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megdunley.bsky.social
#LorenaOtes #SoloMumByChoice #CreativeMomentum #MemoirWriting #DebutAuthor #WritingPodcast #AustralianAuthors #IVF #SoloMum #DanceAndWriting #AuthorInterview #CreativeProcess #HawkeyePublishing #MegDunley #WritingLife
July 8, 2026 at 5:38 AM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
January sketchbook: St Barnabas Jericho, highlights of the Ashmolean Museum, the fish shop, marble run!

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of St Barnabas church tower, rooftops and wintery tree and sky Sketch of toddler's Ashmolean highlights: security robe, radiator, status base, automatic doors, lights on floor, lockers, bridges, stairs Sketches of fish from our local fish shop/aquarium - various weird and wonderful fish and a terrapin, sketched while toddler was busy fetching imaginary disco lights for the fish Sketch of our excellent marble run, which I was playing with while toddler was asleep
March 29, 2025 at 9:50 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
February sketchbook: theatre trip, a typical day of examining pipework, baby terrapins, chaos child

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketches of our second theatre trip - a big success (Hey Little Bird at the Pegasus theatre) - toddler pays attention and there are hats and disco lights, an owl, balloons and a carnival! Sketches of a day with a toddler: he actually borrows books in the library but only because he's intrigued by the machine, he plays a lot of "posting screw through hole in a cupboard", we look at the boiler, we examine my neighbour's CD player, we do a disco in the dark, I find him in the cot with his pyjamas wrapped round he so both he sleeces are on one arm (then he does a massive poo) Sketches of baby terrapins Sketches of "chaos child" - toddler exploring my room - taking things off my shelves, climbing things, rolling around with bubble wrap
April 5, 2025 at 8:55 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Sketchbook diaries from May - Botanical Gardens, garden centre, sleepy toddler

#kidlit #kidlitArt #babyDiaries #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc #soloParent #soloParentByChoice
Sketches of toddler enjoying fountain at Botanical gardens, making himself useful doing the hoovering, playing with lego like a child, and eating a giant "brookie" brownie Sketches of an exhausting bank holiday Monday - trip to garden centre including hash browns, peacocks, hosepipe; very brief nap in car; playing in garden with tap and unexpectedly disturbed ants' nest (!); toddler passes out; trip to the playground; washing up Sketch of adorably asleep toddler in his cot, with mobile above him
December 3, 2024 at 9:34 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Diaries from May: sleepy toddler, Sutton Hoo viewing tower, journey home from Suffolk, playing in the park

#kidlit #kidlitArt #babyDiaries #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc #soloParent #suttonHoo
Sketch of toddler with tousled hair asleep on a big bed Black and white sketch of Sutton Hoo viewing tower (minimalist style, made of wood and concrete), two pine trees, toddler and my dad Sketch of journey home from Suffolk - we survive thanks to pastries, yellow submarine, playground stop, exciting aeroplane, and repeatedly recounting the plot of Hey Duggee - the juice badge 5 sketches of toddler playing in the park with a mud kitchen - wearing blue trousers, yellow T shirt, blue spotty sunhat
December 1, 2024 at 10:00 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Sketchbook diaries from April: apple tree in bloom, boats on the river - then I got Covid - and the toddler found some pinecones

#kidlit #kidlitArt #babyDiaries #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc #soloParent
Sketch of young apple tree in bloom plus a butterfly and a bee Sketch of several boats on the river - rowers going at it hard - and a duck Sketch of things in the kitchen (a plant, open tins of tomato, and cup of tea and half eaten digestive) - caption "Covid" Sketch of eleven pine cones, in black and white
November 17, 2024 at 9:44 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
More sketchbook diaries from Christmas: tree, sneaky trip to the theatre (minus toddler), playing in fountains at King's cross, and self portrait

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of a Christmas tree Sketch of the London eye against a pink sky and some buses near Waterloo Bridge - caption "sneaky trip to the theatre!" Sketch of the toddler dragging me through a network of little fountains at King's Cross Sketch of me sitting on the bed sketching in a purple sweater with excitingly messy hair. Caption: 12 years daily sketching (except 28th November 2019)
March 22, 2025 at 8:38 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Toddler diaries from last Christmas: boxing day walk, freshly baked bagels, self portrait, and cousin times

