I sleep in haysheds and corners

I've just arrived home from a splendid trip to my home town of Hobart (it's not that Hobart doesn't have internet, I was just going a bit low-fi while I was away!). I was there to show off my new little Swiss Miss, have mad-hangz with fam and friends and to attend the book launch of I sleep in haysheds and corners.

I was a craft contributor to this exciting project by Ben Walter and Kelly Eijdenberg of Inscrutable press, you can read/see more about it here. I will endeavour to photograph my featured work sometime this week and post it, but for now here is the gorgeous front cover of the book, with the work of Cat-Rabbit. The launch was amazing with a huge turn out of over 200 people. A big congratulations to Ben and Kelly - you've done Tasmania proud, thank you for your vision and encouragement of the writing and crafting communities, I feel honoured to have been involved!

P.S. If you love Cat-Rabbit (and let's face it, who doesn't!) she is having a solo exhibition called Secret Animal Realms at Federation Square from April 20-May 8!

Mummy guilt

I don't usually write (or talk to my friends) too much on the subject of being a parent, I think I still have hang-ups about being one of those Mothers, you know, the ones who can only talk about their children. But, to be honest I think I'm starting to gain a bit of perspective, this is my life day to day and I love it, why should I feel guilty about talking about my life?

Anyhoo, that's not the guilt I wanted to write about.

I was reading an article about parenting guilt (television, chocolate - etc.) as a result I've been thinking about the guilt we carry around with us. I had someone's parental guilt bomb go off in my face the other day about chocolate, it went something like this

Mother; "My 2 year old loves chocolate! Have you bought The Boy his Easter chocolate yet?'

me: "No, we just haven't really introduced him to chocolate yet, I was thinking about getting some plastic Easter eggs and filling them with sultanas and tiny teddies and then maybe a small chocolate Easter egg to go with it"

Mother: "Oh... well... it's not like I give my child chocolate all the time, hardly ever really, it's really the grandparents fault, but now that the child has tried it, I can't very well say they can't have any ever!"

me out loud: "absolutely, I understand how it is"

and in my head "Whoa, calm down, maybe I should have just said 'no' and left it at that"

I remember once in a shopping centre when The Boy was about 4 months old a random lady asked me if I was breastfeeding, to which I went on a guilt spiral rant about how sad and shameful I felt about stopping at 2 months because of health issues, I went on and on, I couldn't stop myself - poor lady, she never saw it coming.

Do we all have secret guilt about our parenting? Or is it only when we are asked hard questions or faced with a different parenting style? Have you had experience with this?

Above is a picture of The Boy with his first taste of chocolate last Easter.

EDIT:: I also just wanted to add that I think we can jump to conclusions very quickly - after the chocolate conversation I felt judged and guilty like a 'mean mummy', depriving my child of treats and was worried that the other mother thought I was judgmental of her giving her child chocolate (which is not the case at all, go for it I say!) I think we all need to work out what is right for us and our families and be confident in our choices - I don't think we should need to feel like we owe anyone an explanation.

I worry sometimes that just having a different opinion can come across the wrong way. Sometimes I feel like I don't want to share my opinions because I don't want to be judged or come across as judgmental, ack! it's a minefield!

Itchy to get stitchy

I'm getting restless fingers.

The last 6 weeks have been a wonderful journey: Learning how to be a family of four, getting to know and love our little Swiss Miss and being generous in our love and tolerance as The Boy works out how to be a big brother.

Now that we are getting into our groove, I've noticed myself looking longingly at my recipe books (particularly the cake ones), my wool stash and my lonely sewing machine who is begging for a little love. It's time. I feel the need to get my craft on.

I have so many ideas of things I'd like to make and do and I feel I'm now at the stage with the children that I may (possibly) get an hour or two here or there to myself - so exciting! The Boy is getting very into drawing, so maybe the need to be creative is hereditary?

Something I've dying to do is update the look of this blog - so I'll start there and work up to the craft!