Listography

  • I am 44 years old
  • My heroes are: Camilla Batmanghelidjh, Dan Hughes, Eddie Mair, Ron Swanson

  • I like to read: Sarah Waters, AS Byatt, Elizabeth Taylor
  • I listen to: SIA, The White Stripes
  • I like to watch: The Flight of the Conchords, Spaced, The Great British Bake Off, Parks and Recreation
  • Worst habit: swearing
  • Best things I’ve heard recently: ‘We’d like to publish your book’, ‘You’ve won an award!’
  • Most annoying thing I’ve heard recently: ’I've made all my socks into a sock puppet, taken it to school and left it there’
  • Best insult from an 11 year old: ‘You’re a t**t’
  • Best insult from an 8 year old: ‘You’re a big, fat, bogey brain’
  • I have a love/hate relationship with: Radio 4
  • I get paid for: writing
  • I don’t eat: anything with legs (although crab, does that count?)
  • I would like to see a recovery in: the economy, the sisterhood
  • I would like to see an end to: botox, airbrushing, anti-wrinkle formulas, SATs, perfect whites, spotless houses, cup cakes
  • I have two adopted children
  • Message I would most like the world to hear: ‘have some compassion for children who have experienced early trauma, forgive them for not being quite ‘normal’, invite them to birthday parties’
  • Message I would most like schools to hear: ‘exclusion is not the answer’
  • Favourite addiction:  tea, loose-leaved, strong

7 thoughts on “Listography

  1. Jo

    I ould probably write a very similar list to you, I don’t eat anything with a face! Well except those vegetarian gumy bears you can get! Even then I try not to bite the head off but eat them whole to minimise the trauma!

    Love your blog, you write well with a lovely warmth and undercurrent of humour.

    Reply
    1. admin Post author

      Thank you so much for your kind words and the knowledge that I’m not the only vegetarian left in the UK (there used to be so many of us!). Glad you like the blog.

      Reply
  2. Tilly

    What a great site, I am an early adopter just entering into the thros and this made me laugh and made me think about what people are going to expect from our daughter. They can expect away,

    Reply
    1. admin Post author

      Tilly,
      Yes, tuning out the expectations of others is a difficult part of parenting adopted children. Ranting and humour have helped me (and so have Cadburys).
      I wish you all the very best.
      Sally

      Reply
  3. Jane

    I have just come across your blog and have found it very interesting. Also I was interested in hearing your opinions on the BBC programme, which has helped me understand the points which you raised. My husband and I had our first visit yesterday from the social worker; I have been thinking about adopting a child for a while now, but my husband is very unsure. This is of course understandable as we chose not to have children and have no regrets. We are 53 now but have physical jobs and are in good health.It needs a lot of thought. Your thoughts would be appreciated. I like your listography, I think I would like to see the end of unnaturally white teeth aka Simon Cowell and the likes.

    Reply
    1. admin Post author

      My husband and I were the same, he was very unsure at first and I was eager to get out of the starting blocks. I believe this is quite common. There are lots of steps to go through before you have to make a firm decision so you could continue to dip your toes in and gather information.
      We adopted at the more difficult end of the scale; two children at the same time, one of whom has complex needs. It is a generalisation to say that the younger the child, the less complex their needs are likely to be, but there is some truth in it.
      Adopting a child is very rewarding. It is also challenging and it is important that before you both commit, you are completely sure that this is right for you. It is not something I would recommend unless you feel fully committed. Children who have been in the care system will test your commitment and need it to be rock solid.

      I hope this is of some use. Contact me again if there is anything else you would like to know. Adoption UK are also a good source of information.

      And thanks for reading my blog and taking the time to comment.

      Reply



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