#kidlit #kidlitArt #babyDiaries #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc #soloParent #soloParentByChoice
Sketch of toddler and his grandfather, feeding coots and pigeons under a yellow willow tree Sketch of trays of freshly baked bagels on a kitchen table Sketch of me in the mirror and toddler asleep on the bed (caption: 11 years of daily sketching - S. is feeling better but apparently hates the travel cot) Sketches of two toddler cousins - ignoring each other, co-existing, competing over a toy train, and collaborating to turn on the dishwasher
October 17, 2024 at 9:33 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Baby diaries from Spring 2023 - busy busy busy (and some peacocks)
#kidlit #kidlitart #babydiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookdiaries #parentingcomics #parenting #dailysketchbook #solomum #solomumbychoice #smbc #soloparent #soloparentbychoice
Sketches of busy day with the baby - most notably my terrible failure at mothering - accidentally making butternut squash pasta REALLY spicy - take it away from the baby and give him a banana instead Sketches of another busy day with the baby: visit two potential childminders, babies in hats, 2 hour nap, peas in béchamal sauce (redeeming myself after yesterday's culinary disaster) Sketches of baby busy playing (the scientist at work) Sketches of peacocks at Harcourt Arboretum
July 26, 2024 at 9:09 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Sketchbook diaries from December: a play, a sick toddler, a sick me, and my baby nephew

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of the toddler's first play - the Elves and the Shoemaker. Toddler liked the lighting rig and the bit where they blew bubbles - I liked the bit where the dog made a spreadsheet Sketch of sick toddler cuddled up on the sofa in a big red blanket watching telly Sketches of travelling for Christmas while sick - I was feverish all night (chattering with cold and then burning up); I cuddle sick boy; mum takes toddler out while I do hurried packing (I'm crawling towards my suitcase saying GNNN); we just about survive bus, train, tube, bus and I collapse on my parents' sofa Sketches of my baby nephew - most of them looking nothing like him!
March 14, 2025 at 10:11 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
November sketchbook: lots of cooking, no nap day, bad mood, genius plan

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of all the meals I cooked one lunchtime (in pots and neatly packed up in freezer boxes): leek and potato soup, tomato sauce, cheesy pasta sauce Sketches of toddler peacefully playing and watching tv (with caption: this boy hasn't napped today!) Sketches of toddler in a bad mood: crying because my bicycle light isn't flashing; all he wants to do is lie on the floor and rewire duplo house with a bungee cord; eats a reluctant potato waffle in from of Duggee on TV and leaves masticated fishfingers all over the floor; refuses a bath; demands medicine and then he's fine Sketch of my genius plan - teach the toddler to wash up - what could go wrong? Sketch of toddler and me at the sink - he's saying "more soap on it", I'm saying "very good - try not to break that one"
March 3, 2025 at 10:46 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Baby diaries from March 2023: personalized yoga routine, independent play, farm, and rejected travel cot

#kidlit #kidlitart #babydiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookdiaries #parentingcomics #parenting #dailysketchbook #smbc #soloparentbychoice #solomumbychoice
Sketches of my personalized yoga routine with the baby, including tickles, tambourines, and terrifying eagle impression Sketches of baby playing with new house shaped posting toy (new toys = independent play) Sketches of pig and goats at Freightliners City Farm Sketch of baby asleep in my bed, having rejected the travel cot
July 13, 2024 at 9:39 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Winter sketchbook: a mummy and granny day, things that are used as wires, tools, a tree full of parakeets!

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketches of a freezing cold day with toddler and my mum - visit the market, watch people make flatbread in café, bake (toddler only interested in chocolate drops), find missing toys and bits of old dust, cuddle up and watch Duggee, fill freezer with soup and curry Sketches of things that are used as (pretend) wires in this house: keys, string, bungee cord, tape measure, sewing thread, duplo chargin cable Sketch of a selection of toy tools Sketch of me walking along Iffley Road in the dark (half moon), when I look up startled at a tree full of squawking green parakeets!
April 1, 2025 at 8:05 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Baby diaries from May 2023: innovative breastfeeding positions, lots of time outside, and the washing up fairy!
#kidlit #kidlitart #babydiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookdiaries #parentingcomics #parenting #dailysketchbook #solomum #solomumbychoice #smbc #soloparent #soloparentbychoice #breastfeeding
Sketches of evolving breastfeeding positions - sitting in my lap, standing up, lying in the grass Sketches of baby and me spending lots of time outside - dogspotting in the park, Botanical Gardens, garden, playground Sketch of the baby hanging out in a friend's allotment with a bit rhubarb bush Sketch of my favourite person the washing up fairy* who comes in the evening and cleans the kitchen for me (*it's just me from the previous night)
July 31, 2024 at 8:33 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
End of summer sketchbook: Gloucester Green market, apples and blackberries, Cowley Road carnival, pipes

