Comments for The Blessed Barrenness

Comment on Win A Charming Charm It Bracelet by Kristi Fraser

Kristi Fraser — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:36:28 +0000

seemed to work fine, I didnt notice any problems with the rafflecopter.

Comment on One Puff Away… by cat@jugglingact

cat@jugglingact — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:10:28 +0000

Well done to you!

Comment on One Puff Away… by gen

gen — Fri, 24 May 2013 08:17:58 +0000

Well done Sharon,i started again when Olivia was 8 months then as soon as i found out that i was pregnant with Molly i stopped!
now to try not to go back again is really work, and we have to just work at it everyday as our kids deserve it! nothing worse than a smelly mommy!

Comment on One Puff Away… by jenny

jenny — Fri, 24 May 2013 08:02:20 +0000

I quit for over seven years too Shaz and then during the most stressful time of my life I started again. Luckily I fell pregnant and was just too sick to smoke again so I stopped again. What starting again taught me was that I too am a complete addict – one slip and I will be back to a pack a day. It is gross and smelly and I look and feel 10000 times better and I couldn’t believe how expensive ciggies got in the seven years I quit but… I miss it. I know I am still an addict and can’t do it. But if I ever get told I have little time left to live, I am cracking open a box of puffs! Well Done for Quitting!

Comment on One Puff Away… by Rene;

Rene; — Fri, 24 May 2013 07:24:46 +0000

Very proud of you !

Comment on What Does Society Have In Store For My Mixed Race Daughters? by Already a 100% mom, but not legally. Considered foster for now.

Already a 100% mom, but not legally. Considered foster for now. — Fri, 24 May 2013 06:52:55 +0000

Racism is alive & well in South Africa. It exists is various shapes & forms, from outright hateful comments to slightly more subtle comments like white people saying to me: “I would love to adopt, but there are no white babies available & very few coloured babies so we can’t adopt”, which in my (very biased opinion) is a ridiculous reason not to adopt. If people really want to adopt a baby, there are plenty of black babies who need homes. Our social worker told us that they have a number of adoption queries from white parents who express an interest in adoption, but these “want to be” parents back off when they find out how long the waiting list is for white babies. The scary thing is people who say or believe such things are in denial about it & claim not to be racist but use the reason “you know what black people are like” or “I know you are black, but you’re different”. It is heartbreaking, but a reality of our country, that I hope & pray will not persist forever.

Wishing you well in raising your girls Sharon. This parenting journey is an awesome, challenging, wonderful one for us all. Ava & Hannah are adorable.

Comment on One Puff Away… by Sian

Sian — Fri, 24 May 2013 06:46:12 +0000

Well done! Its really is the best thing. I am making this my last quit too. 24 days (with one slip) for me…..!

Comment on One Puff Away… by Already a 100% mom, but not legally. Considered foster for now.

Already a 100% mom, but not legally. Considered foster for now. — Fri, 24 May 2013 06:28:39 +0000

As an ex-smoker who could so easily revert back to the smelly habit, I can so relate. I also quit (when I got married) for the sake of my husband & future children. Congrats on one month of being a family of 4 & congrats on quitting smoking

Comment on What Does Society Have In Store For My Mixed Race Daughters? by Kerry

Kerry — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:55:26 +0000

Hello Sharon….

I am white and my husband is coloured, we have a 9 year old daughter who has perfectly straight light brown hair with an olive skin. She tells us often that she wishes she was skinny (her term for white skin) with blonde hair. It is heart breakind but all one can do as a parent is tell them that God makes us all and we are all beautiful to Him.

People say they dont have issues with mixed race people but like many of the above comments have stated that the underlying racist remarks are still there…even from my coloured in laws! I personally believe that young children are more inquisitive than racist but the kids do feed off the adults reaction and comments. We have “unfriended” a few of our friends as I never want my daughter to be hurt or made to feel inadequate due to racist “jokes” or “well meant” comments such as ” at least her hair is straight “.

We still have a long way to go before racism no longer exists in SA but surrounding yourself with like minded people and people that love you and your children regardless of their colour will go along way towards them having a good self esteem and surviving in a world where they are considered “different”.

Good luck x

My daughter is 9 years old now and

Comment on What Does Society Have In Store For My Mixed Race Daughters? by Precious Segoe

Precious Segoe — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:23:23 +0000

I really cannot say much because I will never stop.

All I wanted to say is that your children are beautiful.