But, to me it's more than just a pinnie. It represents how I like to fit in to the world. I read an article on the weekend that prompted me to climb clumsily and half informed, on to my soapbox. (The only way to get on a soapbox, I reckon!) It was banging on about a new generation of women who live the full 1950's housewife lifestyle, complete with full face of makeup and a parade of outfits for every hour of the day. They claim not to have lost the feminist vision and live the way they do by choice. In some part I'm on the same dusted-off page. I was, for a long time adamant (argumentatively so) that gender was a bit of a myth and we are feminine or masculine because of nurture, not nature... then I had a boy. He is loud, physical and tests his strength at every opportunity (at the expense of the furniture, the cat and his sister. He has his sensitive side but it's no secret which characteristics dominate... then I had a girl. She kisses everything with a face, has never torn a page in any of my books and is very attached to her Dad. Case closed. Girls and boys are different. Now, I will get to a point of some sort. I'm a girl and I like sewing, cooking, dressing up and looking after my kidlets. I'm not so keen on traditional blokey stuff. But that's good because I'm married to someone who is. I've never been really career driven, I've always felt most comfortable at home being domestic, and for a long time I've felt bad about it. It's like I'm disrespecting feminism and selling myself out. Ahh, but I shall feel this way no longer! NO! I'd hate to miss out on the mothering, nurturing part of life because of some half baked, preconceived, feminist ideal rattling around in my subconcious. It's all about choice and I choose to be Mum, at home baking cakes, cooking the food my manly (!?!) husband grows in the vegie patch and changing dirty bums (it's not all beer and skittles). At least while the kidlets are little. It's a small window in time, they grow like weeds!
Now, you must understand that being 100% domestic would send me round the twist (remember that show? always had a thing for the big brother) and that's where buntyandsars comes in. In the last week I've officially roped Nanna in to have some quality kiddie time for half a day, while Dad gets in his quality time on another half day. Two blocks of pure, uninterrupted creative time. Too good. It gives me something to focus on and stops me ranting solely about poo and the garbage big shops sell as toys to anyone who'll listen. Yay, for everyone else! Not to mention, it yields a beautiful array of lovingly hand made goodies.
I've finally finished the drawings for the next buntyandsars colouring book (see above) and I'm little bit proud. I've put in both the common and scientific names to be a bit educational, and because I love the way they sound. I'm hoping to devote this week to getting them bound and making them available! Then it's on to a whole lot of making in preparation for the September Daylesford Makers Market and a week later the Sugar and Spice Children's Market. Anyone silly enough to imply that being an at home Mum involes little more that checking out Oprah, Dr Phil and Ready Steady Cook while intermittently heating up some processed, frozen delights to feed the kids is not looking in my window. I've never been so busy since having children and I love it (especially the one immediately after kid bedtime!)
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