A sit on the fence approach to being a parent
22nd July 2017 - The Morning. The morning of the wedding is such a fond memory in my mind. Both, the bridal and grooms party got ready in the same Tuscan villa, which we had been staying in with our families for the previous week. The villa overlooked the city and was absolutely beautiful inside, [...]
I am a stay-at-home mum. Even writing those words feel surreal to me. It's what I've always wanted for myself, it's what my mum did and its what, deep down, I knew I would do too. It's me. But, for some reason it feels strange to say it out loud. I'm not the stay-at-home mum [...]
It's been a month since we celebrated Malala turning one, a whole month! Where does the time go? I can't remember it being this rapid before, does that mean I'm getting old? I absolutely loved throwing Malala her first birthday party. It was really special but also weirdly emotional being at my own child's birthday party [...]
This September will be the first in a long time that I won't be returning to school. Be it the psychology school at university, education post-grad studies or teaching in primary schools, come August I'm usually getting my pencil case ready to hit the classroom. This summer is different as I won't be returning to [...]
Weirdly, having a one year old feels very different to having a baby who is months old. I instantly feel like my teeny babe has graduated to a little lady and I'm not sure I'm ready for that. All of a sudden, I can't believe that she is mine all over again. It took me [...]
Labour (not the Jeremy Corbyn kind.) Alongside sex, it is one of the most natural human occurrences there is. Nearly half of the population are likely to experience it at least once in their lives. Almost every woman I know either has or plans to. The women that I pass in the street, women that [...]
When your baby reaches 6 months old, you just about feel like you've got a hold on this whole parenting thing. You know when your baby wants milk, if they need changing and that you need to bring a spare change of clothes when you're out. Just joking about the last one, when do you start to [...]
Last month, I headed to Soho's swanky Groucho Club for my first Mothers Meeting. Mothers Meetings, if you don’t know, is a pretty incredible movement of creative and inspiring women who happen to be mums. They host relevant, interesting events across the city with amazing guests, chatting mama AND non-mama related stuff (shocker!) I had been following Mothers Meeting [...]
Feminism, the box I don't feel brave enough to tick. I read about everyday sexism, the gender pay gap, FGM, sexual assault, gender stereotypes... and I feel. I truly feel. I am inspired by a multitude of strong women, Emma Watson, Michelle Obama, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Malala Yousefzai, as they provide a voice for women across the globe. I have committed [...]
Sleep. It's a hot topic in the mama world. If you've ever been pregnant, you will know that as your first bump protrudes it's only a matter of time before you start hearing, on repeat 'Enjoy your sleep now because you won't be getting any at all soon!' Replace bump for baby, and it's 'Oh how are [...]
Franki Dammone 