Mum Reviews...

Press Release: In My Head - A Poetry Collection - Sinéad Hoben

 

In My Head - A Poetry Collection

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.  — Robert Frost

 

Northern Ireland woman, Sinéad Hoben, related to the above words in abundance when, like most people, she found herself faced with the Covid-19 pandemic. Add to that an unexpected breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgery when hospital visitors were not allowed and it became a perfect storm leading to her book, In My Head.

'I’ve always been a writer and often come across poems or short stories I have written and tucked away somewhere over the years. I was never really interested in publishing my work before now though. However, during the pandemic, I found I myself indulging in writing more than ever. For me, it became therapeutic and helped me find a way to release my fears and observations. After my breast cancer diagnosis, which was discovered by Action Cancer at a routine mammogram, my mind went into overdrive. I’d never experienced fear like it in my life and had to find an outlet. Luckily, my educational background helped immensely.'

Sineád graduated from University of Ulster with BA (Hons) English in 1996, followed by a PGCE in English with Drama and Media in 1997 which allowed her to become a teacher. However, things didn’t go exactly to plan. 

'After my first baby was born I found it very difficult to continue working as I was employed as a supply teacher in local schools at that time. Whilst this was perfect before I had a family, making childcare arrangements became increasingly difficult due to the nature of the job. After I had my second daughter, my husband and I made the choice that I would stay at home as he had permanent work. I still felt the call to teach and write though, so I created an advice website for new mothers and the income the site generated through advertising allowed me to stay at home whilst still earning a regular wage. However, as the years passed by, I felt the need to return to my literature background and lockdown afforded me the time to commit to that!'

Sinéad wrote and published several children’s books before turning her mind to poetry. 

'Writing provides much needed escapism for me. With 4 children ranging in age from 10 to 22 years old, my days are usually flat out doing all the usual parenting things like school runs, after school activities, housework and meal preparations. Lockdown and home-schooling, quickly followed by the trauma of finding out I had cancer, meant I had a lot of time to observe my life and the lives of those around me. Writing helped me prioritise the important things and I got great comfort from composing poems. In fact, many of my poems came to me and still do, at unexpected moments. In the prologue to my book, I wrote the words, “I write/ I become/ The mist retreats/ I am done.”  And this is what happens to me when I’m writing. I feel an overwhelming urge to put words in print and almost feel as if they don’t always come from me but from somewhere in the ether. I suppose that’s what a Muse is and I wrote about mine in a poem in the book.'

With 11 books now under her belt, all written just before or during lockdown, Sinéad is on a roll.

'I’m still writing and have 2 new books in the pipeline,' she grins, 'I’ve feel like I’ve finally found my place in the world and it’s all in my imagination!'

In My Head is available to purchase on Amazon.co.uk and is available as an ebook, paperback and hardback. It will also soon be available on Audible as an audio book.

If local businesses are interested in stocking the book, they can contact Sinéad directly through her Facebook account, Sinéad Hoben Author. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sinead Hoben is an English graduate and qualified teacher. A past pupil of Cloghogue Primary School and Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry, she studied at University of Ulster and became self-employed following the birth of her second child. Following a breast cancer diagnosis in April 2021, Sinéad turned to poetry as a means of coping with her illness, subsequent surgery and learning to live again.

The Allergy-Free Baby and Toddler Book by Charlotte Muquit & Dr Adam Fox

The Allergy-Free Baby and Toddler Book is the guide that worried parents have been waiting for.

Written by Charlotte Muquit, a mum whose own son has severe food allergies, and Dr Adam Fox, one of the country's top allergy specialists, this book explains everything you need to know about allergies, from navigating the diagnosis process to the practical steps you can take to manage allergies in the longterm.

Find out how to:

- Identify the source of an allergy
- Treat reactions
- Communicate with GPs, nurseries and playgroups
- Enjoy social events without worrying
- Adapt weaning and diet to avoid reactions

You'll also find 30 delicious allergy-free recipes for everyday and special occasions. Comprehensive, accessible and informative, The Allergy-Free Baby and Toddler Book gives parents the knowledge and reassurance they need to stop allergies getting in the way of a fun, full and active childhood.

