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30.7.22
In the heart of every mother lies the power to ignite transformation, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.
It’s true, we don’t always have all the answers.
Yet, amid adversity, there lies the possibility for progress.
Let’s focus on the bright side, the light that guides us on.
Take a moment to breathe, to reflect, and to nurture our own child within as we navigate all stages of motherhood.
You’ve got this.
Mum Coach Book a Support Call
3.7.22 Peanut Butter Protein Balls
These peanut butter protein balls are high in energy and useful on-the-go snacks. They take less than 5 minutes to make, can be mixed in a bowl, are easily combined with lots of other random to-hand ingredients and you don’t need to bake. (always check you are well clear of peanut allergy sufferers)
Method
You're really just mixing some runny peanut butter with oats and then whatever you fancy. I looked at lots of different recipes to come to the conclusion that you can make it up.
Ingredients
These are the base ingredients I used:
runny peanut butter
rolled or quick porridge oats
The ratio seems to be 1 cup of runny butter to ¾ cup of rolled oats so you can play with more peanut butter to oats. I didn’t use scales or a cup, I estimated with my eyes and a spoon.
Other things you could add to the mix -
honey, maple syrup or something else runny and sweet like agave
chocolate chips
protein powder
coconut flakes
chia seeds
flax seeds
other chopped nuts
raisins
dried cranberries
cinamon
Keep it simple use what you’ve got in the cupboard.
Once you’ve decided what to add - combine all the ingredients and then drizzle in 1 tablespoon of water. If it's a bit dry add a little more water until you get a squishy dryish mix, a bit like cookie dough in texture. If too wet add more oats. You make the mixture into balls with your hands, or use a tablespoon to help get the portions to match if you wish.
I put the balls on a tray and then into the freezer, and later lightly chissled them off with a knife before popping into a freezer bag. They can be stored in the fridge too in an airtight container.
Most recipes suggested 1 week storage in fridge and up to three months in the freezer.
I've hidden them from my teens for now.
Enjoy!
peanut butter protein ball recipe from mum coach
29.6.22 “Find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope. And finally, check your poo – it could just save your life.” Dame Deborah James
Rest in peace beautiful lady.
Donate to the bowel babe fund here.
28.6.22 Ruth made some badges. She doesn't look very happy about it though! We're putting on Burpham Wellfest together on Sunday 17th July from 10am to 6pm (although she mostly does it all, she's a bloody dynamo, ask a busy mum and all that) She went on BBC Surrey Radio to speak about it too. Next Tuesday, we're doing a live together about motherhood and the things we wish someone had taught us when our kids were growing up. I'll post about this more over on here on Instagram.
26.6.22 From blackcurrants on a bush to 👉 THIS
24.6.22 Public Cervix Announcement
20.4.22 Jo Didn't Know
15.3.22 Trust Your Wings
Motherhood brings many stages, changes and challenges.
Mums constantly adjust and adapt, often grieving the loss of the freedom and girl/woman we were, whilst learning to embrace the new and unknown.
Just as your children are unique, beautiful and precious, so are you.
No two mums are the same and it’s energy-depleting comparing. What works for one mum, isn’t necessarily going to work for you.
There is so much advice out there for mums - online support, books, friends and family members... It's full of conflicting suggestions.
No wonder it's confusing.
So, before you set out for the busy-ness of your day... stand up and take time to pause, breathe and connect deeply with your own sense of "ME".
Feel your roots, trust your wings, and go out there and fly.
12.3.22 Focus on the Doables.
5.3.22 Mum and me. My daughter and I went over for fish and chips. Paul dialled in from Kyiv, whilst preparing another pot noodle @itvnews.
2.3.22 My Husband Is In Kyiv
This isn't a photo of my husband in Kyiv. He is out there though leading two of the ITV News teams. We Wattsap each day.
They seem to be living off pot noodles, whilst the other crew has pringles.
He's gone away to many war zones over the past few years. In 2005, soon after our son was born, Paul headed off to cover the Iraq invasion. He was gone for 6 weeks.
No idea when he will return from this nightmare.
