Writer, journalist, blogger, mother of boys, A380 pilot's wife, sun-worshipper and distracted housewife surrounded by souks, skyscrapers, shopping, sea and sand.
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Meet all sorts of characters straight out of daily life in Dubai: Helicopter Mum, the Atlantis Tooth Fairy, Shopaholic Katie and many more. Includes Travel with Kids: The Bad & the Worse and the popular short story Cupcakes & Heels
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Tag Archives: back to school
Throwback Thursday: Organised Mum’s fait accompli
I was late getting organised for school this year for various reasons, and after patting myself on the back on the first day for delivering both children to their classrooms (with lunch boxes, water bottles, labelled clothing, shiny new shoes, … Continue reading
Throwback Tuesday: Underhand school run tips
Mothers across Dubai are either breathing a huge sigh of relief or sobbing into their hankies this week as they drop their children at school for the start of the new term. But rather than simply depositing your offspring into … Continue reading
Summer is over: Time to remember the day of the week
The radio silence over the past week was because we were moving house. We couldn’t have picked a better time really – it’s as hot as Hades (see temperature, according to the car, below!) and as humid as a steam … Continue reading
When 68 days of summer holiday isn’t enough
You’d think, wouldn’t you, that two months and a week would be long enough for a school holiday. It certainly was for me. Today the epic summer vacation came to an end for Son1 – Son2 still has another day … Continue reading
Back to school: The Most Confusing and Complicated Time of the Year
I always find the start of the new school year really perplexing. It’s like everything I knew about their classmates, routines, PE and swimming days and library sessions has suddenly become obsolete, and must be pieced back together again like … Continue reading
Posted in Children, Dubai, Expat, Family, Parenting, School
Tagged anxiety, back to school, beginning of school year confusion, getting into the school routine, transitions, worry
2 Comments
Back to school in eight steps
It’s a week of mixed feelings here as the old routine kicks in again. Last week, my mornings were quite tolerable (and I say this as a non-morning person). Up at 7.30am, out the door by 8.15am, and, wallop, I was at … Continue reading
School run survival tips
The daily transfer of your offspring to school is not without its challenges, as every mum knows. Forewarned is forearmed, so if the long summer break has left you feeing a little rusty, here are my back-to-school tips and tricks: … Continue reading
Posted in Children, Dubai, Expat, Family, Parenting, School
Tagged back to school, Dubai school drop off, Dubai school run, Dubai schools, fashionista mum Dubai, school run tips
9 Comments
The 4-year-old’s bedtime shot
Here in the Circles household, we’re trying hard to yank the children’s bedtime (and mine) forward so that when the new term begins in three days’ time, those red-eye early school start times (7.45am) don’t give us jet lag, all … Continue reading
Posted in Children, Dubai, Expat, Family, Parenting
Tagged back to school, back to school in Dubai, putting children to bed
2 Comments
Kidnapping Helicopter Mum’s DD
A while ago, we met Organised Mum, whose fait accompli in getting her children ready for the new school year left us all vowing to iron the name-tags on earlier next time. As a new term gets underway, there’s another … Continue reading
Posted in Children, Dubai, Expat, Family, Parenting
Tagged back to school, helicopter mom, helicopter mum, over-anxious mother, over-protective mums
2 Comments
Our turn for a break!
School started again today – and I wouldn’t be being entirely honest if I didn’t admit to feeling more than a little pleased. Okay, after whooping with relief, I’m now grinning from ear-to-ear and lying poleaxed on the sofa, feet … Continue reading
CIRCLES IN THE SAND … Marianne Makdisi 