Published 3rd April 2014 by Vermilion and priced at £12.99

Bump - How to Make, Grow and Birth a Baby by Kate Evans

Acclaimed cartoonist Kate Evans delivers a no-nonsense illustrated guide to the joys and pains of getting pregnant and giving birth in a much-awaited sequel to her breastfeeding bestseller, The Food of Love.

Evans deftly handles the physical and emotional changes that come with being pregnant, looking at the practicalities of every stage as well as the challenges that may arise. Her straightforward, funny and accessible text is illustrated throughout with detailed artwork to guide the reader through the intricacies of human reproduction whilst her customary laugh-out-loud cartoons demystify the complexities of pregnancy and birth.

What midwives and mothers say about BUMP:

‘Informative and empowering. This is an epic work of love and deep understanding.’
‘This is just so wonderful – such a lovely way to describe how your body is designed to birth.
I felt relaxed just reading it.’

Family Battle Skin Allergy with 100% Natural Discovery

After developing a skin allergy in 2008 mum of two Linda Russell, set out on a journey that would lead her and her partner Nick to develop the very first 100% natural face wash. Although an avid user of various skin lotions and creams, in 2008 she developed a distressing skin allergy which seemed untreatable.

Although the allergy started off as a fairly innocuous looking red patch on her chin, it spread alarmingly with groups of red spots and parts of her face becoming inflamed around her mouth and chin. It was sometimes so sore it hurt to smile. Horrified by the appearance of her skin, Linda began a desperate period of hunting for a cure.

Linda, co-founder of JooMo, said: “My existing skin care products seemed to hurt my face when applied, so I stopped using them. I went to the doctor’s and was prescribed steroid cream – after a temporary improvement, my skin was worse than ever. I remember going to Canada  on business, and my face ached the whole time – I also felt horribly self-conscious meeting people, much the same dimly remembered feeling I had had as a teenager with an outbreak of spots.”

RAILFEST 2012: BRITAIN’S BIGGEST RAIL CELEBRATION

Members of the public are encouraged to save the dates 2 -10 June 2012 for Britain’s biggest rail celebration at the National Railway Museum – Railfest 2012.

The nine day celebration of Britain’s railways will see an enormous space the size of 11 football pitches bustling with an awe-inspiring line up of more than 50 locomotives including record-breaking historic and modern locomotives from the museum’s collection and visiting locomotives from across the UK. A wide variety of railway-related activities, attractions, sights, sounds and smells will add to the exciting atmosphere with the opportunity to get up close to the exhibits.

The festival will bring together over 30 record-breaking locomotives that have made their mark on rail history for being the fastest, strongest, first, last and oldest. Among the confirmed record-breaking attendees is holder of the record for the word’s fastest steam locomotive at 126mph, Mallard, the newest mainline steam locomotive in operation, Tornado, and the most powerful industrial tank engine built for use in the UK, Mardy Monster. The first steam locomotive to reach 100mph, Flying Scotsman, is also set to attend the event. The locomotive is currently undergoing major restoration work and will be on display to the public during Railfest with further work being carried out on Flying Scotsman after the event. Railfest 2012 will welcome the largest gathering of railway record breakers ever brought together in one place.

FIFTH OF SMOKERS LIGHT UP IN THE CAR OR HOME WITH KIDS AROUND

More than a fifth of smokers admit to lighting up in front of their children in the home or car, is the finding from a new Department of Health survey. And almost 15 per cent believed that their children’s antics in the back of car makes them reach for a cigarette.

The findings come following a raft of tough measures unveiled by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley this spring designed to cut the biggest cause of premature death in England. This includes a new hard-hitting national campaign on secondhand smoke.

The adverts show how children are exposed to smoke in the home even when their parent moves away from them - for example by smoking by an open door or smoking in the car with the window open.

The new findings also suggest that parents think they are protecting their children from the harmful poisons of secondhand smoke by opening a door or car window - without realising that is not enough. Figures show one in four open the car window when children are in the car; and one in five said that they smoke out of a window or door when children are at home.

But up to five million children across the UK are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke in the home. People don’t realise that they could be breathing in deadly smoke because more than 80 per cent of cigarette smoke is invisible. Opening a car window or smoking out of the house door just isn’t enough to protect children.

