Helen

Colourful midlife mum to two teens. Determined not to do as she's told and slide off into invisible old age. Much cooler at 50 than she was at 15. Host of the Teenage Kicks podcast, about mental health for teenagers.

What’s involved in a Civil Ceremony?

Kevin Mueller on Unsplash At the end of 2019, it became legal for heterosexual couples to form a civil partnership, rather than get married. It was an important milestone in the UK as it meant that both straight and gay couples could choose either marriage or a civil union, depending on their own personal preferences.  With civil partnerships being a relatively new thing, there aren’t a lot of traditions or expectations about how you celebrate one. The good news is, anything goes and you can choose to adopt some of the usual wedding traditions (such as a bridal dress) if …

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Top Tips To Furnish A Tiny Bedroom

Image Source (CC0 License) Having a small bedroom is never ideal, but it’s rarely out of choice. If you’re looking for a family home in a busy location, the chances are you’ll have to sacrifice some bedroom space for an affordable home! Naturally, this is a price you’re willing to pay, but it does mean that you or your kids will have a cramped space to relax in. Don’t worry, you don’t have to feel claustrophobic when you’re trying to sleep at night! Tiny rooms can feel spacious, it’s all about how you decorate them.  Mainly, it boils down to …

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Protecting Your Dog This Flea And Tick Season

Spring has officially begun for many of us, which means warmer weather and brighter days, but it also means that many of those old pests are going to be coming back to haunt us and our family, including our pets. If you’re trying to be mindful of your dog’s health then you should take care to prepare for flea and tick season. Here, we’re going to look at some of the tips that can help keep your pet happy, healthy, and free from those minuscule menaces. Link – Pixabay License  The real danger of fleas and ticks Fleas and ticks …

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How do you stay COVID safe when something needs fixing in your home?

  Have you had to have repairs done in your home during the coronavirus pandemic? Or are you like me – do you keep putting them off until lockdown ends?  Unfortunately, things seem to go wrong at the worst possible times, don’t they? And you never can count on the weather – I’ve lost count of the number of people I know whose boilers broke down during the recent cold spell. I’ve been there and let me tell you, virus or not, nothing would have stopped me calling a plumber while everyone else huddled next to the fan heater!  Luckily …

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Has your child been groomed?

Emma describes how she was groomed from the age of 12, and the impact it had on her adult life

*Trigger warning – episode contains references to sexual abuse. The crazy thing… was that I felt really guilty  Has your teenager been groomed? Or are you a young person experiencing grooming? In this episode Emma Cantrell talks about her experience of grooming from the age of 12 over a number of years. What does grooming mean? The NSPCC defines grooming as follows: Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them. Children and young people who are groomed can be sexually abused, exploited or trafficked. Anybody can …

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Is Your Child Old Enough For A Smartphone? 5 Important Factors To Consider

Kids are so tech-literate these days and some parents give their child a smartphone when they’re incredibly young. But there are some parents who don’t like the idea of their child having a phone at all and make them wait until they’re in their late teens before letting them have one.  Source – Pixabay CCO License If you’re a parent, your kids are probably nagging you about getting a phone if they don’t have one already. They’ll tell you that everybody else at school has one and you’re being unfair by not letting them have one, so what should you …

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I’m Going To Be A Lockdown 3 Entrepreneur

Oh hello. This is a message from lockdown number 3764. Or at least that’s what it feels like. We all understand the underlying reason for the third lockdown. But that doesn’t mean it’s getting any more enjoyable. The first lockdown was a breath of fresh air, as we could spend more time with our loved ones at home. But right now, this is getting boring.  And boredom, as it happens, encourages us to dream of a new reality. What would you do if you could change your routine? While there’s still the hope of winning the lottery one day to …

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Adjusting To Having Teens In Your Home

Photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash   We all know that our babies will one day grow up and become teengaers but sometimes we are not prepared for how quickly that comes around. It can be challenging when your child hits their teenage years, there are alot of hormones flying about and learning how to communicate with each other and co-live can be a tricky task. We have come up with some ways to help both you, your teenagers and the rest of the family adjust to growing teens.   Learn To Communicate Teens are full of hormones and it …

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Parenting Your Mum – How it Feels to be Part of the Sandwich Generation

Old age and being part of the sandwich generation

The Sandwich Generation is something I’d only vaguely understood. Until now… Today I posted on Instagram about how I’m really feeling. At lockdown 3, and entering month 12 of the Coronavirus pandemic I think a lot of people are feeling rather hopeless, and I’m no exception. I’m sad for all the loss – of lives, and of life in general. I feel despondent about how much longer this might go on for as we approach our second summer of restrictions. Where once I was resolute and stoical about it, I’m now joining the cries of “But it’s so unfair!” that …

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3 Reasons Why You Should Move to Ireland

Photo by Diogo Palhais on Unsplash   If you are considering moving abroad, you may not have given Ireland proper consideration, as you may be favouring countries that are known for brighter, warmer weather. Nevertheless, Ireland provides you and your family with everything you need in one place, presenting you with a unique range of opportunities from the moment you set foot in the country.   With that in mind, here are just some of the reasons why you should consider moving to Ireland (and what you need to do to achieve it).  A rich culture and warm community.    …

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