tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-241675244943875932024-03-06T04:16:41.256+00:00 Life with #BabyPink and the Boys
Blogging my way through Life and ParenthoodAlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-22863562085205051192016-06-14T01:21:00.000+01:002016-06-16T21:08:39.913+01:00100 Not Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I realised a few posts ago that I was coming up to a century of posts. I have to admit I was a) shocked b) surprised and c) slightly concerned. I mean what sort of blogger doesn't realise this and have a fab giveaway ready. Erm a blogger like me.<br />
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I then decided that my 100th post should be something special. A topic that meant something to me. Not just one of Buddy's brilliant <a href="http://babypinkandtheboys.blogspot.ie/2016/04/from-mouths-of-babes-25042016.html?m=1" target="_blank">#ftmob</a> moments, or a <a href="http://babypinkandtheboys.blogspot.ie/2016/06/wicked-wednesday-1.html?m=1" target="_blank">#wickedwednesday</a><br />
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Writing reactive posts, jumping on popular bandwagons just isn't me. With it currently being a topic here in Ireland. The Repeal the 8th campaign I had decided to write a mans point of view on their child being aborted.<br />
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Until tonight when I was asked my opinion on this <a href="http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/uk_575e764fe4b041514369f44e?edition=uk&jvgoen4qiu23xr=&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067" target="_blank">post</a> giving the stat that British Men rank the worst for sharing childcare.<br />
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Normally I pay no heed to these types of surveys. I know that statistics can be manipulated and massaged without changing the data. I once managed to walk out of a meeting with a large pub/restaurant chain delighted with my companies performance.<br />
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Even though we had only met a contractual 4 hour response 47 % of the time. This was done using 100% correct data without omitting any call outs.<br />
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I simply ran another report that showed we attended every 4 hour response within 5 hours, and 92 % within 4 1/2 hours. I'm assuming the compilers of this report didn't have that luxury, and were limited by the amount of data they had.<br />
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So when it came to the stats on Dad's and childcare I had many reservations.<br />
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Were all the Dad's surveyed working a flat 40 hour week?<br />
How long was their commute?<br />
What ages were the children?<br />
Were the parents still together?<br />
What is the definition of childcare?<br />
How much time was available for them to spend doing childcare?<br />
Was parental leave for Dad's taken into account?<br />
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To be fair to the post they did seek the opinions of a Dad. Al from <a href="http://www.thedadnetwork.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Dad Network</a>. Who gave a good argument for the Dad's.<br />
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Being fair minded I actually read the whole report. I was looking for the page that gave the details of how and what information was collected.<br />
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Here's the page detailing this.<br />
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The first thing to note is this information was collected by means of a survey. These are well known to be inaccurate.<br />
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The subject quantity for 2012 figures was just under 20,000 males. No indicator if this was per country or a total of the men surveyed.<br />
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I was then amazed at the wording of the question, in the 2003, 2007 and 2012 versions of the survey. There was no information about the 2016 survey.<br />
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In 2012 men and women were asked:<br />
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<b>Caring for your children/grandchildren how many hours?</b><br />
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Come on! Who can honestly give an accurate answer?<br />
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I'm a SAHD and full time carer for my Autistic Stepson. Does that mean I care for my children 24 hours a day? Of course not. Three of them are in school, two in primary and one secondary. Do I have to knock a few hours off each week for shopping trips sans children?<br />
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When I was working I worked nights. So slept when the children were at school. How many hours a week did I care for them? I couldn't tell you.<br />
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Does the 15 minute school run count as childcare? Do the 2 hours they are at soccer training and I am the assistant coach count as childcare? Is the Mother sitting in the car waiting for training to finish responsible for childcare for that hour?<br />
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All subjective questions.<br />
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What would have been a much better way to use the report would have been to focus on the areas that need to be improved to help promote gender equality, or the mention in the conclusion of the report that "The levels of taxation in Nordic countries are very high in comparison to the United Kingdom, which can fund many of their welfare policies"<br />
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So in short Scandinavian Dad's can get more financial assistance from the government to allow them more time with their children/grandchildren.<br />
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<b>What did I learn?</b><br />
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The headline is sensationalist. There were other things contained in the report that were of more relevance! Any section of the report where the information was gained from a survey I wouldn't trust the data.<br />
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So in short whilst we are generalising. UK Dad's. Like your European counterparts some of you are doing a brilliant job, others, like my school report, could do better.<br />
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So that we can all do better the Government needs to help Dads more, in some cases to help Dad's they need to help Mum's. Pay equality, Paternal Leave etc etc.<br />
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But how many people would read a post titled "Government needs to introduce more policies and narrow Gender pay gap to help UK Dad's spend more time with their children."<br />
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What do you think Mum's and Dad's? Are UK Dad's as bad as the report and post make out?<br />
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Linked up to:<br />
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photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22066594@N04/7925091744">o</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com/">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">(license)</a>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-58307152422129008862016-06-08T12:45:00.000+01:002016-06-08T14:36:04.563+01:00Wicked Wednesday #1<h2>
We do not negotiate with Terrorists!</h2>
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After a quick shopping trip this morning we returned home. As I was flying solo, Mrs OMG having gone off with a friend, I brought the shopping in and then returned to the car to get Little Miss OMG.</div>
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Here is where things went wrong. No sooner was her seatbelt undone. She was out of the seat like a greyhound out of the traps and across to the other side of the car.</div>
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A quick run around the outside was in vain. Just left me panting for breath (note to self: you've let yourself go!) The smiling assassin had locked the door and was laughing. </div>
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There was nothing left to do, but wonder when a 16 month old had learnt how to lock a car door, and wait it out. She would need me quicker than I would need her. So I thought.</div>
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I shortly discovered she has a stubborn streak. I prepared for a long wait. Arming myself with crisps and chocolate I sat down waiting for her to give in.</div>
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Nothing! Just laughter. I thought about using the "I'll ring your mother!" threat, but decided to use that for a more serious situation.</div>
