Dee: (The) Mama Blog

So... I've started this thing with my children-- well not started. I've been doing it for over 6 months at best: entitling my children to choices. So for example, for breakfast... I will ask Jeremiah what he wants. BUT I will give him two choices to choose from. I wanted to start this because it not only encourages him to speak, but he will also learn the responsibility of his choices. So if he decides that he wants Weetabix, and then a couple of spoons into eating it he says he doesn't want it-- I'm not changing it for him.. he has to finish it, because he CHOSE to eat it.  Before I would automatically pick what he wants to eat, but I needed to stop doing that otherwise he would always rely on me and not be able to decide for himself! But mind you.. dinner we all eat the same thing loool. The only exception is the fact that Matthew has food allergies, so depending on what it is, I'll do an alternative for him. Otherwise... we all eat the same thing lol. There will ...

"Don't touch that!" "Why?" He strokes the 'stop' button on the bus "Don't press it." He looks at her from the corner of his eye "I can still see your finger there.." He giggles

So... with this whole pandemic the only places that are available to get kids clothes from, (besides ordering online) is either Tesco, or Sainsbury's-- or if you have an Asda in your area, Asda. And don't get me wrong, the kiddie clothes in all of these places are reasonably price, and very quality.. but why is it that anywhere you go, there is an EXTREME limitation on what you can get for boys clothes/shoes/pyjamas? I went to my local Tesco about 2 weeks back looking for some Pyjamas.. and why was there one dinky little display for the boys pyjamas? But almost 2 aisles of clothes for the girls?? I understand girls have a lot more variety and combinations with their clothes.. but why are the boys clothes so limited? Can't boys have combos and variations too? And what makes it more annoying is because due to the limitation.. when you're looking for a particular size it's never there because there isn't much to choose from. I am having a moan because being a boy m...

Does your child have a toy or blanket that they MUST take to bed with them? Just recently, (recently being about 2 months ago lol) Jeremiah, my 4 year old became obsessed with Dory, (Of Finding Dory, the sequel to Finding Nemo..) I bought it a while back, but one night he was looking for it to go to sleep-- I thought this was very new because he normally plays with it for the majority of the day; but doesn't normally go to sleep with it. Since that night... every night I need to make sure Dory is found otherwise it is a big deal! And now his little brother has followed and can't sleep without his little soft toy dog. It's actually quite cute; but I thought this happens when they're younger-- but I guess it can occur anytime? What is the connection.. is it just literal comfort or is it just because they are in love with that toy/blanket so much? I don't think I had something like this when I was younger... but eh it was such a long time ago, how would I remember? lol

"Come and eat your dinner!" "No! No eat!" He points to the plate of pasta bolognaise "Come and try, you have to at least have some" "No! No some!" She takes him by the hand and guides him to the table where his plate of food is waiting for him. She takes the fork and puts a little of the food into his mouth. "No!" He begins to chew the food slowly. "Is it nice?" She gives him the fork and he begins to eat.  "I know this is the first time, so have a little or as much as you can" He nods, taking another fork of pasta.

I did an Instagram Live last week, where I was speaking to fathers.  Listening to all of them really made me think... they were all pretty much saying the same thing when it comes to bonding with their children: making time for them, doing things that they like together etc. So even parents that are estranged or have been out of the picture for some time... if they decide they want to come back, it's never too late to cultivate that relationship with your child. For as long as they can see that you are making the time and really are making the effort (kids are extremely perceptive) there should be no reason why a bond can't be built. I was saying to the gentlemen on my Instagram live that a lot of the time fathers have now gained this bad reputation for not being around and it has now overshadowed the fathers that are actually putting in that work and embracing fatherhood. I guess it's because we don't ordinarily see mother's walking out on their children (it does h...

When I was growing up, I think my mother didn't take time to actually understand what kind of child/person I was. My mother was born and bred in Ghana; and moved to the UK. So obviously, her culture is heavily African. My mother was very loving and supportive, don't get me wrong, but I can remember my mum used to talk for me whenever someone was talking to me directly, so I wouldn't get to speak up for myself... and anytime I would want to talk to her, I would get a 'Don't worry, don't worry' and get shunned. So this in turn made me a shy child. Now after having kids of my own, I can understand why she did certain things-- she probably thought she was protecting me to an extent. Because obviously... when your child starts asking you questions... you don't actually want to answer them.. you don't want them knowing certain things so early! It's an abomination! But... in this time we're in now.. the children are developing at such a fast rate......