Your mood can totally define your zest to do things. I drove all day long and didn’t get a single red traffic light. I thought, ha! Things are playing out really well for me today. To coincide with this, Spring has sprung and cherry blossoms are everywhere as a clear sign of new hope and beginnings. Not wanting to be too philosophical, but I took it as a firm indication to transcribe my thoughts. The last year has been one of the most fantastic and testing emotional roller coasters I have ever experienced, I'm sure most would nod in approval. I've been disappointed & let down, but I’ve al ..read more

I recently watched a documentary about Rio Ferdinand, being a bereaved father. In it, he shares intimate thoughts and experiences about losing his wife to cancer. I was never a fan of Rio as a player nor a football pundit and that’s merely down to my allegiances but you’ve got to admire his courage in revealing a more vulnerable side to himself. That resonated with me because his story is so honest and heartwarming. It’s typically not something that men, especially of his caliber would share, something so profoundly personal. Men are half as likely to seek help through counselling than women ..read more

When my wife and I decided to start a family, we did very little planning and we had a fair idea of what the commitments were. Few things are certain, they cry, poo and sleep on repeat. Handling that is the easy part. Everything else is a minefield. It doesn’t matter how much research you do, books you read or classes you take, raising a child and the effects it will have on you will only become known once you’re in the thick of it. You can never really be fully prepared. What I can tell you, is that although there are challenges, raising a child is truly incredible and it has impacted our li ..read more

During lockdown some parents have been reaching into the fridge for a cold beer or crisp bottle of wine more often than ever before. Happy hours seem to have morphed into Happy days and the number for the booze delivery company is on speed dial and with an extra bit of Christmas cheer dumped on top there is a high chance a lot of parent will be over indulging this festive season. The pressure of being stuck at home with bored children, piles of washing and cleaning to do, plus trying to get work done while Peppa pig plays on repeat in the background has most parents daydreaming about that firs ..read more

The latest Garmin smartwatch has been released, but do you really need to have the newest one? If you're thinking of getting a smartwatch for more than just monitoring daily step count and heart rate, then here's what you need to know about the Garmin 5 GPS watch, before splashing the cash. Chances are, you'll save yourself a few £££ and still get everything you need for all your activities. It’s an adventurer's piece of wearable tech. Like a swiss army knife for those who are always seeking to physically push to new limits and test new boundaries. If indoor training or all weather activities ..read more

I am incredibly pleased to have Joe Atkinson share his story with Dishevelled Dad today. He has devoted his life to help improve the lives of others and through his natural desire to support those around him, he later pursued a career as a professional child therapist and later parents too. Today we talk about his journey and also how he can help children & families in need of therapy and counselling. Without further ado, I’d like to introduce Joe, who will share his story in his own words. “Thank you for joining us, please tell us about yourself, let's start at the beginning.” I’ve spent ..read more

I talked about the lovely time we had during the October half term, visiting Greenwich the Cutty Sark for a book reading event earlier. Well, the story is certainly worth sharing my thoughts on. At Sea Without Tea, is a great adventure book for kids and allows them to learn while having fun reading. My 7 year old was completely immersed in the story and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The author, Thomas Dillon McEvoy, cleverly blends factual historical events with fiction and uses rhyming sentences to maintain interest throughout the story from start to finish. The book is meant for ages 4-7 b ..read more

It’s not just about bullying. Any parent wants their child to have good relationships and for it to be mutually respectful. You also want them to be headstrong and able to deal with peer pressure. However, social structures can be complex, and you want them to be in a position where they are neither bullies nor being bullied. We all want the best for our kids. Heaven forbid, the type of parent that gets too involved in their children’s lives, the last thing you want to do is embarrass or worst, push them away. However, there are things you can do to help them prepare for the world out there ..read more

My 7 year old has a bit of a temper, he is the type of child to kick & scratch when he sometimes doesn’t get his way, it was worst when he was much smaller and his behaviour has greatly improved over time, the older he’s got. My wife and I have always tried to curb this behaviour using various techniques and it usually starts with communicating. His older brother is the complete opposite and I sometimes think the reason he reacts to things this way is because he may be fighting for attention, being the second child and all or its just down to sibling rivalry. He has occasionally thrown ta ..read more

I’m truly grateful that Lockdown has enabled me to spend more time with the family and as it happens, it’s also October half term. While the usual family entertainment options are limited, we’re still able to make the most of outdoor life. Lucky for us, we’re in a location that allows us to enjoy some of the local delights not far from where we live in the South East, one such delight is Greenwich. Those who have visited will know its sights are a pleasant assault on the senses. You feel as though you’re stepping into hundreds of years of history, full of ornate buildings and timeless archite ..read more