tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post8139069418592143668..comments2024-01-21T20:50:37.612+11:00Comments on GourmetGirlfriend: Idle Parenting GourmetGirlfriendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14540195749908936684noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-18395648983280453212014-06-10T14:42:05.079+10:002014-06-10T14:42:05.079+10:00Thank you for these words! Guilt is such a part of...Thank you for these words! Guilt is such a part of parenting, and it is wise to let go of the unnecessary tasks and not feel guilty about being in pajamas late in the day or something. I love the part about going to bed knowing you'd lived true to yourself that day. When I put relationships first, the day feels complete.Nickinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-51224470997285534792014-06-10T14:42:00.085+10:002014-06-10T14:42:00.085+10:00I follow you in the way of idly parenting in many ...I follow you in the way of idly parenting in many ways and I look forward to getting better at it. I totally overthink things of course but I've over thought my whole life and it's hard, hard, hard to change that now. Thanks for shining your light through the world Ruth. xCat_BeLoverlynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-5739450787944270582014-05-03T11:37:36.927+10:002014-05-03T11:37:36.927+10:00I'm a little late to the party, but I wanted t...I'm a little late to the party, but I wanted to say thanks for including a link to my post on Idle Parenting. It's always nice to see another parent's perspective, especially one that's coming through on the other side of the early years. It's hard, when you start going down that road where you become super-involved and find yourself micro-managing their lives, to shift gears and let them be. And also to let yourself be the kind of parent you want to be - not the kind of fantasy parent you imagined! Our house is messier than I'd often like, we've given up a lot of extracurriculars so that we're home more, and we look a little odd from the outside ... but we have a lot of fun and my kids are growing up to be sensible, independent people. Thanks again, and here's to laid-back weekends!The Risky Kids {Angie}noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-2452392240802338132014-04-01T14:22:23.528+11:002014-04-01T14:22:23.528+11:00Greta post Ruth I think you have a wonderful famil...Greta post Ruth I think you have a wonderful family and love your way of parenting and thank you for this recipe it looks wonderful.I am so glad Polly Jean is ok,so so pleased for you and your family XxLisa Mckenzienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-29146625295437973252014-03-12T14:57:51.969+11:002014-03-12T14:57:51.969+11:00dearest ruth. i showed my lovely sister anna (your...dearest ruth. i showed my lovely sister anna (your old english teacher), the photo of you (in all your patterned glory!) from your instagram post and she said, "gee. ruth has always stayed 'true' to herself hasn't she?" so here's two of us who think you are doing a tremendous job of staying 'true'. xGKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-21505715393265265732014-03-11T14:32:03.893+11:002014-03-11T14:32:03.893+11:00I love you and I love Joan. Thank you for keeping...I love you and I love Joan. Thank you for keeping it real on the parenting front and always bringing forward the best music. Some times I feel disconnected from the world and absorbed in the life of my 9 month old but I can always rely on your reconnecting me to music. Thank you, thank you, thank you. and yay for the good PJ news. Have a super dayverymerrygerrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-50052454835476089692014-03-11T12:43:58.563+11:002014-03-11T12:43:58.563+11:00thank youthank youKatenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-55744775286101726942014-03-11T12:14:30.243+11:002014-03-11T12:14:30.243+11:00What a great post! I just love that you haven'...What a great post! I just love that you haven't read the idle parenting book - ahaha! That just says it all! Totally with you on the idea of idle parenting (sounds good, and I did click on the link you gave... but the list was just too long for me :-)Steph Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-45095516466952069442014-03-11T11:30:08.970+11:002014-03-11T11:30:08.970+11:00Loved this post Ruth, and very refreshing. I have...Loved this post Ruth, and very refreshing. I have also decided that it's okay to lead a simple, quiet life for my family. I hate rushing here and there all the time...it's exhausting. Also what a relief for your dog Polly Jean. (we have a little Jack Russell named Polly)!!Sharonhttp://www.goziandpop.blogspot.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-75740150313205286442014-03-11T08:20:10.422+11:002014-03-11T08:20:10.422+11:00Another great post Ruth. I love Tom's book. ...Another great post Ruth. I love Tom's book. I've had it sitting on my beside table for a couple of years now and subscribe as fully as I can to its tenets. And SO pleased to hear about your Bassett ~ that is great news! xCaro Websternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-89631838604770100352014-03-10T22:39:05.300+11:002014-03-10T22:39:05.300+11:00Yet again Ruth, you provide me with words to spur ...Yet again Ruth, you provide me with words to spur me on in this motherhood caper. I'm so appreciative of reading your take on parenting. It really helps a lot. Especially to an over thinking worrier type like me!! ;-) I must say though, I'm going with my instincts more and more these days. I'm trying to leave the thinking of "right" and "wrong" behind and just try to consciously lead by example and talk to my kids more so they get the reason behind things rather than just trying to get them to conform to my requests to make my life easier!!! With 3 kids 5 and under, it's easy to get caught up in survival mode so I'm glad I'm making an effort to relax (is that an oxymoron or what?!?!?!) and let go of my ideals and just be with the kids. It's seriously when the BEST conversations and hilarity ensues. And I'm with you on extra curricular activities. Other than swimming for survival purposes, we are not AT ALL in to over scheduling our kids. Weekends are for hanging out in our pjs, getting the boys in the garden with their dad and family outings at the running track and "big adventures" (which is what my kids call any outing we do!!!) Thank you for sharing your approach. I love these ones the most. And this dish looks AMAZING! I will definitely try it. My fussy eater won't try most foods but loves Asian flavours so I'm always looking for new ones to try.xoxoxoAmy {The Misadventurous Maker}noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-77993357175948135872014-03-10T21:28:09.158+11:002014-03-10T21:28:09.158+11:00Another wise post Ruth, I love your last paragraph...Another wise post Ruth, I love your last paragraph before the recipe. Great advice.Jane @ Shady Bakerhttp://shadybaker.blogspot.com.au/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-91168108941436301702014-03-10T15:28:50.012+11:002014-03-10T15:28:50.012+11:00Hi Kate!
