Search
Gareth Ellis
- Feb 7, 2022
- 3 min
Potty Training is Pants
Potty training is shit. Literally. OK, it’s not that bad, but it’s still pretty frustrating at times. For the record, Rupert is only about two or three weeks into ‘proper training’ but so far he’s doing really well with the concept and seems to be embracing it as part of being a ‘big boy.’ We’ve had some successes, but we’ve also had some accidents along the way – but that’s totally to be expected. Before Christmas, we took a bit of a half-hearted approach to potty training.
1 view0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Jan 14, 2022
- 2 min
The Taboo Of The Stay at Home Dad
I’ve been a Daddy for almost four years now. I know what you’re thinking, Rupert’s only three, how can you have been a Daddy for four? Well, I counted myself as one the moment Jess told me we were going to be having him. There are some who may not agree. Who think that you’re not a parent until the baby arrives, or the baby/child arrives in their home, but I chose to view it differently. For the most part I love being a Dad. I love getting out and about with the kids and taki
1 view0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Jan 11, 2022
- 2 min
Independence Days, Sometimes
I love my kids. They’re funny, they’re sweet and although I may be biased, they’re bloody gorgeous as well. But bugger me they can be a bit full on at times. Currently, Rupert wants to do everything for himself – everything but use a potty that is, but that’s another matter. Now, I know what you’re thinking, a bit of independence is great, children should learn to do things for themselves, and yes I’m all for that. Now, imagine independence while picturing a three-year-old po
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Dec 6, 2021
- 3 min
The Struggle is Real
I’ve been struggling. I’ve found it tough looking after the kids full time for quite a few reasons, which I’ll go into in a second. It was one of those things that crept up on me, then suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. I was low, I was miserable, and I pushed people away, stupidly thinking I could get through it and things would get easier. They didn’t. I was naïve. I thought that looking after Rupert and Emilia would be easy. I mean, they’re my kids, how hard could it be
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Jul 30, 2021
- 3 min
Never Wake a Sleeping Daddy
I love sleep. I’m a man who needs to get his eight hours a night in or I feel perpetually tired throughout the day, moving like a zombie who’s been kept awake all night. I know what you’re thinking; becoming a Dad was the worst thing that I could have done because your sleep schedule gets torn up, pooed on, and thrown out of the window by your adorable little angels. When babies are tiny you almost enjoy it. With both Rupert and Emilia, I wanted them to cry sometimes because
2 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- May 12, 2021
- 3 min
Being a full-time Daddy
Just recently I started a new job. I say new, I’ve been doing it on a ‘part-time’ basis for two and a half years, but now I’ve been ‘promoted’ to full time Daddy. My wife, Jess, went back to work this week after taking the last year off on maternity leave and I’ll therefore need to be on hand to take over the parental responsibilities. I’m not scared, you’re scared. To be honest, I’m not really that worried about it. For starters, they’re my children, and I know them pretty w
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Apr 27, 2021
- 3 min
Review: Thrift Farm
As parents we’re always looking for things to do with our children. Sometimes it can be something simple in the garden or a nice walk, and other times it’s a day out. When they’re babies it’s fairly easy, you get to do all the things that YOU want to do and they come along for the ride. But as they grow, children have an increasing awareness of what they like and what they don’t. With Rupert, we can’t often pass a park without him running in or wanting to play, and fortunatel
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Apr 12, 2021
- 3 min
Review: MK Play Association
Getting the children out and about is sometimes hard as a parent. No wait, let me rephrase that. Getting them out is easy as you can always go for a walk, it’s varying things that I sometimes struggle with. It’s also the interaction side of things that I feel is hard, especially at the moment with this bloody pandemic. So, imagine how pleased Jess and I were to get Rupert booked on to a Milton Keynes Play Association event just recently (and even more pleased that the weather
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Mar 25, 2021
- 2 min
Nursery Rhymes are Nonsense
Nursery rhymes and children’s songs are weird. I mean, have you ever properly listened to one? At the moment, it’s a common occurrence to hear the phrase ‘Alexa, play children’s music,’ to keep Rupert and Emi entertained. But in listening to that every day for the last two months I’ve learned a lot of the lyrics to these songs and my god are some of them weird. Take, for example, Old Mother Hubbard. It’s a charming song that starts out simple enough. Old woman has a dog, goes
1 view0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Mar 17, 2021
- 3 min
I Pledge to Protect my Daughter
‘Let me walk you to your car.’ ‘I can go with you if you like.’ ‘Message me when you get home safe.’ I have said all of these throughout the years to people of both genders, but mainly to my female friends, girlfriends and family members, but why? Society dictates that we need/needed to look after females when they were going out alone, or as a small group because they were more in danger than men. This is unfortunately because there are some absolute sickos around. A recent
