Ayla’s First Time at the Swimming Pool

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“Daddoo, I’m swimming!”

As parents, we decided to get Ayla in the pool as early, and as much, as possible. I’ve always loved swimming. It evokes some great childhood memories of getting launched about by my Dad and having wrestling moves performed on me. Not to mention the dragon’s head, the waves and the ice cold diving pool at Sunderland’s Crowtree Leisure Centre. I was eager to begin shot putting Ayla around a pool. Although I was informed by my wife, with our daughter only 8-weeks-old, we’d have to maybe start by getting her used to being in the water to begin with. Continue reading “Ayla’s First Time at the Swimming Pool”

How to Survive in Mummy Dominated Playgroups

"What can I bash this tambourine with?"
“What can I bash this tambourine with?”

I had heard a lot from other dads about the perils of venturing into the mummy dominated territory of playgroups. Add into the mix that I’m socially awkward in new or unfamiliar surroundings makes the whole ordeal quite painful for all involved. Continue reading “How to Survive in Mummy Dominated Playgroups”

Things I’ve Learnt From My Daughter

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1) Smile More – Of the many things I’ve learnt from my daughter, smiling is one of the most important. Ayla smiles so often that we nicknamed her Ayla Smiler. When you’re trying to be ‘in a one’ because you’ve ran out of milk, or your nephews saved over your updated FIFA teams, that one little smile, that glint in her eye is totally contagious.

Continue reading “Things I’ve Learnt From My Daughter”

Sleep Tactics – 0-3 Months

*Whispers* "She's asleep!"
*Whispers* “She’s asleep!”

I remember when my wife was pregnant and my brother-in-law told me, “the first 3 months are the hardest, then they become self sufficient”. While I looked forward to our three-month-old cooking us meals and pottering on with the housework, it finally dawned me how hard the next three months would be as soon as we had Ayla home. Continue reading “Sleep Tactics – 0-3 Months”