Clare Macnaughton's Blog, page 41

Gaining an Insight into the Views of Foster Carers

Gaining an Insight into the Views of Foster Carers

At amodernmilitarymother, we care passionately about children and families. And although we often complain about the chores of everyday life, i think we all forget how lucky we are to have families, whether they are serving abroad, living in a different City, or possibly in different relationships. The fact is, with a bit of effort, we can see our families regularly.

Sometimes, when i come across a news article or a story, it makes me stop and think for a minute. This happened recently when looking at some information regarding fostering. It made me think – how does it feel to be a child that’s fostered? and what an incredible job Foster carers actually do – mainly un-thanked; often unappreciated; but without doubt the backbone of the care system.

I found this recent infographic from Fostering Solutions (Annual Consultation Survey), which i think is nice to share, so that you can understand how Foster Carers actually feel about the role they perform. We certainly salute you.

Feel free to share this infographic, explaining how foster carers feel about their role?

Foster Carer viewpoints 2012 – An infographic by the team at Fostering Solutions

I am text block. click the edit button to change this text.

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MAKE CHILDCARE 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE

MAKE CHILDCARE 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE

 

#makechildcare100percenttaxdeductible

Based in Wiltshire, UK Parent Blogger, Clare Macnaughton, A Modern Military Mother vows to form an army of parents who support the notion that childcare is 100% tax deductible

I am UK parent blogger, Clare Macnaughton, A Modern Military Mother, and I am trying to raise an army of working parents to create change for good – it’s time for action not words. This is in the best interests of British people.

Please sign the e-petition:

Make Childcare 100% tax deductible

The petition expires at 09:01 on the 30th July and needs over 100,000 signatures. If you are a working tax paying parent then this petition is in your interest. If you want to have children and continue to work in the future then this petition is in your interest.

By investing your time in this supporting this petition you are investing in your future.

Very few jobs are flexible enough to allow parents to only work to the extent they get tax relief, and therefore, working parents are paying out of post tax income for something, which is needed in order to work. Childcare costs are incurred wholly, necessarily, and exclusively, for the purposes of jobs. Companies get deductions for expenses incurred wholly, necessarily and exclusively for the purposes of their trade, individuals (including self employed ones) do for expenses incurred wholly and necessarily for the purposes of their trade. In any case, we can’t earn income and therefore pay tax on that income without childcare, so why isn’t it deductible?

Sign the petition – spread the word and join the parent army.

Make Childcare 100% tax deductible

For more information:

Clare Macnaughton

E:clare@maccom.co.uk

T: @amodmilitarymum

M: 07885 194188

ClareMacnaughton.com

AModernMilitaryMother.com

About Clare Macnaughton

Since the advent of my blog, A Modern Military Mother.com in May 2013 I wanted to see how it could help me establish myself as truly independent writer, journalist and broadcaster. As I weaved my through the blogosphere, the opportunity became about developing a brand and looking at how the digital landscape could provide me the freedom to write and say what I wanted, how I wanted (within a legal infrastructure). The digital world provided tools for me to shape my ideas and from the outset and to this day, my blog is the foundation that underpins how this journey is evolving. From the blog I have fostered fabulous commercial partnerships with brands and media.

I have a weekly column in Salisbury Journal. I have written for Prima magazine and also been commissioned by The Sun – although the piece was not published. I have a regular column in Wiltshire Life. I was a columnist for RAF News and I also wrote for the website In The Powder Room. For two years I was a Toys R Us Toyologist, which led to the birth of my You Tube channel

Through the blog I worked on the UK military press relations for the distribution company Dogwoof on the Oscar nominated film Restrepo and was fortunate enough to interview both Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger and the soldiers that served on the outpost. I then decided that I wanted to make a TV show so I made AMMMTV the pilot episode: Pilot TV show – AMMMTV and now I am in the throes of starting a production company.

On the back of the blog – I self-published a paperback book and a kindle book of blog post compilations.

