My Mummy Wears a Wig - Does Yours? by Michelle Williams-Huw
By Anne Coates
This isn't the usual sort of book we review in the Books for parents section of Parenting Without Tears but it's one which each and every one of us would do well to read. It's an inspirational account of a breast cancer survivor which puts the disease into the context of being a wife and working mother of two small children and what being diagnosed does to all those myriad relationships.
Michelle Williams-Huw was told she was lucky - lucky she had been diagnosed so early, lucky she had checked out her symptoms for herself, lucky her consultant was one of the foremost specialists ... But how lucky is it to discover you have an aggressive tumour in your breast which will require surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy?
Michelle, married with two small children, and working for BBC Wales, charts her illness, her thoughts and feelings with candour and humour. Quite remarkable is her honesty when she complains about her husband - how he doesn't do his share of the housework or childcare - and talks about her other relationships with parents, siblings, colleagues and friends.
Being seriously ill doesn't turn you into a saint nor does it make you a good writer. Michelle clearly isn't a saint but her writing skills are spot on. She'll make you laugh and cry within a page...
And maybe reading this book will help anyone who finds herself or a friend in a similar situation.
My Mummy Wears a Wig - Does Yours? by Michelle Williams-Huw is published by Accent Press Ltd at £7.99
Especially for World Cancer Day, Dr Sally Norton, founder of Vavista, has put together some facts on breast cancer based on the questions she is frequently asked.
Breast Cancer Care is the only UK-wide charity dedicated to providing emotional and preactical support for anyone affected by breast cancer. Parenting Without Tears is supporting this campaign by donating 20 per cent of the subscription fee of anyone joining us during October 2012.
Award-winning tweezers have a new look sporting the Breast Cancer Campaign's pink ribbon – with a donation of £2 for each Pink Ribbon Slant bought going to Breast Cancer Campaign.
My Crocus Walk is ... raising money for breast cancer research. Breakthrough Breast Cancer launches its annual Crocus Walk campaign this spring with a helping hand from Sarah Beeny.
One in ten women in the UK is expected to develop breast cancer. The aim of The Genesis Appeal is to create a future without breast cancer, by making one in ten, none in ten. Preventative lifestyle changes, as outlined in the Appeal’s Ten Commandments, can help make this aim a reality.
With social media, there’s always something to compare: the child who seems to excel at everything, the family who’s always having more “picture-perfect” moments. If you or your child are caught in this comparison trap, there’s good news: you’re not powerless.
Fantastic magnetic shapes which actually increase in value as children get older and it's certainly fun for adults to join in with as Anne Coates discovered, playing with her granddaughter Lizzie.
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Dr Emma Derbyshire who headed a new research review published in the journal of Gynaecology and Women’s Health Research, explains the benefits of Ubiqinol especially if you are struggling to conceive.
The Surprise Box doubles as a vending machine, adding to the excitement for slime enthusiasts. Natasha Da Souza's two daughters, loved discovering what was contained in each of the 20 golfball sized containers.
Ruth Ewing, pregnant with her first baby, takes inspiration and reassurance from this collection of birth stories shared by 30 women from the US, Canada, and the UK collected by Claire Fulton. Not all deliveries go to plan but all end on a positive note.
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The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) replaces the existing EHIC and can be used to get necessary state healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA), and some other countries, on the same basis as a resident of that country.
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As part of a new menu launch, Frankie & Benny’s are introducing five seriously indulgent burgers and to celebrate they’re giving away a staggering £100,000 worth of burgers absolutely free. Get your voucher code now.
Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count runs from 18 July to 10 August and is completely free to take part in. Plus, there's a family fun pack full of activities for all ages, come rain or shine, that's sure to keep active imaginations occupied.
Three great books for older readers – adventure and romance: Alice with a Why by Anna James illustrated by Matthew Land; Amelia, if Only by Becky Albertalli and Rewind to us by Molly Morris. Perfect summer reading and gifts.
Clara Kervyn, Physiotherapist, Pilates, and Musculoskeletal specialist and Elyn Marwick, Personal Trainer, Coach and Functional Fitness Specialist advise on what to do when you're suffering pain in your feet and ankles.
In summertime, a family's thoughts turn to paddling pools and here's one which doesn't have to be inflated, won't be be punctured by animal claws, is made from slip-proof material and has eco friendly drainage – well done Peteast.
Parenting Without Tears has teamed up with Zapf Creation UK to offer readers the chance of winning one of their fabulous toys: BABY born doll, BABY born My Cat Cookie, Splish Splash Surfing Berta and Splish Splash Swimming Emma.
Frontier Publishing introduces, Ava Spark: Hello I’m Here!is the first in a brand new young fiction series, following life through the eyes of ten-year-old Ava Spark as she navigates the trials and tribulations of home, school, friendships and family.