Are we still having this conversation??????

Image from here

Gay marriage and same sex parenting have been a couple of hot topics for longer than I'd like to know.  They have been covered on two particularly fabulous blogs here Woogsworld and Mammamia.

I just don't get it.  I have never actually seen the big deal about whether a man and a man get married or a child has two mums.  I am not being naive or particularly left wing when I say this but I do not understand why this is such a big deal.  I always think if two people love each other and want to - then get married, if you want to have children and you can love them and provide for them - do it!

I know far too many straight people that have been married and divorce, they cheat on each other, they stay married and hate each other, they basically suck at being married.  Or they could be like me and be the straight couple that have no real interest in getting married . There are many great straight couples that have wonderful marriages but I'm sure if you asked them why their marriage works it would not be because one has a penis and the other a vagina.

I also know straight parents that regret having their children, leave their children in questionable care, do not really give a damn about their children or their education, rights, experience , etc.   I am a straight parent but I do not think , by any stretch of the imagination, my parenting skills came from the fact I like to have sex with a man or that I am in a 'regular couple'.

On the other hand I also am very lucky to know some great couples and single people who are gay.  They have great relationships and are wonderful with the children in their lives.  Yes, just like with straight people there are gay people that are good and bad parents or good and bad at relationships. 

What I am trying to say is how can we, as a society, equate sexual orientation to whether a person is able to be a parent or enter into a marriage? How is it  a government's right to stand back and say 'well all we really know about you is you are gay so sorry no child/marriage for you?'. 

I am horrified that these issues are still so dominant in our society and I am hoping by the time my daughter is an adult she wont be still writing about this.  I am hoping that by the time the Madam is my age our country would have progressed, our world we be more equal and all those people that want to will be married and all those kids that need great parents will have them.

Things I found to share...

• Amazing photography and an inspiring video........Fly from Nearby (plus it made me want to move to Melbourne!)
• If you want to redecorate...be warned... it's fabulous.........Ish & Chi
• Just beautiful......6.5st
• Some great advice I will try and follow
• The best posters ever
• the funniest dog photo... this would scare the daylights out of me
• Garden to table......I can't wait to have a functioning vegie garden in our new house!

Animal Kingdom

Image from here

The  Mr has gone back to work and the madam and I have had a bit of a slack/inside day today.  Even though I had a lot of stop starts and a few interruptions I have managed to watch Animal Kingdom.  It is brilliant - if you haven't seen it - get it!

I absolutely adore anything Australian but I know just because it is Australian doesn't mean it will be great but this is.  Set in Melbourne it is the story of a teenage boy who's mum dies so he has to go live with his Grandma and Uncles.  They are involved in a variety of criminal activity so it makes for an interesting lifestyle when you combine that with a city of corrupt police. 

The cast include Ben Mendelsohn who I adore.  I have seen all of his movies and he never fails to amaze me.  He can play a complete asshole and you still want to like him.  Sullivan Stapleton is also in this film and as always is fantastic as well as being so nice to look at!

But the stand out has to be Jacki Weaver  who shows just how hard it is sometimes to be a mum and how , as a mum, you'll do anything to protect your kids.  She completely blew me away.

Anyway, it is out on DVD, so grab a copy or I'll lend you mine but it is a great (grown up) movie - you wont be sorry.  If you do see it I would love to know what you think!

Freedom

This is my new favourite song....I have followed Kid Mac for a while (a good Aussie lad!)....this is his new single......happy Monday xx

Definitely a summer anthem

Genetics is a bitch

Don't get me wrong - I adore my daughter and believe with all my being that she is capable of doing anything and everything.  I think that there are just some things, that strangely enough, repeat themsleves throughout the generations.

I tried sports , I sucked at it, but I loved the socialising.  After attending the madam's second soccer game (after doing a soccer workshop as well) I think she is a mamma's girl! Much to my amusement she was much more interested in talking to the boys than chasing the ball....thus the Mr is now taking her to the park for practice sessions.

I think art might be her forte!

One, two...what did you do?

Okay I have tried about fifteen times to write this post.  I know I have a tendencies to over analyse and drrrrrrrrrrawwwwwwww things out so I am trying to make this simple.

How did you, if you did at all, decide how many children to have?  Was it just go with the flow or a process? What was your reasoning? Would you do it differently if you could?

I ask because we have decided to stay with the Madam being an only child.  The Mr doesn't particularly want to increase the number of small people in our house - and I wont do it if I'm the only one that actually wants another one (to messy).

But.............

I have had numerous people recently comment on this lifestyle decision of ours - both pro only children and pro more kids so I wondered what you all thought.

* Just for the record if any family/friends from my real world read this - we are not trying for another one nor intending to try - it is just a question*

Revolution required

I found this through Marvellous Kiddo - it is amazing.  Dr Ken Robinson talking about why we need to revolutionise our education systems.  As an out and proud geek - this gave me great food for thought.  He has a few talks so I might post them over the week.

I would love to hear what you all think - what is your approach to education? What is your approach to your kids education?