My god Andie, I loved this so much and am blown away by the resonances. Firstly, I read it in the bath at 5pm on a weekday while eating chicken crimpies, as my 9yo son practiced the clarinet. This would have been unthinkable 5 years ago when I was (as I still am) a sole parent, with a velcro child, prone to frequently googling "ambivalent motherhood". Secondly, Sinead. In the middle of my work day yesterday I was compelled to watch the video of The Emperors New Clothes on youtube. Four times. Is the opening line of that song not among the best ever to be penned? Thirdly, brilliant meditation on identity politics. I love that you went there. Fourthly, the neighbourhood FB vigilantes. I keep getting banned from ours for complaining about the home security footage bandits. Fifthly, the surprising moments of nostalgia for one's children's early childhood. The same thing occurred to me on the weekend. And I haven't even clicked on the links yet. Please never stop writing.
Thank you, this is such a lovely comment. One of the things I enjoy most about writing is putting an experience out there and then hearing back from a reader that they have these experiences too. Makes one feel so much more settled about things.
My god Andie, I loved this so much and am blown away by the resonances. Firstly, I read it in the bath at 5pm on a weekday while eating chicken crimpies, as my 9yo son practiced the clarinet. This would have been unthinkable 5 years ago when I was (as I still am) a sole parent, with a velcro child, prone to frequently googling "ambivalent motherhood". Secondly, Sinead. In the middle of my work day yesterday I was compelled to watch the video of The Emperors New Clothes on youtube. Four times. Is the opening line of that song not among the best ever to be penned? Thirdly, brilliant meditation on identity politics. I love that you went there. Fourthly, the neighbourhood FB vigilantes. I keep getting banned from ours for complaining about the home security footage bandits. Fifthly, the surprising moments of nostalgia for one's children's early childhood. The same thing occurred to me on the weekend. And I haven't even clicked on the links yet. Please never stop writing.
Thank you, this is such a lovely comment. One of the things I enjoy most about writing is putting an experience out there and then hearing back from a reader that they have these experiences too. Makes one feel so much more settled about things.