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The Fairytale Mum

Children's Author, Teacher & Play Enthusiast

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Tag: IVF

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The Dark Beginnings of IVF that You Need to Know

February 28, 2017April 5, 2019 The Fairytale Mum

For the umpteenth time today I have just acted like a complete fishwife towards my husband. I'm not proud that he is refusing to answer his phone right now. I'm an adult. I have to take responsibility for my actions - I get that. My latest flip-out was no different to many of my recent encounters with him...

Tagged Health, IVF, SupportLeave a comment

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Welcome to the first ever #kidlitsocial . From pu Welcome to the first ever #kidlitsocial .

From publishers to parents and everyone in between, we share an appreciation for children's books.

You can use #kidlitsocial to connect with other reading fanatics.

To join in:
🌟 Come and say hello,
🌟 Tag a children's book lover,
🌟 Shower some Instagram love on the accounts that inspire you.

📚 If you'd like to be a guest host, please drop me a DM @thefairytalemum .
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#kidlitpicks #childrensbookwriter #childrensbooks #childrensbookreview #kidlitbooks #kidlitillustration #beyondthebook #childrensbookillustration #kidlitillustrator #kidlit #picturebooksforkids #picturebookreviews #picturebooksaremyjam #picturebookauthor #picturebooksofinstagram #bookishwaytoplay #bookplayactivities #bookish_bingo #bookishplayideas #ourbookplay #bookplay #picbookplay #childrenspublishing #childrenspublishers #scbwi #bringbooksalive #discoverunder2k #bookface #earlyreading
💃WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST?💃 . I'm not a gym bun 💃WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST?💃
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I'm not a gym bunny. I'm not likely to run a marathon anytime soon. But ask me to dance it and I might be tempted. Dance is amongst the list of many things I miss from pre-lockdown. So, I've been thinking about my 'things I miss list', and I have a plan. Look out for more details soon.

In the meantime, here's a wonderful dance themed  #picbookplay by the lovely @pickleandmama

What do you miss most?

R E A D, C R E A T E & D A N C E: The Story Orchestra: Swan Lake. 

We adore this series of beautiful musical books from @jctickle and @franceslincolnpub. Pickle added Swan Lake to her collection at Christmas and is absolutely hooked, pouring over it daily, acting out the story and requesting the music to listen to at mealtimes. 

Each of the ten double page spreads is seeped in stunning details, evocatively touched with lights that glitter through the trees and costumes. As the story progresses, every scene is also accompanied by a magic button taking you to the scene by way of an extract from Tchaikovsky’s score. 

Pickle loves to pick out these extracts when we play the full tracks and has developed a particular fascination with the character of Rothbart, an evil sorcerer who takes the form of an owl and uses his manipulative power over the swans. 

This morning we watched the impressive @kirovballetarchive production of Swan Lake on YouTube and Pickle narrated the story, recognising the key moments from her book. Between watching and dancing along, we also brought up images of Rothbart and had a go at painting the male dancer in costume. I love the detail she’s added to the wings and the angry eyebrows on the face that she noticed to be blue under the atmospheric stage lights. 

If you’ve not glimpsed these books, they are incredibly beautiful keepsakes for  children and adult ballet lovers alike. 
🩰 💗 🦢 

#swanlake #swanlakeballet #swanlakebook #thestoryorchestra #thestoryorchestraswanlake #childrensbookillustration #childrensbooks #childrensbookreview #picturebookreviews #picbookplay #balletbooks #rothbart #myfirstballetshoes #thebookishplayway #bookishwaytoplay #bookplay #creative_bookspirations #toddlerart #kidlitsocial
🐻🐻‍❄️NAMING NUMBERS WITH BEARS🐻‍❄️🐻

Welcome to the third week of #celebratingplay_january . This week the we are sharing posts all about bears. Hugh can count to 10, but can't yet recognise numbers very easily, so I set up this activity to help him. You might have seen me prepping for it earlier on my reels.

