Why donāt children get to vote? As far as I can see, theyāre as capable of understanding whatās important about the world as many adults and they have a higher stake in the future of our society and world. As I wrote in this manifesto for The Spinoff: AĀ classic Big Piece of Cheese episode ofĀ The […]
No one is too young to makeĀ the world a better place! Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel Peace Prize when she was only seventeen. She began her public life as an activist for girlsā education in PakistanĀ when she was justĀ eleven years old,Ā blogging aboutĀ life under the Taliban. Sheās proof that ordinary young people can have genuine influence […]
Due to recent events with Metiria Turei, we have been hearing about the struggles that single parents experienced in the 1980s and 1990s. Those of us who lived those times as children are now adults; a lot of us will now be raising families of our own. I am the child of a solo mother, […]
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 āfamily music,ā as many people do these days. I’m really proud to make music for children; I always start […]
An earlier version of this article appeared in my column at Kiwi Families. What are mealtimes like at your place? Do you have family ways of serving, eating or talking together? Would you like some fresh ideas to make the most of the gift of family meals? Here are some ideas for giving thanks at […]
I keep reading this baseless crap about how boys won’t read stories about girls, so we should just stop writing and publishing them. It’s nonsense. Worse, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, because how will boys read about girls if everyone’s been warned not to offerĀ them those books? I recentlyĀ wrote a round-up of 12 notable New […]
Every so often I pretend I’m a food blogger, because I’ve done some rare magic in the kitchen. I’ll be super honest, since we’re friends: I blog about baking about as often as I bake. I’m no kind of expert, but I’m a brave experimenter when it comes to adapting recipes to fill the niches […]
There is a special kind of heartbreak a parent feels when the meal theyĀ have cooked is described as ‘yucky,’ or refused altogether. If you are struggling with the stress, sadness and discouragement of battling with picky eaters (of whatever age!), this post is here to reassure you and help you and your family relax and […]
Recently I’ve been lucky enough to start writing for The Spinoff Parents, a thoughtful, inclusive, non-click-baity conversation chaired by the marvellous Emily Writes. A few months ago I wrote these two pieces: Think Big for Kids: 5 ideas to protect kids and support families Thereās a God in our Christmas: One mother on the role […]