The day my daughter was born was the day I began a journey I never imagined would be mine. Letâs rewind a bit. When Matt and I had been married for three years, we felt âas ready as weâd ever beâ to have a child. We were excited and naĂŻve and ready to face this […]
Bill English announced in yesterday’s Budget that ‘work readiness’ obligations would increase for parents who receive welfare benefits and have young children. Currently, most parents are obliged to actively seek 15 hours of paid work – and accept any ‘suitable’ job – when their youngest child turns five years old (despite the legal age of […]
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 […]
If I’m brilliant and amazing, my Mum has a lot to do with it. Here are six ways she has been a brilliant and amazing mother to me and my sisters, things I want to do for my kids, too. 1. My Mum is brilliant and amazing. She stayed at home with us for years. Every day that […]
We’re in a tricky patch, just now, at our house. The kind most parents of little kids will recognise: this is a solidarity post with all of y’all. Our three-year-old delight, SBJ, is in the middle of a pretty intense, fragile time of life, and he’s (therefore) not the only one. For the first time, I feel like […]
They do NOT contain breastmilk. I’m a fan of science, as you know, so I’ve been reluctant to write about lactation cookies, even though it’s a cool topic. The problem is that there is a very strange lack of scientific research on many aspects of breastfeeding. We’re left to self-evaluate traditional knowledge which could either be […]
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 […]
A warm welcome to this yearâs Advent in Art series, where we join thousands of others in contemplating artistic works while we wait, wait, wait for Christmas. For an introduction to this series, and He Qi, the artist featured in 2014, please see the first post, on the Annunciation. Week 4:Â The Magi Everyone is focused […]
A warm welcome to this yearâs Advent in Art series, where we join thousands of others in contemplating artistic works while we wait, wait, wait for Christmas. For an introduction to this series, and He Qi, the artist featured in 2014, please see the first post, on the Annunciation. Week 3: Nativity Jesus is born […]