I have a friend who has gone back 4 days a week after the birth of her first child, and she often says I should do the same, because we sometimes find it financially difficult. However, it’s a matter of what suits an individual. I certainly wouldn’t tell her that she shouldn’t go back to work for that amount of time.

Personally, I don’t want to go back to work for that amount of time, and I only went back when my daughter was 6 months old as a matter of financial necessity, otherwise I would have waited until she was 1 year old. We deal with things being a bit financially tight sometimes because we prefer it that way.

So you do whatever you need to do, and don’t worry about what others think. It’s whatever suits you and your children.

“if it’s a boy, wolfgang or boris, and if a girl, petunia or apple”.

Some took me seriously!

One thing I don’t tell people is the names I have in mind, to avoid commentary/criticism. People can be rude when it’s an idea only, but once the child is actually named, they have to be polite. Of course I’ve had nothing but glowing reports about my daughter’s name. hehehe. I only came up with it about a week before she was born, but it suits her very well.

As for Cate’s appointment - I understand that she is heading the arts committee. To be fair, she does have some qualification to comment on policy in the arts, as she and her husband run a theatre company, and she acts in plays and movies. I would hope that she’d be fair-minded enough to recognise positive contributions that successive governments have made to the arts.

But I really dislike it when celebrity opinions on matters other than acting are treated as though they are pearls of wisdom of a special value. The fact is that an actor’s opinion on global warming or government policy or whatever is no more valuable than my opinion. In fact, sometimes the opinions of celebrities can be downright moronic or insane (take Sheryl Crow’s suggestion that we should all be limited to one square of toilet paper per “go” as way of stopping Global Warming). Just because someone can act like a hero in a movie or sing a nice song doesn’t mean that their opinions are more worthy or intelligent than anyone else’s.

On the whole pregnancy thing, the biggest drama is knowing the sex but not telling people. I wish I had now said we weren’t finding out! We did that with the first, which was true, but now are over the not knowing surprise bit and just enjoying the thought of having our next one and being able to buy a few things for “it”. haha I wont tell you either!

But that doesn’t go with my personality - I’d rather people know why I was devastated than suffer in silence after a miscarriage. It makes it seem like a miscarriage is a kind of “shame” which should not be spoken about. I think that women should be allowed to speak out about pregnancy and/or miscarriage if they want to. I do appreciate that some people might be more reserved or private than I am.

In any case, when I had my daughter, people guessed anyway because of my sudden cessation of drinking coffee and alcohol (two of my favourite tipples). Also I suddenly gained an enormous bosom and a tummy well before one is supposed to be “showing”.

And there was that time when I was dry retching in the rubbish bin and my then boss came in… “You’re pregnant!” he exclaimed. “Um, no, I have, um, a mild case of, um, gastro,” I stuttered. “You’re a pathetic liar too!” he laughed. “Ooh how exciting!” He had four children himself, and was very much a fan of parenthood.

I am not a mother but can certainly imagine the distraction of a newborn, however I’ve considered that at this delicate age they need only be within close physical proximity to their mother and are more or less pretty transportable and able go anywhere she can with relative impunity.

I think breast feeding at the 2020 Summit will be absolutely no issue whatsoever. Paparazzi intrusions not withstanding.

I’d be more concerned about Cate’s headspace prior to the 2020 Summit and leading up to the birth of her child. Late stage pregnancy, belly protruding miles out in front, waiting, waiting, waiting–that’s gotta be something of a distraction and the period prior to the 2020 Summit is when she’ll be making decisions about who she nominates to attend.

Wouldn’t ever like to see pregnant women being unfairly discriminated against but clearly it can never be business as usual, or shouldn’t, although that’s the yardstick many (mostly blokes) would judge by.

Oh and just wondering.

“when you aren’t supposed to tell anyone. ”

Who writes these rules?

I should make it clear that I’d support her 100% of the way if she breastfeeds in the 2020 conference. I’ve got no problem with that at all. I was merely concerned that she might not be able to breastfeed because of the conference.

Giving care to the husband/partner is not palming off - in fact, Cate’s husband has every right to bond with their child just as much as she does. But I do think it’s difficult in those first 6 weeks to give care to another for more than, say, 3 hours, the demands of breastfeeding being as they are. I maintain that she’d not be at her best.

Furthermore, I’d say the same about her husband if he were invited instead. He wouldn’t have the same physical demands and effects, but he’d have the sleep deprivation, and he’d also be missing out on bonding with the child. I know my husband didn’t feel at his most effective when he went back to work after I had my daughter - it’s something that has impact on the whole family.

I dunno, I just hate that idea that you can “do it all” straight after having a child - I don’t think you can, unless you have a lot of money, and pay other people to help you do it.