@emmy  higher education used to be free. Most current federal politicians paid nothing for their degrees. Also, HELP is meant to be a help up, not a debt trap. Most people would be happy to contribute to the cost of their education, but the current set up is flawed.

I heard somewhere that kids would rather be FROM a broken home than IN one. 

As the eldest child I was always pushed to be the bigger person etc because I knew better. Eventually my younger siblings passed the ages when I remembered being told that, and I was like "hang on, they're now older than I was when you said that to me over this issue. Surely at some point they have to be big people too". 

I think being at home full time with young kids is hard regardless of gender. Being a Mum is hard whether you're working full time, or SAHM, or something in the middle. I've found a physical family calendar in the kitchen helps get events management off my plate and onto my husband's.

I think most kids get a bit self conscious when people are watching them. Mine behave better and stay quiet around unfamiliar people. So many strangers at the coronation, no wonder the kids were happy to follow Mum and Dad's footsteps and stay put in their seats.

Omg that's so hard. I have two boys, years younger than yours. I can't imagine what you're going through, and I hope I never have to know. Hang in there, both of you xx

I breastfed our two bubs. For feeds I would get up, change nappy, breastfeed. Then wake hubby and he'd do the burping and settling back to sleep. 

We split the night time duties - I did nappy change then breastfeed. Then I'd go back to sleep while my husband burped and put baby back to bed.

The only safe tan is from a can...

I always felt there was something old-timey romantic about fiancé. Husband feels so boring in comparison even though I love him to death and hope we're married until the end of time!

Congratulations on your pregnancy!!

I think it depends on the relationship you want to have going forward. If you don't see it lasting, don't tell him, won't hurt him. If you think that maybe it could be going down the path of property purchases, kids, marriage etc, then I'd say bring it up. You can always say you don't want him paying for it, you want to handle it yourself. 

If the DVO is breached, the offender poses a serious risk to the safety of the person who got the DVO. It shows they have no fear of the authorities and feel they can act with impunity. Why don't authorities understand this and crack down? How are we STILL having this conversation?

@mamamia-user-482898552 That's one electorate. She's also in the senate, not the house of reps, and not the only female option. I'm not saying policy doesn't matter, but the male centric policies of the current government could be tempered with greater female representation in parliament. It's hard to omit women from cabinet if there are fewer men to choose from. These elections are analysed to within an inch of their lives. A significant swing towards votes for female politicians will not be ignored because politicians want to keep their jobs. It's not a perfect strategy, but I don't see the old boys club changing anytime soon while they have job security. Do you have an alternative suggestion?

Can I make a suggestion for the next federal election? Regardless of political party, vote for the woman on your ticket. We represent ~50% of the voting population. By the time some men also vote for the women we should be able to get a vastly different gender mix in parliament in one hit. They'd never see it coming.