Category: Home
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The Question That Divides A Nation of Parents Of Teenagers
A lot has changed over the past thirty years in terms of what teenagers can and cannot do. happy young couple in bed at morning But nothing sets the cat quite as freely among the pigeons as the question of where parents stand on sleeping arrangements and privileges in the homestead, once teenagers enter into…
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Dressing The Christmas Tree, With A Little Help From Captain Morgan
After twenty-one years of being forced to compromise my artistry and stem my superior creativity when I am forced to dress the Christmas tree with the kids, I’ve finally found the solution of how not to give a shit. Decorating A Christmas Tree With Tinsel, Balls And A Ribbon Drink copious amounts of Captain Morgan…
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Those Trivial Things That Your Partner Does That IrritateThe F..k Out Of You In Your Relationship
I haven’t mentioned the ‘big freeze’ that the old man and I survived last weekend. I’m contracted not to mention anything too personal about the status of our relationship, but suffice it to say that after an exchange of seriously cruel words – where I might have criticised how he cleans the bath and he…
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When Hormones Get In The Way Of Your Work/Life, Family Balance
Ever feel like God was having some kind of sick joke when he coordinated the onset of menopause with the metamorphosis of happy children into entitled, grunting teenagers? We all strive for the perfect work/life, family balance but it’s not easy to get that balance right when there are effectively four adults living in one…
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Family Life Is Not All Cookies And Cream, Sometimes It Is Salad Cream
Heinz_Salad_Cream_285_gram by suetheslowknitta at http://www.flickr.com Out of all the schmaltz, sad stories, perfect gifts and cheesy quotes to fill my FB homepage on Mothers Day, this article by Rosie Waterland stood out for me. Thirty Seconds It’s not pretty because it’s about real family life. Because Mothers Day isn’t a cookies and cream day for…
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The 8 Best Mother’s Day Gifts
As the excitement builds up in the commercial world for Mother’s Day, the suspense of how well my progeny will repay me for another year of self-sacrifice and doormat behaviour is almost killing me. Actually…not so much. Because the thing about Mother’s Day, if you have normal kids, is there’s only the tiniest glimmer of…
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Family Dysfunctionality London-Style
It’s difficult to know where to begin on the subject of the dysfunctional extravaganza that was my father’s 70th birthday. http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/143071198 Do I start with my brother’s baby, who chose that particular moment to begin his long and arduous entrance into the world? Or the grumpy hernia that threatened to erupt and thwart the enjoyment…
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Happiness, Self-Care And Grabbing Life By The Balls Again
I’ve been mentally packing my suitcase for a few weeks now; worrying how I’m ever going to fit all the pairs of shoes I might need over two weeks into my 30kgs of luggage. I’m going back to the homeland this week, all on my lonesome, for a well-needed holiday to catch up with family…
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Empty Nesting: Do You Give Them A Push Or Wait Until They Fly?
I touched on the delicate subject of when it’s socially acceptable to kick your kids out of home in a recent ranty post, (here) when I was describing the carnage caused by my kids out and about on the town a couple of weekends ago. Barn Swallow Chicks In Their Nest by Alan Vernon at…
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Proud To Call Australia Home
In the build up to Australia Day, I’ve read many articles in the press that question what the real Australia is like now, and what it means to be an Australian. This year marks our tenth anniversary in Australia, and being Poms, (although not sent here as punishment, but out of choice), we…
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Teenage Truanting – 10 Ways You Could Deal With It
Sebastion by▲SBJØRN found on http://www.flickr.com I’ve sensed a collective sigh of relief on the Internet over the last few days as we parents approach the end of the fucking long school holidays. Which are, frankly, four weeks too long. Even Kurt appears eager to get back to school. Now. Today. Or at least until term begins.…
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Bad Parent Tip Number 1: Stop Helicoptering Your Children and Empower Them
Did I mention that the old man and I have been going to Bad Parents Group recently, or as we like to call it, ‘support for really shit parents’? Padlock by Rudolf Vlček found on http://www.flickr.com The sessions have been an eye-opener. It turns out that kids don’t just need love after all, and you…
LOUISA SIMMONDS 