My private practice has now been operating for a decade but formalising the mission into a limited company back in 2020 was a big step. Growing a business in a pandemic, on the side of having a young family and a full-time job was no easy feat. But the pull was so intense that it...
Most of my posts on here are for parents and about how to best understand young people but I rarely write about being a parent myself or my own (now not so) little ones. But today, my youngest son and I went to a place we have been together many times before and I thought...
When I think of mottos for my own family when I growing up, two spring to mind: ‘Remember, as far as anyone knows, we are a nice normal family!’ which was displayed on a sign in my parents’ kitchen. And the second, which was suggested latterly and also made me chuckle: ‘I was normal once....
I would say to myself: Carry on treasuring those friendships. These are your people. And they will continue to deeply matter to you throughout your life. Don’t worry about the maths, you will eventually get a C and get much better at it as the years go on (there is something called dyscalculia which isn’t...
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”;“Little children little worries, big children big worries”;“Give with a warm heart rather than a cold hand”. My grandma was full of wise sayings that still often spring to mind. And one of which I particularly recall is, “All I want (my darling) is your presence not presents”....
Having this boy by my side at work as a therapy dog, and at play as my family’s four-legged best friend, brings so much fun, companionship, and unconditional love. This past week with my son being sick, I have watched how Woody (known as ‘Doggo’ to my eldest) intuitively knows when and how to comfort,...
To many of the young people I see: 1. When you are thinking outside the box, it makes sense that you will not fit neatly into the boxes that exist. 2. Although this may not always feel easy when you are younger, and fitting in may feel so important, this difference in thinking will in fact, turn...
Lately, conversations with friends have taken a different and unexpected turn. It seemed like not so long ago that we were talking about boyfriends, PhDs, babies, and the next big work plans. But now there is often talk of the next move being scaling back and even retirement (who knew?!). But I’m just not in that space....
Returning to Clare, as we do most summers, always feels deeply special. And although yesterday much of the College was under renovation, and the weather wasn’t as glorious as normal, it was still good to be back. Cambridge is always where I feel most myself and at home. And it is no exaggeration to say...
Whilst these words were uttered in ‘Downton Abbey’, rather than in real life, there is such poignancy to them. For the truth is that our siblings may be our longest companions in life. As our first friends and often first rivals, sibling bonds can be full of love yet complicated too. This is something I...
