A Gift From My Daughter Will I Ever Be More Than Mum? My youngest daughter is an empath, she’s kind, thoughtful and clever, but she recently bought me the kind of present which made me wonder if she knows me at all. Fourteen years into my parenting role, I believe I’ve earned my ‘useful’ stripes.... Continue Reading →
Managing Our Mental Health
Managing Our Mental Health Be Kind to Yourself this Festive Season A colony of troublesome sprites live inside my brain. These sprites hold my thoughts in their spindly fingers, and they have sprinter’s legs which can run so fast, and in such unexpected directions, it takes me all my time to control them. I need... Continue Reading →
Let’s Stop All Sexual Harassment
Let’s Stop All Sexual Harassment Kill the Catcall — Let Women Walk Down the Street in Peace The first time a man pressed down hard on his car horn to tell me I was female, I was ten years old. I can remember exactly where I was and, more significantly, I can remember what I was wearing.... Continue Reading →
Santa Isn’t Real
Santa Isn’t Real But Can I tell my Ten-Year-OId? Last year I watched my nine-year-old daughter write her letter to Santa. I was dewy eyed and sentimental because I thought this would be the last time I would see a child of mine perform that innocent tradition. I can’t tell you how exasperated I am... Continue Reading →
It’s the Little Things
The Everyday Reminders of Our Age When I last went to the dentist, he suggested I had a set of X-Rays. As he moved the machine towards my head, I asked whether he was going to check if I might be pregnant first. He sighed and said, ‘If it will make you feel better.’ His presumption... Continue Reading →