My Family

We run a Locksmithing business in a suburb about 10 miles south of the Harbour. Melanie and Andrew have mostly taken me away from all of that.

We, well I, procrastinated about starting a family until, on Boxing Day 1990, I had an 'inspiration' that there was someone special waiting to be born, so within a fortnight was pregnant with Andrew, more precious to me than I could ever have imagined. Andrew, now attends Bardwell Park Infants, a sweet little school with 73 pupils.

I am a career-mum to Andrew, born on the 23rd September, 1991, and Melanie, (click 'here' for her birth story) born on the 8th August, 1995. I have found mothering to be the most wonderful and enriching years of my life. For us, continuum/attachment parenting was the only way to go, and I feel extremely fortunate that I am able to enjoy the company of two such magnificent people, full time.

I am constantly amazed at the incredible properties of breastmilk, and am so glad that both Andrew and Melanie have been very enthusiastic about long term breastfeeding. I am the membership secretary and locality mother for the local Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia, a fantastic resource for mothers, focusing on breastfeeding support. Their meetings are a wonderful way to meet caring mothers face to face, in your area. Their sister organisation, The La Leche League in the US offers similar support, and their Homepages created by cybersister Sue Ann Kendall offer a wealth of information and advice in breastfeeding matters.

The internet is such an incredible resource, and I have met many amazing women in 'cyberspace', and have developed treasured friendships with some. I am particularly devoted to several email mailing lists.

My favourite is a list of friends from Parent-l and SAH-AP. The SAH-Attachment Parenting list, a group of wonderful, nurturing parents dedicated to forming a close bond with their children by being there for them full time, and gently sharing their lives together. I have a page with photos of our first Sydney SAH-AP get together.

The Feminist Mothers at Home Group, a list of thoughtful, intelligent women who choose to stay at home and nurture their children, during the most important years of their lives.

Parent-l, offers insight and valuable advice to attachment parents who long term breastfeed, and the Taking Children Seriously (TCS) list, with discussions on the consequences of coercion on our children, and how to avoid coercive practices by creatively finding mutual consensus. Click 'here' for their new homepage.
Click 'here' for lots of great photos of the Sydney Parent-l'ers, and their wonderful children, who love any chance to get together, and dare I say gossip about the list.
If you enjoy a laugh, ' The Oracle's Humour Mailing List' is worth joining, as they regularly send you the latest humour circulating around the 'net. They also have an extensive archive. There are over 35,000 members worldwide, and in 1997 there were 682 members in Australia.

                  My 'Gumnuts'
            Melanie feeling her first
              teeth with her tongue
                3rd March 1996

                  10th may 1981

           
        Reconnecting with friends,
            memories and the
          exuberance of youth at
        our High School Reunion,
          a quick 20 years after
              graduating from
          St. George Girls High
              School in 1977.
                Incredible!!!!

        Andrew, totally devoted
  to Melanie, now has double the
        fun, on the slide at the park.
            19th October, 1996