Month: February 2015

Top Parenting Trends 2015…..apparently…..

~ Harry's Honest Mummy ~ Leave a comment

I read with interest today the following article

www.netmums.com/home/g/top-uk-parenting-trends-to-watch-out-for-in-2015

And, indeed it was interesting.  Some I was bemused at, others baffled, and some I kind of agreed with.    So here goes with my honest account of the ones that stood out for me:

Brelfies – No one and I mean no-one wants to take – or see – a picture of me breastfeeding.  Whilst some celebs have endorsed it, there is no amount of amateur  air brushing that is going to make a photo of me in the same position look heavenly and serene.  It strikes me immediately as the equivalent of your hubby recreating the classic Athena “Man cradling baby” poster pose.  Your own version just never quite cuts the mustard.  Those that captured the moment on camera have long since destroyed the evidence, and would never admit it unless under extreme torture and/or the influence of mind bending substances.

Post baby body photo shoot – we should be confident and embrace it as giving birth is a magical thing we have all just done.  So if we are that proud to show it off then why are all the photos I have seen re-touched.  Be proud, be natural.

Pee parties – So the couple holding the event build up to that moment of tension.  The lights go up, the music is turned down and the canapés are put to one side.  They whip the pee stick out and announce the results to the expectant (no pun intended) audience.  Can you imagine how uncomfortable this scenario could be? If the result was positive does someone jump up and snatch the wine out of their hands and hand them a glass of water whilst they sit for the rest of the party watching everyone else get sloshed? Or if it went the other way would you feel compelled to top up the wine, start a chorus of Its Raining Men and start twerking to divert attention #awkward

No spend days – Another “new idea” is to spend the whole day not spending a penny.  Well I don’t know about you but when I was growing up this was called normality. As far as I am aware Rounders, Kirbie, Hula Hooping, Den Building, Water Fights (using a used up washing- up bottle if you were posh) all had no costs associated to them.

Retro parties – Jelly and ice cream, balloons etc   Stop the press as I have news for you.  These aren’t retro.  Again, these are normal are they not?  Next we will be told that walking your kids to school is considered cutting edge.

Combined baby names – Forget the hassle of having two names you just can’t choose between, combine them i.e. Jennifer and Isabel = Jennibel.  Now this is one you could have soooo much fun with and it could lead to a few interesting combinations – Sico (Simon and Colm) and Sumo (Summer and Molly) are combinations best to be avoided.

And that my friends is my very honest round-up of the 2015 trends top parenting trends.  In conclusion I think I am more than confident to say that I am happy not being someone else’s vision of trendy.  I am more than happy to blaze my own trail.

Love

Harry’s Honest Mummy x

Homer

Cheey Monkey bath time fun
~ Harry's Honest Mummy ~ Leave a comment

Homer is our cat.  Our 15-year-old cat.  The most placid cat in the world.  Homer is the reason our son learnt to crawl.  He is the reason he took his first steps.  And much to my disappointment Hommee – as Homer is called by Harry – was also the first recognised word he uttered.  He is the first thing he looks for when we come home and the last thing he looks for before going to bed.  Harry loves the cat, he is obsessed with him, BUT he hasn’t quite got the hang of demonstrating it appropriately.

He rolls on the cat to give him cuddles, pins him to the floor to stroke him, and pushes his face in to Homer’s to smother him with kisses.  The only time the cat looks a little concerned is when Harry gets too close to his tea towel holder whilst tracking him around the house “playing” hide and seek.  As Harry has grown and become more mobile, the cat has had to find new and more imaginative places to take a nap.  Yet despite being on the receiving end of behaviour that would worry wasps, Homer just takes it in his stride.

How do we repay the cat for his patience?  We reward him with a new bed.  A bed that is basically a wigwam, a wigwam with a handle.  On a frequent basis Homer is rudely awakened from his naps by Harry shoving his head through the wigwam entrance announcing his presence.  He tries getting his whole body in there but is prevented by the limited space.  However having recently tried and failed to do so, my little cheeky monkey did end up coming in to the kitchen wearing the wigwam on his head.  Unfortunately the cat was still inside!  To Harry’s immense pleasure he has worked out that if he uses the handle at the top of the cat wigwam, then it transforms in to a Homer Handbag.  Harry looks pleased as punch swinging around his new fashion accessory.  A sharp contrast to Homer who ends up looking a little green around the gills.

We obviously didn’t think this one through.  I can only apologise to the cat for this oversight, keep feeding him treats to compensate for the trauma, and re-assure him that this phase will soon pass and that before we know it we will be taking charge of the school hamster and giving Homer a well-earned rest.

Love

Harry’s Honest Mummy x

(Disclaimer: I can re-assure you that no cat was harmed during the making of these memories)