Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes writes about co-sleeping and her long journey to self-acceptance about her style of parenting. The other day I said to my husband “I should really try to get the baby to sleep on his own tonight.” My husband smiled and gave me a hug. He knew that what I really … Read more
Charlotte Fielding talks to a mum whose partner left when she was pregnant after a six-year struggle to conceive. It’s a story of daring to hope, of struggle and resilience, and of how we can make it through the most unexpected and gut-wrenching events. The door is propped open and Anna* is breastfeeding her four-month-old … Read more
If there was one word you wish you could take back in your parenting, what would it be? Gem Wilder questions the language of motherhood and the way we talk to our children. Motherhood comes with its own language. As soon as you find out you are pregnant you acquire a whole new vocabulary: Ante-natal, … Read more
People of diverse genders have been completely left out of this year’s New Zealand census. Here a non-binary parent talks about their experiences of being ignored and erased. Jess Mio describes their life under the relentless gender policing and racism in our public systems and hopes for a better, more inclusive, future. Nō Tauranga ahau I tipu … Read more
Rent Week 2018: Pushed to desperate measures by the high costs of renting with a small child, single parent Nichole Brown made a dramatic decision to reduce her housing costs. The hidden cost of single parenting goes beyond simply clothing and feeding children. Becoming a single parent had a huge impact on the cost of … Read more
We have a beautiful summer upon us and though school and kindy are back in session, our kids’ appetite for leisure-time stimulation remains undimmed. Here’s your crowd-sourced-from-real-parents guide to Auckland with little ones. Check out the Auckland Maritime Museum, one of Auckland’s most under-rated attractions for kids. Says one mum “it’s no cost for locals, … Read more
Behind closed doors, and in public facing judgement and contempt, mothers and fathers are doing their best to support their children through anxiety and other mental health issues. Here is one mother’s story. It is 9.30pm and I sit listening for the thumps, the bangs, the shrieks that will eventually build into crescendo of hysterical … Read more
Emily Writes went to a cafe and transcribed an interview between a journalist and a celebrity cook while her children took turns taking dumps in the fryer and coffee machine. *** Journalist: The other day I was in the supermarket and I definitely heard a parent say “What do you mean you want a Jelly … Read more
Parenting when you’re struggling can be bloody hard – and finding fuel in your own tank to fuel your kids’ can be even harder. Lee-Anne Duncan meets a Lower Hutt mum who’s thankful for Bellyful. It’s five o’clock – better known to all parents as “the witching hour”, among other epithets. Thinking about cooking something … Read more
In the third story in a series celebrating the amazing things young New Zealanders do every day, a young girl’s love of soap – and owls – has become a business success story. Angela Cuming spoke to Ava Heath-Williams about her soap start-up. At the tender age of eight, Ava Heath-Williams can already add businesswoman … Read more
Puberty: if you’re parenting a teen or pre-teen, it’s inescapable. Mum-of-three Emmaline Matagi gives the lowdown on how puberty has rocked her household. HELP! I have an almost 13 year old son and I do not know what the fuck I am doing! There comes a point in your mummy life when you have to … Read more
Spoiler alert: it’s by not having any kids in Early Childhood Education centres. Jai Breitnauer looks at whether 20 hours free in New Zealand is really free. My youngest son went back to school today and, like many other parents, I breathed just a little sigh of relief. Not relief that my kids won’t be … Read more
As science, technology, engineering and maths become more integrated into our world, a corresponding emphasis is being placed on teaching our kids about these topics. Part of this has been a huge rise in educational toys over the past decade. Baz Macdonald investigates. For most of us, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) were not … Read more
In the second story in a series celebrating the amazing things young New Zealanders do every day, meet Jack Lanting, a Kiwi teen whose heart is as big as the Thai elephants he has dedicated his life to protecting. Lily the Thai elephant had been force fed methamphetamine for years by her handler. When Jack … Read more
Every year Charles Anderson takes his daughter on a road trip around his home region, seeing it as a chance to share something special and fleeting with a daughter who is getting bigger in the blink of an eye. For the third such trip of her young life, he tries, and fails, to go camping … Read more