To start, I wanted to check that Hugh could differentiate between each digit. I asked him to match the correct resin number to the number written on each Teddy. He aced this!🎉

To start teaching number recognition, we played a game: I showed Hugh numbers 1 and 2, then hid one of them inside the hamper. Hugh had to open it and identify which number it was. We repeated this with a few different digits - but not too many to confuse him.

For more able children, you might like to place all of the teddies inside your hamper/box/bin. Covertly remove one, then ask your child if they can work out which number is missing.

This activity was inspired by 'Bear and Fred' by Iris Argaman and Avi Ofer. It is the true story of a Jewish boy during WW2, told through the eyes of his bear... And it is beautiful! 

To play along, just use the #celebratingplay_january and tag us in your posts.

To follow the loop click on @little_wild_wonders

Celebration Team
@celebratingplay
@play.together.learn.together
@play_adventures_fun
@twilight_dreams_and_tiny_feet
@samgoldsworthychildminding
@thefairytalemum
@little_wild_wonders
@clairewilsonchildminder
@childmindingwithemma
@lowcarbonkids
@theimaginationwaves
@the_crafty_kiwi_teacher

#celebratingplay #picbookplay #picturebooksforkids #picturebooksaremyjam #playfullyraisingreaders #ourbookplay #readtometoday #shareyourplaywithme #adventuresthroughplay #numberrecognition #earlyyearslearning #earlymathsfun #earlymathskills #eyfsmaths #playwithmillie #kidsbookswelove #creativeplayideasforkids #meaningfulplayideas #simpleplayinspo #thebookishplayway #adaptmyplay #1newplayaday #bookstogethertuesday #kidslovelylearning #quickeasyplay #bookishwaytoplay #beyondthebook
🖤💙DIVERSITY💛❤️ Celebrating our simila 🖤💙DIVERSITY💛❤️ Celebrating our similarities as well as our differences...

Welcome to the second week of #celebratingplay_january .

This week the we are sharing posts all about diversity. I've been wanting to share this book with you for a while. It's a super collaboration and a brilliant conversation starter. I printed out a page of children's faces alongside some sentence prompts. We discussed which games we liked to play, our favourite foods, how we felt, places we'd like to visit and then I asked Oscar if he thought any of the other children MIGHT share any of his thoughts. I wanted him to appreciate our similarities as well as our more obvious differences.

I also set the boys a ' How many different faces can you make' challenge using our Mr Potato Head pieces and some play dough.

To play along, just use the #celebratingplay_january and tag us in your posts.

To follow the loop click on @little_wild_wonders .

Celebration Team
@celebratingplay
@play.together.learn.together
@play_adventures_fun
@littlegreengem_
@twilight_dreams_and_tiny_feet
@samgoldsworthychildminding
@thefairytalemum
@little_wild_wonders
@mancunian_mum

#celebratingplay #picbookplay #renewmyplay
#oursensorybooks @oursensorykids
#ourbookplay @at.home.with.charlie
#everydayinvitationtoplay @perfectpreschoolplans
#perfectpreschoolplans
#celebrateallplay @mam_teacher_always @montessoriathomeuk
#screentimealternatives @oh.mylittlecorner
#diversebookplay 
#celebratediversityinplay
#learningisfunwithus @learningisfunwithus
#meaningfulplayideas @play_to_learn_msj
#shallweplaytoday @five minutemum 
#playwithmemammy @playwithmemammy
#ourplayjourney @wheelsonthebus_childcare
#allabouttheplay @all.about.the.play
#adaptmyplay @brody.the.lion
#lchi_ activity
#simpleplayinsp @our_play_today
#thebookishplayway
#shareyourplaywithme @shareyourplaywithme
#bookishwaytoplay #bookplayactivities #bookinspiredplay #beyondthebook #picturebooksforkids #diversechildrensbooks #diversebooksforkids
🇪🇺BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES🇪🇺... Today ha 🇪🇺BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES🇪🇺... Today has been much harder than yesterday. We're only onto day 2 of our homeschooling experience and there were definitely moments today where I questioned where the boundaries were. TV in the morning? Sure. Another slice of cake. Why not? Uncompleted school work? That was us too.

