A (VERY) HONEST TAKE ON
LIVING, WORKING AND PARENTING IN DUBAI
FREE – downloadable family wall planner for 2021

FREE – downloadable family wall planner for 2021

FREE downloadable family wall planner for 2020

FREE downloadable family wall planner for 2020

Your guide to getting a Will

Your guide to getting a Will

Why we need to get real about parenthood

Why we need to get real about parenthood

How should we parent in the digital age?

How should we parent in the digital age?

Nanny or nursery? Finding childcare in Dubai

Nanny or nursery? Finding childcare in Dubai

#InIt… For my family

#InIt… For my family

My little black book: 2018 edition

My little black book: 2018 edition

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A dad’s view: what happened to adult conversation?

    A funny thing happened to the Family Farmer a couple of weeks ago. We caught up for dinner with some friends who also have children. We had some initial “how are you’s?” and then it changed. Our successes or failures, accomplishments and challenges as individuals immediately faded into insignificance. All of the conversation […]


5 must-haves for holidays with children

  The holidays are booked, the excitement is increasing, but have you packed everything you need for the flight and beyond? I haven’t. In total honest, my anxiety levels are going through the roof at the thought of… Flying alone with a toddler who wants to walk all the time/make friends/not watch television/really can’t be depended […]


A random act of kindness – the free Ramadan fridges

    A brilliant initiative has been set up across Dubai to ensure the city’s labourers have access to food to break their fast this Ramadan. It started with one fridge stocked with water and snacks for Iftar, and has quickly grown to a facebook group with more than 8,000 members and around 40 fridges […]


Tried and tested: Privilee beach club membership

UK-based readers, you might want to look away, as this is the very definition of a first world/Dubai problem being solved, thanks to new membership card Privilee. Please suspend your disbelief and pity, but we don’t have a pool at home. I know. Hearts bleeding everywhere. But it is a bit of a pain, especially […]


6 adorable Ramadan outfits for little girls

At this time of year there’s always a special occasion to enjoy,  from celebrating Ramadan with family to birthday parties and weddings, and F&F’s Ramadan collection for children has some lovely outfits (and seriously cute shoes!) to make sure your little girl is the best dressed at every event. It’s in store now, and here are a few of […]


  • Family Photography Dubai

A thank you letter to my husband, for solo parenting this weekend

  Hi husband,   I was nervous to ask you to be in charge for 48 hours. Not because you’re incapable of looking after our daughter (far from it, when I had a tear-soaked four days away for my grandma’s funeral you smashed it), but because I felt like I was taking liberties. The mum […]


  • Family Photography Dubai
  • husband and daughter

A photoshoot with a real difference

About a month ago Jen from Pynkbyrd got in touch with me, asking if she could ‘tell the story’ of my family in ‘everyday moments’. No lighting, no styling, no posing – just honest imagery. A photoshoot with a photojournalist. After looking at her portfolio I leapt at the chance. Jen’s photos are heartbreakingly real, capturing […]


  • F&F fashion

10 of the best summer essentials

  Whether you’re staying in the UAE or travelling further afield, the summer is a great excuse to go shopping and liven up your wardrobe with some new trends – hello cropped tops (not one for me, sadly) – or add some modern classics.   I’ve had a sneak peek at UK brand F&F‘s new […]


  • baby brain

The unexpected benefit of baby brain

  Before I got pregnant I’d heard the term ‘baby brain’ and thought, “Nah, not for me thanks. I very much have my mind shiz together, and no tiny human is going to change that”. I didn’t even really think it was… real. It sounds cute though, doesn’t it? As though suddenly a mummy’s head […]


  • schools in dubai

Saving for education in Dubai – how to get ahead of the game

  Frankly, when I look at school fees in Dubai my heart sinks, and I romanticise the little village school I attended. For free. The cost of education here can be a real tipping point for many families, and a reason they head ‘home’ earlier than they’d like – especially once those high school expenses […]

ABOUT ME

 

I’m Helen Farmer, an editor and journalist, mum to 4-year-old Phoebe and 2-year-old Tabitha, wife to Nick and a mummy blogger in Dubai (even though I don’t really identify as one, but I blog, and I’m a mum, so there you go). I’ve been living in the Middle East for the last 10 years, working in books, magazines and broadcasting, shedding some light on the good and bad of life, work and motherhood in the UAE.

ABOUT THE BLOG

The Mothership is for you if you’re a busy, active mum who can’t stand small talk, bad info and twee blogs that make out that mothering is all unicorns and rose petals, instead of admitting that you can love your child so much it terrifies you – while still wanting a night in alone watching The Great British Bake Off with a double G&T or a night out pretending you don’t have children.

 

Time Out Dubai Kids Awards 2016 - Winner - Parent Blog of 2016

 

TOP POSTS

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FREE – downloadable family wall planner for 2021

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2020 WALLPLANNER MOTHERSHIP

FREE downloadable family wall planner for 2020

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Your guide to getting a Will

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  A survey by Norton has revealed that children in the UAE are among the youngest in the world to receive
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