Gemma Hartley

It probably isn’t the sort of parenting moment that is supposed to make a mother proud — the hitting, growling, and otherwise uncivilized decorum... But I couldn’t help feeling a deep satisfaction with my daughter.

I am sometimes painfully envious of other (usually childless) writers who are doing the very thing I swore I would have done by now — publishing a novel.

As a freelancer who works from home, I get the best of both worlds as a parent.

Raise a glass to Friendsgiving - feasting without any sides of controversy or conspiracy theorizing. Friendsgiving is the best of all feasts.

It wasn’t the name I would have picked — not originally, at least — but as days turned into weeks, it grew on me.

If you were to walk into my house on any given day, you wouldn’t know that I am an efficient and organized person.

I spent most of my life assuming I was an introvert, but not a very good one. Then finding out I'm an ambivert totally changed my life!

I’m not saying there is no joy to motherhood. I go through periods where I do feel like I’m at my parenting best. There are times when I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the amazing life and children I’ve been given. It can be so, so good. But what I’m saying is, it doesn’t always have to feel like that.

There is a time to be prudent and fair to “many sides” of an issue, but dealing with Nazis is not that time.

I want and need to save some room for myself, to know that I am worthy of a place in the world without the label of mother.