Category: Family

What my daughter, with special needs, taught me about life and love

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What my daughter, with special needs, taught me about life and love.

When my daughter was 6 weeks old she was airlifted to a Newborn Intensive Care Unit to receive life-saving treatment. Over a three-week admission, I was told that my precious first-born baby was blind, developmentally delayed and reliant on medications to survive. My world became consumed by medical and therapeutic intervention and my role as Mama transitioned to carer, tube feeding specialist and ‘nappy-weigher’. Her dad battled with the devastating news that his baby girl was nothing like we’d imagined. Despite the hardships we faced through the first year of her life I was confident our relationship would withstand the turmoil.

But I was wrong.Continue Reading →

Five behaviors that scream your ex is a Disneyland Dad

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Five behaviors that scream your ex is a Disneyland Dad.

My daughter has just returned from a trip with her dad. The Disneyland Dad that is… You know the type? Does the minimal amount of parenting and swoops in from time to time to do all the fun stuff.

Over the years, my ex has had his fair share of Disneyland Dad moments.

So, how can YOU tell if your ex is a Disneyland Dad?

Continue Reading →

Reflections on Five Years of Single Parenting

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Reflections on Five Years of Single Parenting.

Two months ago I celebrated five years of single parenting. How that rolled around so quickly I do not know.

Wait… “celebrated”? I hear you ask…

Yes, celebrated! Because I’m doing it! I’m raising a child all by myself. And she’s the most amazing human! And THAT is something to celebrate (I didn’t go out partying or anything, but I definitely gave myself a high five). Continue Reading →

Four ways to embrace Mother’s Day as a single mum.

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Four ways to embrace Mother’s Day as a single mum.

Dreading Mother’s Day? I hear you. This is going to be my fifth Mother’s Day as a single mum, and my sixth as a mum. My first Mother’s Day was the worst. Don’t I sound tragic? My relationship with my daughter’s dad was on the rocks (in fact, we split up about a week later). I had been looking forward to the day; hoping to get some kind words from my partner about how I was the best mum in the universe, and our daughter was so lucky to have me. Yeah right….Continue Reading →