Sunday 19 May 2013

Is ranking family members really necessary?

Last week I spotted an article titled "Do you put your hubby or your child first?"

Thankfully, it wasn't the article I expected. 

The author had noticed the same thing I noticed some time back - that a new trend had emerged. A trend which ranks the order of your love. 

The article reads:



"If you claim you put your children first, you’re Martyr Mummy, running yourself to a ragged standstill  accommodating your children’s whims, then swatting away your husband’s tiresome sexual advances in favour of a bottle of wine (or two – right, girls?) and a resentful flick through your collection of Ryan Gosling memes.

"The racier reply, popular with celebs, is to beam sunnily that you put your relationship before the children. Which is meant to signal to the world that you’re still the frisky little lovebirds you always were prior to little Liam or Madeleine’s arrival."


Celebrities such as Keith Urban and Giuliana Rancic as well as several writers and journalists have been forthcoming in proclaiming the latter. 

Though research suggests that - when asked - most people identify with the former. That is to say they put their children first, but does that mean they love them more? Or just differently? 

Or more to the point, why are they being asked in the first place? 

Do we really need to start ranking our loved ones? 

The question offends me almost as much as the ever-popular, "do you have a favourite child?"

Most of us have a lot of love to give. And some of us are blessed enough to have many loved ones to whom we can offer that love. 

Proclaiming who you love the most - and even having a personal ranking system - is, to me, an absurd concept. 

But what about you? Do you have a favourite child or purposefully order the love for your children and partner? Or do you find such questions as off-putting as I do? 




Tuesday 7 May 2013

Hands Up For Miracle Babies

When I was asked to be an ambassador for the Miracle Babies Foundation a few years ago I was both honoured and proud. 

Miracle Babies Foundation is Australia’s leading organisation supporting premature and sick newborns, their families and the hospitals that care for them.

Miracle Month of May is the organisation's national awareness campaign that highlights the struggles faced by over 45,000 Australian babies and their families each year.

Prematurity is the number one single cause of death in children.
Those who survive can face lifelong issues, challenges and disabilities including cerebral palsy, health issues, behavioural disorders, failure to thrive and difficulties at school and long term stress for the family.
Miracle Babies cares for these families from pregnancy till the children are 6 years of age and then beyond.
It is the only provider of care and support specific to these families and the only organisation working with neonatal health professionals on education, training and research which has international recognition.
Miracle May includes the following initiatives. Your support can make such a huge impact. 
Hands Up for Miracles - Become a regular giver for just $5 a week
Donations accepted - www.miraclebabies.org.au or by phoning 1300 622 243
Miracle Babies Merchandise - For sale at Best & Less stores Nationally
1-16 May              Champions of Kangaroo Care Photo Comp 
3 May                   WA Charity Golf Day, Perth


12 May                 Mother’s Day gift for all families in an Australian Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
14 May                 Volunteer Meeting, Melbourne and Perth
14-18 May            National Volunteers Week
16 May                 Volunteer Meeting, Adelaide
15 May                 International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day
16 May                 Winner of Champions of Kangaroo Care Photo Competition Announced
18 May                 Annual Ball, Sydney
19 May                 Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon, Sydney
 24 May                Pregnancy, Babies and Children Expo, Sydney
 26 May                HBF Run for a Reason, Perth