He was writing about his lived experience and feelings, which he is entitled to. He doesn’t need to try and make every person reading it feel that they are represented and ok with his perspective. His experience and his words, shared articulately and from the heart as a loving dad. Everyone’s experiences in this journey are unique. 💙

@kazzieclarke oh my goodness. How did you get that he was ignored? He was well cared for, went for family trips and a walk every day. I know people who say they love their dogs (and do) but their dogs aren’t exercised daily and are probably not as cared for.   

I feel sorry for the sister… I would let her bring the boyfriend. She might want him there for confidence too, who knows. And he doesn’t have to be in ALL the photos or family pics. I would be really hurt if I was judged by my family for how long my relationships last. Plenty of time for ‘the one’, she’s allowed to have fun.. Sounds like some hurtful, judgy things have been said unnecessarily. She’s the sister, I would have let her partner come and made her happy. Wouldn’t be a big deal. 

@anonymous  Yes on the holidays I’m not up at the crack of dawn and there are perks (best one  for me is being with my kids)  however I have worked every day so far except the weekend as I needed a couple of days off after being on camp with my students for the week. Then I drag my poor kids to school with me in the holidays as well to work. Besides my class work, I am setting up garden beds at school too, because I rank it of time in the school term. I’m not complaining, I love my job and it’s always been this way, but saying we get all the holidays isn’t completely true. I enjoy the first part of Christmas holiday, but once we are into Jan, planning for the new class begins 🙂

Enjoy! My son was the same age, it was just that beautiful evening feed and I would have continued if I didn’t need to go back into hormones for IVF for our third and final. It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. Don’t take on board any of the negative comments… he’s a toddler-not a school kid! Still a bub. Enjoy these precious moments x

@mamamia-user-556745246 I agree with you. I felt like it’s fine to write about their adoption experience (even really important and beneficial)  and I understand it’s their careers also, but it could have been done so in a more anonymous manner for the children. I’m not a fan of people sharing their young children in social media, but I understand it’s their choice to make as parents (even though it feels funny writing that as the kids themselves aren’t getting a choice about themselves being shared to the world!) but this just didn’t sit right with me because their lives and situation are even more sensitive and unique as they aren’t with their birth parents. I feel it’s THEIR story to share one day when they are older, if they choose to. 

@hchadwick you start with gender and then where does it end? Eye colour? Hair colour? It sounds stupid but it’s all the same. Babies are all precious and I can’t imagine anything more painful for a woman to hear of other women selecting genders when they would give their right arm for any baby. If you think kids and their relationship to you is based on their gender, THAT’S the issue. 

@hchadwick because it isn’t a shopping list

I love these days. Of course it’s a juggle. And I don’t think the other mums ARE super Mums … just juggling like we all are.

Wowee. What a story. Thank you soo much for sharing this. You just kept on picking yourself up… you are incredible x

Dear Emily,