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Then my two fluorescent vest wearing saviours arrived on their chariot of rubbish. Yes the bin men were here! The squeals of delight and craning of the neck to get a better view, quickly changed to cries and desperation as she realised there was nothing to do but concede defeat.</div>
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"Da Da!" She shouted, holding her little hand out.</div>
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I smiled. Daddy 1 Little Miss OMG 0 I thought to myself as I lifted her out to watch our bin being emptied.</div>
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How do you deal with your tiny terrorists?<br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-15714610666132550532016-05-21T00:31:00.001+01:002016-05-21T18:06:20.842+01:00Tantrums, an Introduction and Returning to Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3>
A Tantrum</h3>
Last week we had an almighty tantrum in the OMG house. Not as you'd expect from the toddler, nor Buddy or even the Autistic child. It was from the pre teen.<br />
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There was hair pulling, screaming and tears, and that was from me! "What caused such a meltdown in a 12 (13 next month) year old?" I hear you ask.<br />
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Because you could see his boxers through his white shorts!<br />
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WTF! When I was 12 all we thought about was playing football, not if anyone could see our boxers. We probably even flashed our boxers a few times. Never mind, he'd bloody insisted he had to have white ones, only that morning. Five shops and 20 quid later, now he doesn't want to wear them coz if you squint and the planets are aligned you can just about see the outline of his boxers. Not on my watch sunshine.<br />
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Turns out it had nothing to do with the see through shorts and more to do with not leaving the PS4! Kids today, bone idle.<br />
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An Introduction</h3>
Those of you who follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/OMGitsagirl2015" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://facebook.com/Baby-Pink-and-The-Boys-1738270509722399/?ref=bookmarks" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/omgitsagirl2015/?hl=en" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and now Snapchat will have seen references to Little Miss OMG. Don't worry she's not some lovechild I've only just found out about.<br />
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BabyPink is now nearly 16 months old. Well out of babydom and into the throws of toddlerhood. I could upgrade her to Toddler Pink, but that is going to require changes again as and when she hits the next stage of growing up, and then again and again and again. You catch my drift.<br />
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So an executive decision was taken by the board of BabyPink and The Boys Incorporated. Namely me. To go forth from here calling her Little Miss OMG.<br />
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To the rest of you. Why aren't you following me across all my social media channels?<br />
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Returning to Work</h3>
This week has been tinged with sadness. It's my last week getting to spend every waking hour with the kids. Well thankfully the boys are in school during the day, so it's mainly Little Miss OMG. As from next Wednesday I'll no longer officially be a SAHD.<br />
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Economic reasons have taken precedent over my physical presence. Basically we need the money more than we need me in the house. So I applied, interviewed and got a job. All in the space of <b>FOUR </b>days. Who'd have thought it would happen so quickly!<br />
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I'm now officially a door to door sales rep for an electricity company. I'm sure it will lead to some blog fodder and will hopefully get us to the US for Christmas and a car that works, is comfortable and doesn't cost a fortune to run. I'd love to go electric, alas there are no 7 seaters anywhere near what I can afford. So it's a 2002 Opel (Vauxhall for my British readers) Zafira.<br />
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It's going to be hard not being around Little Miss OMG all day. She's just getting to the fun stage every day she's trying new things and her personality is coming out<br />
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Thanks for stopping by. All comments gratefully received and will be replied to. Eventually! 😀<br />
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<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-76571350691839036752016-05-08T09:37:00.000+01:002016-05-08T09:37:44.295+01:00My Sunday Photo 8th May 16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With the lighter evenings and the boys being outside playing Little Miss OMG wants to be out with them.<br />
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It's been great to watch her grow in confidence and independence.<br />
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Whereas just a few weeks ago she wouldn't take a step without me being beside her, now she will happily wander around the green babbling away to herself.<br />
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<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-8649682943779278282016-05-04T08:54:00.000+01:002016-05-04T12:19:49.725+01:00Love2Read Personalised Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Z5G00ZmfDbwluc_PgfQV7XGb14_DbSPOvG3ObufZNIRHxftRwKf9rXQy6t5v5vIQgC20rArq933p7Kx21qaAWIYwnCAFcfuFiGspQHUg1d1xoMvrcGu5opt2dkNYW9fzivAvwrFM770/s1600/IMG_20160429_135557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Z5G00ZmfDbwluc_PgfQV7XGb14_DbSPOvG3ObufZNIRHxftRwKf9rXQy6t5v5vIQgC20rArq933p7Kx21qaAWIYwnCAFcfuFiGspQHUg1d1xoMvrcGu5opt2dkNYW9fzivAvwrFM770/s320/IMG_20160429_135557.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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I'm really, really bad at present giving to my family in the States. I've still presents to be posted that were meant for Christmas!!<br />
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<a name='more'></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">Disclaimer </i>I was provided the product free of charge in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.<br />
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One problem I have is that when asked what they would like my parents always reply. "Pictures of the grandchildren."<br />
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Now we have thousands of pictures, picking the right ones and then actually getting to one of those photo printing machine thingys is another story.<br />
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I was delighted when <a href="http://www.love2read.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Love2Read</a> offered me the chance to review their product.<br />
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My poor Dad would actually get a Father's Day present this year.<br />
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The order process is very simple.<br />
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<ol>
<li>Pick who the book is for. </li>
<li>Choose your photos and write the words</li>
<li>Pay</li>
<li>Wait for book to arrive.</li>
</ol>
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Even I could manage this. The first four photos make up the front cover. </div>
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I was even emailed to advise that they had changed the book colour so it matched the borders, and changed the words slightly. All for the better. With details of who to contact if I didn't like the proposed changes.</div>
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Before I knew it my book was here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lNiLkB1ywE02v0UwMHZH-B4dlEiu-mH3UujQGg_O8fMywauKUb79NWaeFj7OJaS160hemM9FbrMoWgMbrk1W3wsqw6hkezucgU_eqyVrfPHAQ2pJWHv4-Ga6B-pyrTfjKcczjGVk4s0/s1600/IMG_20160503_235915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lNiLkB1ywE02v0UwMHZH-B4dlEiu-mH3UujQGg_O8fMywauKUb79NWaeFj7OJaS160hemM9FbrMoWgMbrk1W3wsqw6hkezucgU_eqyVrfPHAQ2pJWHv4-Ga6B-pyrTfjKcczjGVk4s0/s320/IMG_20160503_235915.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have to say I'm impressed. Such a shame it will be a while before my Dad gets to read it to the children. I'm sure it will be shown to everyone in the meantime.<br />
Not to worry there are birthdays coming up soon so I might just have to order some more.<br />
<br />
All in all a fantastic product and great service to .<br />
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<br /></div>
