No need to take a deep breath before reading the round-up this week, my annus turned out to not be so horribilis after all. As is always the way, life takes its twists and turns, and so do your emotions. Fortunately things on the way up again. Woot!
Sorry to anyone I freaked out along the way – no cries for help here. No car crash, nothing to see, move along …
I started the week thankful for the little things, after reading a blog from a woman whose husband has died and is missing them – stuff like “The other day, I tried to find the kids’ birth certificates. Where were they? I missed being able to ask him, “What on Earth did you do with them? Where are they???”. Click here for more.
I wanted to curl up in a ball of shame and wrinkles after announcing to a bright young thing that I was off for a drink with someone I met during The Recession … Get the full, horrifying story at When I Was A Young Whippersnapper.
On Wednesday I announced I was cheating … by using my column to spruik my day job. iVillage hit 10,000 on Facebook and I wanted a little help celebrating. I sweetened the deal by including two stories I’d written for the site the previous day, a wife carrying her husband (who has no legs) in a story called “Need A Reminder of What Love Looks Like?” and “20 Things I wish I’d done to save my marriage”. Click here to read them.
And on Friday I revealed that a kid in my year 2 daughter’s class had brought in “Where did I come from?” for news. Click for the gories.
Now, over to my favourite iVillage stories. I’ll start with …
The funny stuff …
>> It’s Father’s Day today and these hilarious awkward dad photos are guaranteed to give you flashbacks to your own family album… http://bit.ly/1942vEN
>> “Someone who mans up to a baby’s level 10 backsh#t (anything that exceeds an 8 has gone above the neckline) and doesn’t pass it off to mum” … and 20 other signs you’re a good dad >>http://bit.ly/1doIsWt
>> Someone’s always watching you go to the bathroom… and other ways having a toddler is like being in prison >>http://bit.ly/1c7LEmp
>> Share this post with the long-haired man in your life. Then hand him a pair of scissors… http://bit.ly/15lhhCV
>> First steps? Pfft. Kate Hunter reckons THESE are the kid milestones that really matter… http://bit.ly/1dRwSlo
>> This was my favourite meme of the week.
>> Would you accept help from a masked stranger dressed in tights? Yes, he does exist. Instead of leaping tall buildings, he carries small prams >> http://bit.ly/12J9fH2
>> Baby meets dog; magic happens. Click here to see this adorable gallery that celebrates two years of friendship between a boy and his pet >> http://bit.ly/1dl45I8
The moving stuff
>> They met in primary school, loved each other their entire adult lives and died just 11 hours apart. If this isn’t love, we don’t know what is. Read this couple’s touching story here >>http://bit.ly/1dRZTNU
>> I thought my disability made me a failure as a mum >>http://bit.ly/18maevF
>> The wake-up call that my marriage needed. Click here to read >>http://bit.ly/1dH0LEX
>> The note that said “shame on you” to the mum of a disabled child. We say shame on THEM. Read the story here >>http://bit.ly/1863Rh4
>> At first glance they look like any other happily married couple. It takes a split second before you realise Jesse and Kelly Cottle’s unique bond – read their remarkable love story here >>http://bit.ly/19YozFd
>> A divorced dad confesses the 20 things he wish he’d done to save his marriage >> http://bit.ly/15fK0jn
>> What I did for my kids when I found out I was dying >>http://bit.ly/1dKf5N1
And for the belly …
Bored with spag bol? Here are five weeknight dinners your kids (and you!) will love >> http://bit.ly/17WBvG9
OK, that might be an overstatement. Especially if you read the pushback I got from Mamamia readers over these recipes … let me give you a sample … “Seriously, what planet are you on? My kids would not eat any of those meals!” (well, I used to wish I was from somewhere called Andromeda, I even made up a language for it, but that was a loooong time ago); “My son would not touch any of those, and what is so wrong with fish fingers.” even “Steak??? I don’t think so.”
And I’m like steak even steak doesn’t cut it? I must be delusional. The recipes were avocado sushi, steak (with salsa verde for the grown-ups), butter chicken, some low-rent pasta dish called “hamburger buddy” and salmon tacos. I know they’re a bit exotic, but do people really expect me to post a list of “buy some chicken schnitzel, heat some butter in a pan, grill until golden on both sides” recipes???? Ditto freaking fish fingers.
Fark.
That’s it from me – how was your week?
housegoeshome 
Loved the awkward dad pics the best, made my day.