Life, Love and Dirty Dishes delivers award winning funny tales from the parenting front line delivered with humour and heart. We're all in this together.
Life, Love and Dirty Dishes is mainly about parenting. Living life with small people and the situations we find ourselves in. Dirty Dishes refers to the not so pleasant but unavoidable things we have to deal with. It’s my space where I sometimes talk about hot issues and first world problems. We all need to have a rant every now and then don’t we.
These are the things that get my goat. The things that really wind me up. I know, first world problems, and let’s face it with Brexit and Trump, there’s enough of those at the moment. These are all slightly more trivial! But this is my list of the 10 things that really wind me up […] Read more…
Do you remember when you were pregnant and your hair looked amazing? Mine did. The rest of me was a hot sweaty mess with cankles, but my hair? Beautiful. Thick and glossy. I could have starred in a shampoo advertisement and swished my hair around better than Davina and Cheryl put together. Then I had my […] Read more…
I try not to give advice or preach on my blog. I’m not an expert at parenting. I’m winging it like the majority of us. I try to provide light humour, something to smile at if it’s been one of those days, so you know you are not the only one. Occasionally I can get […] Read more…
I found myself in a random situation the other day. A situation that got me thinking about etiquette. I had just done the school run and had about 20 minutes to kill before a dentist appointment. I decided to have a quick mooch around our local supermarket as I was child free and we […] Read more…
If you know anyone tying the knot this summer, then chances are in the next few weeks an envelope is going to land on your doorstep. Now that envelope might be somewhat chunky as it probably contains the actual invite, a reply card, details of a gift registry, list of accommodation, directions. Basically the bride […] Read more…
It’s been one of those years that I am actually looking forward to seeing out. Overall 2016 has felt like the year of bad news. It became known as a bad year to be a celebrity because so many amazing talents were lost. Prince, Sir Terry Wogan, Alan Rickman, Victoria Wood, Leonard Cohen, Gene Wilder, […] Read more…
I consider myself very fortunate to be able to work from home. Although I’m never sure what box to put myself in. I’m a stay at home mum, but I’m also a working mum. My boys are 6 and 2, so the work at home mum bit is often a juggling act when there’s […] Read more…
I think our parents generation had an easier job of raising their children than we do. Of course they shared the same worries that we do, they dealt with tantrums and runny noses, they changed dirty nappies and mopped up spilt milk. They faced the same challenges. But what made their job so much […] Read more…
My son’s school has a Jumper Dumper. It’s essentially a large bin where all stray jumpers are ‘dumped’. It smells slightly odd. It’s frequented by frantic parents who rummage through whilst silently praying to the Gods of lost property that the jumper is in there, whilst lecturing their offspring on looking after their possessions, […] Read more…
I think we’ve all been there at some point. Had that moment when we have felt judged as a parent. Whether it’s a disapproving look because your toddler has decided to use his democratic right to protest very loudly in the supermarket. Or maybe your 4 year-old had decided it is hilarious to shout “poo” […] Read more…
The Churchill Lollipopper Fund My best friend and I used to walk to school together every day. Actually we used to run to school every day because she was always running late. We only ever slowed down as we approached our friendly lollipop lady who would assist us safely across the road. As they […] Read more…
Let me start this post with a caveat. If you are looking for a mum war about stay at home mums verses working mums, then please go elsewhere. This is not what this post is about. I’m a lover, not a fighter. I was a stay at home mum, and I am now a work […] Read more…
Having a January birthday sucks. OK in the great scheme of things there are worse problems to have, but when it comes to birthdays? The ideal time to have one is NOT January, and here’s why… 1 The Christmas Hangover In December nobody moans to much about cold weather and dark nights. It’s […] Read more…
I don’t know who you are, I shall call you the New Mum, you posted this on social media stating that parents are lazy… Firstly, can I say congratulations, New Mum. You did it. You grew a tiny human being. I don’t know if pregnancy was kind to you, or whether you spent 9 […] Read more…
I love a good list. I’m not exclusive. I normally have at least 10 different lists on the go an any time. Even more so at this time of the year. These lists include Christmas lists for the small people. There are toys that will not be going on the Christmas list. Over the […] Read more…
“But you’ve only just said goodbye” My Mum would say this to me everyday when I got in from school and asked to phone my best friend. I would always be told the same, “after 6 O’clock”. If you were a teenager in the nineties you will totally get this. You will also […] Read more…
Small people hear everything. And quite often repeat everything they hear. Usually to random strangers or the next door neighbour. And usually it’s something highly embarrassing that you didn’t want the neighbours to know. Especially when it’s something you said about them. Then there’s swearing. Most parents I know try not to […] Read more…
“Being a parent is the best job in the world” But it’s also the most pressurised job, and can be the most tiring and the most difficult. Of course there are the kind of rewards that money can’t buy, but there are also bad days. There I said it. I have the best job in […] Read more…
The internet has to be one of the best inventions ever. I never have to traipse round the supermarket with two kids who are trying to eat the shopping faster than I can load it into the trolley. And I can google pictures of Gerard Butler anytime I want. Awesome. I can stalk celebs […] Read more…
I’m going to have a rant. I hate being late. And because I hate being late, I hate other people being late. It’s a big bugbear of mine. So many times I have been stood at the door ready to go, getting more and more irate with my husband because he is not ready! I […] Read more…