A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline – Paperback

A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline – KINDLE

I am completing the production of an audio book and also re-publishing an improved 2nd edition. This is available on amazon worldwide and my local Budgen’s supermarket. My plan for the next edition is to develop an app.

I have done many media interviews here’s a few:

BBC Breakfast – BFBS – BBC Wiltshire – BBC Wiltshire again – BBC London

I was one of three English journalists for the solo non-stop yacht race – the Vendee Globe. I am now looking at the next stages and I was explaining the plans for the future to a techie and he said “I see so really you want to be the UK’s Oprah Winfrey” and he’s right in a way because I want to manage multiple platforms that spin off from the blog – I would like to develop different retail ranges, write more books – hard copy, kindle and audio but also develop apps, create a production company to make my own TV shows to be broadcast on my own IPTV channel. We are also about refresh the brand For me, blogging is about looking at the world and saying where can I go from here, what do I want to do and how do I make that happen. To me blogging is freedom.” Said Clare Macnaughton

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Small Talk: Simple ways to boost your child’s speech and language skills from birth

New book available on Amazon:

Small Talk: Simple ways to boost your child’s speech and language skills from birth

By Nicola Lathey and Tracey Blake

Co-author, Tracey Blake, explains how the book came about and why talking to your baby from birth is so important…

What prompted you to write Small Talk?

When my friend and co-author Nicola, an amazing speech therapist, told me she’d had a ‘conversation’ with my daughter Minnie when she was just 10 weeks old, I got really interested in how babies learnt to communicate. I went to Waterstones to buy a book about it to find out more but there wasn’t one, so I persuaded Nicola that we should write one as it was such an obvious gap in the parenting market.

How does the book work?

It’s a comprehensive guide for parents about how children, aged 0 – 4, learn to communicate and speak. We cover all the phases of language development, what should happen when and what to do if you think your child isn’t hitting their milestones. It’s also full of games, tips and tricks so you can have fun with your child as you encourage them along their way to becoming talkative toddlers. Plus we cover common concerns like glue ear, stammering, selective mutism, pronunciation problems and how weaning affects speech.

Why do you feel it’s so important for children to learn to communicate well from an early age?

First of all, the earlier your child can communicate to you that they are hot, thirsty or hungry, the happier and less frustrated they will be. And it’s such a relief as a parent that you don’t have to second guess everything. Developing language skills enables them to socialise – interacting with adults as well as playing with other children – and is a stepping stone to life-long learning. Studies have shown that the better your child can communicate at the age of two, the better their maths and literacy skills will be when they begin school at five. Good communication skills are the key to raising a calm, confident and chatty child. And who doesn’t want one of those?!

For more information visit Tracey’s website at www.smalltalktime.com where there are profiles of the authors and a bit more information about th book.

Tracey also writes the baby blog on the Mail Online – http://blakesmalltalkblog.dailymail.co.uk/

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Family Fun in Fuerteventura

When you’re searching for family holidays, there are plenty of wonderful, sunny places to tickle your fancy. Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Florida, the list goes on. One family-friendly destination that certainly ticks all the right boxes is Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, and it’s not hard to see why.

This sun-baked island is located just off the west coast of Africa, so as you can imagine it gets pretty hot. The summers are scorching, with temperatures regularly hovering around the 30 mark, but if that’s too hot for the little ones you can always travel out of season. That’s the great thing about the Canaries – you can visit all year round and still expect to go home with a suntan afterwards, even in the middle of January – although on some days you may need a cardigan.

So whether you head off with the kids in October half term, hop over for a Christmas with a difference or enjoy a New Year escape, there’s always a good time to have a family holiday in Fuerteventura.

So, sunshine aside, what can you expect? Well-equipped resorts for one thing, complete with great beaches and a lovely laid-back vibe. Of all the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura is the ‘quiet one’ – so don’t expect stacks of booming bars or all-night clubs. That’s what makes it a great spot for families – there’s just enough going on to give you a little entertainment here and there, but most of the fun and activities happen during the day.

Take Costa Caleta for instance. It’s a purpose-built resort and a great spot for families, with a golden sandy beach fringed by handy cafes and shops, and plenty of watersports going on by day. Whisk the kids off for a boat trip, either a wildlife-spotting tour or the glass-bottomed variety, or have fun in the designated children’s beach area, which offers fun activities and games.

It’s clear to see that when it comes to family fun, holidays in Fuerteventura certainly tick all the right boxes.

Find out more about h olidays in Fuerteventura online at Thomas Cook, the world’s best-known name in travel. Look out for the latest special offers and hunt for late deals to save money and to help make your family holiday that little bit sweeter.

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Retirement?! Deciding where to live – decisions, decisions

If you have been living in your home for a number of years but are thinking about making the move to somewhere more manageable, there is a lot to consider. Moving out of home after you’ve retired can be a difficult and emotional decision, particularly if you have been in the family home for a long time. However, it’s important to prepare for your later years and focus on the opportunities a retirement property could provide.

There are several options available, depending on your personal circumstances. McCarthy & Stone‘s retirement properties offer a choice of lifestyles and accommodation. They are designed to show how much enjoyment you can get from your later years.

Whether you want to spend less time on domestic chores and more time on the finer things in life, or perhaps you need a bit more help with day-to-day living, you can find new opportunities in a retirement development.

What are the options?

Later Living

After running the family home for so long, you might want to spend your time in later years enjoying life, rather than spending time doing mundane tasks and household chores. Continue to enjoy your own privacy and independence but in an environment where you can benefit from a little house help and enjoy the companionship of other homeowners.

Assisted Living

Personalised care plans mean that you will always get the support you need but are still free to enjoy your independence. All retirement apartments are designed around the needs of homeowners so you won’t have to worry about finding space to park your mobility scooter or bending down to load the washing machine.

What are the benefits?

Retirement accommodation helps you to feel safe and secure in your home, but with the knowledge that help is never too far away.

It’s all the little things that can make a huge difference to quality of life. It’s not necessary to spend later life worrying about how you’ll maintain the property or how you’re going to get the shopping – all that can be taken care of for you.

Enjoy the freedom that retirement brings by knowing that you don’t have to worry about the day-to-day running of the development, and that all shared areas are maintained to a high standard. If you require further support, you can even enjoy hot meals from a serviced restaurant and have help getting in or out of bed.

It’s important to remember that moving into retirement property can mark the start of your freedom and independence, rather than the end of it.

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#makechildcare100percentaxdeductible – it is time!

Childcare isn’t a #feminist issue it’s a #social issue 

For #parents who need & want to work 

#makechildcare100percentaxdeductible

 

Please tweet, share and spread the word.

It’s time to get the jungle drums rumbling – this is what the people want.

#Democracy

 

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#KidsGrowWild gardening challenge

This post is an entry for BritMums’ #KidsGrowWild Challenge

In my living social experiment I am asking the question – can I live more sustainability? And so, also as part of the Brit Mums #kidsgrowwildchallenge, the menace and I began planting the seeds of the vegetable plot. Once they have sprouted I have the raised bed challenge to attend – in my ideal world I want railway sleepers filled with soil, a poly tunnel and a greenhouse. It’s really just a matter of time and budget. Any donations gratefully received. The piggies (RIP – bacon and sausgaes – yum!) have cleared the land so the next step is to create the veggie patch.