16.12.21 A Confidence Boost
Have you ever asked your friends, family or colleagues what they value most about you?
Go ask them.
Let me know how you grow.
15.12.21 Super simple homemade pot pourri
Gifting little bags of this mix is always so well received.
The trick is to gather the pine cones and dry them in time.
Other ingredients I use are -
dried oranges (slice oranges, pat off the juice and put on a baking tray in the oven on the lowest temp for a few hours, I often finish drying them on a radiator)
cinnamon sticks, I get big bags from my local spice store
star anise
homemade dried chillis
pine cones
cloves
Then I just add these bits to the bag randomly.
This year I'm going to use paper bags rather than plastic.
3.12.21 Ssh, don't tell everyone.
But
Perfect mum doesn't actually exist.
Except maybe around Christmas time when she likes to let everyone know just how super organised she is!
As a mum, how often do you feel you are getting it “wrong”?
What if you celebrated more of the things you were getting right?
Right.
I bet there's lot more than you give yourselves credit for.
Our mum day is full of curved balls, and plate spinning.
Which sometimes drop and break.
Give yourself one too.
Let go of the idea of “perfect” mum.
Lean into self-compassion and love.
We are all a work in progress.
Our kids too.
30.11.21 What Can We Do About Christmas Jumper Waste?
Most Christmas jumpers expected to be sold in the UK this year will be made from plastic. Environmental charity Hubbub warns against buying seasonal garments.
This year people are set to buy over 12 million Christmas jumpers this year (I've also seen this quoted as 24 million)
40% of them are only worn once.
Below is a video I made in 2019 with an idea!
28.11.21 Lots of Xmas goodies at the Holy Trinity School "Leader In Me" table-top sale today. Funds were raised for “Play Kenya” a charity cofounded by my school friend and teaching colleague Debbie Pearce.
In 2012, we were privileged to visit the Nakuru centre whilst staying with friends in Kenya.
22.11.21 🌱Rosamund Community Garden, Guildford is a peaceful, wildlife haven where volunteers gather to sow, grow, build and learn together in tune with nature.
I'm excited to be on the committee co-ordinating the social media and marketing and supporting the mums with missions, with a focus on encouraging more volunteers to get involved. More about the gardens here.
21.11.21 “Moments are unexpected and unpredictable events that motivate us to start, modify, continue, and expand projects. Moments reveal new possibilities and make existing projects doable or not doable” via Professor Rama Dasaratha, ADDIT Together.
Rama & I met in 2018 via Thortspace I enjoyed seeing and reading her posts and felt curious to learn more. We discovered we both enjoyed trying out different tech, were both mums and educators with similar values, so naturally formed a supportive relationship. I weave her framework into my work with mums. As Rama is over in the UK, we had explored the possibility of meeting again this week, however, it's now looking more like January! In the meantime, below is a little video I made when we were met in 2019 and this is a Pinterest board I've started to put together.
21.11.21 Vintage M&S red trousers, discovered in the Oxfam shop on Goodge Street, London, on a back rail labeled size 6. In fact, they pulled up nicely over my size 10/12 bum and hips, and I love the zips.
My teenage daughter and her friend wanted a day in London as a birthday outing, so I escorted them whilst keeping out the way.
It's an easy 30-minute train ride for us, so a pretty regular exciting adventure.
On the way back from wandering along the South Bank, I popped into the National Gallery and set up a selfie snap with the backdrop, before a couple of fun tourists offered to take it for me, and likewise, I took theirs.
Doodle by Colin Horner.
20.11.21 At last night's monthly "Resilient Mums" coaching session we enjoyed chatting, connecting and sort of having a virtual night out on zoom, with a bit of a laugh and serious self-reflection. I also shared some resilience bolstering tips for kids. The best bit was knowing we didn't have to drive back in our car in the cold and dark, and that we could head straight to bed to relax and read our books by 9.00!
8.11.21 It was on my wish list to get an e-bike. I spent quite a bit of time investigating which one to get, due to Brexit and issues with supply. many were unavailable or had big waiting lists. I spent a lot more than I anticipated, it's definitely mum adventure investment! I'm on it all the time at mo it's great fun. Going to update my wish list and goals - maybe you'd like to join me?
