All articles filed in Parenting

Written by Amanda Coop Me: “How was school today?” The kids (in unison): “Good.” Me: “What did you learn today?” The kids (in unison): “Nothing.” Me: “Nothing? Not one single thing?” The kids (in unison): “No.” Rinse and repeat, for the next 12 years. I dare say I’m not the only parent whose kids expect…

Written by Amanda Coop “I CAN’T believe I’m going to be double figures,” my nine-turning-10-year-old says dramatically. “I feel so old!” I chuckle at her definition of “old”. “Kiddo, you’re not even close to old,” I tell her. “But it’s been 10 years, Mum, 10. Whole. Years.” She’s not the only one who’s been thinking…

Written by Amanda Coop Once upon a time, there were two perfectly sane, normal human beings. Their house was tidy, life was uneventful but civilised. And then they had a baby, and nothing was ever the same again. They were always tired, life was chaotic, and the mess was out of control. So, what did…

Written by Amanda Coop “Can we go down on the beach?” Miss 9 asks. “Umm, sure,” I say, somewhat unenthusiastically. I know how this is going to go. “Noooooooooo!” exclaims Mr 6, as he pushes his body back and his legs forward to gather momentum on the swings at the playground beside the beach. Not…

Written by Amanda Coop “MUM, can I show you something?” It’s the phrase every parent dreads. Oh no, you think. What have they ruined this time? And why did they have to do it on my (clearly inadequate) watch? Is it the sofa? Hopefully it’s the daggy, old dining table that I want to replace.…

Written by Amanda Coop TEN kids, a birthday party full of sugary treats and a queen-sized air bed. What could possibly gowrong? Fast-forward to me lying down many hours later on said air bed, and I’m sure you can imagine what had gone wrong. “Shhhh,” I said to the kids. “Listen … I think the…

Written by Amanda Coop “I’VE already taken the bins out,” my hubby said as he saw me heading towards the door with abag of rubbish. “My hero,” I replied. “Bin Toad is still alive and well.” I’d been told by Mr 5 that we should stop calling Bin Toad that. “It’s not a very nice…

Written by Amanda Coop “WELL,” Miss 9 said. “I think we’ve got a case of the Mondays.” They certainly had a case of something, and it was making me feel like opening a case of something else, one containing alcohol. And I don’t even drink anymore. At least not at 8am on a weekday. It…

Written by Amanda Coop “Mum?” came the tentative yet hopeful voice beside me. I opened my eyes and turned to see Miss 9 standing by, doll in hand. “Since you’re not doing anything, could you play with me?” Hmm, tactful. “I am doing something,” I told her, despite the clear and obvious fact I was…