Fostering a child pays, but mums have no idea, finds survey
Posted inFamily life

Fostering a child pays, but mums have no idea, finds survey

The UK’s shortage of foster carers has been keenly do unwanted and advertised in the media, but according to one of the UK’s foster agencies, Compass Community, ignorance about fostering is hindering efforts to combat the issue.

More than half the mums surveyed on the Netmums website thought they would receive less than £5,000 a year for fostering a child, and nine out of 10 thought they would receive less than £15,000. The real figure is actually £20,000-40,000 a year depending in the needs of the child (disabilities etc).

Free your family from secondhand smoke
Posted inA mix Family life

Free your family from secondhand smoke

As a working mother, you know the pressures of trying to keep up in the working world while also making sure your family is well taken care of. You know what it’s like to work long hours and feel under-appreciated. Yet your commitment to family keeps you pressing on day after day.

How every working mum can make returning to work after maternity leave as easy and stress-free as possible
Posted inCareers Coach Blog Family life

How every working mum can make returning to work after maternity leave as easy and stress-free as possible

No one said it was going to be easy, but if you want to have your cake and eat it as a working mum, you need to dust yourself off and prepare yourself emotionally, mentally and financially because there may be a few hiccups along the way when you return to work after taking maternity leave.

Being a working mum can be fulfilling and if you can get everything in place before going back to work, it will be a much easier transition that you probably thought.

Here are some tips for a stress and tear free transition (or as close to one as possible!):

Posted inA mix Family life What's in the news?

How to keep an eye on the kids while working from home

Looking after children is a full-time job, so much credit goes out to business mums and mumpreneurs who regularly juggle looking after the kids with working from home.

If this is something you want to do and don’t know how to make working from home while looking after the kids work for you, here are some tips:

Five mistakes even smart working mums make and how to a avoid them
Posted inFamily life What's in the news? Work and career tips and advice

Five mistakes even smart working mums make and how to a avoid them

Every mum tries their best, but sometimes circumstances can seem to take over our lives and then caps sets in.

Here are five red flags to watch out for, and tips to change their impact on your life:

The 15-minute rule and how it can make a working mum’s life easier
Posted inFamily life

The 15-minute rule and how it can make a working mum’s life easier

We all know what it’s like when you come home with the children having picked them up from nursery or school and you know that you’ve got a mountain of work that you need to get through.

It’s not unusual to shove a quick snack in front of them and get straight back into the work asking for “10 minutes” to just fire off a quick email.

Eeek! half term is here again! How to work at home with the kids during school holidays
Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life Work and career tips and advice

Eeek! half term is here again! How to work at home with the kids during school holidays

Every mumpreneur or mum who works from home is thinking about how they’ll better juggle work and the kids. And half term is only a few days away for many!

Here are some surefire tips to make sure you get as much work done as possible – while making sure you spend some quality time with the kids…and have fun:

Posted inFamily life

Is increasing the adult:child ratio in nurseries really the best way to bring down the cost of childcare?

The government has announced plans to allow nurseries and childminders in the UK to look after more children.

Presently, the child to adult ratio is 1:3 But the new ratio of one adult to four children.

Posted inA mix Family life

Are you a worry head? Five tips to ditch those niggling feelings and move on!

Are you always worried about something – your job stability, the safety of your children, the health of your parents…you name it, you have it on your list of woes…?

Being a worrier can be very draining. It can ruin even the nicest things in your day (and, sometimes, your life) without you even realising it.

Don’t be in a rush to drive off with snow on your car…
Posted inA mix Family life

Don’t be in a rush to drive off with snow on your car…

Motorists who fail to clear snow from their cars are at risk of getting penalty points and a fine and it will also hit hard in the purse, as the added weight of the snow also burns more fuel!

LGBT fostering – top three myths busted
Posted inA mix Family life

LGBT fostering – top three myths busted

Did you know that 20% of the UK’s population believe that gay and lesbian couples are not allowed to foster or adopt children?

There are also other potentially damaging prejudices out there that imply that children are negatively affected by being placed with an LGBT couple.

UK caravan holidays your kids will love
Posted inFamily life Things to do with the kids

UK caravan holidays your kids will love

Many parents dream of taking their children on a sun-drenched getaway, but the thoughts of battling with heavy luggage, airport security, time differences and disturbed bedtimes are often just too much to bear.

Top 10 things couples hate about each other
Posted inFamily life Relationships tips and advice

Top 10 things couples hate about each other

Some things never change when it comes to relationships, but spending a few days with the family and having the stresses of Christmas all rolled into a few days can heighten irritations at home.

At last! Some good childcare news for parents, as government plans to give ALL working parents a £2,000 boost towards costs
Posted inFamily life

At last! Some good childcare news for parents, as government plans to give ALL working parents a £2,000 boost towards costs

Since the Coalition government came into power, you’d be forgiven for thinking that they had no compassion or understanding of the financial struggles many UK working parents face.

How to prepare for the party season: making nibbles and tips to avoid a sore head in the morning
Posted inFamily life

How to prepare for the party season: making nibbles and tips to avoid a sore head in the morning

The Christmas season is upon us and between parties, gift shopping and trying to meet work deadlines before the holidays; it can leave you with little time to prepare your evening meal. This might not be high on your list of things to do at this busy time of year, but it’s actually very important. Eating healthy food will keep you warm and energised to get through the busy days – we like hearty food like Italian food, Chinese food and a good roast.

How to prepare for being a single mum (or dad)…who works
Posted inA mix Children & Relationships Family life Money - how to keep it and how to make it Relationships tips and advice

How to prepare for being a single mum (or dad)…who works

Whether your child’s father is in the picture or not, single mothers typicallay have a lot more financial stress in their lives than if they lived with their spouse or partner.

Here are some things to bear in mind if your relationship has broken down, and some tips to help you through:

Five foods your teeth should avoid at the office Christmas party if you don’t want to suffer the consequences
Posted inFamily life Health news and tips for the family

Five foods your teeth should avoid at the office Christmas party if you don’t want to suffer the consequences

Christmas is a time of fun and lots of eating – at home and in the workplace. Between Christmas dinner and office parties, you’ll have a world of food pushed at you and in your mouth without a care.

But if you want to avoid toothache, teeth stains and a costly trip to the dentist in the new year, here are five foods you should steer clear of during the festive season:

Posted inA mix Children & Relationships Family life

Five simple ways that busy working mums can get a balanced Monday morning

It’s Monday morning (again). You glance at the kitchen clock and gulp down a cup of coffee while trying to put on your clothes at the same time and realise that you only have five minutes to get your six year old dressed and ready for school…and you forgot to make her packed lunch last night when you dozed off at your laptop (again!).

Five ways to stop your life as a working mum encroaching on your family life and vice versa
Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life

Five ways to stop your life as a working mum encroaching on your family life and vice versa

Most people understand how difficult it can be to balance their work and home lives once they start having children. Somehow it seems that work life or home life is always encroaching on the other and causing problems at work, at home, and many times both. But it doesn’t – and shouldn’t – be like that all the time.