Nancy has finally come of age. That's to say she's reached fourteen months, the age where, as you'll know if you've read all my previous posts, (and if not why not?) my parents counted up th… Read More

It's been a great Autumn and Jack has thoroughly enjoyed kicking through the leaves when we're out. But his new fondness for leaves has taken a (for me) rather tragic turn.When Jack was tiny… Read More

I don't know much about Scientology beyond the fact that John Travolta and Tom Cruise are its most famous followers.But I do know that any man who can suggest this to his wife is either unde… Read More

One of Jack’s very favourite books is a version of Noah’s Ark in which there are four wooden animals which can be placed onto the pages at appropriate points. It’s a really… Read More

Jack has invented a new joke. In the bath, or sometimes when I am carrying him, he'll suddenly put his hands around my neck, pull upwards and say: "Take your head off!" I tell him it doesn't… Read More

Sexism is genetic. That’s the only answer I can come up with for the gender-specific play of my two children.‘Er indoors and I have always been very careful not to imprint male o… Read More

We’ve been to a lot of farm parks recently. Maybe too many. Jack was at a play group recently and saw a mother, breastfeeding her second child.Jack walk straight up to her, pointed at… Read More

The British government has announced that it's going to spend £27 million giving books to children under five:http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1535331,00.htmlhttp://www.books… Read More

Jack’s second birthday is fast approaching. As an August boy, he’ll always be one of the youngest in his school year. He’s bright enough and doesn’t exactly lack self… Read More

Not strictly an entry about being a dad, this.Find out why you shouldn't write a blog:http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2103-1631577_1,00.htmlHaving ignored the golden rule already, it… Read More

I’m having a mid-life crisis. I’ve never been particularly hip. I’m not really into designer brands. I’m not even particularly fussed by the music I listen to or the… Read More

It’s truly incredible how much washing two small people generate. More than their own bodyweight in washing every single week, I reckon, and twice that if they’re ill and puking… Read More

The first time the Mrs told me she was pregnant I literally jumped for joy.She’d planned the surprise carefully. She handed me a book wrapped in Christmas paper, and told me it was an… Read More

Jack has a penchant for blondes. Not just any blondes, but attractive, yummy mummy blondes. I guess it’s not that surprising. After all, the Mrs is blonde (well, was. She’s now b… Read More

We went to visit my Mum and Dad the other day. They live in rural Somerset and when we were growing up they had quite a menagerie of goats, dogs, cats, rabbits, ducks and a tortoise.It&rsqu&helli…Read More

Bonding with your baby is supposed to be easy. You were there when she was born, or shortly afterwards. You cuddled her close and explained who you were. Then she was put back in the plastic… Read More

Welcome to the world, little baby. Welcome back mum. And welcome to the sofa, dad. It’s where, if you have any sense, you’ll be spending quite a bit of time over the next few wee… Read More

trauma n. pl. trau·mas or trau·ma·ta (-m -t )- a serious injury or shock to the body, as from violence or an accident.- an emotional wound or shock that creates substant… Read More

Breastfeeding Jack was a nightmare. The Mrs was nervous about breastfeeding from the start. She’d not been breastfed as a baby because her Mum ‘couldn’t do it’. But t… Read More

Jack chose Puppy. Admittedly he’d shared Jack’s bed since he was in the plastic tub they put babies in at the hospital. But Puppy was pretty obviously Jack’s favourite toy… Read More

One of the less delightful aspects of bringing up babies is just that: bringing up. It’s amazing how much they puke. The minute they start drinking milk, they’re loaded sick bomb… Read More

The call came through from some pimply teenager in a northern marketing office asking if I wanted an upgrade: “It doesn’t cost you anything. It’s free, as long as you keep… Read More

One of the things about being a 21st century dad is that you’re expected to attend various activities with your kids. Play groups, gym sessions, farm centres, birthday parties and even… Read More

When I was fourteen months old, my adoring mum, who was very proud of my vocabulary, made a list of all the words I could say. There were about 100.I made the mistake of compiling a similar… Read More

I’ve never been a very good liar. But now that I’ve got a nearly-two year old boy who seems to need almost constant attention, I find myself lying all the time.“See Animal… Read More