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<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-13553467475420949902016-04-25T10:24:00.001+01:002016-04-26T11:12:59.578+01:00From the Mouths of Babes 25/04/2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVz0xDMI7uWCDlUojP-0VHLbDkq_YeuXXh-cRRtyiyugddg9RqK4EhmtXLyfc4zTU4OskmHloIUpmfS5X4K52BrQqqtMUiVVmHoAzSy_-fp1l1Dz-w4-zGFJ63Cu1r5N_LbGdRwiu3Hy4/s1600/IMG_20160404_111202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVz0xDMI7uWCDlUojP-0VHLbDkq_YeuXXh-cRRtyiyugddg9RqK4EhmtXLyfc4zTU4OskmHloIUpmfS5X4K52BrQqqtMUiVVmHoAzSy_-fp1l1Dz-w4-zGFJ63Cu1r5N_LbGdRwiu3Hy4/s320/IMG_20160404_111202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Buddy can be a Royal Pain in the backside at times, but then he comes out with pearlers like this one and you can't help but laugh.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I'll set the scene.<br />
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Mrs OMG is constantly cleaning. The floors are mopped in our house more times than an operating room floor.<br />
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This means the boys are constantly told "Take your shoes off" the minute they walk in the door. They hardly ever do!<br />
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One day Stepson #2 had steppes on the floor before taking his shoes off. Leaving a wet patch. He started to wipe it with his sock.<br />
Buddy, who was waiting patiantly outside then chirped up with.<br />
<br />
"What are you worried about the floor for, you don't have OCD!"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKLcwVefVMLUW4L8ZF1Yqulp6siDFAqANsoY7WNKVnVyJ74EYK12yvLCZpgj0AETsARlwyu8iNBhhf0Qb1J658ob0JU3V44A7uGMSk9_xVQgmaDEUGGKD2zb8t26EfvFpLt19UYyIBnQ/s1600/Fromthemouthsofbabeslinkybadge_zps39d493e3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKLcwVefVMLUW4L8ZF1Yqulp6siDFAqANsoY7WNKVnVyJ74EYK12yvLCZpgj0AETsARlwyu8iNBhhf0Qb1J658ob0JU3V44A7uGMSk9_xVQgmaDEUGGKD2zb8t26EfvFpLt19UYyIBnQ/s1600/Fromthemouthsofbabeslinkybadge_zps39d493e3.jpg" /></a></div>
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<center>
<a href="http://www.whingewhingewine.co.uk/p/chucklemums-linky.html"><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/superfran_uk/logoFINAL.png" /></a></center>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-85342469192929446332016-04-10T10:12:00.000+01:002016-04-10T10:12:33.289+01:00My Sunday Photo 10th April 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R7rMgY2wnnhaltzQSPd_MonDB7_ga-Om1H7BnD08qTUJ8i2Fmvx5MO-yDHeVYAUVNwVbdDpNKYHHAyRbV_SRVS8dztAa0775DMeFt_4l8cdDtxCKcaaDMd5-5f79snxVDHLEzr-Pj4w/s1600/IMG_20160409_181738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R7rMgY2wnnhaltzQSPd_MonDB7_ga-Om1H7BnD08qTUJ8i2Fmvx5MO-yDHeVYAUVNwVbdDpNKYHHAyRbV_SRVS8dztAa0775DMeFt_4l8cdDtxCKcaaDMd5-5f79snxVDHLEzr-Pj4w/s320/IMG_20160409_181738.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kissing her reflection or drinking the water?</div>
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What do you think?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUgL0Fs8NKpqoZTAa1Pov3kKgw3QCXXiUABHTtl0qaRI9yK6Rd-dycPLeeVOfy5c0ChpUr7ASZ9bf9qmOhrTCTLlvwsuHXkwK2yRxL_rsDwBgtwTcKEaN-YUF1gv-huvCwHcr4tQDVT0/s1600/Sundaylge-e1396359989177.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUgL0Fs8NKpqoZTAa1Pov3kKgw3QCXXiUABHTtl0qaRI9yK6Rd-dycPLeeVOfy5c0ChpUr7ASZ9bf9qmOhrTCTLlvwsuHXkwK2yRxL_rsDwBgtwTcKEaN-YUF1gv-huvCwHcr4tQDVT0/s1600/Sundaylge-e1396359989177.png" /></a></div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-26892744749144125102016-04-04T11:13:00.002+01:002016-04-04T11:13:57.599+01:00From The Mouths of Babes 04/04/16<div dir="ltr">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJy9cmoQgCoxuIo86rTzUYH7sUglPexzDsMsJQWJZ-oin2wsGjuGPLSmiL-x0Dy2sdmHNQWIN-aFIYLt_NT87S1kyGsCh4k2UBoPX_eLijwjk4CpG9KNMWsc-RRrlKibDv5rE_-HCD3Xs/s1600/IMG_20160404_111202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJy9cmoQgCoxuIo86rTzUYH7sUglPexzDsMsJQWJZ-oin2wsGjuGPLSmiL-x0Dy2sdmHNQWIN-aFIYLt_NT87S1kyGsCh4k2UBoPX_eLijwjk4CpG9KNMWsc-RRrlKibDv5rE_-HCD3Xs/s320/IMG_20160404_111202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Now Buddy is well versed on the differences between stepfathers and fathers. Having grown up knowing I'm not his older brothers father.</div>
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He has also heard them saying "You're not my real Dad!" from them, when they are being given out to.</div>
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Last week he was being bold and didn't stop when given his warnings. So we went to the next step and sent him to his room.</div>
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Off he went up the stairs, slammed his bedroom door and then I heard things being thrown. </div>
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"You make a mess and you'll be cleaning it up" I called through the door.</div>
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"You're not my real father, you can't tell me what to do!" Was the reply.</div>
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All I could do was laugh.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bTE8_LprqkfVmUiHv3AmO5f7zslcYXbAJZAgYZysPThqFbY24BW3f_YpNOnIe9I5aJSi4DFNIxpTZYa3IY1cuT_ziEdMANIWXEZeBlnN02rks5qjJaQV0hj_jW8pDDoY7HCR9Vqrj_A/s1600/Fromthemouthsofbabeslinkybadge_zps39d493e3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bTE8_LprqkfVmUiHv3AmO5f7zslcYXbAJZAgYZysPThqFbY24BW3f_YpNOnIe9I5aJSi4DFNIxpTZYa3IY1cuT_ziEdMANIWXEZeBlnN02rks5qjJaQV0hj_jW8pDDoY7HCR9Vqrj_A/s1600/Fromthemouthsofbabeslinkybadge_zps39d493e3.jpg" /></a></div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-65631645803301949782016-03-28T11:08:00.001+01:002016-03-28T11:08:44.641+01:00From the Mouths of Babes - 27/03/16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiD_MovOWJfx5npWMEOTQZZUqe7fOhnkpLX2B1L6xYAWyRSXRBuv_aq3OPG1GKvpNUaLmiCnsYRbUkvEK57FXLAzFhSqd18yDwLvL07Lr37oD4UcxgW19-j1I7bWcT_ac9RmuAamFEDa4/s1600/kitchen-roll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiD_MovOWJfx5npWMEOTQZZUqe7fOhnkpLX2B1L6xYAWyRSXRBuv_aq3OPG1GKvpNUaLmiCnsYRbUkvEK57FXLAzFhSqd18yDwLvL07Lr37oD4UcxgW19-j1I7bWcT_ac9RmuAamFEDa4/s1600/kitchen-roll.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I love Buddy to bits. Even more so when he comes out with some classic lines. Here's a recent one from a shopping trip.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Buddy is a great help when shopping. You can ask him to get a certain item and he will happily skip off and get it.<br />
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Last week whilst shopping his Mammy asked him to get toilet roll. Off he went.<br />
Two minutes later he appeared at the end of the ailse holding a pack of kitchen towels and shouted down the aisle.<br />
<br />
"Mammy I got the big ones for you for when you have diarrhoea!"<br />
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Needless to say his mother was mortified and me bursting into a fit of laughter did nothing to help.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bTE8_LprqkfVmUiHv3AmO5f7zslcYXbAJZAgYZysPThqFbY24BW3f_YpNOnIe9I5aJSi4DFNIxpTZYa3IY1cuT_ziEdMANIWXEZeBlnN02rks5qjJaQV0hj_jW8pDDoY7HCR9Vqrj_A/s1600/Fromthemouthsofbabeslinkybadge_zps39d493e3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bTE8_LprqkfVmUiHv3AmO5f7zslcYXbAJZAgYZysPThqFbY24BW3f_YpNOnIe9I5aJSi4DFNIxpTZYa3IY1cuT_ziEdMANIWXEZeBlnN02rks5qjJaQV0hj_jW8pDDoY7HCR9Vqrj_A/s1600/Fromthemouthsofbabeslinkybadge_zps39d493e3.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-51710929204493708972016-03-06T16:17:00.000+00:002016-03-06T18:42:22.874+00:00My Sunday Photo 06/03/16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyl0tkT4tOhqBDqabqi64gV8zobRkm4ZCiKoko38_G66by1fRMzCzAMsDR6rK8rIvQGStg-_uRmaP1XCzUws6i0MACJyz50sx3X7ipdjGnYc31OPe3XfR3PM4KOvoMuq34z6OETOI3KA/s1600/100_0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyl0tkT4tOhqBDqabqi64gV8zobRkm4ZCiKoko38_G66by1fRMzCzAMsDR6rK8rIvQGStg-_uRmaP1XCzUws6i0MACJyz50sx3X7ipdjGnYc31OPe3XfR3PM4KOvoMuq34z6OETOI3KA/s320/100_0755.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>Since #BabyPink started walking a few weeks ago, she's been mad to go outside. The weather though hasn't been good enough.<br />
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Yesterday though it was clear and dry with not much wind. So hat and coat on and out she went.<br />
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She loved it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUgjHU_9gcuqfB-0Gxhqhe6t4gHv_k-8tDmO7CQKrolAyygiGkwSaK7DRMgs3gW91QihD8CBcxaI8Rh0cnrOH3KDWOvm9TPUARDObXgk9dgnLVxh8Prp4NbwCxEXDiSclKpufJgglpJg/s1600/Sundaylge-e1396359989177.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUgjHU_9gcuqfB-0Gxhqhe6t4gHv_k-8tDmO7CQKrolAyygiGkwSaK7DRMgs3gW91QihD8CBcxaI8Rh0cnrOH3KDWOvm9TPUARDObXgk9dgnLVxh8Prp4NbwCxEXDiSclKpufJgglpJg/s1600/Sundaylge-e1396359989177.png" /></a></div>
