As the weeks evaporate before school ends, I stare at January 2017 on my calendar and wonder how on earth I'm going to juggle it. My ex is working insane hours most of the month - until 8pm many nights during the week. And, in a master stroke of unfortunate timing, my office is closing... Continue Reading →

A bit like a Cyberman, my conversion is complete. Unlike a Cyberman, I look the same on the outside, but on the inside I've been transformed into a coffee connoisseur. I have my standard order: strong, regular flat white with half a sugar. And I have my favourite brand: Campos. The coffee shop across the... Continue Reading →

DD flew to Beijing on Sunday night. His flight left at 10pm (Sydney time) and he finally laid his weary head in a bed again at around 3.30am this morning (Sydney time). I don't know how he does it, but somehow he manages to find the energy to spend about 12 weeks a year travelling... Continue Reading →

"I'm standing up here before you today... with a very troubled heart. You see, my friends... I've always insisted on... taking responsibility for your lives. But, I'm really... like a first-time parent... who makes mistakes... and tries to learn from them. And like that parent... I find myself at that moment when I have to... Continue Reading →

The eldest has a painting in a student art exhibition, so we went to the opening last night to check it out. There was champagne and sushi and everything. Very posh. The eldest's work is based on Sidney Nolan's bushranger series. I think she did an awesome job. The youngest refused to go because a)... Continue Reading →

My ex talked me into going to the 10-year-old's school assembly yesterday. She was getting a special badge after being awarded three merit certificates during the year for upholding the values of the school. Kindness, thoughtfulness, that sort of thing. The youngest told me it was totally unnecessary to attend because "everyone gets one during... Continue Reading →

My lovely friend Corrinne wrote a timely blog post that struck a chord with me yesterday called "Empowerment isn't blowing out someone else's candle." It summed things up beautifully for me during what's been a difficult week. It's filled with wise words I intend to follow. She said: "Real empowerment is standing on your own... Continue Reading →

It sounds totally counter intuitive, but exhausted me drove 45 minutes to the Northern Beaches yesterday for a little beauty therapy. Not the facial and manicure type, what I needed was the sea. I hadn't planned on making the trip, but the day was too gorgeous to resist. It was beautiful at Avalon Beach and... Continue Reading →

There's a lot of pressure on my Saturdays ... Well ... it's mainly inside my own head. After a busy working week, the kids and I get one relaxed day together before they head to their dad's on Sunday. It should be a change to spend some "quality" time. But, every Sunday I wake up feeling... Continue Reading →

It's becoming clear to me that there isn't anything near an ideal life scenario for modern parents. The stay-at-home parents go stir-crazy and envy the ones working and earning incomes. The full-time workers envy the stay-at-home parents and wish they could have more time with their kids. The part-time workers face the constant juggle of... Continue Reading →