Clare Macnaughton's Blog, page 45
March 12, 2013
5 Top Tips For Busy Mums
For busy mums shouldering the heavy load of managing active toddlers or young babies, life can get pretty hectic in the blink of an eye. Of course, having a young child around makes things busier no matter what your situation – but if you happen to be a mum managing most of the parenting duties on your own, this is amplified considerably. To a certain extent, unfortunately, this is just the way it goes. But on the other hand, every little tip and strategy to simplify your life and offer relaxation can help a great deal. With that in mind, here are 5 miscellaneous tips for how a busy mum with active young ones can decrease stress and increase productivity and relaxation.
1. Always Pack A Bag
Young children are prone to a number of issues that can be solved by preparation. If you are out with your child and he or she needs a change of clothing, gets hungry, or even becomes bored and cranky, having an emergency bag can be of great service. Try to always pack a bag featuring an easy snack, some entertainment, and alternate clothing for your kids, and you’ll minimize stressful situations outside of the home.
2. Create A Play Pen
Somehow play pens seem to have gone somewhat out of style – but the fact remains that they can work wonders in giving you a bit of time for yourself and helping your kids to use up some energy. A child-proof area set aside with toys and space is a perfect way to get your kids out of your hair for a bit without having to worry.
3. Try Contact Lenses
This is a simple tip that may benefit you more frequently than you might guess. The fact is, babies and toddlers like to crawl, squirm, and reach, and they don’t much care if your glasses stay in place or intact. Having to hold a child can be stressful anyway, but if they’re constantly messing with your corrected vision, it’s downright annoying. A simple switch to Acuvue contacts can help you to avoid this hassle, and also keeps you more prepared to be on the go with your kids.
4. Find Time For Yourself
It seems a bit odd to suggest finding time when you’d obviously do so if you could. But the important thing is not to think of free time as a luxury – think of it as a necessity. When you are able to relax a bit or take care of a personal need, you’ll be far more alert and relaxed during the rest of your day.
5. Give Your Kids Projects
Another way to occupy your kids and free yourself up a bit is to give them projects. It could be something artistic, something athletic, or even something productive – but kids love to please, and will often become very engaged with specific projects. Before you know it they’ll be happy and tired, and you’ll be able to relax!
The post 5 Top Tips For Busy Mums appeared first on A Modern Military Mother.
March 5, 2013
Perfect Mother’s Day Gift – A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline
Yes, I schlepped up to Media City UK, Salford Manchester 8 hours of driving for 3 and 1/2 minutes on telly and here it is:
Clare Macnaughton talks to Roger Johnson on BBC Breakfast about her new book A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline http://t.co/pGiOLZtG1L
So if you are short on gift ideas for Mother’s Day then here’s a corker – order on Amazon and tick gift wrapped – express delivery to ma!!
A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline
Warning: The book contains bad language and adult humour.
A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline is a compilation of blog posts from the blog amodernmilitarymother.com about the life, reflections and rants of military wife, Clare Macnaughton. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad and sometimes crazy this is a quick and easy read. It’s a literary, light snack.
Excerpt:
”The bouncing apart and coming back together, with profound life changing experiences happening in an unknown country, with ramifications, and meanings, that aren’t everyday dinner conversations, are hard to put into words, and so, often, he didn’t. He just brooded, and found his own way back to us, whilst I watched, and waited in the eaves of his darkness, for the unraveling to occur.”
Excerpt:
” This is me – I drink too much, I eat too much, I swear too much. I am outstandingly average, utterly flawed and unashamedly happy to be so.”
The book is available:
Amazon UK kindle – click here
Price £2.58
Amazon UK Paperback – click here
Price £3.75
About Clare Macnaughton.
Clare Macnaughton, born Clare Smith, grew up in Warminster, Wiltshire. She was state educated at New Close School and then Kingdown. She started the blog AModernMilitaryMother.com in 2009 to help explain life from the other side of the British military. She wrote her blog as a reflection of her own experiences in a decade of marriage to a man who serves in the military and is a Chinook pilot for the Royal Air Force. This was her truth. Despite her separation she cannot sever from military life completely, her husband still deploys to Afghanistan, goes on exercise, works away and her children are still impacted by the continued and prolonged absences of their father. She is still a modern, military mother.