 

 

 

 

 

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Toys are the currency of children

In my book  A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline, page 97, in the chapter ‘Hagar goes to Afghanistan’ I write:

“What do I think? I want him to be vigilant at all times. To come home again. It is tiring though being strong, putting your head down, digging in and pushing through – again and again and again and again and again. I can’t sit still, rocking under the table waiting for him to come home. We all have a life to live. A life to celebrate so I think I am just going to work, dance and drink through it and keep my kids smiling. I’ll tell them that daddy is at work and when they say, “I miss daddy.” I’ll smile and say, “I miss daddy too. It’s fine to miss daddy but he has a job to do so that he can buy you toys.” When you are 8 years old, saying food and keeping a roof over your head, keeping you safe at night, doesn’t have the same meaning as toys. Toys are an 8 year old’s currency. (Before we get into a materialism debate – The Grenade has real sense of kindness, helpfulness, manners and solid values. But he loves toys – what kid doesn’t?)”

The Grenade loves his guns. He recently had his 10th birthday and toy guns were all he asked for. It feels like he has every Nerf Gun known to man and is always hankering after the  . Like many men I know, he knows everything about them and spends hours on You Tube watching toy Nerf Gun reviews and even making his own short films. For me as a pacifist, the gun hater, it’s a difficult decision to let him play with guns and create imaginary battles but after watching the documentary Restrepo, where one of the soldiers berated his hippy mother for teaching him to make paper and not allowing him to play with guns so the first thing he did as soon as he could leave home was join the army, I now think that you are dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t. Hagar the military father loves the Nerf guns and he teaches good nerf blast practise - target shooting and protective eye gear. So Nerf blasters are all the rage at our house.

The Menace, my 5 year old daughter, she loves the official toy story with Buzz and Woody. Woody, a cowboy doll is profoundly threatened and jealous when a new spaceman figure Buzz Lightyear supplants him as top toy in a boy’s room. It’s a timeless Disney classic that keeps her captivated again and again.  It’s hard to believe that it is 18 years old! Her favourite character is Woody - who is introduced as head child in the film, Andy’s favorite toy and the leader of all of Andy’s toys; however, his position is usurped by the arrival of Buzz Lightyear, an action figure given as a birthday present.  Buzz is convinced that he actually is the fictional astronaut and not a doll. Filled with jealousy, Woody uses Buzz’s beliefs that he is real against him to try regain his former status as Andy’s favorite toy. But Buzz falls out the window and, when they learn of Woody’s manipulation against Buzz, the other toys disown Woody despite him saying it was an accident.

Woody’s plan works, as Andy brings him on the car ride to the fictional pizza establishment “Pizza Planet”; however, he comes across the antagonized Buzz once again and they fight. As a result, they end up lost and when trying to reunite with Andy inside of the restaurant, but end up as prizes in a claw machine grabbed by Andy’s devious, nasty neighbor Sid, famous for damaging toys. Woody is frantic to plan an escape and meets all of the toys hideously remade by Sid, where he discovers that they actually prove quite friendly and hospitable. He enlists the assistance from the toys, to scare Sid. As the movie carries on, Woody and Buzz gradually become buddies, Buzz realising that he is actually a toy, helping himself and Woody to Andy’s car just as they leave to  move to a new house. Buzz Lightyear and Woody make up afterwards, and Woody is accepted again by the other toys, thus sharing the status as Andy’s favorite with Buzz. Toy Story is a great film….”To infinity and beyond”

 

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Summertime fun with grand garden designs

Essentials for Grand Garden Designs and Little Lawns

The notion that an “Englishman’s home is his castle” is well known – and no castle would be complete without the grounds around it. So okay, while the moat and drawbridge may have to be represented by the patio slabs and your back door, gardens are still often our pride and joy.

Outdoor living spaces are just as important as the interior of a home and accordingly décor and design should be given plenty of consideration.

Choosing Garden Furniture

Many of us are guilty of lavishing our DIY affections on our home interiors whilst unintentionally ignoring the garden. However, the way a garden looks can say a lot about the way you live; for example a beautifully manicured lawn more than suggests your home is run in a similar manner while a neglected lawn might say otherwise.

Regular mowing, spending some time digging out the weeds and planting some gorgeous flowers in a colour coordinated fashion and feeding your lawn with nourishing products is a great start, especially for front gardens that are on display.

