Word of Mouth

Sixteen years ago, there were no Facebook groups or Fertility Clinics offering information sessions, so word of mouth was all that was available for prospective same sex parents. We became ‘those friends’ who had been through the process, and so would often be contacted by ‘friends of friends’ to field questions about all issues related … Continue reading Word of Mouth

Why Single Motherhood Wasn’t For Me

I met Lisa when I was three months pregnant with Master C. He was to be my final child: the one I intended on raising completely on my own. Years of co-parenting my older three kids had worn me down emotionally, and I was determined not to have to share this little one with anyone. … Continue reading Why Single Motherhood Wasn’t For Me

One Hit Wonder

There are those who go about life with care and caution: considering all the options, weighing up the pros and cons, and making careful, rational decisions. So organised, considered and correct. Like the main character, Macon, from Anne Tyler’s An Accidental Tourist, these folk plan out every inch of their existence, and usually even possess … Continue reading One Hit Wonder

The Other Type of ‘Coming Out’

I don’t remember a great deal about the birth of each of my children. It seems a common phenomenon that most of the pain and trauma of the child-birthing experience tends to fade from memory very quickly after meeting the new arrival. One shot of Cupid’s arrow and we succumb to the love bubble that is … Continue reading The Other Type of ‘Coming Out’

Off Duty

The Emergency Department is never a fun place to spend time. Let alone when it is the night before your proposed honeymoon and your 17 month old is literally heaving and retching all over you as you attempt to give her details to the Triage Nurse. As I stood there unable to move, and feeling … Continue reading Off Duty

Down time

This is going to sound terribly strange. I have a week’s holiday soon – my honeymoon actually – CHILDFREE – and I’m petrified. It’s been so very long since I have had time without the kids, that I have no clue how I’m going to go with so much…FREE TIME. Lis and I have had … Continue reading Down time

Sharp Reality

Students had a needle at school recently. What a production! I know they are young, I know it’s scary and I know there is the element of mass hysteria to consider. But seriously? It is a tiny little jab. A minute piercing of the outer layers of skin. So much drama. Not just from the … Continue reading Sharp Reality

Antenatal Classes

The reason I initially started writing about my sister and her wife going to antenatal classes is completely different to the story I ended up writing. That quite often happens with my blog. This time I think it was actually on purpose. Sometimes I feel like the stories I write about are too ‘heavy’. I … Continue reading Antenatal Classes

Toilet Humour

Never did I ever imagine walking into my bathroom after being hollered at, to find a four year old standing bent over with a dirty, soiled bottom and his whole 'nether region' facing up in the air unashamedly towards me. Never did I ever imagine having conversations about making sure the skin underneath the tip of the … Continue reading Toilet Humour

The Ties that Bind

Being a parent changes your perspective in ways you can’t even imagine. It’s funny how we can be so blasé about issues until they enter our direct sphere of influence. A class discussion arose recently during a History lesson with my Year 7 students. We were studying a unit on Ancient China – and as … Continue reading The Ties that Bind