>> The week started – and finished – on a literary note, as I’ve been reading my daughters Anne of Green Gables every night. And thoroughly enjoying it. Anne Shirley was my favourite literary as a kid and I’d stored all the paperbacks away for a new generation. When I read it the first time around, I was desperate to know what King Edward Island looked like in real life. Thanks to Google I now know. Click here for more.
>> I reminisced about my gorgeous Nan on Wednesday, three years after she passed away. That’s a photo of us both at similar ages. Kinda spooky, huh? Read my recollections about our idyllic school holidays together here.
>> On Thursday, I noted 10 ways Halloween is celebrated over-the-top American style. It’s so hard to pick a favourite, but I’m oddly entertained by pumpkins giving birth. See the whole gallery here.
>> I got iVillage Facebook followers in a right state about Halloween. Melissa wrote: “I’m concerned that we still encourage out children to knock on strangers doors and ask for lollies….. I don’t know about anyone else but I teach my children all year not to accept lollies (or anything for that matter) from strangers… Yet one day a year this is forgotten???? We aren’t American and I don’t know why we have to follow American traditions…” Although this did lead to quite a few people getting all historical about the origin of Halloween and how it WASN’T American ,,, Anyways, the Household had a lovely time. Click here to read what we got up to.
>> On Friday night I went to a Groovy Girls’ Night In to raise money for breast cancer research. That’s me and the lovely Mel SP above. I had so much fun I left my shoes behind … Click here to read what went down.
Now, over to iVillage:
The wacky …
>> Trust me – this the best magic trick ever. Click here to see what this magician pulls out of thin air >> http://bit.ly/1ino329
The spooky …
>> You thought a $6 witch costume from Woolies was a big investment for Halloween? Click here to check out the trouble these 56 celebs went to with their outfits (please click, you WOULD. NOT. BELIEVE how long it took me to create the gallery. It’s pervy, I promise …) >> http://bit.ly/18HFzZA
>> 14 kids who totally nailed their #Halloween costumes. What was the best costume you spotted this evening?: http://bit.ly/1apOR2L
>> A mean chick handed out “you’re too fat for candy” letters on Halloween, prompting me to write this Facebook sell: “How would you react if someone put THIS letter in your child’s Halloween loot bag? I’d be FURIOUS – Alana>>http://bit.ly/HvmALu”
I was quite startled by the reactions. Such as: “Awesome!! At least she’s honest. There are far too many overweight children. If parents think it’s fine to send their children out asking for free lollies, the people can respond how they see fit.”
Which kinda seems a bit mean to me, spare tyres not withstanding.
The WTF …
Never mind co-sleeping – would you go to bed with your baby’s placenta? >> http://bit.ly/Hi64yq
>> No-one seemed to find this story about anti-fart undies quite so entertaining as I did. What is it with people? I mean check out their ad image (above). It’s gold! >> http://bit.ly/19RQBiI
The cute …
>> Do you love a photobombing animal as much as I do? Click here for 13 awesome shots: http://bit.ly/HskYTi
>>You really need to meet Rob the Palm Squirrel. Click here for adorable details.
The tear-jerkers …
>>A boy with just weeks to live had a dying wish – to celebrate one last Christmas. So the town where he lived did something extraordinary >> http://bit.ly/1aUGt6r
>>OK, OK, I know you’re probably feeling totally Halloweened out, but this story was just too beautiful not to share – Alana:http://bit.ly/17AIWFQ
>> Would you go this far to make your child feel included? A beautiful story of a father’s love: http://bit.ly/17WQO0M
>> The reason this husband went on a diet will make your heart swell: http://bit.ly/Hba6c5
The just plain gooooood …
>>Now THIS will surprise you: the top 10 things kids say they want to do with their mums: http://bit.ly/HrhRLE
>> Are you teaching your daughter to be a mean girl? >>http://bit.ly/1g89Nhd
>> Dear ex-husband: this is what you’ve missed since you left…http://bit.ly/1aNGXLs
And the yummy …
>> Tempted to fire up the barbie this weekend? Here are 5 delicious marinades to try: http://bit.ly/191Zyo3
>> These family friendly dinners are spookily good. Get the recipes here >> http://bit.ly/1dB1rNZ #halloween
Then there’s the fraudy bit …
It got a second sell saying: “Some schools are banning THIS in the playground. Over to you – reasonable or ridiculous? >> http://bit.ly/HxBtwD”
But the thing is, I wrote my rip-out-my-heart bit a few years back … and I’ve … mellowed since then. Mellowed so much in fact that this very same week I sent the eldest to school with a small stack of birthday invitations in her backpack. I told her to be VERY DISCREET about it … but I still sent them. Which isn’t much of a ban really. Not a ban at all.
Big. Fat. Fraud.
No wonder they call me the Anti-Christ …
Although the subject did get people rather riled up. Like Jay, who said: “Aggrrhh. Seriously! Kids need to learn they don’t always get invited to everything, win at everything, get a turn at everything. It’s called resilience and without our kids learning it and us teaching them it, we are setting them up for failure the minute they hit the real world! My kids are often not invited to parties that their friends are and thankfully they realise it’s just the way things are. I have always been conscious of not making things ‘fair’ at home either. Sometimes one child will get a new book I’ve seen at the shops and the other misses out. They both know that it’s not favouritism, it just happens that way.”
And Holly, who growled: “So stupid. Again not teaching our children resilience. In life we might miss out on some things!!!”
But then, as a fellow mum who felt my (antiquated) pain said: “easy for those chiming in about teaching resilience when their child is being invited to parties and the parent hasn’t had to console a heartbroken child over being left out. my oldest is 11 and has been invited to TWO parties since he started school, he has been manipulated by popular kids bribing his lunch off him for invites that never happen, he’s been left gutted because he understands that he isn’t invited because he isn’t popular – they don’t like him- how does a mother repair that damage? I tell him he is all things good and wonderful but he wants that acknowledgement from his peers instead of ridicule and being left out. He starts high school with a really gentle soul and naive perspective so I hope it gets better for him and not worse.”
OK, maybe birthday invitations ARE weapons after all. Geez the playground’s a cruel place sometimes and I’ve just added to the arsenal.
So, how’s your week been?
housegoeshome 
My week has been pretty good. It’s getting dark here, earlier every day. I can’t stand it but there you go! I can’t wait for my daughters to be old enough to read them A of Green Gables!