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The Smallest Things: Thoughts on Making a Happy Family
Childhood, Mum had once said to me, is not preparation for life, it is life. But in the tussle between home and work I'd forgotten what a privilege it is to be a parent - to have in my hands and heart two small souls I have for only a short time to guide and teach and enjoy. If I pressed on, driven by deadlines and bosses and a stultifying work ethic, then I would miss everything that really mattered. As a journalist, Angela Mollard never left home without her passport, contact lenses and a spare pair of knickers - not because she was incontinent but in case she had to drop everything and fly overseas for a story. But then she had a baby, and this new hand luggage was as compatible with her job as a ham and jam sandwich. By the time one child became two, work was seeping into every corner of her life and turning her into the sort of person she loathed. She was suffering an integrity crisis. Yet what she wanted was quite simple - time to enjoy her children, sufficient cash to keep everyone in food, nappies and wine, and the energy to be a half-decent wife. So why was it all so hard?From popular columnist and commentator, Angela Mollard, comes the story of how she learned to aim wide, not high, and to enjoy her children again. Part memoir, part manual, The Smallest Things is for all parents trying to reconcile their various roles and create a childhood for their kids that incorporates both Minecraft and The Famous Five. Offering parents ideas and hope (plus plenty of parenting pitfalls to make them feel better about their own), The Smallest Things is a funny, charming and movingly candid story of putting family first, and why the smallest things in life matter the most.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
Unknown Binding
First published April 9, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 15, 2014
I'll give this 3 stars- because I did enjoy the light read. I don't mind reading Angela Mollard's column in the Sunday magazine (even though I often don't relate to her perspective), and she is a local mum, so was interested in her book which I borrowed from the library. I note she is doing a book signing/talk at my local bookshop, but having read her book, I'm not compelled to go along.
I don't know - I found elements relatable, but couldn't help feel she was preaching to the long-ago converted (you know - in terms of kids' childhoods being IMPORTANT) and so it was not especially insightful.
I absolutely did nod along when she wrote about being able to recite an enthusiastic rendition of a bedtime story to your child yet not actually 'reading' it at all because your mind is a million miles away thinking about stuff. Absolutely do this sometimes. So yes - be more mindful. yep - got it. Mostly do it. tick.
Also entirely agree with the 'stuff' that kids need - grit, self-control, gratitude, optimism, curiosity being essential qualities necessary for life. Finding your spark and mastering skills.
Big nods when talking about the self-deprecating crew whose attempts to be cool and quirky with their stream of consciousness #badmothering tales - actually neglect the truth. The things that go unsaid because apparently that would be self-indulgent. Bloggers angling for a quick laugh.
She does offer some good ideas around social media and technology and 'tweens' - which I shall file away for a few more years.
Finally Mollard does have me a bit fore-warned about the local mums at the netball scene though now, so that is probably my biggest practical take-away from the read. And to read Caitlin Moran's book.
So. yes - read it. Read it quickly and relate to the bits you do, and be bemused at the bits you don't and read it through the lens of a privileged, educated woman sharing her thoughts on her own parenting soup.
I don't know - I found elements relatable, but couldn't help feel she was preaching to the long-ago converted (you know - in terms of kids' childhoods being IMPORTANT) and so it was not especially insightful.
I absolutely did nod along when she wrote about being able to recite an enthusiastic rendition of a bedtime story to your child yet not actually 'reading' it at all because your mind is a million miles away thinking about stuff. Absolutely do this sometimes. So yes - be more mindful. yep - got it. Mostly do it. tick.
Also entirely agree with the 'stuff' that kids need - grit, self-control, gratitude, optimism, curiosity being essential qualities necessary for life. Finding your spark and mastering skills.
Big nods when talking about the self-deprecating crew whose attempts to be cool and quirky with their stream of consciousness #badmothering tales - actually neglect the truth. The things that go unsaid because apparently that would be self-indulgent. Bloggers angling for a quick laugh.
She does offer some good ideas around social media and technology and 'tweens' - which I shall file away for a few more years.
Finally Mollard does have me a bit fore-warned about the local mums at the netball scene though now, so that is probably my biggest practical take-away from the read. And to read Caitlin Moran's book.
So. yes - read it. Read it quickly and relate to the bits you do, and be bemused at the bits you don't and read it through the lens of a privileged, educated woman sharing her thoughts on her own parenting soup.
April 8, 2021
A passport is an official document to verify a person. Lifestyle is another kind of passport to verify an individual’s personality. Author Angela Mollard proved it in this book. When I start to read as a habit from the beginning to the end in the prologue first line itself stimulus my stamina, where the author says!
“Do you know your husband is having an affair?” ……
With the powerful caliber and journalist Mollard, this is a cool crafted sensible book. Behind the effort, the author beautifully designed the kids a real childhood. Word “Mother” is not man-made, it is the holistic word created by God and sent to all the living creatures, the pronounced slang can differ, example in my country Sri Lanka we both Sinhala and Tamil language natives preach the common word “Amma”, this slang extended to other languages in different lingua Franca like “Amme”, “Ammu”, “Mamma”, “Maa”, “Moa”, and “Mom”.
