Ah, Christmas. That wonderful time of year when families come together and all is joyful….until the inevitable foot-in-mouth situation.
I love that there are now children around again at Christmas. But three years ago I was teetering on the edge of post-partum depression, fueled by an epic family disagreement (one day to be the subject of a post). And in those first newborn weeks I made the stupid decision to get professional photographs taken of the newborns. Continue reading
Ah, the diaper bag. A new mum’s new best friend. An essential piece of equipment, true, but here’s a secret….there is no need to go out and buy a ‘diaper bag’.
What makes a diaper bag a ‘diaper bag’? Is it the teddy bear design? The hundreds of pockets? The ubiquitous included changing mat?
No, it’s simply a bag that you are using to carry baby stuff in. In fact, the only essentials are enough storage, easy clean, looks good and ideally allows you to be hands free. Here’s why…
Blame it on society, guilt or some weird conspiracy to keep women in their place (!)….but there’s no denying that there is a pervasive concept that motherhood is somehow all-fulfilling for women, and that a ‘good mom’ is one who sacrifices herself, her time, her health, her being for her kids.
(Ever hear that about fatherhood? But I digress.)
But, and I cannot stress this too strongly, that is a myth. Continue reading
Over the past year I shifted my post-pregnancy weight. Quite dramatically apparently – everyone comments on it.
And these does two things. Continue reading
Sometimes, this will pop up in your newsfeed on Facebook. Sometimes it’ll be a message from a friend telling you how over-the-moon they are. ‘Oh, I just can’t imagine (or remember) my life without children.’
Are you kidding me???
As the shops get crowded and we begin stressing about whether we have enough food in for Christmas dinner, it’s reassuring to look at our toddlers and think that, to them, this is all extra.
A toddler doesn’t mind if the cranberry sauce has gone missing or you forgot to flambé the Christmas pudding.
Back in the day (was it really only 15 years ago?) a phone was just that, a phone. A device for talking to other people.
Over the past few days I have been in awe of the sheer amount of things I can do on my smartphone. For one thing, I’m writing this post on it. I can check email, go to the supermarket, pay my bills, keep an eye on the baby monitor and yes, even put in an order for coffee. Continue reading
I recently wrote an Alternative Guide to Preparing for Motherhood. But perhaps that was a misnomer, because unless you are a parent, you’re unlikely to ‘get’ that post.
When your kids seem to be having meltdowns over every tiny little thing (My biscuit broke in half! That lady in the lift looked at me! There’s an extra 2mm of water in my cup!), there are few things more annoying than a parent-to-be who smugly tells you how they are so ready for the changes parenthood will bring, how unbelievably useful the antenatal classes they’ve attended have been, how they are already living a babycentric life.
Parenting guides (not that I read many before I gave birth) will talk about bonding, how to change a diaper, breastfeeding, and even getting your love life back on track. However, they probably won’t mention the following things that you need to do before becoming a mother:
1. Practice feeling like a failure. At some point, you are going to feel like you’re failing as a mum. Chances are, you’re probably not, but it’ll feel like it. Do you know what first made me feel like a failure? Listening to my (then) pediatrician. We are no longer on speaking terms. Continue reading
I like to think I have a strong marriage. I love my husband.
But if he falls asleep at random times during the day – in the car while I’m driving, while he’s supposed to be playing with the kids – one more time I may have to punch something.
afterninemonths 