A 19th century figure who drew artistic inspiration from lengthy walks through the city, the flâneur spent his days unencumbered by schedules or responsibilities or, god forbid, young children. But these days, writes Thomasin Sleigh, the city streets are the realm of the pram-pushers. My baby is a pram-happy baby. Especially when he was very … Read more
How important is a diagnosis? Jessie Moss is a mother who knows all to well how much a diagnosis can change a life – in fact, it saved her daughter’s. The day had arrived and we were eager to get on with it. As four adults sat awkwardly around a child size table for sick … Read more
With two young children the nights can be long, so very, very long. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes writes about one marathon night among many. The night shift started with an attempt to write something and ignore the pitter patter of feet on the stairs. I knew they belonged to my four-year-old. He knew he … Read more
Charlotte Fielding wants another child. In this, the first in a four-part series, she writes about why she turned to the dating app Tinder in an attempt to complete her family. What if I had a baby and it didn’t have a dad? I asked my six-year-old son this question, as if it was rhetorical, … Read more
‘This is what depression does. It feeds you lies.’ In this anonymous post, a mother talks about how her journey through postnatal depression and out the other side – and implores us to talk about it to save other parents going through the same thing. Content warning: This post contains a descriptions of mental illness. … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes inspects the chicken nuggets at the Chipmunks indoor play centre. I can remember the first time I had chicken nuggets from the fine establishment that is Chipmunks. If you don’t know what Chipmunks is – … Read more
When it comes to sleep, identical twin babies might just hold the key to understanding what’s nature and what’s nurture – if twins have the same DNA and a mum who treats them the same, then surely it’s obvious: they’ll be two non-sleepers or two sleepers. If only it were that simple, says twin mum … Read more
An anonymous mother from New Zealand shares her story of marrying a man who has donated sperm multiple times in Australia – and the ongoing impact of decisions made more than a decade ago. Years before we met, my husband donated sperm. I can’t remember at what stage we were at in our relationship when … Read more
The NZ Herald hosting a video attacking children for the bathrooms they use at a New Zealand high school has shone a spotlight on the hate promulgated by Family First. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes shares some advice on how families can fight back. The hate group Family First is at it again. This time … Read more
Teaching love, tolerance, and inclusivity in the face of hate groups like Family First is incredibly important for our children. Scout Barbour-Evans has advice on talking to kids about gender, and how to support them if they’re transgender, takatāpui, and/or gender-diverse. My name is Scout, and I’m a takatāpui-identifying student, hopeful politician and hobby-writer living … Read more
What is it like when your children leave the nest? Amanda May writes about what she had hoped for and what it feels like now that her home is quiet. In the maelstrom of life, where the to-do-list is ever nagging, I have had moments of yearning for time out, space away from the responsibilities … Read more
Our Animals Expert and dad Thom Adams looks at the wonders of pregnancy in the wild and comes away with a powerful message for pregnant women everywhere: next time you’re feeling like shit because your heartburn is killing you, just be thankful you’re not carrying a third of your own bodyweight in eggs. I’ll say … Read more
Kat McKenzie writes for The Spinoff Parents about trying to have a family the unconventional way. Here she shares a letter she wrote to her not-yet-conceived baby. Dear Baby, Sometimes it feels like my heart is fracturing and little pieces have broken off and wedged in my throat and burn my eyes, as an aching … Read more
Let it Go, Let it Go, please for the love of all that is holy can’t they let that fluffing song go? Kids music can be great and it can also be more painful than childbirth. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes and dad and music critic Simon Sweetman discuss some of the better stuff that can be … Read more
Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes interviews a midwife and unwittingly reveals plenty of baggage from her own labour – mainly focused on how much she pooped. This is the fourth in a series of posts in which I ask health professionals questions about child health, crowd-sourced from you. Today’s interviewee is a lovely midwife who is remaining … Read more
Breastfeeding is the most simple and natural thing in the world, right? Not if your baby is a poor latch, or you’ve had breast surgery, or have low milk production – or a ton of other reasons – it’s not. Amanda May has a message for all mothers, however they feed their babies. There is … Read more
Over the course of her two pregnancies Anna Gowan has received some pretty ridiculous – and unsolicited – advice from dudes. She shares some of the worst and asks: why exactly do men feel the need to weigh in? I’ve been given invaluable advice from men recently. What’s the best garden box to grow vegetables … Read more
There are plenty of things that children love and parents hate: Barney the Dinosaur, mud puddles, getting up at the crack of dawn. But that’s nothing compared to the loathing Emily Writes has for those ride-on toy cars for children. Hate is a strong word. But I really feel strong feelings – feelings that are … Read more
What happens when your little darlings are spending the day at a holiday programme? They lie, they tell your secrets, they hurt themselves and others, says Thom Adams – and he wouldn’t have it any other way. For almost the entirety of my ‘big kid’ life, I’ve worked on school holiday programmes. For two weeks, … Read more
New Zealand has had legally-mandated equal pay for women since 1972 but, as the new Treat Her Right campaign makes clear, we still have far to go to reach true pay equality. Dr Jess Berentson-Shaw explains why the economic imbalance between genders is about a lot more than just equal pay for equal work. Last … Read more
What do you do when your child is being graded poorly in a system that doesn’t feel set up for kids like them? Emmaline Matagi writes of her hopes and dreams for a child who is smart, gentle, and ‘below standard’ in literacy. Albert Einstein once said: “Everybody is a genius, but if you judge … Read more
Mum of three Juliet Speedy writes of the worry and eventual acceptance of having babies who move in their own time. My third child was one year and one week old when he started crawling. I rang my Mum. “Mum! I have an early mover. A baby that moves! What do I do with him?!” … Read more
Every day, all around the world, babies are born and people become parents. It’s a beautiful thing. Emily Writes has a message for all of the new mothers who are welcoming their new babies. When a baby is born we say welcome. Here is this world for you precious baby. Here are the people who … Read more
The hilarious Thom Adams is back with tales of parenting from the animal world that are heart warming and terrifying. Definitely the only parenting post you will read today that includes the line “those fucking penguins”. In my last article I suggested that it was unhealthy to compare ourselves to good animal parents. I thought it … Read more
How can we stop devastating acts by mothers who are mentally ill? How can we support isolated mothers who are suffering from serious mental health issues? The first step, Julia Kerr believes, is changing the way we talk about mothers and mental illness to protect both children and their parents. Content warning: This post contains … Read more
Disney’s Moana has been a smash hit in New Zealand. Children everywhere want to dress up as characters from the movie. So how do you let your child dress up as Maui without appropriating Pasifika culture? It’s easy – Emmaline Matagi, an indigenous Fijian born in Fiji, tells you how. These holidays, Disney’s Moana graced the big screens … Read more
Starting a new school can be daunting for both parent and child. Janette Roberts is a mother of four, now adult children, and has been teaching for 30 years. She’s been there, done that – and she’s got some tips for you. My firstborn set off for his first day of school cheerfully with his dad, … Read more
This is The Spinoff Parents podcast, Dear Mamas, a straight-talking parenting conversation with Holly Walker and Emily Writes. Our brilliant and talented sponsors are Little Big Crate. Little Big Crate delivers gorgeous threads for your little big person, right to your front door. This episode includes discussion of the loss of a child, so please … Read more
The Wellington Sevens that took place this weekend was a noticeably less raucous party than tournaments of years gone by. Ruined by the ‘Fun Police’? Emily Writes isn’t buying it. The Sevens is no longer a drunken mess, she says – and that’s a good thing. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but The Fun … Read more