Five Minutes, Alfie – Review and Giveaway!

Five Minutes, Alfie - children's book

Five Minutes Alfie Blog Tour

 

Welcome to the Five Minutes, Alfie Book Tour!

If you are the proud owner of small humans, you’re in for a treat today. I have the honour of introducing you to this stunning book, Five Minutes, Alfie – AND – if you keep reading, there’s a fantastic GIVEAWAY. Now, don’t say I don’t look after you!

Brazen Mummy Writes is part of the book tour for this delightful new children’s book, written by the talented Lily Mae Walters.

Firstly, let me show you the thing they call “the blurb”, which is that fun teaser on the back of the book:

 

The Blurb for Five Minutes, Alfie

Alfie snuggles down in bed,
dreams still in his little head.

He dreams he’s a king going out for a ride.
“A dragon sleeps in front of the gate,” they cried.

How will they succeed in waking him up?
By helping each other and lots of luck. Continue reading “Five Minutes, Alfie – Review and Giveaway!”

The Brazen Alternative to Sleep Training

Featured image - alternative to sleep training

The brazen alternative to sleep training is…well, no sleep training. (Ooh, and a few extra hot tips which I’ll share with you at the end.)

OK, so maybe it doesn’t sound all that crazy. But bear with me, because I wish I’d known this.

I’m here to tell you that if you decide not to ‘sleep train’ your baby, if you shun the books and theories and just kind of see what happens…

If you go with the flow, let nature take its course, help your child get to sleep any which way you can rather than following some stinky set of ‘rules’…

Drum roll…

It will probably be OK.

And that’s the bit the books, courses and even sleep helplines don’t tell you. Because they don’t want you to know it will be alright. Otherwise who will buy their books, their courses and fund their pesky helplines? Err, well nobody, I guess.

No need for those sleep training helplines
Yes…is this the, err, baby sleep training helpline?

Alternative to Sleep Training – the Back Story

Continue reading “The Brazen Alternative to Sleep Training”

Father’s Day Poem

A Father's Day poem from a son to his Daddy

You may have caught my Mother’s Day post, in which I apologised to my mum for a lifetime of being a bit of a selfish toad. So staying topical, I have a Father’s Day poem for you. It is from my little boy to his Daddy. Yes, he’s very advanced for a toddler, don’t you think! It’s all his own work. (So excuse the formatting – he’s just a kid!)

Here goes…

Father’s Day Poem to Daddy

 

Here are my hands which I ask you to hold,

To guide me, to love me, as my small life unfolds Continue reading “Father’s Day Poem”

Toddler Learning Games – Free and Fun!

Learning Games for Toddlers

Ooh, I’ve got a treat in store for you this week. Drum roll. We’re having a special guest – and she’s bubbling over with ideas on how to keep your kids quiet over the holidays. Erm, I mean lovely toddler learning games…

Now here’s the thing. I’ve bitched about toddler groups. I’ve moaned about tantrums. So the heat is really on to keep this child of mine entertained. And seeing as his becoming a brain surgeon is pretty much my retirement plan, it needs to be educational as well as fun. I do like to multi-task.

So that’s why I’ve brought one of my lovely blogger friends, Nanny Maryanne, to the rescue. Her website is here if you can’t resist knowing more:

https://nannymaryanne.com/

She’s here to help me, and of course you delightful bunch, with her invaluable Nanny advice on toddler learning games. She’s going to divulge some invaluable tips on easy games you can play at home without having to fork out for a bunch of stuff (and fill your house with more kiddie crap!).

Yep, how lucky are we. The advice of an actual professional Nanny without having to pay for a thing. Bloody hell, we’re getting dead fancy.

So without further faffing, I present to you the amazing, kind and gorgeous being that is Nanny M. I’m sure you will love her as much as I do. Continue reading “Toddler Learning Games – Free and Fun!”

My Mother’s Day Apology

Mother's Day - My Apology

An Apology to My Mother

I didn’t realise what a mother was until I became one.

When I was a child, you were someone who took charge of all the things and told me I couldn’t stay up late playing Barbie Rock Star. In my heart I was grateful you were always there with your hugs and your patience, but I didn’t realise it then.

Mother's Day - My Apology
Rocking the 80s

When I was a teenager, you were someone who nagged about short skirts and said no to bad boyfriends. In my heart, I was grateful you showed me how to be strong and brave and to believe in myself, but I didn’t realise it then.

When I grew up, you became a best friend. I was growing into you – we liked the same things. We scavenged at flea markets, fought over bargains, shared inspiration. But that wasn’t all you were. I didn’t realise it then.

Now That I Am a Mother

Now that I am a mother, though still new, I begin to sense what it means – the sheer enormity of what you have given.

Those nine long months of joy and fear, not knowing how they will end or what you will become. Your body stretching, getting ready to burst. Continue reading “My Mother’s Day Apology”