<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-34946061976764162842016-02-28T10:58:00.000+00:002016-02-28T10:58:37.361+00:00My #tenthings Feb 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqRKRuEP-QrmCW39EB-75kr7FO8_T0XsDafb_pIfaywfLsrj-bGTS-TvTEFDLv78wiVvJjV5Ibz2plZCQmXE-rIBWjHKCKlYp8osptx2rOQVFY_6FS8Gko6iOWve4ue8Q9gokVvx2Tks/s1600/TextArt_150404131744.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqRKRuEP-QrmCW39EB-75kr7FO8_T0XsDafb_pIfaywfLsrj-bGTS-TvTEFDLv78wiVvJjV5Ibz2plZCQmXE-rIBWjHKCKlYp8osptx2rOQVFY_6FS8Gko6iOWve4ue8Q9gokVvx2Tks/s1600/TextArt_150404131744.png" /></a></div>
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January's #tenthings link up post was a blogging wishlist and goals post for the coming year.<br />
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It contained things like a laptop, decent camera phone as well as rise up the tots100 rankings and a featured post in The Huffington Post or Mumsnet.<br />
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Tech problems (mainly nothing to actually blog on) have put the brakes on most of these. Although tots100 ranking didn't slip much, still in top 1000 which I'm pleased with.<br />
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Not quite the Huff, but I did get a guest post featured, by the wonderful (don't tell her I said that) @AbsPrabulous in her new series The <a href="http://www.absolutelyprabulous.com/oopsfiles-2-guest-blogger-baby-pink-and-the-boys/" target="_blank">#OopsFiles</a>. So I'm well chuffed.<br />
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I've been doing a #<a href="http://www.insidemartynsthoughts.com/2016/02/week-2-on-40daybloggingchallenge.html" target="_blank">40daysofbloggingchallenge </a>with Mr. Kitney where we feature a different Blogger each day of Lent and share a bit of #Bloggerlove. Here are my 10 favourite posts I've read so far.<br />
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<ol>
<li><b>The Panic of Losing a Small Child</b> by Tim at Slouching Towards Thatcham. I've been through this myself, when my son wandered off whilst in a busy shopping centre. Reading Tim's post made me realise we have no plan in place if we ever get separated You can read the post <a href="http://www.insidemartynsthoughts.com/2016/02/week-2-on-40daybloggingchallenge.html" target="_blank">here</a></li>
<li><b>11 Things That are Really Difficult to Give up for Lent</b> by Prabs at Absolutely Prabulous. I am a lapsed Roman Catholic, so don't pay much heed to "lent" per se. I did think Prabs list was brilliant, but I cannot think of anything that would make her give up #11. Read her post <a href="http://www.absolutelyprabulous.com/11-things-that-are-really-difficult-to-give-up-for-lent/" target="_blank">here</a></li>
<li><b>Just Laugh </b>by Sarah at Run Jump Scrap is one of those posts that make you feel good about the human race. We've all been there when our kids throw a wobbly in public, or seen other parents having the misfortune to suffer it. Read what happened <a href="http://runjumpscrap.com/2016/02/just-laugh/" target="_blank">here</a></li>
<li><b>I've Been Left Housebound by the DVLA's Prejudice </b>by Martyn at Inside Martyn's Thoughts is not a rant post by someone thinking they are being unfairly treated. Martyn (as anyone who knows him) talks about his disability with frankness and honesty, so for him to take to social media on the subject shows it is important. I would be lost without my car, so for him it is devastating. Read the post <a href="http://www.insidemartynsthoughts.com/2016/02/ive-been-left-housebound-by-dvlas.html" target="_blank">here</a></li>
<li><b>The Olympics and IVF </b>by Emily at Twin Mummy and Daddy shows some of the hurdles that couples who have to go the IVF route to becoming parents must go through. Read it <a href="http://www.twinmummyanddaddy.com/2012/07/the-olympics-and-ivf.html" target="_blank">here</a></li>
<li><b>#Dadsforchange </b>by Al at The DAD Network highlights the difficulties us Dad's face when trying to change our children when out and about. A great campaign to get changing facilities available to Dad's in major shops and restaurants. Read it <a href="http://www.thedadnetwork.co.uk/2016/02/dads-cant-change-babys-nappy-major-uk-restaurant-chains.html" target="_blank">here</a></li>
<li><b>Wintery Sensory Play </b>by Emma at The Joy of Five is a brilliant yet simple idea for indoor, sensory fun when you have no snow. I'll definitely be trying it out with the smaller boys. Read it <a href="https://thejoyoffive.com/2016/01/22/wintery-sensory-play/" target="_blank">here</a></li>
<li><b>Post Natal Depression </b>by Lisa at The Love of a Captain details her experience of PND and offers advice and places to go to get help if you think you or your partner are suffering from PND. Read the post <a href="https://theloveofacaptain.wordpress.com/2016/01/11/postnatal-depression/" target="_blank">here</a></li>
<li><b>#Checkyourchaps for Cancer </b>by Nige at DIY Daddy is a post raising awareness of the need to check for signs of testicular cancer. There's even a video showing you how to do it properly. Read the post <a href="http://www.diydaddyblog.com/2016/02/checkyourchaps-for-cancer.html?m=1" target="_blank">here</a></li>
<li><b>Am I Too Protective </b>by Julie at Picking Up Toys deals with something that is all too big a worry in today's world. Are we too Protective or is it not safe for our children. You decide. Read her post <a href="http://pickinguptoys.com/2016/02/01/am-i-too-protective/" target="_blank">here</a></li>
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Well I hhope you've enjoyed these posts as much as I have. </div>
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Come back next month for another 10.</div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-70547065890350793612016-02-22T23:01:00.001+00:002016-02-22T23:01:06.556+00:00From the Mouths of Babes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCdWqTcpN-OnUEJ_fTYtRB_8IFaiMckM_RQZfHpgsgCFuTOTpQ-O4nVQE4WCfMKqiyJLvJB9K1ej3T0YS1GmCJEjE-6NaFbyb6B87S3Hej_oHVQZUPfiPr37a75KluGCkNLVmgW5iVwc/s1600/3494672371_152f780d22_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCdWqTcpN-OnUEJ_fTYtRB_8IFaiMckM_RQZfHpgsgCFuTOTpQ-O4nVQE4WCfMKqiyJLvJB9K1ej3T0YS1GmCJEjE-6NaFbyb6B87S3Hej_oHVQZUPfiPr37a75KluGCkNLVmgW5iVwc/s320/3494672371_152f780d22_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>"Daddy if I plant one of these seeds, will a burger tree grow in the backyard?"<br />
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If only Buddy if only.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KCE4sAI0wy49uWhnD6_IR-V0Kf5PhbuFVLU0JTOYSUbPjr0WHcMb78elbim6aGuDhb1XZO6HnDMt6GCLCwivyY8JzMdx301cOpu7CSGNg-mr5bn78zYFeiVCSEzNYf5H7huBLdj0264/s1600/Fromthemouthsofbabeslinkybadge_zps39d493e3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KCE4sAI0wy49uWhnD6_IR-V0Kf5PhbuFVLU0JTOYSUbPjr0WHcMb78elbim6aGuDhb1XZO6HnDMt6GCLCwivyY8JzMdx301cOpu7CSGNg-mr5bn78zYFeiVCSEzNYf5H7huBLdj0264/s1600/Fromthemouthsofbabeslinkybadge_zps39d493e3.jpg" /></a></div>
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photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36681111@N00/3494672371">Reeeeeeed Robin!</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com/">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license)</a>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-10340147801020514332016-01-26T23:08:00.000+00:002016-02-15T23:16:33.632+00:00My 10 Things Jan 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The 10 Things linky, hosted by the lovely Stevie from <a href="http://acornishmum.com/" target="_blank">A Cornish Mum Blog</a> was one of the first Linkys I took part in when I started blogging and is one of my favourites. When I had a blogging slump earlier in the year Stevie tagged me to do My 10 Photos that Make me Happy, I'd planned to use that for my end of year, My 10 Things post. Time and technology put paid to that.<br />
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With my rekindled blogging enthusiasm, and a clear direction and goals for the blog in 2016 I thought I'd do a <b>My Blogging Wishlist/Goals </b>instead.<br />
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<ol>
<li><b>A Laptop - </b>Nothing fancy like an iMac. All I need is a decent sized screen and fairly lightweight, a Chromebook would be awesome.</li>
<li>Some lovely bloggers let me loose to write <b>guest posts.</b> Amanda at <a href="http://ginger-mum.com/" target="_blank">Ginger Mum</a> let me write a post on Gender Neutral Clothes, I'd love to write some more guest posts this year. The fabulous <a href="http://www.absolutelyprabulous.com/" target="_blank">Absolutely Prabulous</a> is launching a Guest Blogger series #TheOopsFiles, so I've a post in mind.</li>
<li><b>A decent camera phone -</b> I'm currently using a Microsoft Lumia 535 with a measly 5mp camera. I'd love an Android smartphone/phablet with a 20mp lens. Like the Samsung Galaxy S6.</li>
<li><b>Go self hosted</b>. Much as I like blogger, in order to progress with the blog I really need my own domain name and the personalisation the comes from being self hosted.</li>
<li><b>Break into the <a href="http://tots100.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tots100</a> top 500.</b> This may be a slightly unrealistic goal. I'm currently at 935! With regular posting, joining more linkys and using buffer to schedule tweets. This is certainly achievable.</li>
