Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes reflects on the last five years on the eve of her oldest child’s birthday. My son is turning five tomorrow. I can’t quite fathom this since it feels like yesterday I was pacing the living room, my cellphone on my shoulder telling a Plunket nurse “Please he won’t stop crying … Read more
How do you make friends when you’re a new mum? It can be tough to find your people. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes has some tips. One of the most common questions I’m asked by email or private message is: “I’m a new mum – how do I make friends?” Becoming a parent is a … Read more
From June 2019, every rental in the country will need to be insulated. Emily Writes talks to Kelson Primary School principal, landlord and mum Judy Pemberton about the changes, and why she chose to do the right thing early on. Judy Pemberton talks in a way I haven’t heard a landlord talk before. She talks … Read more
In the spring, a young mother’s fancy turns to thoughts of getting her body back. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes explains why she’s joined a gym – and it’s not about getting in shape. I decided to join a gym for a few reasons. I have developed “Co-sleepers shoulder” which is essentially a messed up … Read more
As Bill English and Jacinda Ardern battled it out during TVNZ1’s debate last night, Emily Writes was left extremely confused by a sexy candy ad. I never watch free-to-air television on an actual television. I’m not sure why in 2017 you would. So last night’s TVNZ leader’s debate was the first time in a long … Read more
Like it or not, friendships tend to change after babies. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes thanks her friends without kids who have stuck by her – even through conversations about poop. Friendships change when people have kids. It’s inevitable. Becoming a parent is huge – and it changes every minute, every second, of your day. It … Read more
Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes considers the things that are important to know when you’re a little human being trying to make your way in the world. My four-year-old has an almost insatiable desire to know everything there is to know about the human body. He has seen every cartoon guide to the body on … Read more
It sure is hard out there when you want to market your cafe or restaurant as family friendly but you’re not actually family friendly at all. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes has had it with the tired moral outrage over kids with the temerity to be out in public. Another week, another story about a … Read more
Are we getting the right advice on co-sleeping? Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes is concerned some of the safety messages out there aren’t aligned with the reality of parenting. Content warning: This post talks about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also known as Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy. At about seven weeks pregnant with our first … Read more
Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes listened to RNZ’s new podcast BANG! on sex and sexuality and thinks it’ll be a hit with parents. The first episode tackled talking about the birds and the bees with your babies. I am not entirely sure if I ever had “The Talk”. I don’t remember it, but that doesn’t … Read more
The latest episode of Attitude Documentary series In My Mind focused on the mental health of mothers. For Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes, watching it was both a draining, painful experience and a wake-up call about the epidemic of PND in New Zealand. Content warning: This post contains discussions and descriptions of mental health and … Read more
Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes has all the tips you need to get you through the last half of the school holidays. I said to my husband earlier in the week “These school holidays are unending!” and he said “Emily, it’s 10am on the first day. Are you drinking wine in a mug?”* and it … Read more
Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes hasn’t slept for a long time. If you’re as exhausted as she is, she has some tips for getting through. Having not slept for 800 years, I feel somewhat qualified to talk about survive severe sleep deprivation. For more than a year I (barely) survived on about three hours sleep, … Read more
Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes is an anxious mess, which is why she’s constantly talking about mental health in mothers and the need to get help if you need it. She recently spoke to a clinical psychologist who specialises in treating mothers with anxiety and depression and other mental health issues. This is the fourth … Read more
It’s late at night and you’re looking for parenting advice online. Suddenly you’re confronted with list after list of the five things you absolutely should not be doing as a parent. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes is no expert – but she does have a top five list for you. While looking for some advice … Read more
If you died tomorrow, what advice would you leave your kids? Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes reflects on her life in typically melodramatic fashion. I was on Willis Street, holding a coffee, waiting for the lights when I tripped. I tripped in my lovely new boots from The Warehouse. This is not a sponsored post … Read more
When mums get a night off, it’s a big deal. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes delves deep into the Wine Mum Night phenomenon with an anatomy of a night out without husbands, wives or children. It’s Wine Mum Night! It’s taken eight weeks to organise this night. Husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, grandparents, flat-mates – whoever … Read more
Because you are more than a mother. Because you’re doing enough. Because you just don’t feel like it – you’re allowed to say no to your kids, says Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes. I was sent an article and told it would change my life. This happens a fair bit. It’s not that I don’t … Read more
What does Mother’s Day mean to you? What do you love about being a mum? Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes asked a bunch of mums to tell us what their life is like. The time is here for Mother’s Day content. In the hopes of finding you some quality out-of-the-mouths-of-babes content I asked my four-year-old … Read more
Forget the floral hand lotion, the pointless kitchen gadget, the bunch of crappy supermarket flowers. Emily Writes has a few things that would really make her day on Sunday. Mother’s Day! Every store in the land has shop fronts full of shit to buy your mum (and some not shit – like my book, which … Read more
Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes has noticed a lot of parents online are really upset, often with each other. Here she shares some ideas to make the village a little less hostile and a little more kind. For the last two years (at least) I’ve been pretty fully immersed in the world of parents talking … Read more
What’s your fantasy? The Spinoff Parents Editor Emily Writes guesses the fantasies of sleep deprived parents and lays it out for some night-time reading. A week ago, while discussing writing in a writers group, I was reminded of the majesty of the prose in 50 Shades of Grey. I’ve read the first two books and … Read more
Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes has a message for parents whose kids don’t sleep: don’t fall into the same traps she did. There’s heaps of advice out there, and she took all of it. But did any of it work? Let me start by saying I’ve tried every single thing possible to get my children … Read more
On Monday we published a piece in which midwives spoke out. They talked about how exhausted they are, how they’re underpaid and overworked and underappreciated. Today we share the responses we received from politicians, and from NZ’s main midwives organisation. Following Monday’s story, we heard again and again from readers who were shocked by the … Read more
How can just a one hour change cause so much havoc in the lives of so many parents? Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes rants against daylight saving and gives tips on surviving this terrible, terrible time. Days are usually 24 hours right? Like commonly. Like most of the time. Except after daylight saving. The days … Read more
New Zealand’s midwife shortage has been in the news a lot in the past week – but the working conditions of midwives has been an issue for much, much longer. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes asked midwives to talk about why they do the vital work that they do. It’s a job few would sign … Read more
Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes shares the fibs she tells at coffee groups to make her seem like a better parent than she really is. Being a parent is hard. Sometimes we lie to make it feel like it’s easier. It’s not a mean-spirited lie. It’s a fib to help us cope. There are no performance … Read more
Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes has a guide for mediocre columnists keen to drum up some manufactured outrage over Parents These Days. You’ve seen those columns on Stuff and in the Herald and The Daily Mail (if you read that garbage) – you know the ones – Parents/Children Are Out of Control! – the headlines … Read more
Today’s protest at Parliament, organised by young Wellington women in response to the Wellington College scandal, was a protest against rape culture and in support of sexual consent education in schools. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes went along, and left feeling inspired and hopeful. Content warning: This post discusses sexual violence and harassment. It may … Read more