Six months ago I was worried about Big Son's academic commitment. Or lack thereof. While giving him treasures of wise counsel, I also, attempted to bribe him with the promise that IF he did well and scored himself a university scholarship, then I would gift him with a trip to Hawaii. In my head, I… Continue reading Bribery is Essential for Good Parenting
Category: Samoa
I helped write a MOOC in Philadelphia. (WTH??)
I've been travelling and book touring (and eating lots of delicious new foods while I'm at it...) so my poor blog has been rather neglected! I'm all done though with book launch stuff and back to full-time parent duty because the Hot Man has moved to Samoa for work. So I'm ready to get into… Continue reading I helped write a MOOC in Philadelphia. (WTH??)
“You can’t be happy when you’re fat. No-one can.”
A while back, Bella was getting dressed for school when she uttered words that broke my heart. "Mama, I'm fat. But I want to be skinny like Kelly. See my tummy?" She pulled up her shirt to show me a beautiful belly that loves tickles. And I looked at my five year old daughter - really… Continue reading “You can’t be happy when you’re fat. No-one can.”
The Samoan Language: Why do Beauty Queens and Brisbane Mormons Need it?
This week's column - I take on the recent raging ruckus about the use of Samoan language in the Miss Samoa pageant AND that pesky Mormon church "banning" the use of Samoan in Brisbane. And you have two options: 1. If you don't feel like reading, you can WATCH/LISTEN to me tell you all about… Continue reading The Samoan Language: Why do Beauty Queens and Brisbane Mormons Need it?
Sexilicious Men (and houses) – When Fantasy meets Reality
The nice thing about being married to a man who owns his own construction company, is he can design AND build your house for you. The Hot Man is freakishly clever like that. How lucky am I??? I went out with him for his sexilicious self and had no clue he actually had like...skills...talents...housebuilding moneymaking potential... But then that's… Continue reading Sexilicious Men (and houses) – When Fantasy meets Reality
The Next Book in the Telesa Series
I'm working on a new book in the Telesa Series - that picks up the story of Teuila, Keahi and a few of the other characters, about eight years after 'The Bone Bearer' story finishes. I don't have a title yet and its very much a work in progress, but I'm excited about the new… Continue reading The Next Book in the Telesa Series
Sex-Breasts VS Milk-Making Ones
In this week's Samoa Observer column, I get to talk about breasts. Yay fun! "if breastfeeding is so good for everyone involved, then why is there sometimes an air of indelicate shame and discomfort about it in the ‘modern’ palagi country I currently live in?...The reaction to a woman feeding her baby in public as opposed to… Continue reading Sex-Breasts VS Milk-Making Ones
Samoa: A Sexist Culture that Oppresses Women?
In this week's Samoa Observer column, I get to rave a little about feminism stuff in Samoa... I have a five year old called Bella. The very last child that will ever alien-grow in my uterus, she is the supreme ruler of our universe - and woe be it unto any creature who does not… Continue reading Samoa: A Sexist Culture that Oppresses Women?
Children are Dream-Killers
One woman. Running over 104km of scorching road...over jagged mountains and through expansive rainforest...can she endure? Can she summon the strength and will to battle onward? (cue kickbutt powerful theme music here) Can you see it? Can you hear it? Wouldn't it be awesome?! Last weekend, I went to support a friend of ours as… Continue reading Children are Dream-Killers
Sex Talk in the Samoa Observer
My second column in the Samoa Observer went live while I was there for the book launch... As a Samoan woman, I know it can be difficult for us to talk with our parents, children, friends and our partners about certain things - things like intimacy, emotions and relationships. But the world is talking about… Continue reading Sex Talk in the Samoa Observer