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.

5 ways working mums with new babies can get more sleep when you return to work
Posted inFamily life Mothers' rights at work Parenting tips What's in the news? Work and career tips and advice

5 ways working mums with new babies can get more sleep when you return to work

The joy of a new baby is certainly special and something that all new parents experience. However, not getting enough sleep is also part of having a new baby and new parents notoriously get very little sleep, if any at all.

For new mums on maternity leave, it can be gruelling enough, but if you’re self-employed or have to go back to work before your child is sleeping through the night it can be tough.

Ooops… you’re pregnant! Five ways to manage a surprise pregnancy
Posted inFamily life

Ooops… you’re pregnant! Five ways to manage a surprise pregnancy

Pregnancy is often a pleasant surprise. Of course, there are times when finding out that you’re pregnant can come as a shock. Although most unplanned pregnancies are still pleasant surprises, it doesn’t make the situation any easier… There are steps you can take to make an unplanned pregnancy a pleasant experience.

Posted inFamily life

3 reasons why working mums should have a hobby

Before you became a mum, you probably had a hobby or two that you enjoyed making time to do…it doesn’t have to stop just because you have a child or children to raise.

Having a hobby can be a great way to help relive some of the stresses that being a busy working mum or mumpreneur can bring on…therapy without the cost and it will help you find your identity again.

The working mum’s guide to a winning parent-teacher relationship – five tips to get the best out of your child this school year
Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life

The working mum’s guide to a winning parent-teacher relationship – five tips to get the best out of your child this school year

Behind every successful student is a great school teacher. And great teachers make great schools. But teachers can’t do it alone…not even the best and most experienced.

The research is clear: school children perform better in school when their parents are actively involved in their education, and here are five easy ways to do just that without being the interfering parent:

How to cut your cleaning time right down so you can enjoy family time…or put your feet up!
Posted inFamily life

How to cut your cleaning time right down so you can enjoy family time…or put your feet up!

There’s an old saying that a woman’s work is never done…and if you’re a busy working mum, it can often feel like it’s true.

The fact is, like all these old wive’s tales, you can either choose to believe it and give up, or take control of your situation and get the results you want and need…and cleaning is no different.

How to make playing outside safer for your children
Posted inFamily life Parenting tips Things to do with the kids

How to make playing outside safer for your children

If you’re a baby boomer then you‘ll remember the good old days when you played outside all day and complained vehemently when you were told to go inside for the night… these days, our children are stuck indoors in front of a TV, or behind a computer screen or video game of some sort…

I am more than a mother: tips on having a life while being a successful a working (and a good!) mum
Posted inA mix Editor's word Family life

I am more than a mother: tips on having a life while being a successful a working (and a good!) mum

When you’re a busy working mum, it can be easy to get so engrossed in motherhood that your other relationships begin to suffer. It’s not intentional, but you barely even have enough time in your busy day to take a minute for yourself, let alone return phone calls or make friendly visits that aren’t child-centred or important family occasions.

Divorce and the family business: what the law says about family businesses and what happens after break up
Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life Relationships tips and advice

Divorce and the family business: what the law says about family businesses and what happens after break up

Michelle Mone seemingly has it all — founder of the successful Ultimo bra company, married with three children and living a jet-set lifestyle which takes her all over the world to promote her business, which is worth an estimated £50m.

So the news earlier this year that Mone was to split from her long term husband and business partner Michael came as a major shock. In interviews in February Mone described how her hectic schedule had effectively left her and her husband as only business partners, and how their split had left them living in separate wings of their substantial family home.

The working mum’s guide to organising a children’s party…stress free and on a budget
Posted inFamily life

The working mum’s guide to organising a children’s party…stress free and on a budget

If you have school-age children (or nursery age children, for that matter!), the chances are your child has been invited to a party or two. And once they get a taste for it, they’ll likely want one, too.

Planning a children’s party seems like a doddle, right? Remember those pre-baby days when you used to host every good dinner or night out going…this should be a breeze, right?

5 ways to keep your children from getting sick
Posted inA mix Family life Parenting tips

5 ways to keep your children from getting sick

Juggling work and childcare can be quite a challenge at the best of times, but add the never-ending need to take a day off because your child is sick…again!…and even the most understanding and flexible of employers will start to raise an eyebrow.

Fussy eaters ”“ when children won’t eat what the rest of the family are eating
Posted inFamily life Parenting tips

Fussy eaters ”“ when children won’t eat what the rest of the family are eating

Hands up those of us who have had fussy eaters in the family at one time or another?

Of the many people I work with, mums and dads often come to see me because they want their babies/children to enjoy a good healthy relationship with food. It is a very fortunate parent whose baby/child/teenager eats most things and they are, sadly, in the minority.

How playing board games can help your children get back into the swing of things
Posted inFamily life Parenting tips

How playing board games can help your children get back into the swing of things

As the school summer holidays come to an end, it’s getting harder to fill the final days.
Have you tried playing board games? They are a great way to not only have some fun as a family, but to save some money, too!

Selecting a game for the family be a little tricky if you have kids at different developmental stages, so start by choosing a board game that your youngest child play — newborns excluded.

Back to school breakfast tips for busy Mums
Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life

Back to school breakfast tips for busy Mums

Nutritionists agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, essential for memory, concentration and learning - yet many children go to school on an empty stomach. In a recent Guardian survey four out of five teachers (83%) said they see pupils who are hungry in the morning. We provide time saving tips for busy Mums to help them prepare a healthy breakfast for their children that will keep them going until lunchtime.
Product review: back to school uniforms
Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life Product reviews

Product review: back to school uniforms

When it comes to buying uniform for the start of the new school year, it can be a bit of a conundrum – spend less and save money risking poor quality school wear, or spend too much and get burnt when your young ones ruin their uniform.

We review some products from Vertbaudet…well worth a watch!