<li><b>A Fancy Header. </b>I read lots of blogs, and if I'm honest, some of their headers have me green with envy. Like these ones that <a href="http://ellieillustrates.co.uk/design-gallery/blog-design-2/" target="_blank">Ellie at Sea </a> creates. </li>
<li><b>A Stockpile of Posts. </b>Generally I find myself having to write and publish posts straight away. I'd love to be organised enough to have a few drafts that just need a quick edit before publishing.</li>
<li><b>Earn some money from the blog. </b>I've been lucky to have some fab brands ask me to review their products. <a href="http://babypinkandtheboys.blogspot.ie/2015/06/gummer-glove-review.html?m=1" target="_blank">Gummee Glove</a>, <a href="http://babypinkandtheboys.blogspot.ie/2015/12/baker-days-review.html?m=1" target="_blank">Baker Days,</a> and <a href="http://babypinkandtheboys.blogspot.ie/2015/05/pegnancy-pillows-nursing-pillows-review.html?m=1" target="_blank">Pregna Pillows</a> to name a few. I'd like to be in a position to have paid advertisers / sponsors by the end of the year.</li>
<li><b>Attend a blogging event. </b>Britmums, BloggerconfIRL or one of Irish Blogger Associations events and of course <a href="http://thedadnetwork.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Dad Networks </a>Day of the Dad event. Everything I've read about them leads to me believing they are fantastic and if nothing else, it would be great to meet some of the other bloggers.</li>
<li>Lastly but not least, this one is more of an aspiration than a goal/wishlist item. <b>Have a post featured on one of the big sites.<a href="http://www.mumsnet.com/" target="_blank">Mumsnet</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a> </b>or similar.</li>
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Well there they are. Do you think I'm being realistic or is it too much too soon? </div>
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I'll see you next month and update you on my progress.</div>
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</ol>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-32458882519551909582016-01-10T01:00:00.000+00:002016-01-10T08:29:23.758+00:00My Sunday Photo Jan 10th 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Y2yCEPAJPSzBIipQehuGXfF70NnjL7cInamo1CCH5iZR7rX26tjb-iquHAkUsibm7CakUqI7Qz4U6goOYjabaHJzKjENco-lncE8OD3yMIEuebdgs-4CPFKz-15-TuKHrBzHPuWFloo/s1600/InstagramCapture_533e815d-f8c2-41e9-abfe-b0ad169ea752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Y2yCEPAJPSzBIipQehuGXfF70NnjL7cInamo1CCH5iZR7rX26tjb-iquHAkUsibm7CakUqI7Qz4U6goOYjabaHJzKjENco-lncE8OD3yMIEuebdgs-4CPFKz-15-TuKHrBzHPuWFloo/s320/InstagramCapture_533e815d-f8c2-41e9-abfe-b0ad169ea752.jpg" style="-ms-user-select: none;" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>I've always like the colour pop photos. Ever since I was a teenager and saw one in Athena of a girl wearing a red coat.<br />
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I was delighted to discover there was a colour pop option on my new Microsoft Lumia Phone.</div>
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Be prepared to see lots more colour pops over the course of 2016.</div>
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<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-63798614731551558992015-12-20T13:22:00.000+00:002015-12-20T13:29:28.615+00:00Has My Attitude to Women Changed Since Having a Daughter?<div>
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The totally wonderful <a href="http://www.parentinginpyjamas.co.uk/" target="_blank">@parentinginpyjamas</a> was looking for questions for a blog post. So I made an agreement with her I'll ask you a question and you ask me one.<br />
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You can read her fab post with answers to all the questions she was asked <a href="http://www.parentinginpyjamas.com/#!TwitterQuestions-1-Whats-The-Most-Embarrassing-Thing-Your-Baby-Has-Done-in-Public/c21kp/56756b240cf203da56e4fff9" target="_blank">here</a>. In return she posed me the more serious question:<br />
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<b>Has my attitude towards woman changed since having a daughter?</b><br />
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I thought long and hard about this last night and then again today. I puffed my e-cig, walked the dog, bathed #BabyPink all the while in the back of my head I was constantly asking the question and trying to think of humorous anecdotes to prove my point either way.<br />
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After all this thinking my head hurt. So I called herself and told her to bring me a paracetamol and a Budweiser, then told her to get the kids to bed as they were making noise. Once she had finished washing and cleaning she could go across to her friends house for 10 mins to smoke a fag. But not to be long in case #BabyPink woke for a bottle.<br />
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I must have drifted off to sleep as the next thing I remember is being thumped in the back. "The Child" "the child" she said to me.<br />
I fumbled for the bottle and put in #BabyPinks mouth.Five minutes later she was back to sleep.<br />
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Ha sorry to disappoint you all but I'm not a Neanderthal who thinks the woman should raise the children and cook and clean.<br />
I've done nearly every night feed since my son was born, and he was a poor feeder and sleeper. A few ounces every three hours, 30 mins minimum to get wind up and he didn't stop bottles at night till he was about <b>Three!! </b>I've been peed on, pooped on and had more sick down my back from all the kids, than I care to remember. I cook, I clean ( under duress) and empty bins etc.<br />
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<ul>
<li>I still think woman should be treated right.</li>
<li>I open doors for them. (Out of politeness)</li>
<li>I give up my seat on the bus. (Not because they can't stand, because it's mannerly)</li>
<li>I help them carry boxes and bags. (Again not because they can't do it themselves, but it's the right thing to do.)</li>
<li>I'd stop to help a lady change her tyre.</li>
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So <b>No </b>my attitude to woman hasn't changed since I had a daughter.<br />
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What has changed?<br />
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I've realised girls/woman have it bloody hard.</div>
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I'd not paid as much attention before, but now all I think about is how tough it is for a girl to grow up and get ahead in this world.</div>
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When I worked in an office I could roll out of bed 30 mins before being at work, a quick wash, teeth brushed, shirt and tie on that was ironed night before and off I go with a bit of stubble. Nothing was ever said to me. Yet I'm sure the girls in the office had to make sure they looked their best if they wanted to get ahead.<br />
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If a girl is a bit promiscuous she's called a "slut" a fella is called a "stud"<br />
If girls like soccer and "men's" sports she's a lesbian or just looking for eye candy.<br />
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Girls are bombarded with airbrushed photos of super thin models and picture perfect movie stars, who have personal trainers, stylists and image consultants and told this is how they must look. Lads can go around however they want and nothing is said.<br />
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Even from an early age even the toys girls are "supposed" to play with are based on antiquated ideals. Dolls, prams, play kitchens and cleaning items. If she wants to play with balls and tractors, she is labelled a Tom boy. To be fair though if a boy plays with dolls and tea sets he is labelled a sissy.<br />
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The girls so have it worse. Bitchy comments from other girls, pressure to be one of the "cool" kids. Hormones, periods, pressure to "put out" and have a boyfriend.<br />
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I wouldn't change #BabyPink for the world, but it looks like I'll have to try and change the world for her.<br />
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-44341260727263683012015-12-10T11:53:00.000+00:002015-12-10T11:53:58.349+00:00#Throwback-thursday - 10/12/2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a name='more'></a>As it's December I tried to find a nice Christmas picture to use.<br />
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In the absence of that I did find this one. The caption next to it in the album is "Christmas 1987". Which would make me 12.<br />
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For regular readers of my #throwbackthursday linky posts will notice my mother wasn't one for fashionable haircuts. I did have a fine set of teeth though.<br />
