May 10, 2013
So, I have been quiet on the blogging front for a while. Partly because I've been working hard, (new job) and partly because I've been trying to make more time to listen.
There is just so much to do everyday, and I realise that more and more I am not really listening to my kids, as I chase them through the daily routines so I can get to that job I need to finish.
It feels like we are living in the age of "infobeasity" where we are constantly bombarded with stuff from e-mail, texts, Facebook, Twitter on top of everything else we do. I wonder if we have yet developed the right skills to sift through all of this and give our attention to things that matter.
I'd like to say my kids are always number one, but then I keep catching myself saying 'hang on, I've just got to finish this text' ...
I wonder if listening is the most important thing a mum, friend, partner or boss can do ... are you listening?
Posted by Claire Hope. Posted In : Work Life Balance Tips
January 22, 2013
Yesterday I ditched work and took the kids sledging after school. In 6 months time will I (or my client) remember what I did in January? I bet my kids will remember 2 hours of sledging one cold Monday after school forever..
Today I am twice as productive, as I feel good.Mum - the memory maker.
Continue reading...
Posted by Claire Hope. Posted In : Work Life Balance Tips
January 3, 2013
So on the first day of Christmas flu I gritted my teeth, tidied the house, made up 2 double air-beds, one spare bed and a party lunch for 5 .. I smiled through the nativity service drunk my way through a few G&T's in the pub after (purely medicinal of course) and struggled to our Christmas Eve pub dinner all before collapse.
On the second day of Christmas flu I cooked about half a Christmas dinner for 9 before collapsing asleep on the sofa .... and it was all down hill from there.I haven... Continue reading...
Posted by Claire Hope.
September 4, 2012
The news was full of rain. Full of economic doom. Full of American Politicians behaving like kids in the playground, not to mention our own.. Unions were trying to hold the Olympics to ransom in exchange for bonuses, big companies were failing to deliver on their promises.
Suddenly an amazing thing happened. For once we forgot to self-depricate, and just enjoyed. We celebrated:
* The spirit of the armed forces and volunteers
* The hard work ethic and modesty of our exceptional athletes
* ...
Continue reading...
Posted by Claire Hope.
July 16, 2012
So I have to confess when I was a kid, I was probably a bit weird for my time on the eating front. I didn't like veg (which of course is not weird), but I did have some interesting avoidance tactics...
I managed to kid myself that the peas shoved behind the freezer (which I sat next to), would never be found. I feigned toilet breaks to smuggle toilet roll onto my lap so I could parcel up the yukky stuff and throw it away later. I threw my salami sandwiches in the ditch on the way hom...
Posted by Claire Hope. Posted In : Parenting Tips
June 11, 2012
I HATE SHOUTING. Sometimes
its good, (e.g. when they do something dangerous), but mostly its a horrid
thing, only a few steps from bullying. So why do I do it? The last week
or so I've been trying to track when I get cross enough to shout and why. I've
also been talking to my friends about their shouting habits, and together we
have come up with some thoughts on how to avoid shouting so much.
1) Find The Shouting Button:
Shouting happens when they
have pressed your but...
Continue reading...
Posted by Claire Hope. Posted In : Parenting Tips
June 6, 2012
So its the end of an amazing Diamond Jubilee weekend here in the UK. I have, like many mothers worked hard to create some great memories for my kids, as the whole country got behind the festive spirit... After a weekend full of village fair, raft race, Jubilee Parties, a London trip, and kids staying up late I for one am exhausted!
So I am sparing a thought for the mother of mothers ... our Queen, who must be totally shattered after a weekend of constant dinners, ceremonies, concerts, sa... Continue reading...
Posted by Claire Hope.
May 27, 2012
Changing career at any point in your working life journey is seldom easy, but it might not be as hard as you think.
If you have determination, courage, and a realistic plan there is every chance that you will join many millions of mothers who have successfully travelled this path before you. In many ways being a mother is a career change in itself, as you have suddenly acquired a whole new job description (often on top of your paid one). You have rapidly acquired a whole different set of ...
Continue reading...
Posted by Claire Hope.
March 25, 2012
So this week I have a big project on. In fact I'm super busy, trying to cram a 12 week project into 6 weeks (of which 2 I am away on holiday!)....
When I am working, its always quite full on, as I try to juggle the kids, house, and demands of a busy client global client, who really don't want to hear that I actually already have two coaching sessions booked this week with another client, let alone kids to collect from school... a couple of suitcases to pack, and a fancy dress costume to p... Continue reading...
Posted by Claire Hope.
March 18, 2012
So for ages I resisted the Facebook thing .... I always used to think that it was something for people with too much time on their hands... Living in a world of 'infobesity', why on earth did it need another stream of information coming into my already over-cluttered in-box?
A few months ago, largely through my work, I realised I had to get with the programme, and learn about social media, so I could talk to my clients about how this fits in with their HR strategies of the future. I have... Continue reading...
Posted by Claire Hope. Posted In : Work Life Balance Tips
Just over 2 years ago, I step-changed my working life.
I now have an amazing work life balance with a portfolio career full of things I do for both money and love.
Mum-Life-Balance is born out of my experience of spending time with talented women who have great wisdom to share, and my wish to pass this on.
