The only thing that surprises me is that the public seem unaware of the crisis in education and when they are informed they simply comment that it’s terrible - if society doesn’t fight for a better education system now, it will pass the point of no return. I work in the high school system & feel so sad at how awful it has become for both teachers & students. Don’t blame kids, blame a broken system that society accepts.

Tell me one other profession that works for nothing - 24 hours a day, for days on end for camps & retreats, parent evenings, presentations, concerts and MARKING all weekend for NO remuneration. 

OMG!! Everything Mandy Nolan said, and I mean EVERYTHING, is exactly my experience, my feelings, what I think. 

But water & oil don’t mix - it’s a basic scientific principle, so how can this be?

Thank you! In particular, Abbie needs to hear that our love for our kids is "big love" not conditional, romantic love and this is something that you cannot know until you have experienced it. Our kids will always be the main characters in our lives - it is not the same for them. Again, until you have kids you cannot stand in the moment of understanding this. It's not a weird love for our sons - just everything that Mia said. And by the way Abbie, I had tears rolling down my face while I read Mia's response - because I am so privileged to be a part of the 'mother of sons club'. I hope you will be one day too.

You have articulated my experience perfectly. May I add: while I am on “holidays” I have marked a year12 assessment task; responded to student emails; prepared for some new texts that I have not taught previously, all the while smiling through gritted teeth at everyone telling me how lucky I am to be on “holidays”.

This is achingly beautiful. Thank you Edwina, for  letting me know that I should remember my friends baby to her.

Spot in, Holly. Was astounded at his vitriol 🤦‍♀️

Exactly!!! WHAT kind of a backwater are we?? WHY hasn’t this horrific tragedy been front & centre of all of our concerns??

I have no words 🥺 thoughts & prayers for mum

@ang eves I’m in!! We can even extend the group to ‘non - Ange’s’ as long as they’ve got teenagers 😜

I agree 💯 I often think that this stage with my teenagers is karma because I was a really confident mum of little kids & I have taught teenagers for 20 years, so naturally I thought I knew it all! It’s such a different & very lonely time parenting teens. It’s been a really big surprise to me. Would LOVE a mother’s group now, but only with mum’s who keep it real.

I cannot believe that everyone prepares you so well for the newborn/toddler years and no one speaks of this immeasurable grief. The ‘letting go’ of your teenagers is a pain I never expected. Also, I never imagined that I might have to work at a relationship with my kids, I just took it for granted that I would always be in their lives simply because I’m their mum. 

I have just listened to Mia talking about how she felt she had messed up with her kids this week & how your relationship with your children just grows more tenuous as they get older. I have never felt so understood & I had therapy about this just last week. I am tired of all of the ‘talk ‘ about parenting babies & young children as if that is all parenting is. I crave, need ‘talk’ about this season of parenting - there are literally millions of us in this ‘season’ of parenting- why the deafening silence?