Even the school run isn’t a smokefree zone as almost one in ten smokers admit to smoking in the car which exposes children to the harmful cancer causing toxins and poisons of secondhand smoke whilst making the daily journey to school.

Three hundred thousand children visit the GP each year, in the UK, due to secondhand smoke with 9,500 visiting hospital. This costs the NHS a staggering £23.3 million every year.

Children cannot protect themselves from secondhand smoke and are particularly vulnerable to it due their higher breathing rate, less well-developed airways, lungs and immune system.

Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more at risk of respiratory illnesses, asthma, meningitis and even cot death.

They are also 90 per cent more likely to become smokers themselves. In the UK, 23,000 young people each year start smoking by the age of 15 as a result of exposure to smoking in the home

Public Health Minister Anne Milton said:

“It is important that we help parents protect their children from possible harms to their health. We want parents to know that by making their cars and homes smokefree they can protect their children's health.

“Figures show that 9500 children have to go to hospital each year because of the second hand smoke and toxins they breath in. It's hard to quit but worth doing for your children. Get more information by getting a free Smokefree Kit at nhs.uk/smokefree, or for help quitting get in touch with your local stop smoking service, GP or pharmacist.”

Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation Dame Helena Shovelton said:

“The harm caused by second-hand smoke to children is irreparable. Once the damage has been done, their lungs will never fully recover.

Guys and Dolls - Sales of new Oobicoo soft toy Ollie outstrip Orla 2:1

Boys’ dolls are selling twice as fast as girls’ dolls according to Totseat founder Rachel Jones, who believes the media have been integral in helping to break down gender stereotypes.

The UK toy industry is worth £2.96bn and since launching the soft toy tots Ollie and Orla last year, multi award winning entrepreneur Rachel Jones has sold twice as many of the boy ‘doll’ Ollie. Sales of boys’ toys take 55% share of the UK toy market and Rachel believes sales of Oobicoo Ollie reflect society’s changing perceptions of traditional gender stereotypes.

Rachel says, “We live in a culture where many people look to the media as a guide to behavior and as a result many people conform to majority norms. Traditionally girls have been expected to play with dolls and wear pink and many parents have discouraged their sons from playing with dolls per se, however there appears to be a shift in this gender stereotyping which can only be a good thing.”

Oobicoo was originally developed and sold as a mannequin to display the multi-award winning Totseat; a safe, portable, fabric highchair for families travelling with babies. Rachel soon realised their appeal when they became the unlikely classmates of her daughter Freya and her friends, who loved the fact that they were so big and cuddly!

The adorable, soft toy tot Oobicoo is made from gorgeous soft plush fabric and, at 60cm tall, is the same size as a six month old baby - the perfect size to be an instant baby brother, sister or best friend. They come in their own wee fabric 'pod' and are designed to be dressed in hand-me-down-baby clothes. This simple idea not only saves money, it encourages the reuse of outgrown baby clothes, teaches children dexterity and provides Oobicoo with an instant wardrobe.

With sound eco credentials, Oobicoo is filled with recycled polymer, manufactured from recycleable fabric and is raising money for the Children's Immunology Fund - £1 from every sale goes to the charity. Oobicoo even has its very own dance tune, penned by Emily Philips and Josh Wilkinson who co-write for pop superstars One Direction and Alexandra Burke!

Rachel added, “Oobicoo not only helps your child’s development, they are perfect for imaginative play, great for teaching dexterity in terms of dressing and undressing and because of their realistic size, they give children someone to cuddle!

“We are delighted to announce the launch of Olwyn, our fourth soft toy tot, who has a different skin tone to the other Oobicoo tots. We are keen to encourage diversity and since launching Oobicoo Ed last year, who is entirely bald, we have had great reactions to the entire Oobicoo family.”

Get ready for a new career with NCT and University of Worcester

If you’re looking for a rewarding job you can fit around your family, or are thinking about returning to study or work after having a baby, a change of career to become an NCT practitioner could be just what you need.

NCT, the UK’s largest charity for parents, and the University of Worcester have joined forces to provide university-accredited training for those wanting to support parents on their journey from pregnancy to parenthood by becoming an NCT practitioner.

