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Rosina’s Cakes & Sweets, 90 Jacaranda Avenue, Figtree (2026)

27/11/2025

22/07/2023

"We need to try and get more veg into him."

By we, he means me.

I get defensive:

"Well, he eats bananas now. And he'll eat the carrots in my cottage pie. And I put parsnip in the mash. And cauliflower in his macaroni cheese. I hid apple in his porridge this morning."

Snack time comes around and I persuade him to have some strawberries. A brief protest ensues because I sliced them. But he eats them and I momentarily feel like a good mum.

How strange that my worth as a mother is dictated hourly by the food that passes his lips.

He starts to jig uncomfortably. That telling "I need a wee" dance that he does.

"Do you need a wee?" I ask, knowing full well what he'll say.

"No! Mummy! Don't!'

I keep forgetting how that potty lady said you don't ASK them. You TELL them they need a wee.

I try to coerce him towards the downstairs loo.

"Race you! I bet I can do a wee before you."

A trick that worked so well only last week but that he's suddenly got wise to.

I change tack. "I wonder what colour your wee is today. I bet it's GREEN" I say animatedly.

Still. Nothing.

He reaches for the box of Cheerios left on the kitchen counter.

"Can I pour them out?" he asks, pointing to a plate.

I have visions of overflowing Cheerios crunched into the living room carpet. But lack the energy to tell him no. Plus he's enjoying himself.

"Yeah. Go on then."

Sure enough, the living room is now mostly Cheerios.

He carefully carries his overflowing honey hoop loot over to the couch and I remind myself that they are 'fortified with vitamins and iron.'

We sit together munching on dry Cheerios.

Ah, peace.

I look over and he's frozen on the spot. He looks down. This can only mean one thing. I knew this would happen.

I freeze too, wondering whether to attempt a last-ditch dash to the potty or just stay here and let it flow in the one spot.

I foolishly lift him and we create a trail of wee across the room. All over the duplo. And the bloody Cheerios.

"Oh. I did need a wee" he says.

Art by: This Mama Doodles

Words: Mother Truths

From "Warm Like Summer: Little Stories of Early Motherhood"
Available on Amazon: https://linktr.ee/mother_truths