When my son was born, there seemed to be one issue after another. Nothing big, just lots of little things. As a c-section baby, he’d had a build up of birth fluids in his stomach which made him feel sick for the first few days, and he was constantly throwing up lots of muck, choking on it in his sleep (he is my only baby that the midwives insisted he sleep on his...

They say that you feel most in love with your husband at two significant points in your relationship. One is when you catch his eye as you are walking down the aisle on your wedding day, and the second is when you see him hold your baby for the very first time. And it’s true. Both for very different reasons. On the first occasion, it’s all about you....

Dear Fred, Are you sure you are really turning six? Are you sure it has been six years since the doctors placed a squirming little bundle into my arms and pronounced “It’s a boy!”. And yet, are you sure it’s ONLY been six years that I have loved you with the intensity that only a mother can love her first and only son? I feel like I have...

I was always a bit of a perfectionist at school. I loved learning, reading and playing sport with my friends. I loved my teachers (except the scary Mrs B who used to yell us at all day long!), and I was always striving for “perfect” results. You know – Straight As, being in the A-grade netball team, winning awards. I wanted it all. And most of the...

The childcare centre that Katie attends recently celebrated Father’s Day by putting on a reptile show one afternoon this week. What a buzz! I couldn’t believe the collection that he had! There were frogs, snakes, lizards, bearded dragons and even a baby crocodile! The presenter was great for the kids – he was confident, knowledgeable and very...

We are lucky to have some lovely neighbours. All too often I have found Fred chatting to the lady next door, telling her all about his week and our plans for the weekend. Sometimes I think she knows more about our family than most! They have just returned from a 5 week Campervan trip around Australia, and Fred was lucky enough to have been given a little present when...

My big boy is 5 years old today! I have been thinking about him a lot the last few days, and reflecting on how much we have been through together. I remember the honour I felt when he was born – when I held a newborn son in my arms for the first time. He looked like a gentleman even as a baby. He was completely Frederick. At 5 months we discovered he had...

All these public holidays have completely thrown me. My whole weeks seem to be out of sync. Now that has been said – that is my excuse and I am sticking to it. Because I did something dreadful today – I forgot to give Fred money for the Mother’s Day Stall – Oooooopppppssss! I knew that it was today – it’s in my diary and on my kitchen calendar, but today...

It really is the simple things that bring the most pleasure. When we first moved here, this is the image that I had in my mind. And suddenly here it is, my own big boy driving the tractor round the paddocks!! He was having so much fun – you just couldn’t wipe the grin from his face! We also have two steers that need to be sprayed to keep the flies away,...

I have always heard the horror stories about sibling jealousy when a new baby arrives in the family. I never thought this would be a problem with my children, as they have always been quite interested and gentle with younger children. But never in my dreams, did I imagine how truly wonderful they would actually be! From the moment she came home, Lucy has been the...