Family and Parenting Archives - The Less-Refined Mind

Improve Somebody’s Day Without It Costing You a Penny

October 12, 2018

I first wrote this post a couple of years ago and I’m re-sharing today because the memory still makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside! It’s a lovely reminder for me to be brave and push myself to do more ‘extrovert’ things, in spite of my intense shyness, because putting yourself out there for somebody else’s ...

Family and Parenting, Marriage, Opinion

Why I Take My Husband For Granted and Have No Plans to Change That

October 9, 2018

This week my husband and I celebrate ten years together. A decade – which means that when we got together that length of time was nearly half my life! It seems like quite a momentous milestone (we’re celebrating with a child-free night – the first time I’ll have left Elfin overnight!); so I thought I’d give you my tips on how to ...

Breastfeeding, Opinion

Breastfeeding Etiquette For Men: How to Support Women – Without Being Creepy

October 5, 2018

A few weeks ago I posted something on Facebook about breastfeeding. The post itself was less important than some of the comments. An old friend asked a question and made me consider something I’ve genuinely never thought about before: breastfeeding etiquette for men. Essentially, I’d been talking about a show the BBC broadcast about ...

Family and Parenting

September is Colic Awareness Month – But What Causes It?

September 30, 2018

We’re coming to the end of the second week of rediscovering our evenings. By which I mean we have finally, finally got Elfin to start going to bed at a reasonable hour and – crucially – not waking up again ten minutes later. I’ve not spoken about it here too much, perhaps once or twice when I’ve been discussing relevant products; ...

Family and Parenting

Chickenpox Parties – Would You? Plus Top Tips for Managing the Childhood Illness

September 25, 2018

When I was in my early twenties I had an idea that I wanted to have my family quite young. I felt that having completed her family at 32, my mum was one of the older ones; pah – not remotely true these days, she was average! I’ve written about this before and I still believe that having children nearer your twenties than your thirties is ...

Breastfeeding

My Essential Breastfeeding Toolkit – the Products You Need to Make Nursing Easier

September 21, 2018

Well, most of them anyway. Because the thing that most influences a woman’s breastfeeding success (for want of a better word), is support; and much though I wish I could offer that in spades, I can’t provide an encouraging partner or family. I sincerely hope everyone reading this already has some fabulous cheerleaders, in which case these ...

Family and Parenting, Travel

Continuing Our Adventures Around the UK With a Trip to Wales

September 18, 2018

The weather is beginning to turn and we’ll be knee deep in packing boxes very soon, and as we wave au devoir to the last of the summer sun, we’re planning another family trip for the spring; this time to Wales. I’ve been taking a look at the best family days out in Wales so we have an itinerary for our stay. We’ve decided to book a cottage ...

Family and Parenting, Travel

Planning a Family Trip to Devon? Check Out These Superb Hotels!

September 4, 2018

I wrote recently about planning our next family trip, and all the sights we’d like to visit. If you missed that one you can check it out here. Of course while we’re away we’ll also need a place to lay our weary heads at the end of each thrilling day doing the tourist bit. And, let’s face it, accommodation can make our ...

Family and Parenting

I’m My Baby’s Last Choice, and It Really Hurts

August 28, 2018

I started writing this post probably six months ago, after a particularly gruelling night. Elfin had struggled to settle for sleep; she’d been up more than she’d been down and other than occasionally wanting me for my mammary glands, I was very firmly in second place to Daddy. It’s no exaggeration to say that during the course of her ...

Family and Parenting, Travel

Family Adventures in Devon – Our Must-See Itinerary

August 24, 2018

We’re at it again – planning our next family staycation, and this time we’re keen to travel to Devon. I’ve only ever been to southwest England a couple of times, but it’s an undeniably beautiful part of the country and I’m excited to visit with the girls in tow. I’ve been checking out the best family days out in Devon for our next mini ...