Tag: Family
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Surviving Christmas: 7 Top Tips For a Calmer Big Day
In my house, Christmas means dragging, kicking and screaming, the young adults in my family who have inherited the Grinch gene from my husband. And though I understand and respect why some people don’t like Christmas, my response to that attitude is not on my watch, and definitely not at my Christmas table. Hence, despite…
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The “Little Things” That Make Life Beautiful
Nature’s gentle awakening is usually followed by my not-so-gentle awakening from my puppy as he springs onto the bed with his crazy, infectious excitement for life. I am not a morning person, but it is hard to resist the look of certainty in his eyes that the day will be a good one, no matter…
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4 Important Life Lessons I Share With My Kids
That crazy decision was terrifying at the time but I do believe it made us stronger, more resilient, and gave us an incredible learning opportunity. It has given me more time to recover in the wake of family crises, more time for self-care and exercise – the best therapy for my brain – and the…
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Modern Parenting: A Full-Time Job With No Off-Switch
Parenting needs a rebrand. With more of us working and the pressure to parent perfectly, “doing the best we can” seems much more achievable. With unacceptable behaviour escalating in classrooms and youth suicide on the rise, something must give.
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11 Life Lessons My Dog Taught Me
Prior to our vet’s final visit to our home, I cradled our fifteen-year old dog Luna in my arms, sobbing uncontrollably. I thought I was prepared, but in that moment of our total vulnerability, it was all too much. It felt wrong to end her life this way, and when her body went limp, and…
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Experiment To Create The Perfect Family Christmas
Wine, cheese and baguette – what more do I need? (Photo credit: Virtual Eric) Apparatus: A beautiful old barn conversion nestled invitingly in rural Brittany, France. Perpetual rain. Unlimited supplies of alcohol. Vats of food (to include the annual carb allowance for the whole of the western world in French bread). 14 blood-related family members…
LOUISA SIMMONDS 