Karen Karn

Nice blog post, translated from Norwegian. Original post written by Christine Otterstad - AKA, Otters A Mother's Worry Posted at  9:04 pm  by  christineotterstad - også kalt Otters , on januar 16, 2014 "I'm sitting in the living room with my 11 year old son. He does his homework and I work a little. Suddenly, he puts down his pencil and asks what I'm writing about today. "Today, I’m doing a little research for my book" I reply. "I have a tip on what to write about" he continued. "Something I've been thinking about.” I shut the PC, thinking that this could be interesting. The boy breathes and takes moment: "I thought you should write about mums, and all the concerns they have. Like you, for instance, you worry yourself sick for your kids all the time. For us to have a good time and stuff... But the problem is that when you worry yourself SO sick, it becomes sort so serious to not have be happy! It's almost ...

My lovely daughter has just moved into her first proper home - her own place, a grown up, unfurnished, one bedroomed flat. We've talked about everthing a person needs when moving into their first home - the essential, basic stuff, like a bed and a duvet, scissors and a spoon (at the very least a spoon). So I looked to see if there was such a list online. I found some ridiculous ones, like this one , which lists for the kitchen measuring cups and spoons, but not a saucepan. So, I decided to make one, to print and send. The list isn't finished yet, but there will be an empty table on the back for adding items by hand.

Every now and then, with us, the subject of moving crops up. I don't think that's unusal in this day and age, when it's no big deal to up sticks and plant yourself, and your family, in a new environment, a new town, a new country, the other side of the world. When we get to dreaming, we start looking online at houses for sale in the area we imagine ourselves living. This has a twofold effect. Firstly, I look at other people's homes (something I LOVE doing anyway), and feel deeply dissatisfied with my own, scruffy little one. Then I get inspired! I see, and know, that the houses have been prepped, that they've cleared out their clutter and no doubt have crates of junk stowed away in the attic or neighbour's garage. I can do that! I can streamline! I can buy white paint and new, matching cushion covers. Why not?! Then, I saw this house. Not too far out of our price range, this house did something to me. Sold almost as soon as it came on the market, it speak...