Mums

Screen Time for Kids

It’s a question often whispered amongst parents.  We don’t want to ask out loud for fear of judgment, but most of us admit to using it.  The TV.  The question is… how much is too much? I spoke on air recently about screen time.  If you missed it on the radio, you might like to listen to the podcast below: 96Five Radio Podcast Here are some of my thoughts: I’m not against television viewing. ...

Organising the Chaos

I often describe my life  as organised chaos. I’m a too-busy mama with too many to-do lists and not enough hours in the day!  Sometimes the result is a big, full, happy, satisfying week.  At other times though, the result is a frazzled mother, cranky kids and a messy home.  I’m always inspired by other women who are still busy, yet manage to calm the chaos.

When He’s Gone

Ain’t no sunshine when he’s gone And he’s always gone too long Any time he goes away…

Family Getaway

Where do you and your family go when you really need to get away from it all?  For us it’s the rainforest.  When I’m there my heart rate slows down, my brain stops buzzing quite so loudly, and feel like I can breathe. We have just returned from a wonderful week away at Springbrook.  Here’s what a fun but refreshing family holiday looks like for us. Bushwalking together (Miss 4 walked 4.6km on her...

Give A Little Charity on Mothers Day

This post is sponsored by UNICEF and Kidspot. I’m coming up to my 5th Mother’s Day.  My purple slippers are looking a little ratty, so I could ask the kids for a replacement.  I wouldn’t mind an artsy camera strap for my new digital SLR.  Or really I’d be just as happy with a few more plants for the backyard.  Truthfully though, I don’t need anything.  I have a few wants, but no needs.

Blemished Children

This week I did something I thought I would never do: I sent my young daughter to school with makeup on!  It was class photo day, and she had an absolute shiner of a black eye.  It was every shade of green and yellow and black and blue you can imagine! The bruising (as a result of playing around in the loungeroom and bumping into a cupboard corner) was still visible.  I just took the edge off with a bit of pressed...

AusBlogCon: Sparkle With Madam Charli

The buzz in the blogosphere this week is H-U-G-E.  This weekend almost 200 mummy-bloggers and other personal bloggers will descend on Sydeny for the first Australian Blogging Conference (AusBlogCon or ABC).  I’m delighted not only to be going, but also to be a panelist for the session on Building Your Blogging Community.

Life at 5 – Resilience

Did you watch the fascinating documentary Life at 5 last night on ABC1?.  The third installment of the Life Series saw the eleven Aussie kids involvied in the longitudinal study now aged 5.  Australia has already met these children and their families in Life at 1 and Life at 3.  (If you missed these ones you can iview them over at the Life Series site.) (Shine: at age 1, age 3 and age 5.) Over two episodes, Life at...

Super Mum

This week I was Super Mum… NOT because the house was clean. NOT because the clothes were all washed. NOT because I baked from scratch. NOT because I was neatly dressed. NOT because we were on-time for the school run. NOT because I juggled a multitude of commitments. NOT because I lived up to anyone’s expectations, including my own. This week I was Super Mum… BECAUSE when my son asked me to wear a cape...