children, parenting, samoa writing

We need YOU!

WANTEDA friend for our mother. Because then she won't have so much time to spend obsessing about US and OUR friends. You must -*Prefer communicating via Twitter, email and text. Too much human-to-human interaction makes our mum tired. Induces feelings of suffocation and paranoid cage-fighter behaviour. Plan on hanging out in person, oh..maybe twice a… Continue reading We need YOU!

children, education, parenting, pollution

That’s Rubbish.

Snuggly Teddy bears of Love everywhere. Happy happy happy, joy joy joy!"When I grow up, I want to be the person who picks up rubbish along the road." Announced the Princess.We are driving down the road, just me and her. Her lifegoal catches me off guard. "Umm, okay. Why?""Because there's so much rubbish everywhere. Look… Continue reading That’s Rubbish.

blog mashup, children, parenting, samoa, writing

Looking for nuggets of joy in amidst the dirt of daily living.

Here's my weekly serving of delicious delights, where I give you a selection of blog posts on a weekly theme from bloggers that I stalk. This week is a topic dear to my heart...Parenting Dramas/Trials and Tribulations OR Finding the nuggets of joy in between all the dirt of daily living. (click on the highlighted… Continue reading Looking for nuggets of joy in amidst the dirt of daily living.

children, housework, Little House on the Prairie, parenting, samoa, writing

8 Realizations of a Multitasking, Kick-ass Kinda Super Woman

Where I once aspired to be.When people used to ask me how I could have five children (and write, teach, homeschool 3 of them, office manage, research, have a beautiful house, do my own eyebrows and bake the best cookies that ever lived outside Mrs Fields kitchen ) I really wanted to shrug nonchalantly, wave… Continue reading 8 Realizations of a Multitasking, Kick-ass Kinda Super Woman

children, diet coke, paranormal romance, parenting, samoa, telesa, writing, YA fiction

Telesa Tuesday: The Secret to Writing about Kissing. (and other steamy stuff)

My book Telesa is YA fiction. Romance. Which means there's a girl. Who falls in love with a boy. And they have to overcome all sorts of obstacles to be together. And of course there's another boy who's also in love with the girl. And the girl is a little bit conflicted between boy 1… Continue reading Telesa Tuesday: The Secret to Writing about Kissing. (and other steamy stuff)

baby, children, Dora the Explorer, parenting, samoa, writing

Don’t you DARE breathe on that baby!

Shhh dont disturb him. He's researching for his acceptance speech. For when he wins the Nobel Prize.There's a new baby in our extended family circle. My little bro is a dad for the first time. Its a joy to see him and partner discover parenthood for the first time. And funny too. Because it reminds… Continue reading Don’t you DARE breathe on that baby!

children, Pacific Islander families in New Zealand, parenting, samoa, writing

Be Fruitful and Multiply

“FIVE children?! Ohmigosh really? FIVE children?!” Since moving to New Zealand, I hear this a lot. Apparently, most people with any sense, have A child. Or two. Or at an extreme, three. But five? And over? That is cause for amazement/horror/consternation/bemusement. Closely followed by, “You don’t look like you have five children. You’re too young/beautiful/thin/smart… Continue reading Be Fruitful and Multiply

children, parenting, People with Passion, photography, samoa, Timena Broederlow, Timenaphotoblog

How Passion can be a Life Saver.

This is the first of our Friday Features here on Sleepless in Samoa where we meet People with Passion. Welcome toTimena Broederlow!Timena’s Samoan, raised in the US and Samoa. She married her husband of 20 years, in the middle of one of the worst natural disasters to hit Samoa - Cyclone Val. She's Mormon (LDS).… Continue reading How Passion can be a Life Saver.

birth control, children, parenting, sleepless in samoa

The Problem with Birth Control.

I am one of six children. When I was a self-obsessed teenager and sick to bits of my younger siblings, I asked my mum one day - "Why didnt you stop having babies after me?" She must have been having a rough day. Because she snarled, "I did."Huh?"That one was a broken condom. That one… Continue reading The Problem with Birth Control.

children, door salesmen, life in New Zealand, parenting, samoa

How to Cope with the pestilence called ‘Sales Reps."

I miss my dogs.I am gutless. A wimp. Since moving to NZ, I have had this re-affirmed even more. Why? Two words for you.Door Salesmen.Those people that ring your doorbell and then don't leave until you promise to give them your blood/marry them/bequeath them with a spare organ. Or buy something. I'm hopeless at saying… Continue reading How to Cope with the pestilence called ‘Sales Reps."