Just Bring the Chocolate

Do lower expectations equal happiness?

Renata — Sun, 27 May 2012 16:01:34 +0000

The secret to happiness is low expectations ~ Barry Schwartz normally wouldn't agree with this statement. It seems like the defeatest's excuse to sit around moaning rather than trying to change the things in their life that they don't like. I hadn't counted on the ability of a traffic warden to piss me [...]

Just Bring the Chocolate - The misunderstood art of extreme parenting. Don't give me sympathy, give me chocolate.

The Zulu Principle

Renata — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:27:57 +0000

The Zulu Principle

The Zulu Principle “This [was]… an idea I had after observing my wife read a four-page article in Reader’s Digest on the subject of Zulus. As a result, within a few minutes she knew more than I did about Zulus and it occurred to me that, if she had then borrowed all the available books [...]

Just Bring the Chocolate - The misunderstood art of extreme parenting. Don't give me sympathy, give me chocolate.

When it’s quiet…

Renata — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:28:24 +0000

When it’s quiet…

When it's quiet I can hear myself think. It's a useful tool for checking that my brain is still there and functioning beyond merely barking out orders at whatever child or animal is choosing to ignore me at the time. It's also why I'm normally chronically sleep deprived, now more than ever.

Just Bring the Chocolate - The misunderstood art of extreme parenting. Don't give me sympathy, give me chocolate.

My life with piggy

Renata — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:09:48 +0000

My life with piggy

There is another member of our household that I haven't introduced you to before. This family member may be small, a bit grubby and resembling a pig, but she is beloved and Lilia's best friend. Lilia has taken over this week's blog hop post to tell you all about her.

Just Bring the Chocolate - The misunderstood art of extreme parenting. Don't give me sympathy, give me chocolate.

The appointment

Renata — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:15:02 +0000

The appointment

Sometimes in life, no matter how hard you search, you don't always get the answer you were looking for...

Just Bring the Chocolate - The misunderstood art of extreme parenting. Don't give me sympathy, give me chocolate.

Patients Know Best (apparently)

Renata — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:06:57 +0000

Patients Know Best (apparently)

Communication works for those who work at it. John Powell I decided to give our appointment with the gastroenterology department at Great Ormond street hospital a whole shiny post all of its own. We actually saw the consultant on the same day as we had the appointment with the congenital myasthenia team which I wrote [...]

Just Bring the Chocolate - The misunderstood art of extreme parenting. Don't give me sympathy, give me chocolate.

Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll

Renata — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:05:44 +0000

Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll

You don't think everything will change when you grown up, but it does. Here's how I make sure I stay true to my rockstar within regardless.

Just Bring the Chocolate - The misunderstood art of extreme parenting. Don't give me sympathy, give me chocolate.

Embracing the (dirty) added extras

Renata — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:41:51 +0000

Embracing the (dirty) added extras

Sometimes we make choices that we know are going to make our lives harder, but we make them regardless. Thankfully it's a chronic human condition to want to take our intricate and complex lives and add a few more twists and turns and perhaps, if you're like our family, a bit more dirt and chaos than fate originally intended you to have.

Just Bring the Chocolate - The misunderstood art of extreme parenting. Don't give me sympathy, give me chocolate.

Granny slippers and chocolate

Renata — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:14:15 +0000

Granny slippers and chocolate

I don't get unwell very often, I feel grotty an awful lot though. It's a side effect of staying up too late, getting up too early and being surrounded by small humans leaking germs at me all the time. I don't get can't-get-up-out-of-bed sick, because I just can't. At least I can't Monday to Friday, because someone has to be vertical and vaguely compos mentis to look after Dominic.

Just Bring the Chocolate - The misunderstood art of extreme parenting. Don't give me sympathy, give me chocolate.

The waiting room

Renata — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:00:44 +0000

The waiting room

Being in a hospital waiting room is like being stuck at an airport waiting for a delayed plane, although without the promise of a holiday at the end of it. Dominic and I usually sit and while away the time staring at a small screen, me on Facebook him on the DSi. We're generally happy [...]

Just Bring the Chocolate - The misunderstood art of extreme parenting. Don't give me sympathy, give me chocolate.