#kidlit #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of yellow- and green-roofed market stalls, a woman in a yellow summer dress wandering past holding a drink Sketch of blackberry and apple crumble being prepared - apples in bowl and stewing, crumble topping in another bowl, blackberries in a tub Sketch of Cowley Road carnival fairground - children on bouncy castle, spinning swing tower, terrifying spinny thing... Sketches of toddler's ongoing fascination with pipes: connecting the hoover, staring at the U bend, pumping up the bike tire (which then goes flat on the way to nursery pick up and I only just get there in time)
January 28, 2025 at 9:49 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
November sketchbook: tree, freezer, bouncy castle, snow!!

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of a beech tree with a few remaining autumn leaves Sketch of me manically hacking ice from the freezer with a fish slice while I'm supposed to be working Sketch of toddler's first time at a traditional birthday party - he learns to navigate the bouncy castle, and has his first experiences of party rings and putting hula hoops on his fingers Sketch of SNOW! Toddler is very excited about snow outside the window ("it 'nowing it 'nowing) but very upset about going outside in it. I then cycle to work, admiring pretty Oxford but getting my socks soaked, because I wore unsuitable boots. Luckily I did have the wisdom to bring spare dry socks to the office.
February 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Baby diaries from April 2023: a trip to Wales with the family: part 2
#bannaubrycheiniog #breconbeacons
#kidlit #kidlitart #babydiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookdiaries #parentingcomics #parenting #dailysketchbook #solomum #solomumbychoice #smbc #soloparent #soloparentbychoice
A quick black and white sketch of a wall, some trees, and some mountains in the background (drawn while the baby was playing) A sketch of 3 adults reading on cosy sofas/chairs (the babies are asleep... for now...) Sketch of 2 babies, both wearing hats Sketch of baby's holiday highlights (peas, window seat, big floors, water play, naps) and mine (lambs, pick n mix, Welsh signage, fancy meal, break from washing up, naps)
July 24, 2024 at 9:06 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Baby diaries from April 2023: a trip to Wales with the family: part 1

#bannaubrycheiniog #breconbeacons #aberhonddu #brecon #hayOnWye #brynichAqueduct
#kidlit #kidlitart #babydiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookdiaries #parentingcomics #parenting #dailysketchbook #solomum #solomumbychoice #smbc
A sketched map of the family converging on Brecon in Wales from Oxford, London, and Manchester A sketch of mostly-food related activitiy in Brecon/Aberhonddu, including pick n' mix, coffee and chocolate shops, peas, and ice cream A sketch of Hay on Wye castle - some wall and an archway, with various pigeons and crows pecking around A sketch of the family (5 adults, 2 babies) walking across Brynich aqueduct - a canal that crosses another canal on a bridge!
July 22, 2024 at 9:30 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Sketchbook diaries from May - the sea the sea/to the lighthouse (holiday in Aldeburgh, Suffolk)

#kidlit #kidlitArt #babyDiaries #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc #aldeburgh #suffolk #seaside #lighthouse
Sketches of my mum holding the toddler on a pebbly beach with fishing boats and lots of seagulls Sketches of journey to Suffolk - nearly don't go because my dad's driving license has run out, toddler initially excited to be in the car, but this doesn't last long - I sing many songs about pile drivers and he is sick - but at least we get to the sea the sea Sketches of a trip to Southwold - we get lost, cross the river Blyth on a rowing boar ferry, toddler very excited about toy windmills and real lighthouse but then cries all the way home Sketch of a white lighthouse against a blue sky
November 26, 2024 at 10:11 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
February sketchbook: narrowboat, mirror trap, handgel incident, playground with friends

