It is 27 years since my mom Joan died. Keeping her spirit alive, telling stories about her to my daughter, also named Joan, is important for all of us

My daughter, a solo child, has been finding it difficult, in recent weeks, without her pals. I had to stop and really pay attention to what she needed

Homeschooling is different this time, says Alison Curtis: We have a better idea of what we're doing and there's an end in sight

"...I put it out on my own social media channels asking if parents would aim to keep their children home until Covid numbers come under more control and the response was huge...."

"As the year closes many of us are probably looking back and trying to take some positives from the past twelve months"

My husband and I are looking after the meal for the first time — I am not sure how we got so far in life without cooking a turkey

"...she just got up, walked off the stage, and wandered over to me deciding it wasn’t for her."

Joan instantly loved the journal, and the fact that it was hers to write in and read as she wants.

Hopefully most of us have developed ways in which to cope and adapt. But we must remember children don't have those skills yet. 

A few days ago my daughter and I had an absolute meltdown, both of us, over piano practice. It was a battle of wills and really rather unpleasant.