Newbie round-up: New blogs on money, desire and loss…

It’s that time of the month again – time to give the kids the ipad put the kettle on and sit down to browse the best of the latest new blogs on BritMums.

September’s new blogs

It’s expensive having children, isn’t it? Not only the cost of everything they need, and everything they do, but even the cost of simply including your kids in your favourite pursuits. Before GG and the Bug were born, Actually Daddy and I were at the cinema at least twice a week. In fact, there would be weekends when we would loll around on the sofa and moan that there were no new movies on anywhere and nothing to doooooowah! Rather like a teenager. Or an 8 year old girl. Ahem. But hey, now she’s 8 we can take her along, right? Wrong, as The Reading Residence puts it so nicely in a Ranty Friday post for Mummy Barrow, is it really worth going to the cinema now you’re a parent?

The other thing that costs money is replacing all the random stuff your child loses or wrecks. You know, the window ledge that now proclaims “Total Wipeout” in indelible hot pink ink. No? Oh, that’s just my house then. Buggies then – how many things have you lost whilst pushing a buggy (and I don’t include control of your bladder whilst necking an extra shot latte)? I was once heading into Starbucks when a woman came hurtling in after me clutching a shoe. It looked like my son’s shoe. In fact my 1 year old boy was sat in his buggy looking cute and giggly as he waved his sock-clad foot at me. Maidenhead Mum was not so lucky, and tells us the story of her lost shoe, as it led her on a trail of despair, via a 6 pack of wine, before it eventually made it’s way home.

I was gutted when I found this new blogger. Just 2 months into blogging, and the first post I read on Mamaboyandadog was Feeling Erased. After a relationship breakdown, she was removed from her ex-partners life in a very public fashion. We often fret about the “publicness” of our lives when we’re engagers in social media, but to feel like part of your life has suddenly become invisible to other people must leave you floundering. Read on though, because in her more recent posts I spy a glimmer of fight and strength which makes me look forward to the rest of her journey.

Orli, Just Breathe is a blogger I’ve seen in my Twitter stream a fair bit recently. This mother of children with various special needs is compelling to read, and thought provoking not just to other parents of SEN children, but to all parents. Her post “Gifted isn’t a Gift” really struck a chord with me. I’ve seen some incredibly smart children who have a hell of a time coping at school, and I’ve seen aspects of my clever daughter’s emotional behaviour that I’ve found difficult to fathom. It’s spot on.

Now, I’ve seen a lot of posts about room makeovers recently, but none so full-on as this blog, The House that Soph Built. Whole house renovation complete with mouldy plaster and ripped out brickwork, as well as some very nice photographs. Take a look, you’ll see what I mean 😉 I love this post about the tier system of visitors, and how Soph ropes them all in – somehow – to the work in hand. I’m a tiny bit inspired *buys Actually Daddy a vest top.*

If a bit of wry humour is what you’re looking for check out Hugs from Dad, the only person I’ve noticed to have clocked that the kids classic “We’re going on a Bear Hunt” has totally come of age. He decided the book’s first readers needed a more adult version, which you will find here. I think every 18 year old should be given a copy with his first legal pint on his birthday 😉 And I LOVE this genius post about plimsolls from Sunnysiders, where teacher Nicola not only crafts with the kids, but with wise and witty words and awesome illustrations. Now there’s someone I need to take lessons from so I don’t inadvertently post images of other people’s children!

Those of you who have a weaning baby might like to share some thoughts with Wean and Get Lean, who is embarking on the journey of feeding her baby with healthy food, whilst attempting to change her own diet for the better. Anyone who can make 215 cubes of vegetable puree for the freezer and contemplate creating a healthy meal for herself at the same time is a champion in my opinion – the weaning months saw my child pumped full of vitamins whilst I existed on Tracker bars! Check out her first holiday with a weaning baby – the girl’s doing good!

Talking of food, what’s your take on kids in restaurants? I’ve been quite vociferous on my blog about the crap they call food in some of our high street chains, and my kids desire for steak, medium-rare leaves me forking out for adult portions or nibbling a morsel of meat while my kids attack my plate. But some would argue that children shouldn’t be in “proper” restaurants at all. Still others – Ruby and Lottie among them – object to being seated in a family area, and insist on their own children having decent table manners despite the appalling behaviour of other diner’s kids. What do you think?

The life of an adopting parent is a theme I’ve seen a lot in new blogs recently and I’m so glad that this aspect of parenting is finding a voice through blogging. I watch the posts of On the Road to Adoption with excitement and trepidation as I realise how tricky adopting a young child can be. Especially when the other inhabitants of your house are cats. I love this very simple post about getting the house ready for a child who doesn’t currently live there. Those cats must wonder what the heck is going on!

And finally, I’ve realised what closed Facebook groups are for. Complaining about your partner. For months I’ve watched other folk ranting about pants on the floor, failure to turn up on time, men that slob on the sofa and dare to be tired – TIRED?? YOU DON’T KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD! – when you’ve been up all night  with a baby, and considered myself lucky with my choice of bloke. Then he did the unthinkable and went for a boys night out on his son’s birthday, returning without the gift his dipstick friend gave him in the pub to pass on to his godson. Oh boy did I rant in a closed Facebook group that night! Shortly afterwards I read a post about wanting a wedding from this very funny new blogger Sometimes Mermaid. I told her to throw a party and get it out of her system. Actually, I think someone needs to invite her to a Facebook group 😉

Right, that’s me done for another month. Link up below so we can all find you, and if you’re a new blogger, go comment on these blogs for starters.

Helen xxx