Learning made fun

Discovering my online personality!

I NEVER knew blogging could be so addictive!

I've signed up to an e-course in how to do it properly from LittleMummy, otherwise known as Erica and have joined the online community British Mummy bloggers.

But, as I’m new to blogging and it's still early days for me, I feel like there is so much to learn.

I set up this blog partly to showcase my business and I hope encourage interest in what we do, how we do it and even possibly joining us.

I was interested in what Linda over at You've got your Hands Full had to say about online personalities versus 'real' ones.

Mine are the same, I hope. I guess I’m pretty similar whether you meet me while away from a computer or to be found as I am now, tapping away here.

But being online does give me the chance to properly think out the points I’m raising and amend anything I think it’s wise not to say. I’m a very honest person both online and in real life..

...And sometimes being honest isn’t that great as the truth can be hurtful.

Online, I get the chance to rephrase comments so I’m still honest but can cushion what I’m saying with constructive feedback.

So that's my approach to blogging and my online personality. What's yours?

Encouraging women into franchising by smashing myths around it

TODAY I went to an Encouraging Women Into Franchising meeting - or EWIFas its known. The EWIF mission statement is to inspire, educate, encourage and support women looking to become franchisees. The trouble is the women EWIF are trying to reach might not know they are interested in becoming a franchisee.  As a EWIF supporter I feel I have a role to educate women and suggest to them that franchising could be a possibility for them.

As franchisor of Musical Minis, I realise that the majority of my franchisees didn't set about looking for a franchise to buy into. Most of my franchisees initially have no idea as to what franchising is, whilst those that do think franchising is a full time job with a company such as MacDonald's that requires franchisees to pay a great deal for the business, work long hours and have targets to reach. Our current Musical Minis franchisees haven't attended Franchise Exhibitions or bought Franchise magazines but they do buy parenting magazines, join Facebook and blog.

Separation - not easy whatever your age

YESTERDAY, Rob, Emily and I went up to visit Alex at University. Alex is my middle child; he's 19 years old and a popular, outgoing and independent boy. Alex has now been there 8 weeks and it was our first visit to him since dropping him off - he has been home twice though. The situation has been more traumatic than he envisaged largely down to separation issues, I think.

At first the whole prospect of University was exciting for him. He had interviews and subsequently offers from his chosen places. On A - Level results day he was delighted to get in to his 1st choice University. Over the next few weeks reality struck as he realised he would be leaving us, his girlfriend and his friends - even though all his friends were also going to University. As we bought more items for him to take (bedding, cooking utensils etc.) he seemed to find the thought of leaving more daunting

Having gone through the 'child going off to University' process 2 years earlier with Matthew, we did know what to expect. Separation is hard but we realise you have to go through it and allow it to happen as its all part of growing up. For Alex the whole process was made worse by a nasty car accident 2 weeks before he went. He was driving and I was in the car with him when we were involved in a multiple car accident - it wasn't his fault and we ended up sandwiched in between 2 cars. The accident made us both feel very vulnerable especially as the people in front and behind of us went off in an ambulance.

An unusual case? How my daughter's eye problems baffled a consultant and left me feeling guilty

EMILY, my youngest, is now 16 and was picked up as having poor eye sight at her 3 year check with the Health Visitor just after her 3rd birthday. We have no history of eye problems in the family so had no reason to suspect any problems, especially as she could recognise letters etc.

After a number of visits to top London consultants she was diagnosed as being extremely long sighted. Thankfully, the electroretinography, ERG, test showed she didn't have retina damage - apparently retina damage could have been a reason why she was so long sighted. A positive thing about Emily having to have the ERG was that I was asked to help write a booklet by Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, where Emily had the test, to explain the procedure to other children.

We felt guilty as parents that we hadn’t spotted her problems and for 3 years she struggled seeing. Until recently Emily's sight was fine with her glasses, although of course she has always had regular checks and prescription changes. Whilst she was at nursery and in infant school Emily had to wear eye patches. Emily has had years of wearing thick lenses but two years ago she had glasses made for her – based on her design and colour with thin lenses. Emily sees the glasses as part of her and as she constantly wears them we felt the cost was justified. Luckily, she does have a very positive self esteem.