Category: Pregnancy and Parenthood
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Mothering Sunday: The Mothering of Moses
Exodus 2:1-10 It’s some story, isn’t it? And it’s one of those stories that gets told in children’s bibles almost minus the horror. The imagery I have is drawn straight from the Prince of Egypt film (as well as the theme song which has been in my head all week!), a wicker basket floating casually…
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How Do You Teach ‘difficult’ Bible Stories to Children? Guest Post by Lucy Rycroft
“She put WHAT through his forehead?!” “The FAT closed over the SWORD??!!” The Bible is full of colourful stories. Some of them seem to have ended up in a sort of ‘children’s canon’, a repertoire we are happy to teach to our kids, stories which publishers are eager to bring to life again and again…
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Baby Change, by Anne Calver – Review
Usually these days I find myself reading books in fits and starts, frequently having to re-read the pages as I’m snatching moments when my own baby (well – racing toddler is more apt) is asleep. As it happens however, I read this in just over a day as I was stuck in bed unwell and…
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Breaking the Mould by Jules Middleton: Book Review
As someone still early on in the journey of motherhood and my own multi-hyphenated job title, I was intrigued to read Jules Middleton’s reflections on life as a “ministry mum” ordained with the Church of England and leading a church on the south coast. “Breaking the Mould” is part memoir, part navigation guide for the…
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Cold Cups of Tea and Hiding in the Loo – An Honest Conversation About Motherhood
Before you become a Mum, you’re told lots of things: “Don’t rock the baby to sleep – it’s a rod for your own back” “Never let your baby use a dummy” “Breastfeeding is the most natural thing ever – it’s a breeze!” “You’ll never sleep again” But no matter how much advice (helpful or otherwise),…
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Advent Reflections – Birthing
I’ve never told my birth story publicly. It was far from the candle filled water birth I’d imagined – in fact it was the total opposite of what I’d hoped. Three types of induction, hooked up to monitors, pethidine and an epidural before my newborn was whisked away for observations and antibiotics. Within hours, I…
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Advent Reflections – Journeying
Throughout the Bible, God’s people are on the move, and God seems to do much of His work in people through their journeys. Abraham’s journey to Canaan. The Israelites protracted journey to the Promised Land. Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem in the months before Jesus’ birth. We can but imagine the maelstrom of emotions…
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The Way of the Waves
There are things you begin to notice. Your voice quietens, just a little. Noise seems louder, scratching at your eardrums. You’re more easily irritated, patience worn thin. You are tired, the tiredness spreads through your body like slowly freezing water. It is cold, painful and slows your thoughts and movement. The feelings are dully familiar,…
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Motherhood: The Brutality and the Beauty
The pain. The first look. The exhaustion. The first smile. The relentlessness. The revelation. The brutality. The beauty. The mystery. Ten months in, motherhood remains a mystery. It’s a thousand mundane moments punctured with moments so full of wonder that they steal your breath away. As much as I expected a lot of it; the…
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Where is the Wonder?
“Wonder blasts the soul – that is, the spiritual – and the skeleton, the body – the material. Wonder interprets life through the eyes of eternity while enjoying the moment, but never lets the moment’s revision exhaust the eternal.” Ravi Zacharias There is no doubt about it, going on holiday with a baby is less relaxing.…
Rachael Newham 