I came to pick you up from school today and found you huddled in a corner, red-eyed, with a ragged tissue between your little fingers. My joy at seeing you after a day apart evaporated into concern and empathy at your obvious plight. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind at what might have happened to make you like this.…See More

I came to pick you up from school today and found you huddled in a corner, red-eyed, with a ragged tissue between your little fingers. My joy at seeing you after a day apart evaporated into concern and empathy at your obvious plight. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind at what might have happened to make you like this.…See More

Today is sports day at my son's Primary School. His very first athletics carnival. Hmmm, mixed feelings about it. How's it going to go?The air has been abuzz with excitement since he came home from school yesterday, telling us that he had to have an enormous breakfast before his race, because he'd need the energy for his run. When questioned about his feelings on winning races, he casually said, "Oh, it's okay- there's no way I can win because I'm not the fastest kid in my class," working his…See More

Today is sports day at my son's Primary School. His very first athletics carnival. Hmmm, mixed feelings about it. How's it going to go?The air has been abuzz with excitement since he came home from school yesterday, telling us that he had to have an enormous breakfast before his race, because he'd need the energy for his run. When questioned about his feelings on winning races, he casually said, "Oh, it's okay- there's no way I can win because I'm not the fastest kid in my class," working his…See More

My little boy was a very well-spoken toddler, and I really enjoyed listening to his observations of the world from his small and very young perspective. That feeling of pride and joy fell down a very deep hole one day, however, when he said very loudly, "Look at that fat lady!" right next to the person in question. If the ground could have swallowed us both up, I'd have happily disappeared forever. But the ground remained solid as I braced myself, hunkered down and explained that we don't call…See More

My little boy was a very well-spoken toddler, and I really enjoyed listening to his observations of the world from his small and very young perspective. That feeling of pride and joy fell down a very deep hole one day, however, when he said very loudly, "Look at that fat lady!" right next to the person in question. If the ground could have swallowed us both up, I'd have happily disappeared forever. But the ground remained solid as I braced myself, hunkered down and explained that we don't call…See More

"The time has come," the Walrus said, "to speak of many things."Lewis Carroll, December 1871 When people ask us why we are extending our house, we usually say, "For more room, of course!", indicating the two terrors chasing one another through the lounge room. Children require lots of space, don't they? Actually, I really wanted more rooms to clean, because I haven't got enough to do... In truth, we haven't extended the house for our children. Nor have we done it for ourselves, directly. We…See More

"The time has come," the Walrus said, "to speak of many things."Lewis Carroll, December 1871 When people ask us why we are extending our house, we usually say, "For more room, of course!", indicating the two terrors chasing one another through the lounge room. Children require lots of space, don't they? Actually, I really wanted more rooms to clean, because I haven't got enough to do... In truth, we haven't extended the house for our children. Nor have we done it for ourselves, directly. We…See More

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend an evening with a childhood hero or heroine? To listen with rapt wonder as they told stories of their life, played montages of moments that reflected their career and shared pictures of their loved ones? To be invited into a small part of their private world? As a pre-teen child, I  had several heroes and heroines. I loved the comedy of Jerry Lewis, and watched every film he ever made before I was 13 years old. The music of John Denver…See More

Michelle Obama recently made an interesting faux pas. She mistakenly referred to herself as a 'busy, single mother' and for that, a volcano of social disdain erupted, showering scorn and derision all over her. I say 'interesting' because there are, of course, several sides to any story, and she deserves to have her Freudian slips understood, just as much as anyone.Many people…See More

Michelle Obama recently made an interesting faux pas. She mistakenly referred to herself as a 'busy, single mother' and for that, a volcano of social disdain erupted, showering scorn and derision all over her. I say 'interesting' because there are, of course, several sides to any story, and she deserves to have her Freudian slips understood, just as much as anyone.Many people…See More

A few weeks ago, I was complaining to a mother at school drop-off about a deadline I had that day but with one child at home, it was going to be tough to meet it. Just a general whinge, no hidden agenda. Do you know what she did? She asked my daughter if she would like to come to her house for the day and literally kidnapped her. While I stood there gaping, she lifted up my child, plonked her into the stroller next to her own child and walked off, saying, “see you at 3pm pickup”. I should have…See More

A few weeks ago, I was complaining to a mother at school drop-off about a deadline I had that day but with one child at home, it was going to be tough to meet it. Just a general whinge, no hidden agenda. Do you know what she did? She asked my daughter if she would like to come to her house for the day and literally kidnapped her. While I stood there gaping, she lifted up my child, plonked her into the stroller next to her own child and walked off, saying, “see you at 3pm pickup”. I should have…See More