Well???
Did anyone see MY article in the February CHILD magazine?
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| As seen in Melbourne… |
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| As seen in Sydney… |
Super excited to be published in a monthly mag that I devour every month.
AND, it went to print in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth!!
This week I am proud to share the original piece with you below……
Geeze…would you look at that woman!?
Over near the slide.
Disgraceful. If only she gave that
child half as much attention as that bloody phone!
child half as much attention as that bloody phone!
Go
on…surely you’ve heard something like that…maybe you even said it, or
perhaps thought it…?
on…surely you’ve heard something like that…maybe you even said it, or
perhaps thought it…?
But
I need to tell you something.
I need to tell you something.
Sometimes,
that Mum is me.
that Mum is me.
As a mother at home, social media is my
lifeline to sanity.
lifeline to sanity.
It
is likely that playground mum has had kids demanding her attention all day.
Maybe one with a temperature, or possibly she’s just copped a momentous toddler
meltdown in the confectionery aisle, or even had kids vomiting throughout the
night. It may not be a pressure packed corporate job, but I promise you, it is
constant and exhausting.
is likely that playground mum has had kids demanding her attention all day.
Maybe one with a temperature, or possibly she’s just copped a momentous toddler
meltdown in the confectionery aisle, or even had kids vomiting throughout the
night. It may not be a pressure packed corporate job, but I promise you, it is
constant and exhausting.
When
my first baby was small, I had a nifty Nokia number; nothing smart about it. I
was at home, all day, alone. I’d effectively just started a ‘new job’ and there
was limited handover and no one there to give me a toilet break except my tiny,
hungry baby. I was suddenly solely responsible for this other little human
being, except for when my Knight returned of an evening bearing food and a
shoulder rub.
my first baby was small, I had a nifty Nokia number; nothing smart about it. I
was at home, all day, alone. I’d effectively just started a ‘new job’ and there
was limited handover and no one there to give me a toilet break except my tiny,
hungry baby. I was suddenly solely responsible for this other little human
being, except for when my Knight returned of an evening bearing food and a
shoulder rub.
“Call
a loved one,” I hear you say. And I did! Loads! But how often can you call
someone before they consider you ‘not coping’, and I wasn’t quite at that
place. But I can tell you, a few short, daily chats, still makes for an awfully
long, long afternoon, day after day after day.
a loved one,” I hear you say. And I did! Loads! But how often can you call
someone before they consider you ‘not coping’, and I wasn’t quite at that
place. But I can tell you, a few short, daily chats, still makes for an awfully
long, long afternoon, day after day after day.
But
now, with my second baby and a smart phone…?
now, with my second baby and a smart phone…?
I
can actually keep abreast of the news. I can read a book on-line. I can capture
precious moments on my camera.
can actually keep abreast of the news. I can read a book on-line. I can capture
precious moments on my camera.
I
can do so much.
can do so much.
You see, we have an amazing hand held,
pocket sized device that allows us immediate access to the world, literally at
our fingertips.
pocket sized device that allows us immediate access to the world, literally at
our fingertips.
How
incredibly MIND BLOWING is that? Who could have ever imagined? My kids are
rapidly learning to swipe, play games, ask Siri questions and they know it is a
place where Mummy goes to find all the answers to their multitude of daily
questions. They know they can face time
their Aunty anytime they need, send photos of their drawings to their cousins
and sing Happy Birthday to their
friends.
incredibly MIND BLOWING is that? Who could have ever imagined? My kids are
rapidly learning to swipe, play games, ask Siri questions and they know it is a
place where Mummy goes to find all the answers to their multitude of daily
questions. They know they can face time
their Aunty anytime they need, send photos of their drawings to their cousins
and sing Happy Birthday to their
friends.
But my phone has also taken on a
special new meaning for me.
special new meaning for me.
Not
so long ago, I allowed that nagging feeling of guilt to get to me whilst on my
phone in public. The feeling that I was somehow ‘less of a mother’ for not
focusing 100% on my kids at all times; feeling judged when I slipped my phone
out in the company of my children.
so long ago, I allowed that nagging feeling of guilt to get to me whilst on my
phone in public. The feeling that I was somehow ‘less of a mother’ for not
focusing 100% on my kids at all times; feeling judged when I slipped my phone
out in the company of my children.
Sometimes,
I use it to see whether an important email has come through, or to check the
weather before setting off on the walk home from the playground, or to quickly
add something to my shopping list before I forget. But I readily admit– there
are times when my brain is feeling frazzled from assuming multiple Transformer
poses and pushing that swing back and forth and back and forth (and back and
forth some more…). I need reminding that there is a world beyond my little
kingdom, and that I am actually still in it. So sure; I’ve flicked a new status
update on to facebook or scrolled through Instagram whilst out and about with
my kids. I am not negligent. My kid’s safety is paramount. But remember; I do
not get a lunch break to unwind; heck, at this stage in our lives I don’t even
get a solo toilet break.