In the last 18 months Clare has evolved from blogging, to vlogging (video blogging) and now to an inaugural BloggerTV show. AMMMTV is the UK’s first ever Parent Blogger produced TV. Shot on a very low budget in two days, the pilot show was produced in-conjunction with editor and director, Jim Klass and WingTV supplied the equipment. The logo was designed by KifiCreative and the music was created by Warminster musicians, The AHeads and Volatile Headspace. The making of the AMMTV pilot episode was a collaboration based on the generosity of a very talented community.
The post Perfect Mother’s Day Gift – A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline appeared first on A Modern Military Mother.
February 27, 2013
I published my first book with Create Space, Amazon
A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline. I published my first book with Create Space, Amazon
I published my first book with Amazon self-publishing platform, Create Space. After I ghostwrote a Sunday Times bestseller, the battlefield memoir, Immediate Response, published by Penguin, I decided to self publish so I could retain editorial control over the content.
“The book was turned down by a major publisher because I wasn’t very likeable. I didn’t want to dilute the copy to make me more likeable. I wanted to write honest reflections of my experiences regardless of whether they are popular or not. This is my truth. The blog hasn’t been well received by the military community but it has been warmly received by the blogging community. The Create Space platform was user friendly and the book was published in 48hrs from the initial upload. It was incredible. If you don’t like me then don’t buy the book – it’s that simple.”
Warning: The book contains bad language and adult humour.
A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline is a compilation of blog posts from the blog amodernmilitarymother.com about the life, reflections and rants of military wife, Clare Macnaughton. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad and sometimes crazy this is a quick and easy read. It’s a literary, light snack.
This book will be loved or hated and this is already being reflected in the reviews on Amazon. (If you click on the image then it will bring it up larger and easier to read)
Amazon reviews:
The post I published my first book with Create Space, Amazon appeared first on A Modern Military Mother.
February 22, 2013
Buy it now – my new book – A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline
Buy it on Amazon kindle here
Buy it on Amazon Kindle UK here
Buy it on Amazon.co.uk here
The post Buy it now – my new book – A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline appeared first on A Modern Military Mother.
February 21, 2013
Tales from the Domestic Frontline – MY NEW BOOK COMING SOON
Watch this space for information on my new book – Tales from the Domestic Frontline
WARNING – If you are easily offended don’t buy this book! In this book I express many opinions. It also contains adult humour and bad language. If you don’t like me then DON’T buy this book! I wrote this book and it’s all about me so if you don’t like me then this book will annoy you just like I annoy you.
If all of the above doesn’t apply to you then PLEASE buy this book and tell your friends to buy it too – unless of course the above applies to your friends!!
Here are some excerpts:
” This is me – I drink too much, I eat too much, I swear too much. I am outstandingly average, utterly flawed and unashamedly happy to be so.”
“For example, there was a Facebook application called ‘Interview Questions’. One of my friends suggested I get said app, which I dutifully did so. But I didn’t really know how Facebook worked, so I thought I was answering the questions simply for her amusement. The questions were fairly pedestrian, and so, for a cheap laugh, I decided I would spice it up a bit.
One of the questions was:
What is your favourite body part?”
“The bouncing apart and coming back together, with profound life changing experiences happening in an unknown country, with ramifications, and meanings, that aren’t everyday dinner conversations, are hard to put into words, and so, often, he didn’t. He just brooded, and found his own way back to us, whilst I watched, and waited in the eaves of his darkness, for the unraveling to occur.”
The post Tales from the Domestic Frontline – MY NEW BOOK COMING SOON appeared first on A Modern Military Mother.
February 11, 2013
Flippin’ Marvellous Pancakes
It’s Flipping Brilliant!
Avoid flops on Pancake Day with this healthy recipe using lemon and sweetener.
Diet guru Jenny Craig’s Pancakes are a lighter way to have a flipping brilliant pancake day.
Makes 6 servings/pancakes
Ingredient
125g (4oz) plain flour
1 egg
300mls (1/2 pint) skimmed or
semi-skimmed (1% fat) milk
Spray cooking oil
Instructions
• Sift the flour into a bowl
• Beat the egg and milk together, then slowly add to the flour
• Stir the mixture until a smooth batter forms
• Spray oil into a non-stick frying pan and heat. When the oil is very hot, add about 4 tbsp (1/4 cup) of the pancake mixture and shake the pan so that it spreads.
