My love of reading really backslid in 2021 as I struggled with sleeplessness, parenting, and that bloody pandemic, but I got back into it this year in a big way (cheers for being so easy to read, Bridgerton series!) So here are my favourite books for this year, in three categories – Fiction, Memoir and…
Author: Lou
All Quiet on the Social Front
I’ve barely posted this year. It wasn’t deliberate. I just often feel like I don’t have a lot to say that people are interested in hearing. I’m sure everyone feels like that at times, or even all of the time. It’s not true. Everyone has something valuable to say. I’ve been watching the collapse of…
Thoughts on Teaching
Coming back to teaching after a long stretch away is a big decision. I love teaching. I really do. The kids are fun, they make me laugh and I enjoy making them laugh. I like seeing that lightbulb moment when they ‘get’ a concept. I like the pride in their eyes when they make huge…
New Year, Same Bollocks
New Year’s is always a weird time. Coming up fast after that post-Christmas blur, when no one knows what day it is, and you’re plowing through the leftovers in the fridge. All the local gyms are screeching “NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!” Which is all well and good, but at the start of 2020 I *was*…
My Cloth Nappy Wash Routine
I’ve been asked by a few mates new to cloth nappies about my wash routine. That’s a funny thing to type, makes me feel like an influencer! *tosses hair* “I’ve been asked by my fans about my skincare routine!” Like that, but for baby poop. Anyway, let’s talk shit: My washing machine is a Bosch…
ADHD and Me
People don’t tend to believe me when I say I have ADHD. I don’t fit the stereotype at first glance. I’m a grown woman in her 30s. I have a first class honours degree. I hold down a challenging job. I was a smart bookworm at school. I was a Good Kid. But then, when…
40+4: My Birth Story
I went into labour around noon on Labour Day, three days after my due date. I appreciated the irony.
Raise Your Standards
When my husband is feeling a bit melancholy and needs a reminder of how great he is, I tell him stories from my Facebook pregnancy group. They make him feel like Superman. Why? Because the bar of being a capable husband and father is set so low these days, he stubs his toe on it….
Don’t Change Your Maiden Name
When I got married, I changed my name. I didn’t do it because of societal pressure, although believe me, there’s plenty of that out there. I had a few reasons. Firstly, I liked my husband’s name. It sounded nice. It worked. I liked the idea of sharing that name with my future children. Secondly, kids…
Cloth on the Cheap
One major thing with cloth nappies that I’m hyper aware of is the initial cost of a setup. Although cloth nappies wind up thousands of dollars cheaper than disposable nappies in the long run, not everyone can afford a big upfront payment. And not everyone knows which brand they want to invest in! Recommendations are…