Probably worse than running out of milk when you live on a farm is running out of the chemicals your brain produces to cope with stress. Worse than depleted water tanks is depleted resilience. Last month I had what they would have once called 'a nervous breakdown’. In an era unwilling to openly discuss mental … Continue reading One in 4 people will experience a mental health condition this year – I was that one. And this is what it was like.
Harvest is finished at last
Imagine there’s a cupcake shop on the corner of your street and they’re calling for cupcakes. If you bake cupcakes all year, you can bring them in at the end of the year for the shop to sell. As many as you like. You’ll get paid for what you bring in. You make some decisions about … Continue reading Harvest is finished at last
Is anyone else a really slow learner?
I have a moral obligation to report in on how I went with the big announcement I made last year. To the world. On the web. For all to see. 'I’m going to write a book,' I said. By November, the pressure was on. The year was almost over and my book wasn’t finished. In … Continue reading Is anyone else a really slow learner?
Celebrate and commemorate babies born too soon, too small, too sick…
Today is World Prematurity Day. Here's a little movie I put together two years ago starring our daughter, Elsie, from 634g born at 24-weeks gestation to a wonderful 7yo (in 2014). Today I think about all of the babies born too soon around the world and especially about the amazing medical teams that do all … Continue reading Celebrate and commemorate babies born too soon, too small, too sick…
No wonder leaving things to the last minute is so popular
At uni, we used to stay up all night to study before an exam. My friends and I lived in a farmhouse and if we were 'pulling an all-nighter', we’d make each other instant coffees until we were buzzing and delirious. One night, we got in a car and drove to another farmhouse, turning off … Continue reading No wonder leaving things to the last minute is so popular
Bad mums have a night off to watch Bad Moms
We’ve had a lot of rain in a short amount of time - around three inches in the last week. That’s about 75mm for those of you who went metric 40-odd years ago. So our Facebook feeds started with photos of kids splashing in muddy puddles but have now become filled with warnings of severe … Continue reading Bad mums have a night off to watch Bad Moms
And that’s a wrap. Thanks Daisy.
Today I’m googling ‘how to talk to kids about the death of a pet’. I have til school finishes today to prepare. With a bit of luck, my tears may have slowed down enough that I can actually speak. Get the words out. Tell them that Daisy died today. I wrote recently about losing our … Continue reading And that’s a wrap. Thanks Daisy.
A leopard has spots on the outside
‘Of course!’ I said, ‘I can make that cake.’ We’d googled animal-themed birthday cakes. We’d used almost our entire monthly data allowance looking at animal cakes on Pinterest. Elsie chose one that had a bit of brown icing and a tiger figurine stuck on it. You beauty, I thought. But then. Just one more inch … Continue reading A leopard has spots on the outside
Count your blessings
They say nothing teaches us more about life than death. It’s a paradox, isn’t it? Death reminds us of what’s important and beautiful in life. Lately, we’ve been slapped with a reminder to count our blessings. Sit down and count. There are many. Whatever you were whingeing about earlier doesn’t seem like such a big … Continue reading Count your blessings
Writing by Larissa Patton 