When James Shaw thanked ‘Pirimia Jacinda Ardern, or baby mama’ many of us swooned at its cuteness, while others silently cringed. Asks Lana Lopesi, how much do we really know about the term ‘baby mama’? “Yeah this one right here goes out to all the baby’s mamas, mama’s mamas, mamas, baby mama’s mamas.” – Outkast … Read more
Brought to you by Inflatable World, Breeder’s Digest is your monthly coffee group in a podcast. Hosted by mum of three Jane Yee and virgin mum Nicola Winslade, Breeder’s Digest is a casual chat with your mates about all the rubbish bits of parenting and all the really good bits as well. Have your say using … Read more
Plunket’s chief executive Amanda Malu says celebrating and supporting whānau and their parenting choices is how the village of New Zealand can help raise every child. Plunket people, like many across the country, were genuinely thrilled by the announcement from the prime minister and her partner Clarke Gayford on Friday last week. Yet the news … Read more
Inside a Facebook group where anti-vaxx propaganda is promoted as information for ‘informed consent’. This story first appeared on The Wireless. It is republished by The Spinoff Parents with permission. Not long after my son was born dry patches of irritated skin began to appear on his face. I lathered the little guy up with … Read more
In response to The Spinoff’s coverage of the baby with the broken bones, Oranga Tamariki’s Paul Nixon explains the careful process behind taking a child into state custody. The impact of a tamaiti being removed from their family is traumatic and how we manage this is very important. Many New Zealanders share our deep concern … Read more
Jacinda Ardern’s plan to be both PM and a mum has prompted shrieks of outrage from some. What better example of the prejudice that many mums face when they go back to work, writes journalist and mother of two Sarah Stewart. To illustrate this story we have used photos of the author-mums who write for … Read more
The inner-west Auckland suburb has plenty to keep a stay-at-home dad and his baby occupied, writes Phil Pinner, who has been there and done that. Since Friday’s announcement that Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford are expecting a child in June, the father-to-be has inundated with unsolicited counsel. Gayford, who will be a stay-at-home dad for … Read more
Kapiti mum Alexandra Saunders knows the hell of renting. Here she talks to her daughter about the impact eight moves in eight years had on their family. Back in May, 2016, I was interviewed by TVNZ about renting substandard housing in Wellington. The resulting story said I had “moved [my] young family eight times in … Read more
Across the country there was celebration over the news prime minister Jacinda Ardern is pregnant with her first child. Privately, there was pain and heartache as those who wish for the chance to have a baby cope with the news. Alicia Young talks about compassion and empathy for those struggling. Remember that time we hosted … Read more
Two words from Emily Writes in response to today’s many terrible reckons: shut it. I live in the most wonderful liberal bubble. It is here in my echo chamber that I hide from terrible comments from people with shit for brains. I don’t venture into comments sections anymore; I just don’t want to be knee-deep … Read more
In the first story in a series celebrating the amazing things young New Zealanders do every day, James Kehoe Rowden talks to Angela Cuming about his commitment to protecting the environment, and how little can make a big difference. There are some people who see rubbish littering our streets and beaches and think to themselves … Read more
A message for prime minister Jacinda Ardern, who announced her pregnancy this morning. Dear Jacinda, First of all – like obviously – congratulations! Second of all – BABIES!! Little tiny feet and little hands and gummy smiles and button noses! Third of all – we’ve got your back. Seriously. That squeeing you heard across the … Read more
Antenatal classes can be a wonderful resource for new parents. They’re mostly run by volunteers and they generally cover what you need to know – but sometimes what’s covered is less useful than the chance to meet other new parents. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes asked parents to tell her what they wish they’d heard … Read more
The current conversation about the preservation of te reo has been focused on the role and responsibility of Māori speakers, as exemplified by Bill English’s claim that it’s not government’s place to save ‘someone else’s’ language. But what about Pākehā learners of te reo? Eliza Jane looks back on her experience at Auckland’s Newton Central … Read more