With all the questions surrounding boundaries, borders and dare I mention Brexit, I thought @the_learning_paige 's #picbookplay was really uplifting. Inspired by a very topical book right now, I'll let her explain... 

Reposting @the_learning_paige: 
...
"Borders Book Play 🌎 📖 Today we read Borders by Chris Tamasi illustrated by Mark Brayer. It is a children’s book that asks what would the world look like of children were in charge of making the borders. Would there be borders or would we all get along and be happy? It is an awesome book that gets both children and adults thinking. After reading the book Paige and I talked about what she would want the world to look like. She said it would be beautiful and everyone would be friends. She said everyone would be able to live wherever they wanted and travel however they chose. I gave her some jewel stickers and let her design her own world on a coffee filter. She used all the different shapes and colors to represent different people and put them all over her map to create her own beautiful, happy world. Thank you @forewordpublicity and @chris.tamasi for this wonderful, thought provoking book! 
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#Xmasactsandkindness
#akindchristmas #bookplaybingo #december_play  #inspired_creative_kids #creativemamacrafts #geografridays #diyforlittlelearners #mycolourfulplay #craftandplayyourway #playtoshine #travelviastorybook #preschoolplayin5  #picbookplay #masterpieceswithkids #sparkculturalcuriosity #childhoodunplugged #learningthroughplay #invitationtocreate #picturebooksforkids #picturebooks #kidsbooks #bookrecommendation #readtogether #readingislife #childrensbooks #diversebooks #bookishwaytoplay"
❄️SNOW/ICE❄️is usually the reason that sch ❄️SNOW/ICE❄️is usually the reason that schools are closed at this time of year. We all love a snow day! I can't say we feel the same about Boris's big announcement tonight.😥

However, in light of it, I'm going to try to use my account to show you more activities with an educational spin. I'm sure we're all going to feel very overwhelmed going forwards. Just do whatever works for you and don't feel bad about it. No one is going to manage it all - even if a shiny Instagram account suggests otherwise.

Anyhoo, embracing and celebrating play will help our children massively. Welcome to the first week of #celebratingplay_january .

This week we are sharing posts about snow/ice. You may have seen this set-up on my reels earlier. Hugh used the snow (salt) to practice drawing shapes like numbers with a stick. Meanwhile Oscar used the resin digits to make hide 3 and 4 digit numbers in the snow and asking me to guess what they were. I had no chance until I introduced a quick game of higher or lower.😆 Our play today was inspired by 'Stick Man'.

To play along, just use the #celebratingplay_january and tag us in your posts.

To follow the loop click on @little_wild_wonders

Celebration Team
@celebratingplay
@play.together.learn.together
@play_adventures_fun
@childmindingwithemma
@huggleschildcare
@growing_with_mae_and_roo
@twilight_dreams_and_tiny_feet
@lowcarbonkids
@samgoldsworthychildminding
@mumwhatmay
@theimaginationwaves
@thefairytalemum
@little_wild_wonders
@clairewilsonchildminder

I giving you all the squeeziest virtual hug I can muster this evening. I think we're going to need it...🤗💕

#celebratingplay #picbookplay #snowplay #markmaking #learningthroughplay #learningtowrite #eyfsinspiration #eyfsteacher #ks1teacher #mathskills #learningnumbers #countingactivity #counting #learningtocount #motherhoodinspired #motherhoodunplugged #mymummyisateacher #booksb4bedtime #easypeasyplayuk #diftk #coolmumclub #twinklparents #snaphappybritmums #playtimethatseasy #readtogetherbetogether #tinkerplayplaytime #tinkertrayplaytime #tinkertrayplay #playislearningplayisenough
ONE MUM'S YEAR IN APPROXIMATE NUMBERS... Humans b ONE MUM'S YEAR IN APPROXIMATE NUMBERS...

