I started Inside Martyn’s Thoughts in 2010 as a place to organise the thoughts constantly floating around my head. Parenting changed that direction quickly.
In September 2014, I relaunched the blog after becoming a stay‑at‑home dad to my two boys. My hope was simply to document our journey. What I didn’t expect was for it to grow.
Over time, Inside Martyn’s Thoughts became a space to share the highs and lows of family life from a single stay‑at‑home dad’s perspective. I wanted to show that education doesn’t have to be 9–5, Monday to Friday, in a mainstream school. Along the way, the blog expanded into lifestyle and parenting posts, recipes, and home‑education tips and guides, and to share my Disability and Church journey.
In 2017, my single‑parent chapter shifted when my online friendship with fellow blogger Hannah (Cupcake Mumma) became a relationship. She moved from Cornwall to Kent in 2018, and our family of three became a family of six.
My stepchildren, Midge and Arty, grew to be just as much my children as the boys ever were.
Since then, we’ve navigated blended‑family life with all its ups and downs, but we keep going.
Although our circumstances have changed over the years, my love of writing hasn’t. My journey from general and faith‑based posts into parenting, home education, and lifestyle has now merged into one thing: a lifestyle blog shaped by whatever is inside my thoughts.
As teenagers, I respect their personal space, and any post that I do share is with their permission. While the last few years have meant I've posted significantly less, 2026 has renewed my writing. I will continue to share my life, and, of course, my thoughts.
As the kids have entered their teenage years, life has shifted again. Disability, family dynamics, and the blogging world have all evolved. I still write about the children, but far less than I used to. As teenagers, they deserve their own space, and anything I share is with their permission.
As the kids have entered their teenage years, life has shifted again. Disability, family dynamics, and the blogging world have all evolved. I still write about the children, but far less than I used to. As teenagers, they deserve their own space, and anything I share is with their permission.
Who are we?
I’m 43 and live in Kent. I share equal responsibilities and access with my two boys, William and James, and I’m also Dad/Maddy (Martyn‑Daddy) to Midge and Arty, Hannah’s children. We’re a beautifully blended family, rooted in love, chaos, and a lot of laughter. Hannah and I married in 2024, turning our long‑distance, blogger‑to‑blogger friendship into a very real, very everyday life together from 2017 onwards.
I originally trained as a primary school teacher and spent around ten years in different roles before stepping into home education with my own children. Now, I write when I can, draw animals, and teach children and adults to play piano and guitar. Alongside that, I’m constantly studying Theology, Ministry, and Mission, and I’ve recently completed my graduate‑level qualifications. I’m also in the ordination process, pursuing my calling and vocation as a priest.
Faith and theology shape a huge part of my life, but I’m not the kind of Christian who pushes beliefs onto people. Theology has given me a language to share faith honestly, openly, and authentically—to show a side of Christianity that is not often seen. If you’re curious, questioning, or even a bit sceptical, you’re still very welcome here.
I do all of this while living with a form of Muscular Dystrophy and managing ongoing mental-health challenges. I'm currently pursuing a rediagnosis of Autism, as it seems to fit my experiences and life far more accurately. Disability and neurodivergence shapes how I parent, write, pray, and show up in the world.
I’m extremely geeky and unapologetic about it. I love TV shows, comics, and books; I’m a big movie and Marvel fan; I have a soft spot for all things He‑Man, having many collectables; Love reading theology books; I enjoy drawing and colouring; and I’m often found disappearing down many, many Google or YouTube rabbit holes.
Hannah is a massive Friends and Care Bear fan and collector; she enjoys arts and crafts; letter writing across the world; stationary; being a part of Rebel Club; reading all genres; and everything about gardening and protecting the environment.
The kids
Midge, 18
The eldest of the four. An amazing artist who throws herself into anything creative. She has a huge heart, works hard, is learning to drive, looking for work, and is absolutely a “Maddy’s girl”—which I love. She loves Lana Del Rey, Vinyls, creating nail art, Marvel, Criminal Minds, and an interest in Fashion and Beauty.
William, 17
My original “Little Chef,” known for his cooking and baking when he was younger. He loves frogs, Nicolas Cage, and anything wonderfully random. His music taste is eclectic, he’s into films and directors, and he’s now at college after leaving home ed and attending a specialist autistic school. He’s learning bass guitar and hopes to pursue music and youth work. He's very political, attending Youth Council, Protests, and participating in public forums.
Arty, 15
A Sunday‑league footballer who also loves playing online with friends on the Playstation. He used to be brilliant at art but lost confidence in it. School isn’t his favourite place, and he hopes to move into college, complete the essentials, and then go into construction. He loves everything Anime from books, art work, and figures. He is a keen at keeping fit and going to the gym.
James, 15
The cheeky one. He enjoys mischief, debates, and has a mouth and attitude to match—he spent his childhood preparing for teenage life and is living it fully. Beneath that, he’s soft‑hearted and sensitive. A brilliant writer, particularly poetry, who struggles in the education system, he’s torn between construction like Arty or childcare because he loves working with younger kids. He enjoys gaming on his PlayStation, and loves comics, both book and movie form, but prefers D.C over Marvel. He is a teenage punk, loves patches and pins for his denim jacket, Hello Kitty items and clothing, and collecting and wearing Fugglers.
The Cats
Mavis 3
Mavis is a Maine Coon Ragdoll mix. She loves to play, enjoys her toys, and hunting. She loves treats more than her main food, or as she says her "snacky snack," particularly chicken. Mavis is a daddy's girl, and loves sleeping by my feet. She also loves boxes.
Tilda 18 months
Tilda is a bengal tabby mix. She's a mummy's girl, always cuddling and making biscuits. Tilda loves bags, being pampered and brushed. She prefers toys that she can chase and attack.
As a family, including the cats, we are massive foodies. Please contact if you want us to review food related items.
Together, we make our beautifully blended family.
Speak to you all soon and thank you for visiting my Blog.
Martyn