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<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-70183673050936421962015-12-04T07:40:00.001+00:002016-02-03T22:59:02.741+00:00Baker Days Review - Cake by Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtPaB7iq2DxRHCAl-ToIgXrPYFGNCWk3fj3naQjBK40PB5UVvmvZiEfC0kfgqjjN2D9m6sj5RmUTwiWr04A2a0hp9d7g9xcn0WgY25zhqHKtn3UlXOyfKUwzLgwvphRPWllFyUyOK6yQ/s1600/20151130_170232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtPaB7iq2DxRHCAl-ToIgXrPYFGNCWk3fj3naQjBK40PB5UVvmvZiEfC0kfgqjjN2D9m6sj5RmUTwiWr04A2a0hp9d7g9xcn0WgY25zhqHKtn3UlXOyfKUwzLgwvphRPWllFyUyOK6yQ/s320/20151130_170232.jpg" title="Baker Days Minnion Cake 1830" width="320" /></a></div>
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Everyone loves cake right. So I jumped at chance to review <a href="http://baker%20days/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Baker Days</a> cake by post service.<br />
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What could be better than coming home to find a cake waiting for you.<br />
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We were sent the letterbox sponge cake pictures above to review.<br />
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We missed the postman so received a card to go collect from the post office. My initial thoughts when I collected the package were "It's tiny"<br />
Whilst sitting waiting for my eldest lad to come our of school I opened the box and read the information.<br />
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There are lots of cakes in different sizes. The letterbox is designed as a card to be sent to someone, a bit like a card you can eat. I have to say it's a great idea. What better way to say thank you than by getting a cake delivered.<br />
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The presentation is excellent as the picture below shows.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxRX2nkPlJxImVdgQMivWJVwtxNs0Iu1AnV6zxAFKvrpFzbP05R9X5RsUaku5_rrUX_nEUAKHE7p9PQqWzIZc0p1ihyphenhyphenj22X9ZYQ9s4ybPuRsIqWBxqQlLiVD8b3CYYY6O7qUjDchZKjU/s1600/20151130_160922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxRX2nkPlJxImVdgQMivWJVwtxNs0Iu1AnV6zxAFKvrpFzbP05R9X5RsUaku5_rrUX_nEUAKHE7p9PQqWzIZc0p1ihyphenhyphenj22X9ZYQ9s4ybPuRsIqWBxqQlLiVD8b3CYYY6O7qUjDchZKjU/s320/20151130_160922.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next to the tasting. Even though it is small I easily cut the cake into 6 decent sized slices. One each.<br />
The sponge was light and moist, not too much icing and a tiny bit of marzipan to keep it in place.<br />
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The boys were back for seconds in no time and it took less than 5 minutes for the cake to disappear.<br />
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All in all I have to give Baker Days 10/10. The service is excellent, chose of designs, sizes and personalisation is huge, delivery was fast (bear in mind I live in Ireland) and the taste was delicious.<br />
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I'd highly recommend them and would certainly use them again.<br />
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Disclaimer - I was sent the product at no cost in exchange for an honest review. The above review is entirely my own opinions of the product and service. </div>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-7481886129231045782015-11-19T07:37:00.000+00:002015-11-19T07:37:26.716+00:00#throwback Thursday - 18/11/15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6JytWTULKM4bvXzb7iLe5vRpbf06lRoLrN8jPr2Pcmdy7szPIsssGw_1jfWzJk64QrA-Xj4KaiyZft569QSN-AAkvrMLd8qPIpXxjbtjWfKVB547pY2zKLI8RvRIfkTx8mpT5mfkmq0/s1600/Bob+Graduation.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6JytWTULKM4bvXzb7iLe5vRpbf06lRoLrN8jPr2Pcmdy7szPIsssGw_1jfWzJk64QrA-Xj4KaiyZft569QSN-AAkvrMLd8qPIpXxjbtjWfKVB547pY2zKLI8RvRIfkTx8mpT5mfkmq0/s320/Bob+Graduation.jpeg" width="208" /></a></div>
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This is from my little Buddy's graduation from preschool. </div>
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<a name='more'></a>I'd never seen anything like this before but think it's a brilliant idea.<br />
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A great momento to have as he left preschool ready to go to primary school. It doesn't seem like this was taken four years ago!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6Lvf-0Rk60IseCHe80lEG0FSLhckUFNN1BzxYxAUXZM9fqjU3Bv8BWXLIOANG-uYOcgNO1qbQILZm4r1JTEn7Wu9noXgF3O4bszLITwM6y_26hcG7hUehwbQX4jz2jVqysQuztEJUJA/s1600/throwback+thursday+badge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6Lvf-0Rk60IseCHe80lEG0FSLhckUFNN1BzxYxAUXZM9fqjU3Bv8BWXLIOANG-uYOcgNO1qbQILZm4r1JTEn7Wu9noXgF3O4bszLITwM6y_26hcG7hUehwbQX4jz2jVqysQuztEJUJA/s1600/throwback+thursday+badge.png" /></a></div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-76248183869920901492015-11-18T19:55:00.000+00:002016-02-03T22:59:25.391+00:00What have we done to the world that God created?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With recent events in Paris and other cities around the world I've found myself singing this song over and over.<br />
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I always liked Queen. Ever since I saw the video for A Kind of Magic on Top of the Pops as a child.<br />
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This performance was at Live Aid in 1985 and although the words were poignant then, for a very different reason the message is just the same today.<br />
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I have to admit growing up I wasn't too concerned about world events. Even once I moved out of home and stood on my own two feet I wasn't too concerned about global warming etc.<br />
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Since becoming a father though this has all changed. Better late than never - so they say.<br />
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I'm not religious at all. I refused to make my confirmation, telling my mother it would be hypocritical to do so as I didn't believe in God.<br />
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I still don't!<br />
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I do believe in fairness, human decency and the hope of a future for our children.<br />
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I feel that this world is vastly different to the one I grew up in, and not for the better.<br />
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Although I grew up in the cold war of the 80's. The IRA bombings and the Falklands conflict. I never felt unsafe. Wasn't worried for other members of my family's safety.<br />
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Yet now we have terrorism on a global scale. Natural disasters far worse than anything I saw and armed conflicts in all corners of the globe.<br />
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In Freddie's words. What have we done to the world?<br />
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<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-84297685185501506242015-11-10T01:57:00.000+00:002016-02-03T22:59:58.727+00:00Adoption - The Missing Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbbLDd_YIozDTDD9FcyihS2vOIWoxsQOOF3XDia8zZxlCPI9-sKzZbVuWqtnpqmwMq3xc8dtvPzM86uriNs2y8n9yVSK3xf8hh37KCitnG1U9mMwoKQgfrjAxG9aRwdSgwK7O6AzZNt8/s1600/2014-06-26_11.44.03%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbbLDd_YIozDTDD9FcyihS2vOIWoxsQOOF3XDia8zZxlCPI9-sKzZbVuWqtnpqmwMq3xc8dtvPzM86uriNs2y8n9yVSK3xf8hh37KCitnG1U9mMwoKQgfrjAxG9aRwdSgwK7O6AzZNt8/s320/2014-06-26_11.44.03%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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That's my sister and I in the orphanage in Southam, run by nuns.<br />
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I don't know when the picture was taken, or who the two ladies are. One I think is called Doreen. A worker in the orphanage.<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a>This month is Adoption Awareness Month. So I've been finding various articles and posts about adoption popping up on my different social media accounts.<br />
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This invariably leads to thoughts of my own adoption. I was one of the lucky ones. No blonde hair or blue eyes and over the age of four, but I managed to be adopted. I say it was because I had a smaller , cuter sister and luckily we were kept together.<br />
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There is no doubt I had a better life than had I not been adopted, I do however have many hidden scars and emotional issues that I am trying my hardest not to pass on to #BabyPink and the boys.<br />
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As I lie here though watching #BabyPink sleep, and marvelling at just how much she has come along in those 9 months since she arrived into the world in an explosion of pink and frills and bows. I can't help but have a tinge of regret.<br />
