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
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
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
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. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYs0_XWtutY&w=560&h=315] This monster,… 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
What it Means to be Mummy
The first word I hear most days is “Mum”, followed by a tender “I love you” or “good morning” or “Do people eat breakfast in Heaven and who lays the eggs for their breakfast because everyone knows there are no chickens in Heaven?” Before my eyes are even open, before my brain has fully adjusted… Read More
The Tween Parent’s Tug-o-War
Miss M is officially a tween. At eleven, she is beginning to show little hints of the woman she will one day be. Time has chiseled away at her face and is, startlingly quickly, revealing beautiful, angular cheekbones where chubby cheeks once were. Without me realising, she has grown in stature and is nearly as… Read More
Mornings With Kids Are No Fairy Tale.
This morning, I woke up half an hour early, organised breakfasts, made school lunches and folded laundry. Feeling unusually ahead of my game and positive about the day ahead, I went to wake the kids. Mary Poppins-like, I woke the kids with smiles and kisses (everything short of scampering animated squirrels, I kid you not)…. Read More
The Last Snowman {Book Review}
BUY THIS BOOK. Really. I mean it.
The Masturbation Conversation
Masturbation. This word strikes fear in the heart of most parents. It’s the kryptonite of the parenting fraternity. When most parents look at their children, the last thing they want to think about is that they – gulp – masturbate. Because there seem to be such taboos connected with this topic, many parents are unaware… Read More