3.11.21 Grandma Val of "Learning With Grandma International" has headed on her own and randomly to COP 26. I sent her over a photo of my Crab Apple tree to include in Moses from Uganda's ebook. I've written about Val's story here and updated it with her latest mum mission.
12.10.21 Last week I turned 50 and continue to celebrate in various ways. My mother-in-law bought me a green kimono with storks. I love it. I also went out with my girlfriends for lunch followed by a walk to the natural burial ground at Clandon Wood, UK. The Johnny Cash reference at the end of this video is a nod to my dead dad.
29.9.21 How To Feel Calmer As A Mum - read on ... https://mailchi.mp/08ef51270a8a/how-to-feel-calmer-as-a-mum
27.9.21 "I've updated my Mum Coach website, what do you think?" I asked Number 3.
"I like the mum coach, I can see a need as having children is life-changing in many ways, so one aspect, of course, is it can dull dreams as the children need care and attention. Yet being a mum should not mean you cannot do your dreams as well. So a platform and support to bring out ideas to make a positive impact is good.
I also liked the clean air message for children going to school that you shared. I have always thought the concept of children sitting in a car and then often being in long queues just breathing in all that pollution from the car in front is pretty dumb. Cars generate more pollution when there hardly moving.
I used to walk to school, it was far healthier and I liked the freedom. I do not believe the issues of child attack/abduction are any greater than the 70's to now in 2021. What changed was the perception of crime and the fear factor in how the tabloids reported it. The poor reporting without balance changed attitudes so fewer school kids walked to school.
Thus more sick kids with asthma or other lung conditions and obesity. It matters that it changes so the environment gets a break and of course it matters for the kids' health."
Do you agree with Number 3?
#whoisnumber1?
26.9.21 Where are you called to make a difference?
Meet Sadhana
“Understanding and mitigating the impact of climate change and air pollution in a playful manner”
A #randomdialogue with Sadhana at Guildford Lido on behalf of Guildford Living Labs - working towards a vision : “Clean Air For All” via @pk_shishodia on Twitter.
Full video here
23.9.21 Not sure what I was saying to the Mayor of Guildford at the relaunch of an event I host called Business Buzz Guildford.
Probably something like, "I wish I’d worn red like you too!"
"You obvs didn’t get the memo!" said Arwen
"How many times do I have to tell you? Black spotted dresses and scarlet jackets are THURSDAYS. On Wednesdays it's Levi's and something that at first glance makes you look like a Catholic priest." Paul
"And I think she’s saying she wished she was joining you at the hoedown," Emma
"GAH...these shoes are too damn tight and this woman next to me just will not stop talking...!" Julie
"Good to be different!" Kay xx
21.9,21 This week I've been exploring "Empty Nest Syndrome" It’s not exclusive to parents of older children leaving home, it can also affect parents of younger children transitioning to nursery for the first time, longer school days, doing more social activities independently as well as moving away to study, travel or work.
Empty nest syndrome is that feeling of loneliness and diminishing usefulness parents experience as their children gradually stretch and cut the invisible but very real umbilical cord of usefulness.
And following the lockdowns of Covid where families spent far more time together than was typical, the stark contrast between sharing the house all day with the family to being alone in the home as children (and also partners) return to ‘normal’ makes the impact of the syndrome greater than it has ever been before.
“With the kids not here I’m not sure what to do with myself - it’s an empty nest kind of feeling. I’ve been so focused on them that I’ve lost sight of myself,” Lucy, mum of three primary-aged children.
Coupled with grief and sadness that these transitions may bring, Empty Nest Syndrome often affects mothers more than father because they often coincide with other significant changes in a woman’s life such as menopause and retirement.
It can take time to recover and reconsider. And that’s ok. In fact it’s a golden opportunity to recover and reconsider…..
Ask where did "you" go in the hustle and bustle of raising kids?