The back garden must also be taken into consideration: while it is often hidden from view, this is the place where you will welcome guests in warmer weather and spend time with the family. While flowers and plants create the foundations on which to craft a fantastic garden, no garden is complete without garden furniture sets – especially if you are planning a garden party..

From rattan chairs to complement the natural surroundings in the garden to tables with intricate metal designs, there is ample choice when it comes to furnishing your garden. Some tables come complete with a parasol and holder to keep the sun at bay on warmer days and you can add unique design flair to the table with more subtle accessories that give charm and personality to your outdoor space. Shells, tealight holders, mosaic placemats…there is plenty to choose from to make your garden stand out.

Garden & Outdoor Furniture Covers

Just like we cover leftover food with cling film or cover our cars over in the winter, garden furniture needs to be protected if it is to stay in tip top condition. Even the highest quality furniture is more likely to need replacing far quicker if it is left to the elements; and it’s not just rain that can have an adverse effect.

While moisture undoubtedly causes some unpleasant effects, such as mould or odour, all weather conditions can damage the garden furniture you spent so long choosing. Strong winds can blow things over, from barbeques to garden chairs, while the sun can cause paintwork to fade. Regular visitors such as birds, squirrels and slugs can also wreak havoc on your garden furniture; from scratched surfaces and excrement to shiny slug trails which are difficult to clean.

So whatever the season, investing in garden furniture covers will keep your outdoor furniture safe from the harm that weather conditions and animals can bring and could save you money in the long-run.

Gardens are supposed to be beautiful places, and they are also a great place to socialize  with family and friends, dine al fresco or spend some time together. Accordingly, you should ensure your garden furniture is both functional and stylish.

This is an article provided by Homebase. As a leading provider of home and garden furniture, our extensive product range will work perfectly with these inspirational ideas on how to create a seamless indoor/outdoor living divide.

 

 

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Who Has Time to Volunteer?

At a time when the government is pushing everyone possible into work to reduce the welfare bill and gain some much-needed tax revenue it is perhaps unsurprising that fewer people have time to volunteer to help charities.

Charities rely on their volunteers because without them, they would simply not be able to carry out the work that they were set up to do. For example, the RSPCA would have to spend much of the donations they receive on staff wages if volunteers did not keep turning up to help. Volunteers carry out a wide variety of tasks, from administrative duties to helping in charity shops to walking dogs for their local shelter.

Volunteers are often from affluent backgrounds; many are elderly, or students; some are semi-retired late middle aged people looking to use their time productively.  Some volunteer because they want to give something back to society, to help those less fortunate than themselves. Others volunteer because they want to mix with more people and make friends, or even just to put something useful on their C.V. to try to impress future employers. The reasons for volunteering do not matter very much to a charity: what does matter is that volunteers give their time on a regular basis; that they can be relied upon to turn up and that they are passionate and enthusiastic about the aims of the charity.

Whether you have one hour or one day to give each week, fortnight or month doesn’t really matter. As long as the charity can rely on you turning up regularly then it can find work for you to do that will be useful and productive. If you can help every day before work, for example, then you might be most useful to an animal charity like the RSPCA in helping to exercise or feed the animals in their shelters. If you can only give one hour a month then perhaps you might be asked to help with stocking shelves or reordering stock for a charity shop, or putting up posters advertising a fundraising event.

Even if you are already working full time and have a house and family to care for, could you possibly find an hour a week? Even if you know that you can only help during your annual leave or school term times, as long as the charity knows when you can help it can find you something meaningful to do.

Volunteers say that they feel a real sense of purpose and reward from giving their time to help a charity. They also make friends, meet plenty of new people and have a very healthy-looking C.V. so you can’t really lose by volunteering your time. If you have any time to spare then please consider contacting a charity that you sympathise with and either ring or look on their website for details of volunteering opportunities in your area.

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