In the past month, both my husband and I turned forty. This milestone triggered a lot of navel-gazing on my part as I’ve tried to figure out what forty years on this planet means to me. Forty isn’t shiny and pretty. It’s not naive and perfectly laid out. It’s the beginning of wrinkles, the slowing… Read More
This is what depression looks like.
You may be wondering where I’ve been since my last post. The honest answer is that I have spent the best part of the year wondering the same thing. I was lost. Every time I sat down to write, I simply froze. I had nothing. I felt nothing. It scared me. I’m writing today because… Read More
Dr Drew Agrees, Fifty Shades Of Grey is Abuse
What's your opinion?
Last week, I posted a Letter to My Children About Fifty Shades of Grey. Within hours it went viral – I’m talking millions of views and comments and shares – and BOY did people have strong views. Yesterday, I was contacted by a CNN Headline News producer and asked to appear, via Skype call, on… Read More
A Letter to my Children About Fifty Shades of Grey
My precious children, Tonight, I succumbed to peer pressure (exactly what I caution you NEVER to do) and went with a bunch of girlfriends to see Fifty Shades of Grey. I ignored the little voice in my head that implored me to just say “no!” because, after all, it’s just a silly movie, right? Well,… Read More
The Little Swimmer Who Could
A story about a little hero
This year, Miss M left her small community-based Primary School and began her High School career at a school four times the size. As she disappeared into an intimidating sea of girls on the first day, I marvelled at how very small she still is and how confidently she joined the student body. Today, just… Read More
Defective Dance Mom Syndrome
(It's real. I should know.)
An Open Letter Dear everyone, Just for this week, if I forget your birthday/our coffee date/my under or outerwear, please know you were warned in advance that I am suffering from Defective Dance Mom Syndrome. To add insult to injury, this seasonal affliction often triggers acute Organisational Deficit Disorder which perfectly explains my current state of mental… Read More
Flop-proof Cinnamon Scrolls
(Trust me. I burn toast.)
Yesterday, after picking up the kids from school and dropping the bigger kids off at their extra-curricular activities, Baby G and I found ourselves at home with time to bake. She wanted to bake cupcakes “all by myself” so I decided to try a grown-up recipe all by myself, too. In case you need the… Read More
Raising a Mighty Girl
My little girl wrote a story that blew me away.
A few weeks ago, Baby G came to me with a proud grin on her face and presented me with a piece of paper. She informed me that she was writing a chapter book and that this was her first chapter. Relishing this stage in her life, where the joy of reading and writing is… Read More
The Most Important Lesson I’ve Taught My Kids
Believe in Magic.
I am an unashamedly passionate fan of the Tooth Fairy, the Dummy Fairy (or Pacifier Fairy, if you prefer) and every other fairy that needs to visit my home. By extension, this makes me someone who has no issue with copious amounts of glitter sprinkled around my house. Yes, it gets in the carpets and… Read More
Grief, a Continent Away
Without connection, what are we? This week, very suddenly, my family lost a very beloved family member. When I think about my My Auntie Viv, I remember a woman with a wicked sense of humour, hilarious conversations in Donald Duck voice and above all, a sense that I was loved in return. A continent away,… Read More
9 Things People Say to People with ADHD
It's ADHD Awareness Month - are YOU guilty of saying any of these things?
Hi there! I have neglected you! The past few weeks have been busy and overwhelming and when the overwhelm comes, I typically go hermit. I think its a fight or flight thing. It’s definitely an ADHD thing. This brain of mine, while capable of achieving incredible things, is also incapable of managing the mundane. Things… Read More
Trials and tribulations of Adult ADHD
(Or How I Am Learning to Tame Stoned Ducks)
As an adult ADHD sufferer with severe organizational and time management issues (and by severe, I mean crippling, suffocating, chaos-causing issues), I have found myself becoming increasingly overwhelmed by the volume of housework, kids’ school organizing and personal to-dos in the past few months. In true ADHD style, I find myself dealing with a zillion… Read More
10 Ways to Empower Our Kids Against Predators
The past week, for us Australians, has been traumatic. We’ve been glued to our TVs as we’ve watched the final days of the Brett Peter Cowan trial. We’ve cried for the Morcombe family as they’ve had to face the monster who murdered their young son, Daniel, in court day after day. This monster, Brett Cowan,… Read More
I don’t love all my children the same.
(I bet you don't, either)
I have a confession. When I was expecting Little Man, I suffered terrible, unspeakable guilt. You see, I knew that there was no way I could possibly love this new baby as much as I loved Miss M. Miss M was so beautiful, so clever, so funny. She was my baby girl and I… Read More