so many occasions. From Baby Showers to a baby’s first Christmas, you will find a wide selection of beautiful items that are just perfect for those special celebrations and milestones you share with the little ones in your family. Arty Apple… Read More
The nativity can be a rite of passage. My own parents have a home video of me in the 80s, five years old, tinsel wound around my head, bridesmaid dress slightly too small, wings slightly askew. I sang a song about how Mary was going to have a baby, to rapturous applause. And then I… Read More
I love bright and colourful children’s clothes. There was a time when I swore I wouldn’t gender-stereotype at all. I was sure that Littlest would wear all her brother’s hand-me-downs and shun pink and frills. I haven’t stuck to that as religiously as I might have (turns out that we both quite like pink and frills),… Read More
EduGuru educational apps for 3-5 year-olds are a new range of games that are designed to help children learn outside the classroom and stimulate their imaginations. Tablet games that provide predictable interaction are probably a staple in many autism households – and ours is no exception. I knew right away that Biggest would enjoy EduGuru games… Read More
Every parent knows the fight. Autism parent. It starts as soon as the children wake – if they slept – and it continues until the moment you collapse on the sofa, breathing a sigh of relief. It’s “Please eat some breakfast!” and “Where are your shoes?” and “No, don’t push your sister!” It’s remembering the… Read More
Gorgeous boy, you don’t yet understand stereotypes. But people are already judging you by them, stereotypes like these – People with autism have limited imaginations. Autistic children do not play and pretend like others their age. They are trapped in a literal world where the nuances of fantasy and imagery escape them. People with autism… Read More
A result is a result. So stop complaining. People said it after Brexit. People are saying it today. And it enrages me. Democracy is a beautiful thing. It has flaws, as any system of government will, but there is no better alternative; in fact, all the alternatives are much, much worse. But a blind love… Read More