Over the summer holidays we completed our first overnight hike as a whole family. My husband and I have done a lot of multi-day hikes over the years using tents and a year ago he took our eldest daughter and her friend on a multi-day hike staying in huts but having all three girls on…
We have reached a new milestone as a family – we are preparing to embark on our first overnight hike as a whole family. I am very excited about this – we are going to do the Pinnacles Walk and spend the night in the hut. At the time of writing our children are 11,…
When a woman becomes a mother it suddenly feels like she is two different people, living in one body. Two different minds. Two different sets of emotions. Two different sets of desires and ambitions. Co-existing in one body, both feeling stifled by the other. Creating internal conflict, tension, struggle. As a result the women feels…
Last weekend I took my almost 9 year old daughter to Wellington. I had made a promise to take her away somewhere this year, just the two of us. She is my middle child and I don’t get a lot of time alone with her so this was pretty special. Neither of us have spent…
I haven’t had a good book to read for a while and with school holidays just days away I decided I needed to rectify this. My children all love to read so when we are away together for the holidays I love having “family quiet time” in the afternoon where we can all curl up…
We all have a voice in our heads. You know the one that chats along to you during the day, passing comments on what is happening around you, convincing you to do something (or not). If you pay attention to what this voice is saying, really pay attention, you might notice that what it is…
This past week I have been given an opportunity to test drive an electric vehicle, a second hand Nissan Leaf. This came about thanks to a wonderful initiative here on Waiheke Island (where I live) where several of these cars have been made available in our community to test drive over for a few months….
If you could go back and tell yourself three things at the start of your motherhood journey what would they be? For me they would be: 1. ASK FOR HELP Ask sooner. Ask more often. Ask without guilt or judgement. When someone offers help, just say YES. 2. YOU DON’T HAVE TO…
The other day I was trying to explain to my husband what the mental load in my life is like, and why sometimes it becomes overwhelming. I was explaining that not only do I need to keep track of all my own ‘stuff’ I am keeping track of all the little things that 4 other…
“I’m scared that if I want it, then I will cry if it doesn’t happen Mum” This was part of a conversation a had with my 10 year old a few months ago. She was sharing with me that a lot of her friends at school were telling her that she will win the…