But if you fancy a more decadent treat, you can add any of the suggested toppings below.
Topping ideas:
Savoury
Cottage cheese
Reduced fat cream cheese
Prawns and mayonnaise
Cooked mushrooms melted in
reduced fat cream cheese
Sweet
Chopped fresh fruit or berries
Chopped apple, raisins, and
ground cinnamon
Fruit with natural yoghurt
Lemon juice and sweetener
Jam, honey, marmalade, golden
syrup, fruit puree
The post Flippin’ Marvellous Pancakes appeared first on A Modern Military Mother.
Tablet vs. Reader – What Works Best for Children?
Over the last decade, different devices have battled it out for popularity amongst kids. The computer tablet and e-reader are two products that have vied for dominance in this market and today perform almost identical functions – but which works best for kids?
Size
Your average e-reader usually has a 7-inch screen and is about the size of an old-fashioned paperback book. Tablets, in contrast, come in a range of sizes with the most popular boasting 10-inch screens – the same size as an average magazine.
E-readers are fractionally heavier than a tablet too. For small children, a small screen can be easier to manage but a larger screen is better for viewing multimedia and performing interactive controls.
Software
Tablets often run on Google’s Android Honeycomb OS. They have access to extensive online stores containing many thousands of apps with a huge variety of choice. This means greater access to a variety of educational, interactive and fun apps designed for kids.
E-readers however run a special proprietary version of Android which features considerably less choice and variety.
Storage
Storage is an issue based primarily on the age of your child and the intended use of the device. Youngsters using the device to play educational games and read a bedside story really need very few gigabytes.
A teenager who looks to the device to store music and downloaded content will naturally require much more storage. The average tablet comes with approximately twice as much storage space as an e-reader and may therefore be more suitable.
Price
Most e-readers are fractionally cheaper than high-range tablets and basic models can cost less than £70. However this is usually a reflection of the reduced processing power and limited functionality. E-readers which have more in common with tablets will be priced accordingly.
Purpose
The purpose of the device is also important in deciding which to buy. Will your kids be using it at home or do they intend to take it with them on the move? Tablets offer better connectivity with access to 3G Internet and remote Wi-Fi while e-readers survive on a wireless connection more suitable for home use.
The post Tablet vs. Reader – What Works Best for Children? appeared first on A Modern Military Mother.
No Need to Feel Lonely When Your Children Leave Home
If you have been through a divorce or have been widowed, the house can suddenly seem very empty when your kids leave home. It is important to start doing things that make you happy so that you aren’t left in solitude.
One way to fight loneliness is to think about getting back on the dating scene. If you don’t feel like you know any potential partners, you could try online dating for divorced singles.
By using a site such as eHarmony.co.uk you can meet someone special who understands your situation and who, potentially, you could spend the rest of your life with. Here is a look at a few different ways to beat loneliness when your children leave to serve abroad.
Get out of the house
The most important thing is to get out of the house. Wallowing in your sadness isn’t going to improve anything. Take a walk or do some exercise every day. Even if you don’t meet people while you are out and about, you will feel refreshed and better about yourself after getting some fresh air!
Catch up with old friends
Reconnect with your old friends. When you are looking after your children, your life can become consumed by them and friends become neglected. Reach back out to them and suggest a coffee or a drink.
When a friendship is a true one, it is easy to slip back into being close again. Before you know it you could be hysterically laughing, and returning home with a smile on your face.
Learn a new skill
If your old friends are busy or have been lost along the way then find other ways to meet people. Take up a class and gain a new skill. This will give you plenty of chances to talk to others, and to bond over your shared interests. Even if you don’t meet anyone special, you will have gained new experiences and made yourself a more interesting person.
Try out a fun hobby
Remember when you were younger and you wanted to be a dancer? Or ride your own pony? Or master an extreme sport? Well now is your chance to do it! Take up a hobby that makes you happy and becomes something that you look forward to every week. And if you bump into a sexy single while you’re there, then that’s a bonus!
We all invest a lot in our children and when the leave the house can suddenly seem very empty. Take advice from these tips and fill up your time with fun and interesting things. You never know, you might even meet someone special to snuggle up to during those lonely nights!
The post No Need to Feel Lonely When Your Children Leave Home appeared first on A Modern Military Mother.
