At some point between Maeve’s age and mine it becomes socially unacceptable to hug your classmates in the pool and blow kisses to the swimming teacher when she says goodbye (perhaps it’s at the same point that big round bellies and well-covered thighs stop being cute in the pool?). The strange part is, while our … Continue reading Unlearning ’embarrassment’
A new form of ‘mango cheek syndrome’
I've always remembered the term 'mango cheek syndrome' after reading about it once; how putting your kids first means you end up gnawing the stringy pip of a mango while your two children get a beautiful fat, fleshy cheek each. (How cool to be able to google mango cheek syndrome and straight away find the online … Continue reading A new form of ‘mango cheek syndrome’
Take that, little sister
I got Maeve out of the bath first. She was so exhausted and ready for bed. I jiggled and shooshed and cooed while I put each of her pyjama layers on, then popped her down on the floor. She took off quickly down the passage and then I could hear giggling and Elsie's seal noises … Continue reading Take that, little sister
Mother’s guilt
I'm not the first mother to blog about mother's guilt. Its in blogs from other crafty work-at-home-mums (or WAHMs as they're called in endless websites, support groups and forums), books about parenting, and conversations amongst girlfriends. Germaine Greer said that women are capable of feeling guilty no matter what. If we're juggling work, home and family, we're guilty. … Continue reading Mother’s guilt
Blue dresses and blue food colouring
It brought it all back - what it feels like to blow the white and yolk out of an egg, to blow into a hole slightly larger than a pin hole and expect the contents to come flooding out a hole the same size on the other end of the egg. It feels like blowing … Continue reading Blue dresses and blue food colouring
How’s the background noise in your house?
If I was ever talking to someone on the phone and could hear their kids in the background, I used to think, 'We're on the phone here. Can't you tell them we're on the phone. Have you even heard anything I've said?' Now we have our own children and nearly all of our friends and … Continue reading How’s the background noise in your house?
Tough day at the office
Elsie is holding her belly and laughing—a big belly laugh—at an episode of Shaun the Sheep that she has seen many times before. And seeing that, all is forgiven. We are home from our trip to the health centre, where I took her for her three-and-a-half-year-assessment. She starts three-year-old kinder at Easter and needs to … Continue reading Tough day at the office
Writing by Larissa Patton 