Because raising toddlers is an anti-social business

I found this McSweeney article by Eric Hague, ‘Our Daughter Isn’t a Selfish Brat; Your Son Just Hasn’t Read Atlas Shrugged’ via Jill Filipovic and it made me laugh so. As someone who is now raising their second human toddler let me put it right out there that ‘sharing’ does not come naturally to human [...]

Read Full Post »

Crunchy feminist

I know among some areas of feminism there is a suspicion about crunchy mothers, and I see where that comes from, but blogs like Jessica Montalino’s are proof that crunchy mothers are also very often feminist mothers. Fabulously feminist, in fact. Jessica, who has an adorable baby son (actually the entire family is cute as [...]

Read Full Post »

From one heterosexual de-facto to another

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, your stance against same-sex marriage is absurd. Like me, you are in a long-term heterosexual de-facto relationship. So, like me, you know firsthand the discrimination a relationship like ours can face without the legitimising stamp of marriage – after all, you were asked during this election campaign whether your partner, Tim [...]

Read Full Post »

The relationship between chaos and art

Thanks to preschoolers who don’t remember to secure the lids on their craft containers, goddamn craft meets Cormac levels of chaos. When I came upon this I momentarily found it quite beautiful.. and bonus points for involving the cat. Also, you should have seen the mess that went on to be created by Cormac while [...]

Read Full Post »

Unbelievable, I can bake

This bread recipe is the business. And in recommending this recipe let me tell you that not only am I a lazy baker but that I am one entirely lacking in confidence. So, you know, an amazing recipe.

Read Full Post »

Nothing to spare

On work days there is not a minute to spare in the morning for me. A million tasks need to be performed in the space of three hours. My partner needs to work a lot of extra hours at the moment. He leaves the house not long after the kids have woken (and sometimes goes [...]

Read Full Post »

Guest post: Happy conversation yesterday morning

Some of you may remember Kris from when she wrote an adorable blog called Garden varieties about life in Tasmania as an academic with her partner and two daughters (a 5 year old critical thinker and a kick-arse 3.5 year old, who claims she is 8 and should now be allowed to drink beer). When [...]

Read Full Post »

I wonder how many mothers are inviting Jacinta Tynan over for coffee these days?

There is an argument to be made that we give too much voice to the complaints of motherhood, and that by doing so we inadvertently contribute to the general devaluing of mothering. That by only talking about the tedium and drudgery we substantiate the myth that child-rearing is a brainless occupation. But this article, Is [...]

Read Full Post »

Australia, you’re starting to alarm me

Not so long ago when Tony Abbott took leadership of the Coalition I recall having a conversation with the kids’ swimming teacher, who is a mad right-winger but quite nice, they sometimes are, where she was saying to me “Hah! The Labor Party is in trouble now!” To which I gleefully replied “Hah! You think? [...]

Read Full Post »

Fashion faux pas

Image credit: QUEM I don’t know what to make of all this, but apparently the fashion world has little to offer us in the way of sensible opinions about women. I know, I’m as surprised as you are. Thanks must be extended to clothing designer Alannah Hill, and supermodel Gisele Bundchen for taking the time [...]

Read Full Post »