Questions, Questions, Questions

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One of my single, male, 35 year old friends was lamenting the other day about how he kept getting asked by people when he was going to settle down and get a girlfriend. He was finding that this was the question that was dominating everyone's conversations with him, from his family, friends and workmates. 


I reminded him that our friends who had been together for over a year, we're always asked when they were were getting married, our newly wedded friends were being asked when they were having a baby and with Master Z turning 2, we were constantly asked when we were having our second. Hell, a friend was asked in the hospital last week, hours after giving birth to her beautiful second boy if she was going to try for a third!!!!!! Only a few hours after!!!!!! 


Many of the questions are well meaning interest or just to make conversation and finding common ground, but it can come across as seeming to be a need for people to want to know when you are going to be making the moves to fit into the 'house with a white picket fence' ideal of life. Married, 2.5 kids = happiness. If you don't fit into that box surely you can't be happy???? I am sure that is what my friend feels and he has said that he is fed up with the questions and in honesty, he doesn't want a relationship just for the sake of it. He has decided that although he has always wanted kids, he doesn't want a relationship just for that reason. He is not looking and surely that should be ok. 


I have been upset recently by the constant questions about when we are having our second baby - believe me, I am dancing as fast as I can on that one, but life doesn't always fall into place like that and not everyone strives for the house with the white picket fence. Some people look for the modern , colourbond fence, others want no fence at all. I hate being put on the spot with that question as I am sure that my friend gets uncomfortable every time he is grilled. 


I try to make an effort when talking to people, particularly those I don't know, to stay away from those presumptive questions and I hope that I have never made anyone uncomfortable with those questions in the past. I get that people are taking an interest, but they would be better placed asking me how the beautiful boy that I do have is going, or asking my newly wed friends how their new house is going, or my wonderful friend who has just given birth in the hospital how she is feeling. 


What questions do you find put you on the spot and make you uncomfortable? Am I being precious and unreasonable?


Linking up today with Jess at Diary of a SAHM - head over there to see what others have written for Tuesday

Chantel x

Things I know....This Week

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This week, I know...

• There never seems to be enough time in the week to get everything done I want to. Work competes with cleaning, cooking, shopping, relaxing, blogging, uni. But one thing I will always have time for is Master Z and his infectious smile. (for more reason than one, see point 3) Regardless of how busy life gets, he is my priority

• I already miss my work colleague Miss N as she galavants around Europe for 7 weeks. I have no one to discuss about what I made for dinner the night before or who in the office I think may be preggers! Have an awesome time Miss N - what are you doing reading this???? - get off your iPad and enjoy your trip!

• I made awesome gnocchi with a bolognase sauce last night, all in the thermomix - if Miss N isn't around to hear about my cooking, you will have to! Then I got my pre-season task for the week from Michelle Bridges 12 WBT where she wants us to clean out our kitchen of the bad foods and I know that it will be the last time I have gnocchi for a long time.

• I am being diligent in all the said pre-season tasks so that I am in the right frame of mind to start the new programme on the 26th September.

• I know I harp on about it, but week 6 of daycare and 6th lurgy - this boy will have a constitution of steel by the time the year is out

• I know that the Freo Dockers have made a very stupid move getting rid of Harvey when he has done so much the last few years building new foundations. Oh well, it is just going to make the Eagles' job so much easier!! C'arn the Eagles, please beat the Blues tomorrow!

What do you know this week?? I am linking up with Shae and Yay for Home! Hop on over to check it out.

Chantel x

This week, I know I am ashamed.....

sorry for the cliched image

I have always been a proud, boxing kangaroo flag flying, yellow and green wearing Australian. This week, I am ashamed to be Australian.

I am ashamed that our parliament is having to have a debate about an issue that shouldn't even be an issue. An issue that is a civil right and should be available to everyone. I am talking about marriage and specifically marriage between two people of the same sex. 

What angers me is that in this day and age there is this inequality among our society. That it is even an issue that we are having to debate is terrible. That people in same sex relationships have to fight and rally for legislative change is archaic. The marriage legislation as it stands denies people in a same sex relationship and their families legal equality and perpetuates discrimination and prejudice. 

It doesn't matter if you don't believe a marriage licence is worth the piece of paper it is written on, the fact remains if you are in a heterosexual relationship, you have the choice to get married if you want to. People in same sex relationships are not afforded that right. 

I myself, love being married and I value my marriage and it saddens me that there are still people in our country that are don't have the opportunity to marry the person they love. 

I am linking in with Yay for Home's Things I Know

Chantel x

Things I Know...My week

I thought I would link up with Yay for Home's "Thing I Know" this week as I haven't really been near the computer much and want to try to be more consistent and I think if I set my self a task for each day of the week, I am more likely to do this.

 

I know Man Flu is life threatening and causes the male sufferer to lose powers of mobility, speech and reason - and it has similar symptoms in the male under 2. When transmitted to the female however, the symptoms are very subdued and they allow the female sufferer to continue on with life and responsibilities as normal!


I know that joking aside, TBone is obviously working long, hard days for us at the moment and must have been pretty run down to have caught said man flu and I am grateful he was able to have 4 days off to rest up and be refreshed for the coming months which are going to be very busy for him at work.


I know that I enjoy going to work, but not really for the work I do, more for the people I work with that make me laugh each day and allow me to distract them from doing the serious stuff.


I know that I have missed Mum and Dad while they have been off galavanting around Europe for the last six weeks and I can't wait to see them Tuesday.


I know how much of a help they are to me by having Master Z two days a week to allow me to go to work - I appreciate them.


I know I am really looking forward to this weekend, celebrating my birthday with my boys and going to the zoo on Sunday - Master Z is at a really good age to enjoy it and I can't wait to see his face.


I know The Sassy Cookie in Vic Park does the best gluten free cupcakes ever - and I may or may not be addicted - 3 trips in 3 days isn't bad surely???? (not all for me.....)

What do you know? Head to see Shae at Yay for Home!  to check it out.

Have a great weekend

Chantel x