To My Children: It’s Not You, It’s Me

To My Children: It’s Not You, It’s Me

When you were babies and I went back to work and a PhD, it was all about you. I worried that you may be somehow compromised by having a mother who left you on some days of the week to pursue a career. This was 

A Love Letter To the Working Mum On the Bus

A Love Letter To the Working Mum On the Bus

It was 5pm on a busy Monday evening and I heard children. They sounded a lot like mine. You were waiting in line for my bus, with two toddlers and two strollers. You got on the bus and stood the entire way home because there 

Date, Oat and Seed Bliss Balls recipe

Date, Oat and Seed Bliss Balls recipe

My daughter started school this year and so began the routine of scratching my head for a “morning tea” snack every day. If I ever had grandiose ideas about packing lovingly hand-baked goods accompanied with sweet hand-written notes every day in her school bag, they were 

How My Children Keep Me Sane

How My Children Keep Me Sane

I used to say, whenever someone expressed admiration for my ability to function coherently at work despite being a mum to small children, that coming to work kept me sane. And this was, and still is, certainly true. Work means order, quiet, predictability, intellectual stimulation, 

I’m Not The Mother In Those “Letters” Any More; or, The One Thing I Want Mothers To Stop Saying

I’m Not The Mother In Those “Letters” Any More; or, The One Thing I Want Mothers To Stop Saying

About a year or so ago I wrote a little post on working and stay-at-home mothers. I had few followers on my blog at the time; blogging was something I did for “fun” and to practise my writing skills. I sat down one evening to 

One Day At A Time; or I Don’t Know How I Did It

One Day At A Time; or I Don’t Know How I Did It

I hate to jinx it, but very recently my children have become easier, for want of a better word. They are five and two now, and are the best of friends. They play adorable games together which allows me to have cups of tea in 

Why I’m Grateful For Crises

Why I’m Grateful For Crises

Two days ago, during a meeting, I got the dreaded phone call from kindergarten. “She’s had an anaphylactic reaction”, they said. “The ambulance is on its way. How soon can you get here?” It turns out they meant an allergic reaction, thankfully, but still that 

Dear Working Father: Here’s How You Can “Pay” Your Stay-At-Home Wife

Dear Working Father: Here’s How You Can “Pay” Your Stay-At-Home Wife

This is Part I of my thoughts to that lovely post by a father who calculated what his stay-at-home wife and mother to his toddler would cost him if he had to pay for all the services she provides. But really it’s an open letter to 

To My Children: Thank You For My “Career Disruption”

To My Children: Thank You For My “Career Disruption”

It’s official. I’ve had 2.61 years of career disruption due to kids. I have all the dates; I even have a signed letter from my supervisor to confirm my years of maternity leave and part-time candidature. I need this for my fellowship application, because my “research 

The Day I Ordered A Fairy Door

The Day I Ordered A Fairy Door

When my daughter turned four, I asked for birthday gift ideas. One was for a fairy door. A miniature door attached to the wall, where imaginary fairies emerge from. Given she is a huge fan of fairies in general, I went with this idea. Instead