Life is not preparation, life is a festival, celebrate it. But in the challenge between the home and work mostly she did forget the privilege it is to be a parent to have in hands and heart two small souls and have very little time to care and enjoy. The workload of an individual driven by deadline and superiors and a stultifying work ethic, then she would miss everything that really mattered. As a journalist, Mollard never left home without her passport, contact lenses and pair of knickers not because of habit but suddenly she had to drop everything and fly for a story hunt. But then she had a baby, luggage was as compatible with her job as bread and butter.
With the speed of the time clock one child became two, work was speeding every corner of her life and also, she was suffering an integrity crisis, yet what she wanted was quite a simple time to enjoy her children. Managing economy, provisions, and energy to be a decent wife. Why so heard? From popular columnist and commentator, Mollard comes the story of how she learned to aim with the escalation of vertical and horizontal. Changing roles as wife, mother, and journalist the mental and physical condition part manual and dynamic.
However, for all parents trying to reconcile their various roles and create a childhood for their kids, that incorporates both Minecraft and Mental Health. The smallest things are always funny in life and movingly candid story of putting family first, and why the smallest things in life matter the most. My regards to my dearest friend Yasodhara Kapuge for sharing this kind of cutest little, smallest things.
“Do you know your husband is having an affair?” ……
With the powerful caliber and journalist Mollard, this is a cool crafted sensible book. Behind the effort, the author beautifully designed the kids a real childhood. Word “Mother” is not man-made, it is the holistic word created by God and sent to all the living creatures, the pronounced slang can differ, example in my country Sri Lanka we both Sinhala and Tamil language natives preach the common word “Amma”, this slang extended to other languages in different lingua Franca like “Amme”, “Ammu”, “Mamma”, “Maa”, “Moa”, and “Mom”.
Life is not preparation, life is a festival, celebrate it. But in the challenge between the home and work mostly she did forget the privilege it is to be a parent to have in hands and heart two small souls and have very little time to care and enjoy. The workload of an individual driven by deadline and superiors and a stultifying work ethic, then she would miss everything that really mattered. As a journalist, Mollard never left home without her passport, contact lenses and pair of knickers not because of habit but suddenly she had to drop everything and fly for a story hunt. But then she had a baby, luggage was as compatible with her job as bread and butter.
With the speed of the time clock one child became two, work was speeding every corner of her life and also, she was suffering an integrity crisis, yet what she wanted was quite a simple time to enjoy her children. Managing economy, provisions, and energy to be a decent wife. Why so heard? From popular columnist and commentator, Mollard comes the story of how she learned to aim with the escalation of vertical and horizontal. Changing roles as wife, mother, and journalist the mental and physical condition part manual and dynamic.
However, for all parents trying to reconcile their various roles and create a childhood for their kids, that incorporates both Minecraft and Mental Health. The smallest things are always funny in life and movingly candid story of putting family first, and why the smallest things in life matter the most. My regards to my dearest friend Yasodhara Kapuge for sharing this kind of cutest little, smallest things.
September 5, 2014
Angela Mollard is witty, it's true; and I found her writing style engaging. However, I didn't find HER engaging. This book is part personal journey, part self-help but I just wished she'd stuck to one or the other, because it seemed she was preaching a "do as I say, not as I do" mantra and it didn't work for me.
I gave her 3 stars for honesty in relating her parenting fails - they are difficult to admit, even to oneself, and particularly if you portray such high expectations of every other facet of your life. But I docked two stars for the mental image I have of a self-absorbed, blonde hair-flipping, over-read (and yes, I do believe this exists) Madame Smuggy Pants telling me how to fit family happiness into my schedule.
I gave her 3 stars for honesty in relating her parenting fails - they are difficult to admit, even to oneself, and particularly if you portray such high expectations of every other facet of your life. But I docked two stars for the mental image I have of a self-absorbed, blonde hair-flipping, over-read (and yes, I do believe this exists) Madame Smuggy Pants telling me how to fit family happiness into my schedule.
July 2, 2014
Some lovely insights, especially for working mums. A couple of my favourites... "the days are long but the years are short" and "the best of me seemed to flow when i wasn't striving, when i saw each day less as a performance & more a hopscotch of roles & responsibilities that I rather enjoyed". But a bit too "preachy" in parts.
March 28, 2014
Angela is brilliant with words. If you read her columns then you will love this.
April 2, 2014
To come back to - but interim comments - lovely, practical and humorous book re, thoughts on parenting, marriage, developing your own identity, etc - a great read
October 5, 2014
So much of this resonated with me. Really helped me to reflect on my own role as a parent. Quite humorous overall, but a few parts had me struggling against tears.
February 9, 2015
I laughed, I cried and I will be re-reading this book again and again as my family grows as there were a lot of good tips and tricks and some amazing insights to be a working mum of two kiddies.
June 27, 2014
Loved it! Although a bit wordy at times!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews