I never understood my sister… or girls in general. It seemed as long as something was pink, they liked it. Growing up, my toys were trains and tanks, aircraft and spaceships. Action man, Batman, Spiderman, guns and skateboards and remote control cars. My sister however had dolls, a dolls house, and yet more dolls. She […]

Peter and his sister Laura walk to school one sunny Monday morning. As usual, she has her smartphone in her hands and is texting her friends, probably telling them that she’s walking to school and will see them in class shortly. Peter couldn’t understand why she sent so many pointless texts. It’s almost as if […]

That was only three days into the two-week filming schedule. Day one was normal… ish. Super Nanny simply observed Mum and I throughout the day, and at the end of the day, she proposed what changes needed to be made. On day two I was informed that I’d be petticoated, both day and night. I […]

Although working on a market stall each and every Saturday was a bit of a chore, the extra money made it all worth it. Some of my school friends thought I was a ‘dag’ for having a job, but they were also envious that I had more spending money than they had. They teased me […]

I thought about the question for a moment before replying. “I really don’t know.” I said. My brother looked me up and down and smiled. “Because it’s fun.” he told me as he jumped off the dresser and twirled around in his pink satin pyjamas, grinning from ear to ear. “Boy’s clothes are just so…” […]

Lawrence has recently been taken out of foster care due to him turning 16 years of age, and has been residing in a residential housing scheme for the last five months. It’s a kind of ‘halfway house’ which helps youngsters make the transition between foster care and living by their own means. The halfway house […]

My brothers and I were all concerned about our mother. A few years ago she was a normal happy mother, full of the joys of spring, so to speak. But after the doctors told her that she could no longer have children, meaning she wouldn’t have the daughter she’d always longed for, she fell into […]

Once everything had been packed away, mum stuffed all the empty packaging in to a bag and took it downstairs. I sat silently on my mattress and stared blankly around my room. It looked more or less the same as it did before we went into town; white wallpaper with narrow green stripes, hardwood furniture, […]

The evening sun streamed through my curtains. I rolled onto my side and closed my eyes. I imagined that come tomorrow, all would be back to normal. Mum had had her daughter for a day and that was enough… I’d be a boy again! Then I considered the contents of my drawers and wardrobe. If […]

Once again, I donned Mum’s massive apron before helping her make dinner. I scrubbed the potatoes and carrots before peeling them, ready for mum to chop them. I washed the cabbage leaves and rinsed the leeks. I almost tripped over the apron a couple of times as I fetched whatever pots, pans, and utensils mum […]