Tell Mum…chocolate brownies go with everything!

Today I shared a moment on media with an old school chum, blog follower too. In the absence of my great Mum being around I shared my little educational success I had received as a mature student.

The older we get we miss those loved ones more not less and I often find myself wanting to share something with my mum…these are all natural feelings of course. The biggest gift is to love with all your heart and to remember that love is a gift in itself.

Aside of talking achievements I shared the discovery of a new ice cream…equally as important I would say.  Coconut ice cream with lime sorbet yum! Whatever flavour icecream..don’t you find that a chocolate brownie goes with it??? Indeed, a chocolate brownie goes with everything and that’s a fact known to serious choccy lovers.

Oh come on fellow bloggers and faithful followers I cannot be serious every day and my random blogs are posted just to see if anybody is actually paying attention. To those still taking exams it is a medical fact that chocolate is good for you…I read it in a book so it must be true surely!

It is now Pimms o’clock so signing off.

 

 

Helping students

Communication has always been the key to success whether in business, teaching or parenting. Innovate My School’s website has an amazing wealth of advice provided by experts within the education sector. I am always happy to be associated with this great procurement tool as one of their contributing writers.

Please read my latest article on combating student stress.

http://www.innovatemyschool.com/ideas/combating-student-stress-through-communication

Start the week with kindness

Regular followers will know I often write about kindness and how it is a strength and not a weakness.  As children we were taught to be considerate of others and their feelings and how simple acts of kindness can go along way.

Somewhere in the midst of modern media the kindness factor seems to have disappeared and replaced with bullying as though it is ok to be unkind, rude and insensitive. I encourage mothers of teens to get them off of social media and out in the community.  Working with families I see on a regular basis just how damaging the ‘modern techno fun’ really is. Cyber bullying is causing all sorts of health and emotional issues for students and at a time when they are really vulnerable.

‘It’s a generation thing’ I am constantly told..sorry that doesn’t ring true it’s either right or wrong and hiding behind technology is no excuse.

I consider myself so lucky to have had a great mentor and friend in my own mother who quoted positively on a daily basis.  ‘A Mother’s Love’ Gospels according to Dorothy is available to download from Amazon Kindle which includes her story and mine and simple parenting advice.

Mother-s love (1)

Being kind can be cool you know kids!! 

Dementia Awareness

Aside of helping people with Dementia which I can personally vouch is extremely rewarding spare a thought for those partners and families that care for their loved one it is not an easy time.

There are a lot of people who are very isolated and may not have people locally to help so if you can give somebody a break from their situation please offer.

Help is not always to hand 24/7 and can vary from area to area. It is available in the form of Dementia Cafes and meetings although often people are too proud to ask for help or may consider drop in centres is not for them.

We all need to help with awareness whenever we can and encourage more funding to go into this particular health issue.

 

Dementia Awareness Week

Anyone who has either worked with or known somebody with dementia will know it can be a very sad time for all concerned.

However, personally I cannot recommend The Alzhiemer’s Society enough and I help with awareness all year but great to see a dedicated awareness week. They have such amazing literature available giving invaluable advice to help carers and family members try to understand and work with their family member/friend that has been diagnosed with this condition.

It is a shame that more support isn’t readily available at local GP surgeries as not everyone in close proximity of dementia has the time or energy to search out help and advice. For carers it can be nearon impossible to get out to local events as having to get cover can be extremely difficult.

Like with most serious illnesses those around need support and comfort too, so if you know a family having to cope offer a helping hand if you can. You can become a Dementia friend too all the information is available from The Alzhiemer’s Society’s website.

Remember: Kindness, patience and understanding go along way in oh so many circumstances…and the biggest gift any of us can give is our time.

 

We are all human after all…

All credit this week to various public figures and celebrities for speaking out about their anxiety and depression issues in support of Mental Health Awareness Week.

When we are suffering in silence we have the misconception that we are alone in these emotional battles when in fact people in our inner circle or even family may be suffering too.

It is easy to see confident people or famous figures as ‘having it all’ when this is not the case. We all have a public face we like to show and unless we take the positive step to drop our guard, open up and talk our family or friends won’t know we need their support and therefore cannot help.

Talking, is, and, always has been, the best cure and as many who have shared this week talking to others with similar hurdles to overcome can be cathartic.

We know from statistics that men are far more likely to have suicidal thoughts and many act on those feelings. Please, please share your fears with somebody you trust before your thoughts spiral beyond your own control…it will help I promise.

Listening to others, a few words of kindness and understanding go a long way.

Worrying won’t change things

Sound advice regularly given my our amazing mother and mentor. i.e. worrying about things won’t change them and that is for certain.

People spend far too much time worrying about things many of which are often out of their control, whilst we can’t leave all our life to fate we can enjoy the things that matter and spend time focusing on them rather than worrying about things that we cannot possibly change.

Mindfulness and meditation help us to lead a more positive, focused and relaxed life. Enjoying each day and what it brings, not taking the simple things for granted and appreciating those we hold dear.

Recently I was talking to a male friend about his relationship with his mother and asked him if he ever told her all the positive things he tells me about her…No he didn’t..and he got a why not? reply. We are never too old for compliments and mothers like to know they have done a good job.

Few years ago I attended a talk about body language and the speaker reminded us to tell those we love that we love them…and often.

Message today is love not worrying makes the world go round.

Combating student stress

As part of mental health awareness week our fabulous Editor James Cain at Innovate My School has published my article today on combating student stress through communication.

I am always happy to donate to this website which is a really brilliant tool for teachers and professionals within the education sector.

I hope my followers will enjoy reading my latest piece, link follows:-

http://www.innovatemyschool.com/ideas/combating-student-stress-through-communication

Feeling positive..adding colour

There is no doubt about it the warmer weather and blue skies certainly help to lift everyone’s spirit. OK so the sunshine shows up the dust and the fact the windows need a clean but the sunshine inspires even the most lazy of us to get spring cleaning!

The birds took pity on me and planted a few dandilions in an empty pot reminding me to get out and invest in some colour for the pots of mud! A quick trip to the garden centre at the weekend has made the view from the window more attractive, rather than post a photo of my garden I am re-posting the bluebell woods at Ashridge .

bluebell a

 

If you look closely you may just see a pixie dancing..no that’s just the caffeine from your coffee working.

‘The Little Book of Kisses’

‘The Little book of Kisses’ by Dolly Christmas is available to download from Amazon Kindle; A good fun read but with some interesting facts you probably didn’t know about the various bonuses of kisssing…health related (including dental hygiene!!) and calorie loss…now there’s a good reason to read and get kissing.

little-book-of-kisses