Monthly Archives: Jul 2017

Day #186 The Gruffalo

If you ever find yourself in the deep, dark wood and a mouse offers to play poker with you, I highly recommend that you politely say no and get the hell out of there. The mouse will take you for all you’ve got. The mouse knows where it’s at. When it comes to poker, knowing…

Day #182 The irrational joys of parenthood

It pretty well remarked upon in parenting circles that there’s something magical about that new baby smell (when it’s not emanating from the nappy area). There is even a growing body of scientific literature about how this may, in fact, work together with the hormonal changes a new mother’s brain undergoes to help strengthen the…

Day #181 Independence is a war you fight every day

I was back at work today after a tumultuous week full of hospitals and doctors’ visits and drugs for the whole family. It was a pretty ordinary day, but a few colleagues did stop to wish me a happy Fourth of July, or a happy Independence Day. The office canteen served up American style pancakes…

Day #179 Toddler parenting summed up in thirty seconds

Hawkeye and I took advantage of a sunny morning to have brunch outside in a nearby popular restaurant. I order food and a cappuccino. The waiter brings coloured pencils and paper with the outline of two trolls on it together with my drink and the sugar bowl. I immediately pick up the sugar bowl to…

Day #178 Of jigsaws, books, and vegemite (an ode to Mem Fox)

The code word of the weekend is minimum effort. Whatever it takes to get through Saturday and Sunday with a rambunctious, rocket-powered toddler and two wrung-out, sick parents. Whether it’s ice cream for breakfast or dinner in front of the TV, if a token effort to dissuade the wee beastie isn’t working, I am taking…