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We're not talking about the What If game many adopted children play. We were told all along who our parents were. What happened for us to end up in the orphanage. I'm talking about the missing years. I've only a few memories from my early years and those few are the orphanage.<br />
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Thanks to my sister doing her finest Sherlock Holmes or should that be Miss Marple impression. I've met my real mother. In this day and age I should probably say birth mother, but that's one of my many issues. I always, when talking or thinking about her say she is my real mother and I have my adoptive mother. She has since passed away, due to my issues I only ever asked one question about my early years, and that was why she had a different surname on my birth certificate.<br />
There were a million questions I could have, no should have asked. Not least why she left us behind. That chance has gone now.<br />
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I've a number of Aunts and Uncles and cousins, most of whom were unaware my sister and I existed. Which means that I have no one I can ask what I was like as a baby. Was I quiet? Was I a happy child? Did I walk early? Was I mischievous like #BabyPink? Was I a poor sleeper like buddy? Did I want to explore like my daughter or was I happy sitting playing with toys as my son was?<br />
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I've no idea and no one to ask. My mother kept us secret from everyone, the Nuns have all passed away or are too old to remember. The orphanage has been gone for years.<br />
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Perhaps that's why I take such an active interest in my kids as they are growing. Taking hundreds of pictures and maybe that's why I started this blog. When I'm a grandad and the grandkids sit on my knee and ask what their Mammy or Daddy was like as a child I've a thousand stories and photos for them.<br />
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For me they are the missing years and I'll never know.Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-83474645053483580742015-11-05T09:52:00.000+00:002015-11-05T10:06:07.677+00:00#Throwbackthursday 05/11/2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSnWxZyCUW_L-RbRj3xsTBYJOmrh8KrdLX0UCDZyoELI4755qweaTJYlAN5OpJXdQmQ8y74ICXbxyGh5zp6W20PkymYPR438Ut3T9F-96cvDIlNnMANq8oO3KyTpwyvfHbJMyqG5i9pI/s1600/FB_IMG_1446686540756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSnWxZyCUW_L-RbRj3xsTBYJOmrh8KrdLX0UCDZyoELI4755qweaTJYlAN5OpJXdQmQ8y74ICXbxyGh5zp6W20PkymYPR438Ut3T9F-96cvDIlNnMANq8oO3KyTpwyvfHbJMyqG5i9pI/s320/FB_IMG_1446686540756.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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November is national adoption month. My sister posted this photo and the following on her Facebook page.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "droid sans" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">November is National Adoption month. Those that know about my past know that adoption has had a huge impact on my life and I believe is the reason I was led to a career in social work. Everyone's adoption story is different and some turn out truly horrific but I was fortunate to be one of the lucky ones who was adopted by wonderful parents and immediately embraced by a large extended family. Of course five years in foster care didn't come without some emotional bruises but unconditional love and time really can aid in healing those bruises. If you are thinking about adoption here is something powerful one of my kids said that I think about daily and leaves me feeling so sickened that a child has had to think like this "no one is in my life because they want to be. My social worker, case-manager, therapist, teachers, foster parents, everyone is paid to be in my life". If you feel adoption is the direction you are being led think how impactful it will be to a child to be in their life as a choice not a paycheck. No one should ever feel they are only someone's paycheck. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "droid sans" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">My grandmothers first flight to England to meet us as we couldn't leave the country yet.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "droid sans" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I remember that Lego fire station well. I had forgotten that Granny had brought it as a present when she came to visit us.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFYMIG-Jzuj5-73LwU86m0f76D9JUwMjRcRL0kRxPo-QbjL5BGAn3_aG3BXbTnfV0iHoMweIX-V3-X0vVSiMeUAaSUwIFYPuBVBxe-DXAJjam_kA_WDvIbcR77vAY_FMpT9r7IZilMrM/s1600/throwback+thursday+badge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFYMIG-Jzuj5-73LwU86m0f76D9JUwMjRcRL0kRxPo-QbjL5BGAn3_aG3BXbTnfV0iHoMweIX-V3-X0vVSiMeUAaSUwIFYPuBVBxe-DXAJjam_kA_WDvIbcR77vAY_FMpT9r7IZilMrM/s1600/throwback+thursday+badge.png" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "droid sans" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-67255332209467490912015-11-01T10:47:00.000+00:002015-11-01T10:47:32.066+00:00#My Sunday Photo - 01/11/2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCI2LfF3iceS3vVQicmG870A9HHMAtei_t_ONg7icGJJjZC7s-LkAoSqGEVoNB4ZH5bEzhrIARa9VQfotiFb12VymFA8daF5lneT02vFM4VXk9NbOWzWmZnzw8SciaZCw4iEfDrgvsPQ/s1600/20151028_120150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCI2LfF3iceS3vVQicmG870A9HHMAtei_t_ONg7icGJJjZC7s-LkAoSqGEVoNB4ZH5bEzhrIARa9VQfotiFb12VymFA8daF5lneT02vFM4VXk9NbOWzWmZnzw8SciaZCw4iEfDrgvsPQ/s320/20151028_120150.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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There is nothing like a child to show the passing of time.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>It seems like only yesterday #BabyPink had just arrived home from the hospital, yet here we are nearly 9 months later and she is pulling herself up on things and standing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUgjHU_9gcuqfB-0Gxhqhe6t4gHv_k-8tDmO7CQKrolAyygiGkwSaK7DRMgs3gW91QihD8CBcxaI8Rh0cnrOH3KDWOvm9TPUARDObXgk9dgnLVxh8Prp4NbwCxEXDiSclKpufJgglpJg/s1600/Sundaylge-e1396359989177.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUgjHU_9gcuqfB-0Gxhqhe6t4gHv_k-8tDmO7CQKrolAyygiGkwSaK7DRMgs3gW91QihD8CBcxaI8Rh0cnrOH3KDWOvm9TPUARDObXgk9dgnLVxh8Prp4NbwCxEXDiSclKpufJgglpJg/s1600/Sundaylge-e1396359989177.png" /></a></div>
<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-55185031454048166742015-10-31T00:11:00.000+00:002015-10-31T22:22:19.557+00:00It's not just the girls who are Stereotyped!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1yMIRl6WKUGxPoDnnLvjXoZsXhKuDIh8YYBjrZwwdPdZFvuTgGOI4qyoFv4AG9r43ZOJNGkwwgsbkKDv7l7QAjFZFO7bfbAhY7UGO-fy7ud4Hv-1WmvA80zzVjJKF9XAfgRHFMi4u08/s1600/IMG_20150209_184729240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1yMIRl6WKUGxPoDnnLvjXoZsXhKuDIh8YYBjrZwwdPdZFvuTgGOI4qyoFv4AG9r43ZOJNGkwwgsbkKDv7l7QAjFZFO7bfbAhY7UGO-fy7ud4Hv-1WmvA80zzVjJKF9XAfgRHFMi4u08/s320/IMG_20150209_184729240.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#Babypink seconds old</td></tr>
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There she is! Hard to believe in a little over a week #BabyPink is 9 months old.<br />
<a name='more'></a>I'll admit, when I found out I was going to have a daughter I was terrified. With three boys in the house already, I knew what to do with them.<br />
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It turns out babies are all pretty much the same. They eat, sleep, poop and need cuddles. Regardless of if they are boys or girls.<br />
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The only difference really is you have to wipe down not any which way you like!<br />
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The biggest change has been in me!<br />
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Since #BabyPink burst onto the scene in an explosion of pink, I've found myself rethinking my parenting and hopes and dreams for all my children.<br />
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I'll admit I was a bit old fashioned in the way I brought the boys up. Not in the, women do housework and raise children while men hunt and gather, type of way.<br />
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More in the, if the boys hurt themselves I'd dust them down, wipe their tears, tell them not to cry in front of their friends and send them back into the fray. Even at their young ages I'd often tell them they need to go to college to get a good job. Etc etc.<br />
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With #BabyPink I've been thinking about raising her without stereotypes.<br />
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If she wants to play with cars and tractors, why shouldn't she? If she wants to play hurling, rugby and soccer, why shouldn't she?<br />
