Mum’s the word in so many forms

I THOUGHT there would be a manual when I became a mum. There are a gazillion how-to books and weekly columns from clueless parents (that’s me) muddling their way through but no definitive way to parent, and it’s frankly very annoying.

Some days I just want to be told what to do and how to do it.

The days when I’m sleepdeprived and she is too. The days when farm animal biscuits are the only thing she will eat. The days when I give up and Play School takes over.

Those are the days when I hope to goodness “mother’s instinct” kicks in and we all make through to the end of the day, alive.

Some mothers are perfectionists. Some mothers are worriers. Some mothers are impossibly cool and put together. I’m the kind of mother who is a little loose, not in the consume-abottle-of-wineat-5pm way (not on a regular basis, anyway), just in terms of my parenting style. I let my daughter feed the dog and then feed herself. The other day I found her eating an eggshell. We ran out of nappies this week so she just rolled around the house naked. We don’t just play in puddles, we sit in them. And her clothes are constantly dirty.

She’s a carefree kid and I’m a pretty relaxed mum and so far, so good ... until this week.

I found myself in a bit of a social media snafu after posting a video of my daughter playing with a coffee pot. First, before you report me, it was not filled with hot liquid, was not sitting on a high bench or on a hot stove. She had pulled it out of the bottom kitchen drawer and was playing with it on the floor, looking at her reflection in the metal and slamming the lid shut with a very loud “clang”.

A mum on Facebook accused me of endangering my child by letting her play with an object that, in another context, could have been dangerous. From the tone of the post, you’d think I’d let my daughter chop apart a doll with a sharpened carving knife or drive the car home. I fired back to say I thought I was doing the right thing by my daughter and that’s really all any mum can hope for. I felt good to stand up for myself.

So, as we approach Mother’s Day this week, I look forward to the slippers and the candles but mostly I look forward to little less

A MUM ON FACEBOOK ACCUSED ME OF ENDANGERING MY CHILD BY LETTING HER PLAY WITH AN OBJECT THAT, IN ANOTHER CONTEXT, COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS. FROM THE TONE OF THE POST, YOU’D THINK I’D LET MY DAUGHTER CHOP APART A DOLL WITH A SHARPENED CARVING KNIFE OR DRIVE THE CAR HOME.”

judgment from others. There is no such thing as a perfect parent, just a whole bunch of us doing the best job we can do on a whole lot less sleep than we need.

REGARDING a letter in last Saturday’s edition denigrating National Servicemen marching on Anzac Day:

1. There have been two NS schemes since World War II, with differing requirements, which were erroneously simplified by the anonymous contributor.

2. Many of the men who were pictured have continued to voluntarily serve the nation, and fellow servicepeople and their dependants for up to 60 years.

3. All had to wait upward of 40 years, to receive (a) government recognition of their conscripted/voluntary service, and/or (b) DVA recognition of injuries incurred during their service. (c) Many continued to serve in the armed services, for many years after their compulsory service requirement had been met. (d) Many Nashos suffered the same insults hurled at Vietnam Veterans, while wearing their uniform, in public. (e) While raising money for the RSL, Legacy, and veteran support services, members of the public have never asked me “How long did you serve?”, they say “Thank you for your service”.

Bruce Richards. (356096. Sgt, Royal Australian Artillery … that’s what it says on my two medals. I would add PROUD NASHO)

WHAT happened to building a motorcycle track next to the speedway in Lara? We have so much room in Australia and they can’t find a small patch for a track. Obviously someone with a lot of power is constantly stopping any progress on this issue.

HONESTLY Advertiser, your online poll should have been where the location of motocross track should be. It’s totally inappropriate to have it on the edge of the Barwon River, a wildlife corridor. Save the Barwon

IF motocross supporters have a petition with 2000 supporters, why didn’t these people lodge submissions stating why they wanted the track with council? It’s so easy to do so. I remember the noise and mess they made at Breakwater, also the fact they were ordered out of the Barrabool Hills for not following the rules at the expense of council-spent money.

Have your say

NORTHERN Exposure (GA 1/5), the northern suburbs will only get government assistance when it becomes a marginal seat.

Local

SO Kayne David Green gets a lousy seven month sentence for permanently mentally scarring a three-year-old. Should have got seven years; send a message to others who think young children can be treated like this.

Hard time

WHEN Michael Hussey gets back from India, will he quarantine at Michael Slater’s home?

Just wondering

Why not?

MARK from Geelong (GA 1/5), if bicycles are legal vehicles why are they not paying registration?

Fare’s Fair

While, legally, cyclists are permitted to ride two abreast, that does not mean it is safe, for both cyclists and motorists. Sometimes, “the law can be an ass”. Common sense needed

PETER Rodgers (GA 1/5) Karen Matthews’ comments were about freedom of choice by the Diggers — exactly what they fought and died for. Thundercliffe

Osborne House was a jewel in Corio Shire, neglected when CoGG formed. Typical