My baby is one year old. She does not want to crawl or walk yet. She does not like to cry or fuss about anything. What she likes to do is smile, wave regally, and blow raspberries. She wants to splash in the bath, and sing like a fighting cat in the quietest places. She likes to stretch up her hands for a cuddle. She makes a rainbow mess with food. She turns the upside-down pages of books and chews on them. I know she will take their arbitrary milestones, rearrange them and b

When mothers meet, they often talk about The Birth. It wasn’t how they planned. We need to share our trauma with someone who’d understand. Nobody tells you might labour for days in mind-bending pain. Nobody tells you it might all be in vain. Nobody tells you you’ll be helpless and scared witless. Nobody tells you about the scars and stitches. Nobody tells you you’ll become worn thin, with lack of sleep and screams kept in It’s beautiful, it’s a miracle, it’s a blessing, they