Tag Archives: parenting

… The Great Outdoors.

So; the boy and I have been camping. You are probably expecting some light-hearted whimsy about the disasters that befell us and the scrapes we got up to. Fortunately, however, I am neither a novice (having read at least two Tarzan books) nor a simpleton. There were no disasters. The scrapes were much more YogiContinue reading “… The Great Outdoors.”

… Jurassic Park!  The Art of Rubbish Parenting.

“Daddy.  How much do you love me?” “Ten out of ten!” “How many out of a million?” “Well, it’s improbable that I should love you ten out of ten to six decimal places.  So maybe about nine-hundred and ninety nin…” I see the tears start to well up. “A million and six!” Yes, as we’veContinue reading “… Jurassic Park!  The Art of Rubbish Parenting.”

…  Being Home Alone

Mrs Dr Brown has gone on holiday. I am therefore nominally in charge of my two children for five whole days. That’s 120 hours. Or 7,200 minutes. I know that because after the first few I drew myself an 84 x 84 tick chart to count them down. You’d think it would be easy.  ButContinue reading “…  Being Home Alone”

… Does that seem better…or worse? : a trip to the optician.

“Can you read the top line for me?” “There are lines?” “On the chart in front of you.” “Chart, you say?” Yes, folks.  This month I’ve needed to visit the optician. And like the blind leading the blind, or at very least the highly myopic leading the partially sighted, I had to bring the boyContinue reading “… Does that seem better…or worse? : a trip to the optician.”

…The Last Day of School: A story of built-in osbsolescence.

Seven years ago I dropped my daughter off at primary school for her first day. This week I make the same trip for the final time. And manage very poorly. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

…The Nativity

“It’s not fair!” “It’s not fair!” rants the boy. “But it’s the best part!” I try to reassure. “It’s not. It’s boring. I wanted to be the donkey!” “But your part is better.” “The donkey has a song.” Yes, that’s right. This week they have been casting the school nativity and the boy doesn’t feelContinue reading “…The Nativity”