tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128598650087737063.post5670637228356955051..comments2023-10-28T23:27:11.116+11:00Comments on the rachel papers: Finding the words...Rachel Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076347414401820489noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128598650087737063.post-6388759838147188912015-03-31T21:40:28.260+11:002015-03-31T21:40:28.260+11:00Well,I've just had a listen and now I understa...Well,I've just had a listen and now I understand what happened. Your conversation was high jacked by another important conversation. You all handled it brilliantly but I'm so sorry it happened that way. I was looking forward to a different kind of chat.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18176168612075022125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128598650087737063.post-4179142034534627822015-03-30T21:02:28.495+11:002015-03-30T21:02:28.495+11:00I'm with you, Sister Outlaws! I think you'...I'm with you, Sister Outlaws! I think you're exactly right. It is part of a bigger disussion, and I wish I'd found a way to express what you've said here, but radio is so fast and high-pressure! But the important thing is that we all keep talking, and pushing towards a fairer and more realistic situation for mothers everyhwere... xRachel Powerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18076347414401820489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128598650087737063.post-22264600718348536502015-03-30T09:05:50.515+11:002015-03-30T09:05:50.515+11:00There is something bittersweet and compelling abou...There is something bittersweet and compelling about the challenges of motherhood and creativity - they are perpetual star crossed lovers. However I think the radio discussion opened up some bigger issues about the expectations on motherhood. There is so much pressure on primary carers in these days of constant watchfulness, over communication and ridiculous middleclass expectations of extracurricular activity and lifestyle - and all of it seems to fall onto the shoulders of the mother. There needs to be discussions around workplace and family life balance for both parents, examination of what is necessary in terms of school communications and commitments and taking the pressure off families. For goodness sake what I would do for a bit of benign neglect and the occasional care factor zero if my kid wants to learn another instrument. It's crazy that in order to parent and have a life we need to ask other busy primary carers to share the load. That doesn't suit everybody and doesn't always work. Adds more guilt and more feelings of being beholden to each other. What are the men doing about any of this? What are workplaces and schools doing about any of this? Thanks you for opening up discussions like this and being on radio talking about them I'm sorry the discussion did go down the lines of "I've got it harder than you" etc. But I think the wider point is that we have become a society where parenting has huge expectations that simply are impossible.sister outlawshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06836867834737377335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128598650087737063.post-49895923288765972452015-03-27T11:13:30.312+11:002015-03-27T11:13:30.312+11:00Rachel my husband phoned me from the car to tell m...Rachel my husband phoned me from the car to tell me the interview was on. I am so glad he did. It was great to listen to you, Clare and Pip. I thought that the three of you, and Jon Faine for that matter, did a fabulous job of responding to the at times very difficult circumstances some listeners spoke about. We all have challenges in our lives, some of us greater than others but I felt that you all spoke from the heart, with honesty and integrity. I really admired the way that Clare kept gently but firmly encouraging listeners to reach out to those around them and to find ways to get support. Asking is hard especially if, like me, you somehow see asking for help or asking for time means that you are less capable as parent/wife/writer. Don't lose heart, your book is wonderful and the radio interview sparked some great, gritty conversation that inspired me to look at what I need to do in my own life to carve out time and space.Nikki Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07061038678819861999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128598650087737063.post-65418835882959297192015-03-27T09:12:22.997+11:002015-03-27T09:12:22.997+11:00I'll go and have a listen, but don't be ra...I'll go and have a listen, but don't be rattled. It's OK for people have a different perspective on things. When that perspective doesn't cause harm, it's just that, perspective. It's worth contributing to a debate to help someone share and see your own perspective but it's OK if we see and share and understand things differently. It's those women, those mothers who share your perspective and want to be guided by it that you need to focus on, not those who don't share your perspective. I am really looking forward to re-reading the new edition. I share your perspective.Kate Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11731006032499344619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128598650087737063.post-736472335763919452015-03-27T08:56:05.502+11:002015-03-27T08:56:05.502+11:00There's no doubt about it, people suck. I'...There's no doubt about it, people suck. I'm yet to listen to the conversation, but I wonder if the people whinging have a creative bone in their bodies? Or perhaps they've tamped it down inside of them for so long, trying to be the perfect mother/parent that they've forgotten in there and are trapped. I can't wait to buy the book. I loved the first one. Even though your interviewees are a lot farther down the creative and parenting paths, it still resonates very loudly, and I'll be keeping my copy on the night stand. It'll be there to remind me to keep going, both as a parent and AS IMPORTANTLY a creative woman. Keep on trucking Rachel. We need you.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18176168612075022125noreply@blogger.com