One of the biggest joys in my life right now is a Facebook group called BRILLIANT + AMAZING + WRITERS + MOTHERS. It is what it says on the tin. We’re all people juggling motherhood with writing, and being brilliant and amazing while we do it. Today I wanted to introduce you to one of […]
My kids are enchanted by the music collected and performed by Elizabeth Mitchell, and so am I. Well, the music I make for Smithsonian Folkways is children’s music. I don’t feel the need to call it âfamily music,â as many people do these days. I’m really proud to make music for children; I always start […]
We’re still swimming in sexism Here’s a quick exercise for you: grab a pen and paper, or open a document on a device. Briefly note down the ten or so kids’ television shows that you see or hear most of when you are around kids. You could include kids’ movies as well if you like. What shows […]
One of my very favourite churches is Ponsonby Baptist in Auckland, where there is always much food for the mind and soul. The Sunday before last, I was lucky enough to visit once again, and several parts of the service were so profound and helpful that I wanted to share them with you too. The church […]
This is something of an experimental post, so please be kind in your comments! I’d love your help to hone it. I’ve been working on it for months, so it’s time to let it out into the world and get your help. Thanks! Sexism in kids’ TV and movies I’m thoroughly, wretchedly ambivalent about children’s television and […]
The teachers choosing the song list for my primary schools in the 1980s were clearly a bunch of ex-hippies. We had psychadelia, folk songs and lots of Beatles, and certainly nothing written for children (unless the thoroughly depressing Puff the Magic Dragon counts?) And lots of protest songs. A friend and I (we grew up in […]
Rest like an All Black: take a sabbatical Richie McCaw, the All Black captain some call the best rugby player ever, has a plan for winning the next World Cup. It has included a long holiday from rugby. What a wise and counter-cultural choice. In a society that is not only getting busier, but feeling prouder of […]
We may not have a TV, but DVD box sets and the internet are an enormous part of my life in the resting-or-breastfeeding days of late pregnancy and the ‘fourth trimester‘. I know I’m not alone in finding it suddenly much easier to watch than read during those hours on the sofa. It’s hard to […]
This series is inspired by Candlestick Press‘ Ten Poems about Mothers, which contains the Fleur Adock poem (the first post is here). I’d love to hear your recommendations for poems to include in the series. Just leave a comment below. I’ve read and performed a fair amount of poetry in my life, through Speech and Drama lessons, […]
In my favourite English bookshop, Mr Bâs Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath, I always seem to come out with cards as well as books. Itâs the only place thatâs true, and itâs because they carry a wonderful series of poetry masquerading as greeting cards. Candlestick Press produces themed collections of poems. Among the âcardsâ […]