Book group

I love reading. I love the escape, the imagination and I love the learning and exploration that can be… [more]

Book group Book group

Dating your child

The first step is to plan. A date does not happen by accident - set aside a time and schedule it on the… [more]

Dating your child Dating your child

The challenge of motherhood today

It seems that being a mother in the current societal climate is a mixed bag. Many mothers find that maintaining… [more]

The challenge of motherhood today The challenge of motherhood today

Healing birth, healing the earth

Birth, she is dying. This primal and unspeakably powerful initiation, the only road to motherhood… [more]

Healing birth, healing the earth Healing birth, healing the earth

Your guide to labour and childbirth

Labour and Birth Every birth is different and babies vary regarding when they arrive and how long they… [more]

Your guide to labour and childbirth Your guide to labour and childbirth

You Can Create an Exceptional Life by Louise Hay and Cheryl Richardson

February 1, 2012 By Rachael Bell Leave a Comment
exceptional life

This is The Big Swell Book Group first book review, so the start of a new journey and experience for us all. I therefore thought it would be appropriate to try something inspirational and motivating to give us all a boost of energy for the start of a new year. When I suggested using this book my sister told me that she wasn't really into 'self help' and that it might not be her 'cup of tea'. But I don't see this book in the same way as other 'self help' books. In fact I have heard the author Louise Hay refer to this book not by its published title but rather as 'conversations between Louise and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Rachael, all swell articles, book group

Puberty, what sense I can make of it!

February 1, 2012 By Rachael Bell Leave a Comment
boy girl

When my son asked me at what age could he expect a major growth spurt, I realised that I knew very little about puberty. So I thought I would do a little research, and just share a few of my findings. This information is taken from a variety of resources and I have generalised the information to give an overview, but it is important to recognise that we are all different and our children are too. The age purberty starts is getting younger in the Western World, currently girls can start puberty as early as 8, and for boys it is usually more like 10. Girls: Puberty normally takes place for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: all swell articles, babes & beyond, family life

Growing….

February 1, 2012 By Rachael Bell Leave a Comment

Two weeks ago it was my son's 9th birthday. Every year, on their birthdays, we measure our sons' heights. My eldest son Jamie looked on in horror to see that his brother was almost the same height as him, despite being almost 2 years younger. Jamie turned to me and asked me when he might have a growth spurt, desperate to think that he might edge ahead of his brother again. And so we sat down and did some research on 'growth spurts' which led us to a fuller discussion on 'puberty', and I have written a fuller article on what we discovered. On a personal level, it was a very interesting discussion … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Rachael, all swell articles, babes & beyond, family life, mamahood

Squeezing it in! week 2 – 2012

January 15, 2012 By minka Leave a Comment
IMG_0463

I have to admit I am feeling a little sorry for myself right now!  I want to write you a big long list of all the things I have achieved in the last 7 days and have to achieve in the next 3 days before I head away to the beach again. I want to have a "Poor Minka" moment!  I want to tell you how no one appreciates me, how my children barely even like me at the moment and how horrible dinner time was tonight when everyone just ended up yelling at each other!  But hey, what would be the point in that!?! It's Sunday after a massive week, and I have spent the entire day in my PJ's!  A day in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Minka, all swell articles, family life, green life, mamahood

Books and movies of books

January 10, 2012 By Rachael Bell Leave a Comment
Kevin poster

Ok, I know that's it's not time yet for the first book review, but I was inspired by something a friend of mine posted on Facebook. He posted the advert for the film of the book We Need To Talk About Kevin. Have you read that book? I found it fascinating, harrowing and a great conversation piece. Essentially it is all about the question of nature versus nurture, and an interesting take on perspective, as we only know what the author tells us, which of course is totally subjective. But I am getting off the point. It made me think about all the great books there are that have been turned into movies. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Rachael, all swell articles, book group
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