Vicki Cockerill - NICU MUM Blog

Happy Birthday my darling boy. Dear Elijah, I cannot quite believe that I am writing this a letter to you, on your fourth birthday. It feels as though you have been in our lives for what seems like no time at all and as if you've been there our whole lives; all at the same time. We have all come so far since the day you were born, the following long days we spent in hospital at your side. I think things have changed in the last year. It hasn't been the easiest has it? There has been a lot of emotion. A lot of anger from me, and from you. You are so smart, so sensitive and I can see how frustrated you get with the world. And with me, when you don't understand why you cannot always get what you want, why I say no. It's hard to see the disappointment in your face when your dad leaves for work or I tell you Mummy cannot play as she needs to work too. I know it's been hard, I haven't been myself and your brother can be hard work. He can be demanding...

The week I became an Insta Husband to my son! I often wondered what Elijah must think I do when he sees me on my phone, or on the laptop when we label it as ‘Mummy is working’. He has had his fair share of requests from me to pose for my Instagram or blog and I had this idea a while back about him taking over my grid. I wanted to see things from his point of view via his eyes. He would choose what he wanted to post and take the photos himself, I would upload and for one-week Elijah would takeover. Slightly worried I would have no followers left after a week of photos of his SuperZing collection never the less we decided on a week he would takeover. Beforehand I spoke to Elijah about how I choose to share photos, who can see them, and showing him my grid, he had already come up with a few posts he wanted to do. Including a photo of him on the toilet which was quickly vetoed. I was really interested to see what was important enough to Elijah for him to share, and ...

Dear Elijah, Today is Mother’s Day, our third one spent together (fourth if you include when Dad brought me a present when you were still in my tummy). The NICU days seem more distant now, and we seem to be on more of an even keel. This one is also extra special because this is our last just me and you. This time next year we will be celebrating Mother’s Day with your future brother or sister, as a family of four. I have been thinking a lot recently about the last 2 and a half years. So much has changed. You have come so far, and you are frankly amazing. Bloody annoying but amazing all the same. We have spent this week on your first ever holiday and you were the happiest I have ever seen you. We are on the brink of so much change, and I hope you will embrace it. I want you to know it wasn’t because you were not enough, or not good enough because boy are you, and then some. I hope you will know that I will love you just the same when your new sibling gets...

I bring you yet another #mamaissue that's right two in one week and it isn't even Christmas yet! This amazing post is written by the lovely Anna who I actually know! We live in the same town! She is now starting out her blogging career but I know it will be a successful one if this post is anything to go by! Stay tuned for later in the series when Anna features again! I think by the end of this post you will evaluate if you are really raising a sexist child. We all know that our children are impressionable and we may  think  that we are watching what we say around them (most of us don’t drop the “C” bomb right?!) but what about the things that we are subconsciously saying? The throwaway comments that are planting teeny tiny seeds in teeny tiny minds. Here are 8 things that many of us have or do say and the implications that they could have down the line: 1.”Because I am a girl….” To explain something to your child using the term “because I am a girl” just shouldn’t b...