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I have written posts about <a href="http://babypinkandtheboys.blogspot.ie/2015/08/why-i-wont-be-calling-babypink-my.html?m=1" target="_blank">gender stereotyping </a>and <a href="http://babypinkandtheboys.blogspot.ie/2015/10/raising-strong-independent-girls-with.html?m=1" target="_blank">raising a strong independent girl. </a><br />
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This got me thinking though. Maybe she isn't the strong independent type. Maybe she will be quiet and sensitive. Which also made me rethink how I treat the boys.<br />
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Here I am banging on about not stereotyping girls and I am doing it with the boys! How hypocritical is that!<br />
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I've therefore made a change in my thinking.<br />
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I will no longer tell the boys to "Be a man" "It's only a sprain, come on" instead I will treat them all the same.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#BabyPink and The </td></tr>
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Maybe they aren't into books and reading. Don't want to be managers or lawyers. Perhaps they want to be their own boss, travel, make cabinets or bake cakes for a living.<br />
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Whatever it is I'll be there to support and help them.<br />
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<li>If that means giving them a hug because they are upset that's what I'll do. </li>
<li>If it means they want to play netball instead of hurling then so be it.</li>
<li>If it means teaching them to bake cakes instead of how to change the oil in their car, that's what we'll do.</li>
<li>And if #BabyPink wants to play with dolls and prams and wear pretty dresses, then she will.</li>
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Stereotyping works both ways and in an effort to ensure equality for our girls we should remember not to do it at the expense of our boys.</div>
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<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-67803642373825512512015-10-23T23:36:00.000+01:002015-10-28T22:29:11.355+00:00Raising Strong Independent Girls - With the help of Tara Binns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWss9hFGPHzFtkz5RAptMZGymttWKGZIckuNR7tayDpzPIdSVtnnbvvybe1OGpPNYz-xa1feKYRXdRk3wZNLaWCEr0yYcM-__OX2FdIuwMVmgRgx2Q6YUmT1SlG6yfdUVAj0Jm4g7Efk/s1600/619%252BcSxK1TL._SY400_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWss9hFGPHzFtkz5RAptMZGymttWKGZIckuNR7tayDpzPIdSVtnnbvvybe1OGpPNYz-xa1feKYRXdRk3wZNLaWCEr0yYcM-__OX2FdIuwMVmgRgx2Q6YUmT1SlG6yfdUVAj0Jm4g7Efk/s320/619%252BcSxK1TL._SY400_.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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Since #BabyPink burst into my life in an explosion of pink, with her dresses, leggings and general cuteness. I've become obsessed with trying to make sure she will grow up without typical gender stereotypes.</div>
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The lovely Amanda at <a href="http://www.ginger-mum.com/" target="_blank">Ginger Mum Blog</a> let me write a guest post on <a href="http://ginger-mum.com/a-dads-view-gender-neutral-dressing-guest-post/" target="_blank">Gender Neutral Clothing</a>. <span id="goog_1559567678"></span><span id="goog_1559567679"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
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Today though I realised something more profound.</div>
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I was dropping two of the boys to primary school. It's the last day before the mid term break, so Halloween was the order of the day. Costumes, treats, maybe a game or two and not much work.</div>
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As I stood there waiting for the gates to open other parents arrived with their children. All in costume. There was a soldier , Red Power Ranger, Soccer Player, Werewolves, Zombies etc. Then we had witches, and black cats with one dead bride.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBP47ZOkuz-6Ef_DIERyrkJI9IbhLvHvLkcBZl3oMtAvPbkcRzZIvvSXg6s6UWOfKfEYH7RnyV7KLuZ8_nhHNG7mTVpn3Aua0La5XV0m93XFYm1ZzmgZDWxBnTO6sP4eGMjXfOTjx1-_c/s1600/ar521038ls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBP47ZOkuz-6Ef_DIERyrkJI9IbhLvHvLkcBZl3oMtAvPbkcRzZIvvSXg6s6UWOfKfEYH7RnyV7KLuZ8_nhHNG7mTVpn3Aua0La5XV0m93XFYm1ZzmgZDWxBnTO6sP4eGMjXfOTjx1-_c/s320/ar521038ls.jpg" title="Black Cat Onsie" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Cat Onsie from Tesco</td></tr>
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I was flabbergasted!! Besides the werewolves, who had obviously all picked the same ready made costume from Tesco, none of the boys were the same. YET all the girls were witches or cats!</div>
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On the drive home I thought about this. Did they all ask for these outfits? Were they the only ones available? Do girls not want to be solders, ninjas or zombies? Are the parents telling them they can't go to school dressed as a soldier? </div>
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Then when I got home and looked at my Facebook news feed. I saw posts about Khloe Kardashian, models, actresses, rugby players, Soccer players. It was then I realised, girls today don't have the role models, they are not encouraged to be independent to think for themselves. </div>
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With all this fat shaming, thin shaming, body obsessed, beauty culture in the media. Who do our girls have as role models?</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifwitbabandt-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0007416148" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=lifwitbabandt-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=0007416148&asins=0007416148&linkId=&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
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Even Karen Brady, who I'd have as an ideal role model for girls, is Lord Sugars sidekick on the apprentice! </div>
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I am therefore delighted to have found the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0993008208/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0993008208&linkCode=as2&tag=lifwitbabandt-21" rel="nofollow">Tara Binns - Eagle-Eyed Pilot: 1</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifwitbabandt-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0993008208" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
book. Tara goes on an adventure that she normally wouldn't, a pilot. In another she works in a car factory testing brakes.</div>
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If it wasn't for the fact that the times I've tried reading to #BabyPink she tries to eat the book! I'd be reading them to her now. </div>
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I'll have to wait a bit longer. For the time being ill have to keep up my subliminal messages whilst she's asleep. Whispering in her ear "You can be anything you want to be,"</div>
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How do you think we can raise strong independent girls in this image obsessed world we live in?</div>
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<i><b>Disclaimer: </b>I have received no goods or payment for this post. If you click through and purchase via the links I will receive a small payment.</i></div>
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Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24167524494387593.post-43910640730085274972015-10-15T10:15:00.000+01:002015-10-15T10:57:54.928+01:00#throwbackthursday-week 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1byr_emFKRJaz3D81salYOCHR5SmTeaFTEmVeEFXQRn5ym6h8tNIygnUyFr64VNmE4PNsLlCSOLD7tM7dyCBxsdDdhcjEjNbKYDEVFb42r5gk4fbqfufgCUAAQJkoKJeyP0KurXb1d5g/s1600/2015-10-15+10.05.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1byr_emFKRJaz3D81salYOCHR5SmTeaFTEmVeEFXQRn5ym6h8tNIygnUyFr64VNmE4PNsLlCSOLD7tM7dyCBxsdDdhcjEjNbKYDEVFb42r5gk4fbqfufgCUAAQJkoKJeyP0KurXb1d5g/s320/2015-10-15+10.05.35.jpg" title="Communion Day" width="225" /></a></div>
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I trawled through my photo album and thought this would do as my #throwbackthursday link up post.<br />
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I thought was topical as all the children are getting ready for their communions and confirmations.<br />
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That was my school uniform for St. Thomas Moore primary school in Kidlington.<br />
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We had the ceremony and then they had a little party in one of the classrooms.<br />
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<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257204836926429371noreply@blogger.com2