Milestones

A lot has happened in the last month or so.
Feb 23 was our fourth wedding anniversary, which we celebrated with a gorgeous dinner at Ezard's.
March 23 was my 32nd birthday and man, was it a present bonanza. Rob gave me two cookbooks, some Chanel perfume and a Mclusky* CD (just because I couldn't get To Hell With Good Intentions out of my head). Whatta guy!
My sister Lauren gave me a Degrassi book (so NOW I know what happened to Snake, Wheels and Spike in real life, I can rest easy) and a This Life* DVD box set.
I was also taken to Mario's in Brunswick St for dinner. A top birthday.


*Welsh rock band, now defunct. Best names for songs ever - eg: You Should Be Ashamed, Seamus and Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues. One of their albums is called The Difference Between Me & You Is That I'm Not On Fire. Genius.

*Iconic 1990s BBC drama series. Best final ep of a series EVER.

Parenting...who'd do it?

Lately I've noticed lots of opinion pieces about parenting and one in particular stood out. It was an article encouraging parents today to lighten up and let their kids live a little.
I couldn't agree more. I really want Ari to grow up climbing trees, riding his bike down his street and wandering the neighbourhood with his friends.
To those parents who say the world's become more dangerous, I say you're WRONG. Crime stats prove it. We've just become more isolated from our neighbourhoods and more frightened of...something. Not teaching children to be self-sufficient does them a great disservice, I believe.
However...I also believe we should lay off parents. We really can't do a thing right, honestly. We are criticised and scrutinised for every little decision we make about our children. Any wonder today's parents are uptight and frightened. Anxiety reigns. Believe me, I know.
I think the main reason for this anxiety is that, unlike our parents' generation, parenting is no longer a respected thing. Today, you're respected for your career achievements, how much you own, where your house is, how far you've travelled. If you manage to squeeze in being a parent amongst all that lot, well, then that's just a bonus.
Parenting should be rewarded, honoured and respected. Any wonder our birth rate is dropping. Who'd be a parent today?

Happy boy

The joy of book learnin'

I am re-reading one of my favourite books from childhood. No, it's one of my favourite books EVER*. It's called Danny, The Champion of the World by Roald Dahl.
Roald Dahl books were a cornerstone of my childhood. In primary school, various teachers read aloud in class and I can still remember the wonder of having Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Danny, The Champion of the World read aloud to me.
I bought it partly because I wanted to relive that magic, partly because Rob has had a sudden hankering to read lots of Roald Dahl, particularly books like The BFG and The Witches, which passed him by during childhood. And of course, I want my boy to read and love Danny. If for no other reason, every father should read it because it perfectly captures pure, unabashed father-son love.
There are so many books that I can't wait to read to Ari. I can picture him tucked up in bed in his jarmies, with Rob or I perched on his bed, reading him a chapter from a book every night. It's going to be fun.









*Favourite books ever list also includes The Bell Jar, On The Road, High Fidelity, A Walk in the Woods, Cloudstreet and Fantastic Mr Fox.

Mr Cutey Cute

Just when we thought it wasn't possible, Ari has reached a new level of cuteness.
He says "Mama" and "Dadda" in a cute little high-pitched baby voice. He hugs your neck and squeezes with his little arms. He laughs whenever you laugh. He babbles in his own little dialect. He does a little stampy-feet dance and claps his hands all the time. He crosses his legs and leans on tables barfly-style. He is just so damn cute.