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Feb 19, 2021
- 2 min
9 Months In, 9 Months Out – Part 2
Just recently, Emi turned nine months old. And yes, just like every other month, I can’t quite believe how fast time is going. I know, I know, it sounds like a cliché, but it really is true. Time flies when you have children. In the nine months she’s blessed our family she’s grown so much and already learned a hell of a lot. This time, around 18 months ago, I was writing a very similar blog about Rupert turning nine months, so I’ll try not to compare the two of them too much
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Feb 3, 2021
- 2 min
Navigating Through the Terrible Twos
As a parent it can be excruciating sometimes to hear cliches – mainly because most of them are true. Time really does go too quickly, it IS the hardest but most rewarding job you could have, and the terrible twos are real. Unfortunately, that last one has become blatantly obvious in the last few months thanks to our little ‘two-nager.’ Don’t get me wrong, Rupert can be a hilarious, cute and very caring little boy, and he is clearly besotted with his little sister but sometime
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Jan 11, 2021
- 2 min
The Woes of Children’s Clothes
I’m pretty sure whoever invented children’s clothes doesn’t have children themselves. I love dressing the children and making them look their best, but sometimes it takes so much effort to put the clothes on that I’d rather they wore something that you can just pull over their heads. Take this morning, for example. I put Emilia’s vest on – easy, even putting tights on is fairly easy (easier than I imagined, anyway) but then I got to the dress and it’s just a pain. Who in thei
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Jan 5, 2021
- 3 min
The Fun of Feeding Two Children
When you have to feed one child it can be difficult, feeding two can be hectic. We started feeding Rupert solid food when he was around six months old, starting with mashed banana, and advancing to things like Weetabix and sweet potato. For the most part he fed really well. He was one of those children who you couldn’t shovel the food in fast enough, he was just ready with his mouth open for the next spoonful. As most of you will know, all children are different. So, some chi
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Jan 1, 2021
- 6 min
Review of the Year: 2020
This year has been a strange one. Dominated strongly by one thing, we’ve seen the best and worst of the human spirit as people battled through tiers and heartbreak with laughter and strength. It was a year where we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Emilia, to our family and she made us feel complete, yet we weren’t allowed to meet up with family so they could share in our joy. Here’s a rundown of life in the Ellis household in 2020. January: Rupert walked for the first time ou
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Nov 23, 2020
- 2 min
Happy 2nd Birthday, Rupert
Today is a special day in the Ellis household. Our little, not so little boy, our first born, our beautiful son Rupert turned two. No longer are we parents of two babies (although they’ll always be my babies), or two under two, now we have a baby and a toddler. I’m so proud of him. He’s growing into this wonderful, clever little boy and despite not wanting to mention it, time is going so quickly. It seems like only yesterday he arrived, after a 54-hour labour, and a fairly tr
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Nov 19, 2020
- 2 min
Celebrating a birthday in lockdown
This Sunday was a weird day. It was the first time in 35 years that I’ve had a birthday in lockdown. But I’m not alone though, there will have been millions who this affected, not only back in March but also across this whole year – including my mother-in-law and Rupert too. Hopefully, my MIL had just as good a day as I did because despite the lockdown I had an amazing time. Yes, I could only see my Dad and brother outside, and one by one, and yes I couldn’t hug them or go ou
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Nov 2, 2020
- 2 min
Reading to the kids, on your own
Hands up, how many parents out there, even non-parents have ever played with their/a child’s toys or eaten their food? I have to admit that sometimes I’ve had a little taste of Rupert’s yoghurt, or some other tasty dinner we’ve made him and he’s not eaten. Then, of course, I justify it by saying that it was going to go to waste anyway. Well, it was, right? There are also, so many of Ru’s toys that I’ve shown more interest in than him and on more than one occasion I have built
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Oct 25, 2020
- 3 min
I swear, I try not to swear
Oh fudge, what the flip, and shhhhh-ugar! As a parent you have to get pretty imaginative when it comes to covering your swearing and pretending you haven’t said a rude word. Jess and I are definitely of the opinion that swearing will be strictly forbidden in our house, so I have to do everything to cover my sweary mouth. This doesn’t just mean saying words like clucking banker, or truck you, because they’re words that can be mis-pronounced or heard wrong, so Emi or Rupert may
0 views0 comments
Gareth Ellis
- Oct 20, 2020
- 3 min
Review: Pumpkin Picking at The Patch MK
This weekend was a first for the Ellis family – as it was the first time any of us had gone pumpkin picking. Rupert is a massive fan of getting out and about, Emilia is always beautifully behaved wherever we go and Jess and I just like spending time together – so it seemed perfect. Let me first start out by telling you a little bit about the premise of the day in case you’re thinking of heading there yourself. The Patch is a working farm area, Mount Mill Farm to be exact, bas
0 views0 comments