Why I think we should stop telling children “I want doesn’t get.”

I want doesn’t get is a standard statement used when children say “I want” something. Recently we were in a charity shop, killing a bit of time before school pick up as we were early, and we were letting our three year old explore. She was very excited by all the cheap toys, but came across an enormous fluffy pink

Why are adults stripping for children, and why are we not stopping them?

I don’t think of myself as being particularly prudish. I am pretty open minded. I believe we should all love who we love, express ourselves however we feel comfortable, where clothes we like regardless of who they’re targeted and, and as long as you’re happy and safe, crack on. However, recently a couple of videos on Twitter have made me

Tagged : Children, Clothes are Clothes, Drag Queen Story Hour, Drag queens, Let clothes be clothes, LGBTQ, Love is Love, Motherhood, mumlife, Parenting, Sexuality

Posted on 4th October 20194th October 2019
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Posted in Family, Feminism
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Leave a Comment on Why I talk to my children about periods and female biology.

By - JJBarnes

Why I talk to my children about periods and female biology.

According to the 2011 census, 51% of the population of the UK is female. It’s estimated that globally around 26% of women are of reproductive age, so that means on any given day, a large number of women will be menstruating. Despite this, there is still so much misinformation around what periods are, as well as beliefs that they’re dirty

Tagged : Education, Female, Female biology, Feminism, Feminist, menstruation, Mother, mothood, mumlife, Parenting, period, period pain, Period poverty, reproductive health, uterus, Women

Posted on 1st October 20191st October 2019
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Posted in Family, Writing
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Leave a Comment on I can only be the kind of mother I am… and sometimes it’s not who they want me to be.

By - JJBarnes

I can only be the kind of mother I am… and sometimes it’s not who they want me to be.

I have a six year old daughter, a three year old daughter, and a six year old step son. I love them all fiercely, I would kill and die for these children, and I try to be the best mother I can be to them. But the big two are old enough to compare me to other mothers. And I

Tagged : Author, Authors Life, Child author, Mother, Motherhood, Mum, Mummy guilt, Parenting, Parents, Step mother, step mum, Writer, Writer Mum, Writers Life, Writing

Posted on 29th September 201929th September 2019
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Posted in Family
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Leave a Comment on Why Strictly Come Dancing tells me I’m insecure in my relationship.

By - JJBarnes

Why Strictly Come Dancing tells me I’m insecure in my relationship.

I love watching Strictly Come Dancing. I love the froth and the glitz, and music and the fun. And, to my shame, I love the scandal. Every year I love to guess who’s dance floor chemistry is real. I love to guess which smiling partners are actually dying inside, watching their beloved dance a passionate rumba with some stunning dancer.

Tagged : Affairs, Cheating, Divorce, Insecurities, Intimacy, Love, Marriage, Relationship, Relationships, Romance, Strictly, Strictly Come Dancing, Strictly Curse

Posted on 27th September 201927th September 2019
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Posted in Family, Writing
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Leave a Comment on I cannot keep my house tidy, and I think it’s time to stop apologising for it.

By - JJBarnes

I cannot keep my house tidy, and I think it’s time to stop apologising for it.

I live in a messy house. It’s not just messy, it’s full. There’s three children with three different interests and they’re all young enough that they still play with toys. A LOT of toys. They go through quantities of clothes because of their frequent proximity to chocolate, and mud, and their version of cleaning up is to throw whatever it

Tagged : Cleaning, Housework, Mental Health, Mother, Motherhood, Mum, Mum life, Parenting, Struggling, Writer, Writers Life, Writing

Posted on 26th September 201926th September 2019
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Posted in Current Affairs, Family, Feminism
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Leave a Comment on We should end gender stereotyping by getting rid of labels, not adding new ones.

By - JJBarnes

We should end gender stereotyping by getting rid of labels, not adding new ones.

I’ve written before about raising my children without gender stereotypes, letting them be free to explore the world without the pressure of working out if things are for boys or girls, and whether that should change what they do. Gender stereotypes are damaging to children. When children are raised to conform to stereotypes they miss out on experiences that matter,

Tagged : Feminism, Feminist, Gender, Gender Identity, Gender neutral, Gender stereotypes, Kids toys, Let kids be kids, Let toys by toys, Motherhood, Mum life, Non binary, Raising children

Posted on 24th September 201924th September 2019
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Posted in Family, Writing
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Leave a Comment on My daughter, the six year old author.

By - JJBarnes

My daughter, the six year old author.

My daughter, Rose, asked me if we could write a book together. She didn’t want to write one of the books she makes with felt tipped pens and held together with Sellotape, she wanted to write a REAL book. The kind of book I write. I told her it would take work, and it would take time, but if she

Tagged : Author, Child author, Daughter, Motherhood, Mum life, Nature-Girl Vs Worst Nightmare, Raising children, Writer, Writer Mum, Writers Life, Writing, Writing a book

By - JJBarnes

When people are in pain, they try to cause pain in others. But you don’t have to be their punching bag.

I remember growing up my mother always told me that the girls who were so cruel to me were in pain. She told me only people in pain would try to cause pain in others, so instead of being afraid of them or angry at them for the way they treated me, I should pity them. I’m pretty sure she

Tagged : Anger, Bullies, Bullying, Family, Friends, fuck off, Online bullies, righteous anger, Self belief, self defence, standing up for yourself

By - JJBarnes

Why I start celebrating Christmas in September…and why I don’t give a damn that it bothers you.

A common complaint of the build up to the Christmas season is that shops get decorations and gift displays in too soon, and Christmas music plays too early. You can’t walk around the high street without hearing people gripe, social media is littered with insults against shops, and moans about early shoppers are aplenty. But me? I love it. Part

Tagged : Affording christmas, Budget, Buying gifts, Careful with money, Christmas, christmas finances, Christmas gifts, Christmas music, Family, Father Christmas, Festive

J.J. Barnes

Emerald is working as a waitress by day and leading a crime fighting coven of witches by night.

To protect a mysterious prophecy girl from a murderous man on a mission, Emerald must work out what, and who, she is willing to risk.

Emerald Wren And The Coven Of Seven is out now in paperback, kindle, and free to read on kindle unlimited- mybook.to/CovenOfSeven