"The kids had both headed to study in different countries. I was left alone with an aging dog. I was a single mum. Overwhelm crept in, a form of grief wanting to do more, the dog was great company but such a tie, it prevented me from getting out more as I simply couldn’t leave it for too long. I didn’t realise what a shock it was all going to be.” Katy, mum of two.
So what to do about it? Don’t be afraid. It’s a normal life stage and when dealt with calmly can be the doorway to an altogether new and exciting life stage.
Try to sit in lonely for a while, observe it and allow it to visit. Enjoy the memories of the full nest period you’re leaving and congratulate yourself on all you achieved in that time.
Move mindfully through it because it doesn’t have to stay. Use the time to reconnect with yourself, your friends and your community. Revisit the old and try out the new.
Mum of two and psychotherapist Emma Starling suggests,
“Find a balance of keeping busy and use the time free you have for your own wellbeing”
Here’s some more ideas to try
Schedule time to meet with friends
Or on your own in nature or with a good book
Consider the things you enjoyed pre kids, are there things you could pick up again?
Or try a new hobby
Take a deep breath. Visualise a new set of wings, trust them. Time for you to test beyond the nest too.
11.9.21 "During the past 100 years, the countryside has lost almost 70% of its ponds, resulting in the critically damaging reduction of a major form of habitat" Wildlife Gardening for Everyone: RHS & Wildlife Trust. There is a wealth of wildlife that depends heavily on ponds for success. Swoopers, surface suckers and pluckers to a pond may include: pond skaters water beetles snails mayflies caddis flies damselflies dragonflies Remembering also, frogs, toads, newts (60cm depth), and birds.
If we had a pond in our wildlife garden we may have won a gold award, instead, we are delighted with our Silver Gilt This is me showing off our certificate earlier this week, after the "Guildford In Bloom" award ceremony at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.
My teenage daughter came along too, and understandably didn't want to be featured in the photo with her embarrassing mother! We did get a pic together on the stage, and shared the free choc in our goody bags.
By the way, we do have a bucket pond which I occasionally tweet about here. and use #pondbucket.
20.8.21 Have you ever got dressed and ready for a gym and swim and then created a video about alpacas instead? https://www.linkedin.com/posts/janetyson_teacherrascal-canvaclinic-resilientkids-activity-6838016636650303488-qx-2
20.8.21 It was one of those throw-away comments. Also does this make me a digital "mum" nomad or just a mad mum? Read on... https://mailchi.mp/5fd593d7ab44/it-was-one-of-those-throw-away-comments-11211190
14.8.21 Mum Coach adventures to the Tate Modern in London . By the way, click here to learn why Matisse made the snail collage below out of paper, this also includes a video reel of our mum, daughter and niece outing.
9.8.21 Meet Mrs Valerie Wood-Gaiger MBE "Learn With Grandma" Mum of 5, Grandma and Great Grandma to 14 - "Helping to break down the digital age gap by sharing skills; love & knowledge across the generations". Enjoy our Random Dialogue video just below, else view us chatting over on Facebook. I've also written this Mum Coach blog about Val too.
8.8.21 Number one on Amazon across 8 categories - we did it! Mums Supporting Mums! Read more about our book launch here.
14.7.21 I'm excited to share that I am officially an author! And the amazing book that I have co-written will be out soon.
Meanings Over Milestones is a little book with a big mission: to inspire a world where life meaning is just as important as life milestones and to raise money to support global grassroots projects tackling children's emotional well-being.
It's a collection of over sixty stories from mums - writers and amateurs alike - sharing messages of beliefs, values, purpose and passion for their children.
It's an anthology of hope, transformation, love and so much more. And it will make you reflect, weep or affirm "me too" on every turn of a page.
More soon!
With gratitude to Angharad Davies for making it all happen
July 12th 2021 Resilient Kids
Enjoy my monthly publication which contains a mix of creative nudges and practical tips to boost kids' resilience. It's a bit like a magazine with articles, inspiration, and ideas for you to dip into as you wish. Read July's edition which I share out for my Resilient Kids mission - click here to read it.
Implementing Managing Moments and Growing Systems of Success via the PhD Framework to Boost Calm, Confidence and Productivity
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