NCT College admissions are open for courses beginning in September 2012. There’s no better training if you want to build up a rewarding and enjoyable career working with parents at a unique and important time in their lives.

NCT is well-known for the information and support its practitioners provide through antenatal courses, breastfeeding counselling and facilitated postnatal groups, enabling parents to feel more confident and prepared for their new role.

The courses allow students to learn through a mixture of tutorials, one-to-one time with tutors and online learning. With tutorials run across the UK and study days hosted regionally, students can complete the majority of their studies without the need to travel to Worcester. This flexibility is ideal if you’re looking for a career you can juggle around a young family, and the varied syllabus offers plenty of choice depending on your interests and aspirations.

One NCT antenatal teacher, Fiona, said: “For me, my NCT work fits around the needs of my teenage boys. The training is very comprehensive, diverse and interesting and of a very high standard. I also love getting together with other practitioners and sharing ideas. I have a job I can do around my family and earn a decent hourly wage.”

The new Certificate of Higher Education – Birth and Beyond Practitioner, completed over one or two years, is the only university-accredited qualification for parenting education. Qualifying students can then begin a year of probationary practice, delivering innovative Preparation for Birth and Beyond (PBB) courses based on the Department of Health’s new framework. So, you can start earning an income from your new knowledge and skills right away.

Students can then choose from a range of modules from the Foundation Degree course. Will you train as an antenatal teacher, breastfeeding counsellor, postnatal leader or NCT Doula? Or perhaps you’d be more interested in running NCT Yoga for Pregnancy classes.

In the climate of an ever-increasing birth rate and overstretched maternity services, there could not be a better time to build a fulfilling career as an NCT practitioner working alongside midwives and other health professionals to support new and expectant parents. As one of the UK’s largest network of practitioners working with new and expectant parents, students are supported to find work quickly and easily through the charity’s national operation.

Clea Harmer, Education Manager at NCT, said: “We’re delighted to offer a range of exciting opportunities through NCT College. The varied training programme allows students to specialise in a wide range of areas, while the flexibility means they can fit their learning around families and potentially be earning an income after one year. So if you’re interested in a new career making a real difference to new parents, come and join us at NCT College.”

Professor Geoffrey Elliott Director of Regional Engagement at the University of Worcester at the University of Worcester, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to work with NCT to help parents in their transition to parenthood and will do all we can to help the country’s parents and children get off to the best possible start.”

If you are interested in finding out more about our training or a career working with new parents, visit http://www.nct.org.uk/nct-college for more information about the full range of courses on offer.

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Case studies are available: to speak to a current NCT practitioner about their work please contact the NCT press office.
For more information about NCT or NCT College please contact the press office on 020 8752 2412 or email press@nct.org.uk.

NCT has an ISDN line. Please call the press office in advance to book.

For more information about the University of Worcester please call 01905 857517 or email s.jones@worc.ac.uk

One in Four Parents to Face a First Aid Emergency (Press Release)

– New online training campaign to help improve parents’ first aid skills –

81% of parents in the UK don’t have the knowledge required to administer basic first aid to a baby or a child although one in four will have to deal with an emergency first aid situation.

New research* by Tesco Baby & Toddler Club also reveals that 72% of parents wouldn’t feel confident in administering first aid. 60% would worry they would do something wrong, 54% would panic and 47% fear they would cause more harm.

The survey marks the launch of the fifth Tesco Baby & Toddler Club BabySafe campaign – an initiative to offer free, basic first aid training to parents, grandparents and carers. To reach as many parents as possible, this year’s sessions will be run exclusively online via a series of short videos, Twitter chats and webinar. Experts from the British Red Cross will teach invaluable lifesaving skills to help deal with bumps to the head, falls, meningitis, burns, choking and what to do if a child is unconscious.

Shh! Supermum's Secret Revealed... (Press Release)

One of the main complaints of parents is that they simply don't have the energy they need to tackle all the tasks they are faced with. With a full time job, a busy social life and family responsibilities, parenting nowadays can be extremely draining on the body and mind.

 

Being exhausted is no fun and it can often be tempting to stock up on sugary treats and caffeine. This, however, is only ever a short term solution that will mask the problem as opposed to solving it, and can leave people feeling wired and even more stressed than before.