So nice you came by over here!
I think th...Hi Kate!<br />So nice you came by over here!<br />I think that the worry part of parenthood does get really BIG as they get older. I totally understand this. We are heading into that territory & it makes me ever so aware of how different the parenting of older children/young adults is to the worries of young children.<br />Following your gut is a good thing I think. Remembering to do that is sometimes not easy. And YES to having a network of peeps that feel the same as you!<br />If somehow my blog has helped you then I am very happy. xxGourmetGirlfriendnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-54290284940482847742014-03-10T15:24:09.519+11:002014-03-10T15:24:09.519+11:00phew to PJ being ok! Swimming lessons are a good t...phew to PJ being ok! Swimming lessons are a good thing! but yes taking a rest is good.<br />mmmm bread<br />xxGourmetGirlfriendnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-77494637274464750772014-03-10T15:23:12.849+11:002014-03-10T15:23:12.849+11:00i know you didn't mean that Reannon. I guess i...i know you didn't mean that Reannon. I guess i just wanted to clarify it in case I hadn't made sense in the post. <br />i think as long as we are constantly mindful of the way we behave then we are on the right track eh! bumbling along together. xxxxGourmetGirlfriendnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-15095561185270586222014-03-10T14:05:37.573+11:002014-03-10T14:05:37.573+11:00Thank you so much for this post, it was me who ask...Thank you so much for this post, it was me who asked on IG. I have 4 children and they are older than yours, my eldest has just moved out to go to uni, yet still I struggle with worry, over thinking and stressing about things that honestly go against me and my core values. I think the older my children have got the less confident i feel in my parenting. The more I'm being influenced and effected by societies expectations which are often very far removed from my own instincts. I would love to build myself a small network of inspiring women/familys where we could support and nurture each other on this sometimes lonely and isolating parenting journey.katenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-77952054496116461362014-03-10T13:56:49.181+11:002014-03-10T13:56:49.181+11:00Haha not for one minute did I mean to imply that i...Haha not for one minute did I mean to imply that i thought you were idle Ruth! No more that I am that parent who finds it hard to not interfere, over think or over worry about my kids & my parenting. I am a control freak & it does stem from being the eldest of 6 & the enviroment I grew up in.<br /><br /><br /> It's so hard to change that about myslef & you are so right when you say "It's hard isn't it to find the balance between the things in our own childhood that don't sit well and feeling as if we are getting it right for our own kids." I struggle with that on a daily basis!<br /><br /><br />As for the sleep thing...he's a great day sleeper its just the nights he hasnt figured out yet! But that is one of the joys about having a big gap between the kids, I KNOW he will eventually sleep, he will, I just wish it would be soon :) I hear him waking up now....Thanks for replying Ruth & I will check out that link xReannon Hopenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-65084713145544561512014-03-10T13:32:44.384+11:002014-03-10T13:32:44.384+11:00Thank goodness Polly Jean is fine!
I'm all ab...Thank goodness Polly Jean is fine!<br /> I'm all about the no extra curricular activities but my childhood experience of being terrified of the pool at age 10 has led me to insist on swimming lessons for my kids. We are having a break next term though. Other than that, our weekends are all about spending time together as a family, either staying home, or going out. My 5 year old son declared on Saturday night that 'going out for dinner is my favourite thing ever!'<br />And I've started making my own bread!! And loving it! I'm daydreaming about bread recipes today...Averilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-44446561829358850872014-03-10T13:24:03.629+11:002014-03-10T13:24:03.629+11:00I think the notion of Idle parenting doesn't m...I think the notion of Idle parenting doesn't mean being idle- that is NOT something I ever am. But more so the idea of not being an interfering parent or an over worrier. The link to the other website I popped in my post puts it all so well I think.<br />I think one of the things that happens in a larger family is that there just isn't the time to worry about some of the things that others may do. <br />My ting with activities is really about how much it 'actually' enriches a child's life- or is it that the parents feel guilty if there kids are doing nothing? To me there is way more value in a child's 'nothing' (which of course is ANYTHING but nothing if that makes sense?!) <br />It's hard isn't it to find the balance between the things in our own childhood that don't sit well and feeling as if we are getting it right for our own kids. <br />Thankyou always for your comments Reannon & I really hope you get some sleep soon! <br />Gosh that is hard. xxxxxGourmetGirlfriendnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315813441386653699.post-19714450193598126242014-03-10T13:10:17.635+11:002014-03-10T13:10:17.635+11:00I wish I could be an idle parent but it's just...I wish I could be an idle parent but it's just not in my make up. I am probably the opposite but not quite a " tiger" mum either. I find it hard to sit idle ( although these last few months with a non sleeping baby & growing a baby at the same time has seen me with no choice but to be!) & I think because I grew up in a family where I had no opportunity to do extra curricluar activities & parents who were not overly involved I feel like I've become the opposite to them & I think I should be offering these to my kids. But you've given me something to think about Ruth, a different view on parenting & that is why I love you- MWAH!<br /><br /><br />And I'm so gald that Polly Jean is AOK :)Reannon Hopenoreply@blogger.com