Humans birthed: 1
Piles of washing washed, dried, folded and put away: 500
Bottoms wiped: I dread to think
Successful attempts at homeschooling: Some
Homeschooling failures: Many
Story ideas: Hundreds
Stories written: Several
Stories submitted: 2
Rejections: 1
Stories critiqued: 48
E-books written: 1
Lists written: 1200
Hours spent at home: Countless
Countries visited: 0
Times I've roared at the children/husband and wished I was far far away on a hot desert island, sipping a cool strawberry daiquiri and getting lost in the best book ever: 25 (Probably fortnightly)
Times my husband has wished I was far far away: Probably weekly
Drunken nights out-out: Too few, if any
Boozey nights in: Let's move on swiftly...
Haircuts: 2
Legs shaved: Err...
Eyebrows threaded: What?!
Tears shed: 100
Tears wiped away: 300
Big squeezy cuddles: A gazillion
Times I've heard, Mummy mummy mummy: 750 (per day)
Times I've heard, Mummy I'm hungry: At least hourly
Times visited by the Ocado man: 50
Times visited by the Hermes dude: 500
Children kept fed, watered and momentarily clean: 3
Days I've felt sad: Some - maybe more
Days I've felt lucky, thankful or happy: Lots
Days I've given myself a pep talk: Most
Hopes for 2021: A million and more
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#imamumand #myyearinreview #yearinnumbers #mymotherhood #motherhoodinspired #mumlife #momlifekeepingitreal #momlife #joyfulmama #2021 #nye2020 #familyoffive #motheringittogether #mumofthree #mumsquad #mumswithhustle #childrensauthor #scbwi #picturebooksaremyjam #picturebookauthor #picturebooks #discoverunder2k #writingcommunity #writersofig #writingforsanity #writersofinstagram #coolmumclub #snaphappybritmums #picturebooksofinstagram #stationeryaddict
🦢12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SCAVENGER HUNT🦢 Happ 🦢12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SCAVENGER HUNT🦢

 Happy post-Christmas-but-not-quite-new-year-yet to you all! And welcome to the final week of #celebratingplay_december. I'm sure for most, Christmas felt a little different this year, but I hope it was enjoyable regardless. We were at home - our first as a family of 5 - and took the children's lead as the day unfolded. You can see a quick snapshot on my stories.

This week we are sharing posts all about the 12 days of Christmas. Being stuck in tier 4, we created a scavenger hunt in our garden to blow away the cobwebs. The children had to find each of the gifts from the 12 Days of Christmas. Oscar had to read the story and Hugh has to count our collected gifts. The book was one of mine from childhood - I love feeling nostalgic about books I used to read. The gifts were a printout from @twinklparents .

To play along, just use the #celebratingplay_december and tag us in your posts.

To follow the loop click on @samgoldsworthychildminding .

Celebration Team
@celebratingplay
@play.together.learn.together
@clairewilsonchildminder
@littlegreengem_
@theimaginationwaves
@twilight_dreams_and_tiny_feet
@thefairytalemum
@samgoldsworthychildminding
@joyful.learners

#celebratingplay #picbookplay #picturebooksaremyjam #twinklparents #smallseekersspring21 #falalaintoplay #firstchristmas #playandlearntoday #readplaycreate #outsideplayanyday #outdooradventures #playoutside #playoutdoors #natureplayalong #bookishwaytoplay #playathomemummy #eyfsinspiration #ideasforisolation #tier4 #tickettocoffee #readeveryday #earlyyearslearning #keepingplayreal #inspiremyplay #inspireourplaytoday #inspirelittlereaders #playfullylearninginsg #playfulwonders #grossmotorskills
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