I Was Made to be a Wife and Mother (Part Two)

‘Who says?’ I was taken aback. Who says that I can never be truly happy unless I am married with children? Well, just about every book, play, film, TV show or advertisement that has ever been written for starters. Society, churches, our families and friends. We all ‘know’ from childhood that ‘happy ever after’ has to include a lifelong … Continue reading I Was Made to be a Wife and Mother (Part Two) →

I Was Made to be a Wife and Mother (Part One)

I may have had mixed feelings when my first sister arrived, but by the time the second one came along, when I was 6, I was more than up for this mothering lark . My middle sister and I fought over whose turn it was to get her out of her cot in the morning, … Continue reading I Was Made to be a Wife and Mother (Part One) →

Small Acts of Defiance

There is a photograph of me aged 2½ holding my newborn baby sister. I am apparently delighted, and smiling for the camera. What you cannot see is me weeing on that sofa. Oh yes! A small, silent act of defiance in the face of the arrival of this tiny impostor who has turned my world upside … Continue reading Small Acts of Defiance →

Dancing in the Dark

I am no dancer. When I was eight I begged my parents to let me have ballet lessons like my younger sister. She was graceful and elegant and artistic. I was not. A year later my parents bribed me to stop ballet, offering me violin lessons instead. I must have been truly dreadful for them … Continue reading Dancing in the Dark →