When it comes to navigating life after the loss of a spouse, widows and widowers face unique struggles. But research and lived experience reveal that men and women cope very differently with bereavement—and in some ways, one group fares better than the other. Where Women Win Socially, widows often find themselves at an advantage. Women…
After years of hiring (and firing) house helps, I am pleased to finally realize that I know exactly what I seek (or rather what I do not want). My agent has made mistakes twice, bringing me the wrong girls. She must think of me as a picky customer, or what else can explain her coaching…
“I will kill you!” he breathed, angered that he could not reach her. She ran to the back of one of the neighbour’s houses and jumped over. He watched on, powered, yet defeated by the rule of trespassing. His fists clenched tightly, you could easily envision the damage they would cause if anything came between…
Sunday 10th – I woke up and immediately checked the wounds on my hands. They are still swollen, but less painful. That’s a good thing. “I can’t wait to buy a washing machine” I whisper…but then if I do, will I still need a house help? I leave that thought hanging. I have all the…
It happened so fast and I keep wondering whether it surprised you too. That Friday morning, I wore a flattering flowering top and long fashionable blue sweater. I thought to myself that my sweater would perhaps cheer you up from the white walls and constant beeping sounds of the machines. “Fanne,” you’d most likely say,…
I placed my phone to charge. An hour later, it was off and couldn’t even power up. “These China stuff will be the end of us” I muttered in disapproval, while inspecting the cable. It was broken in a rather uneven way. This was not a wear and tear situation, no: they were bite marks!…
Knowing what lay ahead should perhaps have scared me, but it didn’t. Oh, I wont lie, I did get terrified at first. We all do up until we get tired of carrying well over 10kilos of baby, placenta, waters and colostrum everywhere we go. When you have all the baby items ticked off the list…
It’s been quite a while and man did I miss blogging! I usually like it when I get the drive to write, lest I indulge and perhaps bore you to death with meaningless gibberish. I was having a few thoughts to myself a while back and realised many people, myself included ended up starting a…
It all starts with an oblivious perception of what motherhood is. “I’m going to be a mother!” It’s pure thrill!…”just like her, or maybe I’ll be just like my mother. Perhaps better, I mean, my mom was a tough nut so I should be better, no?” You just found out you are pregnant and suddenly…
What goes through your mind when you see a child, running to school, alone in the rain, wearing tattered clothes, a cardigan that must have been used to erase a lot of chalk, sagging socks and a soaking back pack? Do you ever wonder what their parents were thinking when they let them take off…
This topic has raised a myriad of questions and shaken the strength of many weak relationships. So it’s clear that many marriages in the 21st century are built on money and selfishness: and lots of it! The only reason people keep their things to themselves is simple! They don’t want to share! On a radio-talk…
13th February all over Kenya…the air is thick with love you can cut it with a knife. Every hawker has stashed away their usual merchandise and are now donning the streets red with plastic flowers and boxed holding meaningless white dolls and form balls. Busines is expected to boom and it perhaps will. The typical…
Words may not break bones but they can tear even the strongest heart apart. I pulled my phone from my ear where I held it, pressed the speakerphone button and lay it on the arm of the couch. The man on the other end was still speaking and he seemed to be having the time…
Four and a half loose milky teeth ago, my now 5-year-old daughter had her first loose tooth. Losing teeth is one of those experiences parenthood doesn’t prepare you for. We assume we only need to contend with soiled diapers, fevers and the all too famous terrific two’s. Those million mommy blogs hardly talk about us…
The first time I saw you, nine years back was not even face-to-face; it was from the corner of my eye when I walked into class, last, nervous and tip toed to the only empty seat there was. You were so easy to notice. You were the hugest man in that class and if my…
