By LUCY ORMONDE
I haven’t been here for more than three minutes and I’m pretty sure 19-month-old Fin has already eaten at least three pieces of Play Doh.
Fear not. I hear from other parents in the ‘hood that that Play Doh is non-toxic. And some people (one in particular named Fin) have told me it’s rather delicious.
So I’ve come to Brisbane to take part in the The Whatever Life Chux at You Challenge. The aim of the game is test whether Gen Y can cope with whatever life Chux at them. And we’re doing that by taking three childless Mamamia writers and having them swap lives with three Mamamia mothers for a day.
Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by CHUX. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.
Today I’ve ditched the hipster coffee haunts of Redfern and come to and look after Mamamia writer Rebecca Sparrow’s three kids – Ava, 4, Fin, 19 months and Quincy, three months.
Before I leave the Mamamia office, I confess to the girls that I’m terrified. I’m not worried about keeping the kids safe or cleaning up a mess. This is going to sound little strange, but I just don’t know how to talk to kids. And the thought of doing it makes me want to crawl into a ball on the floor and suck on a bottle of tequila.
Quincy’s not a drama. He can’t talk. Fin’s only on basic words so the chances are he’s not going to care what I say unless it involves Dora the Explorer. So it’s just Ava who I need to worry about. Because seriously – what do you talk about with someone who doesn’t watch Homeland, follow a football team or have a job?