Meeting new people has become somewhat of a dreaded task to me. The conversation usually follows this pattern: New person: “How many kids do you have?” Me: (gritting my teeth and bracing myself) “Five.” This is followed by one of two regular responses: Option 1: New person: (Their eyebrows shooting up, their mouths dropping, often… Continue reading Amazing
Tag: fostering
26. Motherhood is not the hardest job in the world
I have been keeping journals, on and off, since I was in primary school. Recently, I decided to read some of my old journal entries. I found a blog-style entry which was written before I even had a blog; not long before our nieces moved in, when Mr E was 4, Miss R was 2… Continue reading 26. Motherhood is not the hardest job in the world
25. Are we done yet?
How do you know when you are “done”? When its time to donate all of your baby items and pack away your baby dreams; confident that your family is as large as its supposed to be? Some families seem to “know”. Some families say “one kid is enough work for us!” Others have health issues… Continue reading 25. Are we done yet?
24. Open Heart Surgery
I see it a few times a week. An article popping up on the Facebook newsfeed from a Fostering page I follow. The articles are about foster carers, ex-foster kids, adoption, government processes…and in each blurb, the hashtag “openyourheart”. Each time I see this hashtag, my heart withers a little. Because I opened my heart.… Continue reading 24. Open Heart Surgery
20. Imagine that!
I want you to imagine the following scenarios. Scenario 1 You have a four-year-old daughter. Her name is Suzie. Suzie is getting picked up at 10am to go on a play date with her best friend Ruth. You have known Ruth and her family since you met at play group when the girls were toddlers.… Continue reading 20. Imagine that!
19. These are a few of my favourite things
Once again, I find myself writing after a lengthy absence. There were times last year when I did not write because I was so caught up in feeling utterly depressed and that I felt I had nothing good to say. There were plenty of other times that “best sellers” were cleverly crafting themselves in my… Continue reading 19. These are a few of my favourite things
16. The voices in my head
Click- click- my thumb is pressing down on the button of our van’s electronic key, my hand outstretched towards the brass lock. I am standing at my front door, staring at the faded yellow paint and the silver door handle, wondering, why hasn’t it opened yet? When what I am doing dawns upon me, a… Continue reading 16. The voices in my head
14.And Baby makes 5
As Baby J’s due date approached, I found myself checking off all the commitments that I had put into the diary over the past weeks and months when I had wondered whether I would really be able to attend any of them. Play group Christmas party? Check. Thank you event? Check. Sunday school helper? Check.… Continue reading 14.And Baby makes 5
12. Hot and bothered
I have never been very fond of summer. Call me un-Australian, but I would choose mild, overcast weather any day over hazy blue skies and heat that bakes you the moment you step into it. I was rather enjoying some of the cooler, cloudy days last week. A friend (apparently) spoke to me a little… Continue reading 12. Hot and bothered
9. Upon stopping to smell the roses
For many years I have had a somewhat obsessive-compulsive/guilt-motivated relationship with the old “stop and smell the roses” cliché. When out walking, if I passed a fence overhung with roses, I simply had to stop to smell them because otherwise I felt I was not truly ‘embracing life’. The wisdom of the old adage was… Continue reading 9. Upon stopping to smell the roses
The Five Little Ducks Blog 