I use it to see whether an important email has come through, or to check the
weather before setting off on the walk home from the playground, or to quickly
add something to my shopping list before I forget. But I readily admit– there
are times when my brain is feeling frazzled from assuming multiple Transformer
poses and pushing that swing back and forth and back and forth (and back and
forth some more…). I need reminding that there is a world beyond my little
kingdom, and that I am actually still in it. So sure; I’ve flicked a new status
update on to facebook or scrolled through Instagram whilst out and about with
my kids. I am not negligent. My kid’s safety is paramount. But remember; I do
not get a lunch break to unwind; heck, at this stage in our lives I don’t even
get a solo toilet break.
But I still felt guilty.
Until
that day.
that day.
The
moment that every parent fears.
moment that every parent fears.
Those
guilty feelings of phone usage? Instantly obliterated from my mind forever.
guilty feelings of phone usage? Instantly obliterated from my mind forever.
My
child had been cranky and unsettled; nothing especially new for an 18 month old
baby. But we had promised to call in to visit my sister, so I bundled him
sweetly in his PJs and sleep bag and cuddled him close to me on her couch. My
phone was handy on the armrest, as I had been proudly displaying happy snaps of
his latest milestones.
child had been cranky and unsettled; nothing especially new for an 18 month old
baby. But we had promised to call in to visit my sister, so I bundled him
sweetly in his PJs and sleep bag and cuddled him close to me on her couch. My
phone was handy on the armrest, as I had been proudly displaying happy snaps of
his latest milestones.
That’s
when it happened.
when it happened.
My
baby boy, who had moments earlier nuzzled into my chest and drifted off into a
seemingly peaceful sleep, threw his head back and began to convulse. His sweet,
blue eyes rolled back and my heart imploded. I could not move. I could not
breathe. I could not bear to think.
baby boy, who had moments earlier nuzzled into my chest and drifted off into a
seemingly peaceful sleep, threw his head back and began to convulse. His sweet,
blue eyes rolled back and my heart imploded. I could not move. I could not
breathe. I could not bear to think.
Then
I got my ‘mummy’ on and kicked in to gear. My husband took my thrashing baby
from me and placed him on the floor in the recovery position. My beautiful,
little boy began to froth at the mouth as he suffered what we suspected was a
febrile convulsion.
I got my ‘mummy’ on and kicked in to gear. My husband took my thrashing baby
from me and placed him on the floor in the recovery position. My beautiful,
little boy began to froth at the mouth as he suffered what we suspected was a
febrile convulsion.
We
needed an ambulance.
needed an ambulance.
My
phone was right there.
phone was right there.
My
sister dialled triple zero as I watched helplessly, stroked his face and
prayed.
sister dialled triple zero as I watched helplessly, stroked his face and
prayed.
My
husband calmly searched his smart phone for ‘what to do’ and stripped our
darling boy down to reduce his wild fever.
husband calmly searched his smart phone for ‘what to do’ and stripped our
darling boy down to reduce his wild fever.
Paramedics
arrived and we were bundled into the blue and red halo of safety.
arrived and we were bundled into the blue and red halo of safety.
My
son was to recover perfectly from both an ear infection (which had spiked his
temperature suddenly and gone unnoticed by me), and from the convulsion that
stole my breath away.
son was to recover perfectly from both an ear infection (which had spiked his
temperature suddenly and gone unnoticed by me), and from the convulsion that
stole my breath away.
But
I will never apologise, or feel guilty again, for having my phone on hand.
I will never apologise, or feel guilty again, for having my phone on hand.
Not
only does it open my eyes to the world, but it also keeps my family safe.
only does it open my eyes to the world, but it also keeps my family safe.
So
don’t you judge me.
don’t you judge me.
Don’t
make assumptions about that mummy in the playground.
make assumptions about that mummy in the playground.
Because now I no longer feel so
isolated and alone on those long afternoons. Now I have my connection to 24/7
help for my family if needed.
isolated and alone on those long afternoons. Now I have my connection to 24/7
help for my family if needed.
And believe it or not; now I have
started blogging.
started blogging.
I
am tweeting, facebooking and instagramming.
am tweeting, facebooking and instagramming.
I
am part of a supportive and welcoming on-line community. I can ask questions,
receive sound advice and be encouraged whenever I need it. That incredible
smart phone has allowed me access to a whole new world, day and night, and
provided me with a greater feeling of confidence regarding the well being and
safety of my kids.
am part of a supportive and welcoming on-line community. I can ask questions,
receive sound advice and be encouraged whenever I need it. That incredible
smart phone has allowed me access to a whole new world, day and night, and
provided me with a greater feeling of confidence regarding the well being and
safety of my kids.
I am a SAHM who is feeling energised
and socialised and I am loving it.
and socialised and I am loving it.
So
BTW, I have a complete FOMO in relation to the WWW and FYI IDC what you think. My
smart phone is totes my new BFF!
BTW, I have a complete FOMO in relation to the WWW and FYI IDC what you think. My
smart phone is totes my new BFF!
YOLO!
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