Women's Interests

One of my closest friends has just announced that she is expecting her first child after many years of wanting and waiting. I am so delighted for her naturally, and it has made me think about all the wonderful things there are to look forward to with a new baby. Nostalgia-tinted memories have come flooding back to me of tiny baby clothes, prams and the joy of creating a nursery.

Photo: Gonzalo Merat

These days you don’t have to decorate in pale pink, blue or yellow you can choose from a much wider range of options. If you don’t find out the sex of the baby before they are born then it is safest to go for something which isn’t a gamble – there would be nothing worse than a baby boy in a fairy-themed room for example, Granddad would never forgive you. Read more… »

When you arrive at the time in life when you need a babysitter for your offspring, you might end up babysitting for friends yourself as helping each other out makes so much financial sense as it is free! The cost of a babysitter from an agency can be phenomenal, and add that to the restaurant bill for your night out and the whole thing becomes very expensive.

Photo: LivyAnn

Babysitting for friends gives you a real insight into their lifestyle, from how they go about putting the kids to bed – and whether or not they stay there – to what they offer you in the way of supper. Do they want you to visit the little darlings in their beds to say goodnight or are they sneaking out and you have to pretend you are not there at all?! The basic etiquette I think is to fit in with whatever they think will work best for their children, and cross your fingers nobody gets upset. Read more… »