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of a red and green narrowboat with a perkily angled chimney on the canal under yellow willow branches Sketch of toddler re-enacting a scene from Janet and Allan Ahlberg's "Worm book" where a worm is lured into a trap by a mirror. The toddler recreates this by climbing up a chair on to his bedside table, fiddling with the mirror and jumping into a "hole" on his bed Sketch of the handgel incident - toddler likes to play with an (unused) urine sample bottle at bedtime - we can't find it, so I hurriedly offer him a nearly-empty handgel bottle. But then he pours it near his eye and a bit in his mouth. I wash out his eye and give him water and milk and worry all night - but he is totally fine! Sketch of my toddler and friends' kids hanging out in a playground
April 8, 2025 at 8:47 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Sketchbook diaries from June: to the mountains! (family holiday to Windermere)

#kidlit #kidlitArt #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc #soloParent #soloParentByChoice #lakeDistrict #windermere
Sketches of journey from Oxford to Lake Windermere - after various disasters (soap in eye, missing bus...) we eat hula hoops on the train; we find my parents and amazingly S. sleeps in car and wakes up to play with stones at a garden centre; things then get very screamy (despite repeated applications of Yellow Submarine); we make an emergency supermarket stop (S. is hyper and removes all jam from the shelf), then eventually reach the lake and the house which is entirely composed on stairs! Black and white sketch of holiday house - two long farmhouses whacked together, ivy growing round door, garden chairs and pram (with sleeping kid) outside Black and white sketch from Brockhole garden - mountains, lakes in background; in foreground flowers and feet of sleeping child Sketches of small children playing under trees in gardens of Wray Castle
December 13, 2024 at 10:44 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
September sketchbook: a stupid evening, toddler with hosepipe, my friend's cat, still life with apples

#kidlit #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketches of a silly night - I have a cold, the washing machine is full of poo, I'm meant to be packing, toddler won't go to sleep (wants to find buttons on duvet, discuss ferry boat, goes to sleep, wakes up again and needs feeding to sleep) Sketch of delighted toddler in waterproof suit wielding a hosepipe 10 sketches of my friend's cat, Majel, in increasingly improbable poses Sketch of kitchen scales, bowl of apples, and many things that need washing up
January 30, 2025 at 9:43 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Toddler diaries: lots of washing up, playing with cash register, old enough for tantrums?

#kidlit #kidlitArt #babyDiaries #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc #soloParent #soloParentByChoice
A sketch of a massive pile of washing up in and around the sink, in blue Sketch of the "washing up fairy caught in the act" (my mum at the sink) Sketches of the toddler playing with toys, including toy cash register (ding!) Sketch where I say to a friend "S. is not yet at tantrum stage, which is nice" - immediately followed by S. screaming about how he wants pizza box/knife, he wants bubbles (but only if he can hold the wand), he wants yoghurt but also not yoghurt, he wants to play with Henry the Hoover.
October 28, 2024 at 10:15 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Toddler diaries: highlights from museum of natural history, river sketching on day off (!), the boiler incident, and toddler playing

#kidlit #kidlitArt #babyDiaries #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketches of highlights from museum of natural history (from a toddler point of view): the floor, the stairs, the fire extinguishers, the safety cones, the card rack in the gift shop Peaceful sketch of narrowboat on the river, a bridge and some ducks Sketches of the Boiler incident - boiler broke and I try to fill bath from kettle - S. is fascinated (partly because it's a little like the plot of The Tiger who came to Tea) but won't get in it Sketches of toddler playing, including "reading" a book by saying "guwa gunwa gunwa"
November 9, 2024 at 10:21 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Autumn sketchbooks - drainpipe day, today's games, much domesticity, and a trip to the park

#kidlit #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
A sketch of me wheeling happy toddler in pram during a massive rainstorm, while drainpipes pour water into the gutter - all coloured in with blue watercolour paint (partly applied by the toddler) Sketches of games with toddler: drumming on bedknob, throwing stones in fountain, kicking cafe window, painting (but only orange), little home in playground including imaginary toilet, hoovering with a chair Sketches of domesticity and its results: cooking sweet potato curry and chips - all refused (he was sad because he really wanted the "odange chips" but then didn't like them); vast amounts of laundry and then we hide under my duvet cover and pretend it's a tent at Reading festival Sketch of an autumn trip to Cutteslowe park, including playground, walking on railway lines, eating fishfingers, finding conkers, feeding swans
February 7, 2025 at 9:18 PM