If she'd wanted to dress as something that involved a papier-mâché creation, I'd have made it. Or if she'd wanted an elaborate costume covered in hand-sewn sequins, I'd have made that too (well...). But as it was, when I asked Elsie which book character she'd like to dress up as for the Book Week Parade … Continue reading Worried about book week costumes? Meh.
Help wanted
You know those 'sleep schools' where you take your baby and go and stay for a bit and they fix everything? Anyone know if they have 'fussy clothing schools'? Where you take your five-year-old and stay for a bit and they fix everything? If they don't, would someone please start one and and call me … Continue reading Help wanted
Sleep? Overrated.
Some mornings I squint at the clock radio on the other side of the bed, trying to tell whether the first digit in the little mass of blurry green lights is a 5, 6 or 8, wishing it was none of those, but knowing it has to be one of them. I'd like it to … Continue reading Sleep? Overrated.
Watching our flower girl bloom
There’s plenty written about raising confident kids. And it’s no surprise. Our attitude towards life, our happiness and our wellbeing are dependent on our confidence and self-esteem. So helping our children to develop confidence is one of the biggest responsibilities we have as a parent. On the weekend Elsie was a flower girl in our … Continue reading Watching our flower girl bloom
School holiday highs and lows
Now I get it when parents say how excited they are about school holidays arriving and then how excited they are about school going back. This two-week break since Easter has been the first of the school holidays that we’ve had (since Elsie only started school this year). And I loved the first week. It flew … Continue reading School holiday highs and lows
Is my toddler lonely if she has an imaginary friend?
Sometimes your child says or does something really good (like winning an award at school for always using her manners) and you can’t help but credit your parenting. Like when the Goal Attack tries not to smile as she jogs back to her position after shooting a goal. But for every action there is an … Continue reading Is my toddler lonely if she has an imaginary friend?
When your 2yo can think on the spot better than you
Maeve has given herself permission to have one dummy in her mouth and one in her hand during the day. ‘We’re playing babies,’ she tells me when I remind her that dummies are (strictly) for bed. She quickly crawls across the lounge room floor towards Elsie and says, ‘Wah, wah.’ ‘You’re a big girl, Maeve,’ … Continue reading When your 2yo can think on the spot better than you
This is going to be good
I keep seeing drawings and crafty creations around the house that suddenly seem like they were done by a little kid. And stepping off the bus this afternoon will be a big kid. Will she be the same? Will she still love to make fun from nothing and curl up on my knee when she’s … Continue reading This is going to be good
Who needs a treadmill?
When Elsie was 18 months old, we took her back to Townsville. Part of it was having the holiday we never had when she joined us 16 weeks early on the first day of our trip, and part of it was walking The Strand in a whole different state of mind. She walked along The … Continue reading Who needs a treadmill?
Writing by Larissa Patton 