About Me

I am a child of God, wife to a wonderful husband and mother to two boys Raphael and Michael born in 2011 and 2014. We live in London, UK and like many families, we were led to a one income home where my husband is in paid employment and I am a stay/work at home mum. I grew up in Hackney and promised myself I was going to be rich and would work hard to get there, so when I succeeded in becoming a construction project management professional and university entrance consultant with a Masters degree in Management it was not a light decision to leave the workforce to take care of my then 14 month old first child, but God showed me it was best for his health and development. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5 - 6 (RSVCE)

 

For the most part I spent my new life as a work at home mum getting his physical health on track which was only made possible by the grace of God. He is now a strong and healthy boy in line with all his developmental goals according to his two and a half check with the health visitor. I also tried my hand at a fair share of businesses on the side with varying levels of success. The truth is, we have survived on one salary and are happy to continue this way whilst our sons still need the one on one care that I can provide by staying at home.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never fail you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (RSVCE)

Courtesy: http://blogs.ubc.ca/healthyminds/vision/about-the-initiative/

Now I am focussed on my exclusively breastfed newborn baby boy whilst realising I have let my first son's education be governed by youtube videos and cbeebies! This is not the end of the world and he is already quite smart, but as someone who comes from a country who breeds overachievers in education like Britain's brainiest family the Imafidon's and as someone who is an academic and professional myself, I realise that academic education is a key ingredient to success. The only other ingredients that may trump this are social, emotional and spiritual intelligence. This blog charts my focus on these key ingredients. I believe boys generally lack concentration in school and don't achieve as much as their female counterparts in school, this is even worse with British black boys in state school (personal experience and statistics). I have two boys, British boys, Black British Nigerian boys...failure is not an option for this Catholic Christian family. What about yours?

Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself will keep far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Proverbs 22:5-7 (RSVCE)

According to University of British Columbia a healthy mind consists of: physical, social, emotional, play, spiritual, personal, academic, and financial aspects (UBC Blog: Student Strategies). although this is geared at university students, I want my sons and any other children we have to be able to achieve this as more than likely they will go to university so I will focus on this now. In the first instance the majority of my focus will be on the physical, social, emotional, play, spiritual, personal, and especially academic aspects. But where possible I will discuss financial aspects and work out how to develop them in this area too. I don't expect them to be perfect in all areas but it is my job as their parents to help develop them in these areas and not to neglect these areas. This blog will be full of my ideas, experiences, resources and printables.

As I am based in the UK I will closely follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Although I will use learning resources from around the globe adapting and making my own where necessary and including the aspects of a healthy mind I talked about above.

The EYFS specifies requirements for learning and development and for safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. It covers the knowledge, skills and understanding children should have at the end of the academic year in which they turn five.

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Credits:
Bible (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition)
UBC Blog: Student Strategies.  http://blogs.ubc.ca/healthyminds/vision/about-the-initiative/