Song of the Day: Time and Space by The Cinematic Orchestra

"Every soul 

comes to this earth
carried on angels wings
to human birth.
Born of love
or born of hate
each one is heaven sent 

to human fate."

Finding Mum + Dad: Review + Response

Tonight I sat down to watch Finding Mum and Dad, a show about children waiting to be adopted that was shown on Channel 4 and the parents waiting to adopt children. It was quite an emotional watch. It follows an adoption activity day, the first event of this kind, where potential parents meet children open to adoption in a safe, closed event. It certainly was illuminating in terms of what goes on in the adoption process. If you can watch it online on 4OD then I suggest you do - it's a truly emotive little documentary. I do hope that this show has inspired many people out there to adopt a child. There are so many children around the world in need of homes. Personally I'd love to give birth to at least a child or two and then maybe adopt a child too. It's definitely something I wish more people were open to.

This Morning, Katie Hopkins and the importance of a child's birthday

The more I see of Ms Hopkins, the more I am convinced that she can't be real.
Can anyone honestly be so dismissive and heartless?
In this interview she stoops to new levels of rudeness by attacking online parenting groups and her debate opponent. Watch this video and see what you think.
Would you miss the birthday of your child to focus on your own work?
Do you think Katie Hopkins has stepped too far in an effort to milk her fame?

How to name a baby

This week a child was born and the whole world was waiting to hear the name. Bets were placed, the media speculated, and eventually the name was released. Of course I'm talking about the son of Kate Middleton and Prince William whose name has been announced: George Alexander Louis. Of course the royal child would have been given a fairly traditional name, but here are some pointers for anyone else hoping to have children some time in the future about naming their little darlings.

Remember this: a baby name is for life.
When you choose a baby name this is something that you have to like for the rest of your life. Naming the baby after a film character you're currently infatuated with may lose meaning if, in a few years time, you realise you actually don't like the film as much. If you're lucky enough to have time to really plan before having children why not consider a name for some time to ensure your opinion of it does not change.


I urge you to pick a name that isn't on the most popular baby name list at that given time. Do you really want your child to have the same name as most of the babies born that year? There are thousands of beautiful names out there. Instead of Laura why not Nora? Instead of Daniel why not Dashiel? Help your child get ahead in later life by picking a decent name that sets them apart from their peers and classmates. Don't copy the names your friends or acquaintances give to their babies. That totally defeats the purpose of naming.

Think about the initials of you future child. 
You may select beautiful names for the child but if you name your child something like Warren Ewan Emerson his initials will be W.E.E.
This also goes for seeing how your kids names go together. Having a son called Samuel and a daughter called Ella may seem lovely until you call out "Sam and Ella!" and it sounds like you're yelling about salmonella.

Try to pick a name you and your partner/co-parent will be happy with. 
Don't feel pressured into using a name you don't like by your partner or because there is a family name you're expected to give the child. You'll have to repeat this name thousands upon thousands of times over the years in good times and bad times. It may as well be a name you like to say.

If you need inspiration there are loads of baby name websites, phone apps and even youtube channels to give you inspiration. May you and your children have a happy life together.

What Kind of Online Parent Are You?

With the media and social networking sites in full Royal Baby frenzy now seems as good a time as any to think about parenting. I find myself at that age where more and more of my friends are becoming parents. After a while you begin to notice patterns in parenting emerging based on how people discuss and portray their family life online. Here are a few of the online parenting types I've noticed as a non-parent thus far. How many of these do you see in you own friends? Do any of these even apply to you?

The "Sharent"
The "sharent" is a sharing parent. You know the type. As soon as they have the first ultrasound photo of the baby it's slapped onto Facebook in eager anticipation of all the photos to come. These parents are happy to share their joy with the rest of their friends. The photos from the hospital alone take up an entire 150 photo album. Once little Dora or David join academic clubs or teams there are usually videos of them at dance recitals or football practice. These parents often have at least two photographic devices on them at any outing, pride oozing from every pore.

The I-Am-My-Child Parent
Of course parenting takes a lot of time, effort and energy but some parents find themselves utterly absorbed in these new roles. Everything they say, do or post has a clear focus on their child. Every status is the child. Their life is the child. They are becoming the child. You're likely to see them with glitter glue in their hair, wandering through the supermarket humming the theme music of In The Night Garden. 

The TMI parents

Wow. I didn't expect to see photos of your baby butt naked so you could ask Facebook if that rash is normal. I also didn't expect photos of your baby covered in puke chunks and snot trails. I now feel a little queasy. Every time their baby is ill they'll coo and fuss over a status describing their symptoms in full, worried detail.

The Competitive Parent.

Any time someone mentions their own child the competitive parent tries to one up them by saying what their little darling can do. "Oh, your son is taking a nap? Little Jimmy is already sleeping though the night!"

"Your child started reading? My daughter reads at a fifth grade level already and she can't even walk yet"

Even for those of us who aren't parents it can be really uncomfortable to watch a competitive online parent.

The Soothsayer

These are the parents that will warn anyone who will listen to not become a parent. Any time they see someone cooing over a photo of a baby or discussing how much they'd love to be a parent these are the people that will rain over the parade. "You think you're ready for a baby? No one's ready for a baby. It's Hell. You totally shouldn't do it."

The Wise Consultant

These are the parents who will actively get involved in any discussions of child-raising, parenthood, pregnancy. They can probably recommend books on child psychology techniques or have a decent argument as to why you should use fabric baby slings and cloth nappies. These are the people that are often helpful to new parents in need as they are ready and positive to lend their wisdom.

The Not-Sure-If-They-Even-Have-A-Child Parent

Every now and then you have those friends you rarely see anyway who have a child. You aren't near enough to see them regularly but because they then never seem to mention their child you almost forget they've had one at all. You are more likely to see a status about them "hanging with the girls and getting a few cocktails" than anything about their child. Not a whisper, photo or quick status. Suddenly I begin to hear the music from the start of Rosemary's Baby in the back of my head...

The "Too Cool For Drool" parent

Ever a comedian these parents seem to remain their cool selves after the birth of their children. On Facebook or Twitter their children often feature in witty remarks or interesting anecdotes that leave you chuckling and under the impression that parenthood is a laid back, funny adventure. These are the parents that lure others in because they manage to make every parental job look like an exercise in being awesome.

What kind of parent are YOU?
Are there any other types of parents you've noticed?
I wish any new parents, including Kate Middleton and Prince William, the very best of luck in this new journey.

New blog recommendation: Reasons My Son Is Crying

Another fun blog recommendation is Reasons My Son Is Crying - a blog on tumblr that was suggested to me. If you're a parent you'll probably be able to sympathise or if you're hoping to have children this may give you a little taster of parenthood.

Complete with photos and reasons why the child is crying throughout the day this light-hearted blog reminds us of the joys of children and the challenges they present.

Got any more blog suggestions that you want to be shared?
It could be yours or just one that you enjoy - let us know in the comments.