What is it about being a stay at home mum or parent that gets to people?
Since I chose to quit my job to be home full time I am constantly questioned about when I intend to return to work and the inevitable “what do you do all day?”.
In this post I discuss why stay at home parents, and mothers in particular are undervalued this way and why we do not owe people an explanation.
New Year, Same you: Resolutions, diet Culture and never being enough
New year. A time where we are bombarded by advertising for new holidays and gym memberships.
The articles pushing new fad diets, self improvement and the focus on the new year and a new you.
The pressure to make resolutions and to declare to all what pursuit you will make to be better, look better and do better.
In this post I discuss the damage of diet culture and the constant strive to change. And how its only now, at 40, that I feel able to say “I am enough as I am”.
Becoming a ‘school mum’
So I’m now a ‘school mum’. How did I get here so fast?
Having avoided all the cliques at the playgroups here I am now with the actual real pressure to mingle and speak to parents in the wild.
In this post I talk about the awkwardness at the school gates, my ongoing imposter syndrome and my impressions of the other parents.
Ticking ‘Ms’: The right feminist thing to do?
If the patriarchy had its way we would go from a Miss, the age old indicator of youth and virility to a Mrs; one possessed in marriage.
And if you don’t marry? Do you stay with a child title forever?
In this day and age is it time to say goodbye to Mrs and is embracing the Ms at 18 the right and feminist thing to do?
When will I become a real grown up?
I am going to be 40 in a few months and I’m just wondering, when will I become a real life grown up?
I’m getting older for sure but is it just me that feels like I’m still not quite like all the others and am yet to reach womanhood?
In this post I talk about feeling like an imposter adult, what it means to be a woman and how society has created an idealised version of womanhood which is not realistic.
Making Mummy Mates
Parenthood is this weird club where one is required to seek out and befriend others who are also by default of having pushed a human out, part of the club.
Despite being seemingly extrovert and outgoing I am actually quite socially awkward and the idea of having to make chit chat with another random human fills me with absolute dread.
In this post I talk about the awkwardness of making mummy friends when you first become a parent and the horror that is baby group small talk!
Parenthood and Friendships: what happens to your mates when you have kids?
When you become a parent it has an impact on your friendships. Some friends are supportive and others struggle to integrate your changing needs and lifestyle into their world. In this post I discuss parenthood and friendship, the gains and the losses and how to try to be both a good friend on both sides.
Everyone is an amazing parent when they don’t have kids
I was the best parent before I had kids. I had such high expectations and unrealistic views about the reality of parenting. I passed judgements on others and thought I knew it all. Once you have children of your own you soon realise the harsh reality of life with littles.
In this post I discuss the fantasy vs the reality of parenting, the views of the ‘experts’ without kids and how I was a much better parent in my head before actually becoming one.
Motherhood: The descent into not giving a damn
Since having kids have you noticed the slow descent into not giving a damn? Greasy hair? No bra? Looking like something the cats dragged in? Yup, that’s me!
Easy ways you can reduce waste and single use plastics
With so many alternatives on the market and more awareness of the impact of single use plastics on our planet, we are all trying to find ways we can incorporate more eco friendly practices into our homes. But it doesn’t have to mean major lifestyle changes.
In this post I outline some swaps you can make in your life from the very easy through to the more committed, to significantly reduce single use plastics in your home.