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I'm questioning things on this rainy weekend and would love your thoughts
I don’t normally write on a Sunday evening…
It’s been raining all weekend here. A steady, unrelenting rain that seeps into everything. The lawn is so soggy, our veggie garden looks defeated, and the timber decks around our house are black and slippery. I’ve spent the weekend moving our dehumidifier from one room to the next to prevent things from going mouldy. When we lived in London, rainy days didn’t stop us from getting out of the house—there was always a museum to visit, a cosy pub to duck into, or you could take a walk in a pretty park under an umbrella. But here in rural Australia, the rain really puts a stop to all the good things to do. (My kids are currently curled up in my bed watching the second movie of the day, and I’m bracing myself for the crankiness that will come when it’s finished!)
Every now and then, a rainy weekend is welcome — it’s a good excuse to clean out the kitchen drawers or finally organise the craft cupboard that’s gone a bit rogue with all this time at home. But it’s been raining like this for months, and I’m definitely feeling a little stir-crazy.
This weekend I’ve found myself questioning things. Not in a dramatic, life-changing way (although I did google houses for sale in London only to be reminded of how expensive they are! 🫠), but in a quiet, niggling rainy day way. I’ve been wondering about my work—what’s feeling good, what’s not. Whether I’m showing up in ways that feel meaningful. Whether the things I’m creating are resonating. Whether I’m using my time well. What could I be doing differently? How can I create more space for real connection and less time tethered to a screen?
The last two Zoom meetups I’ve hosted have received a low turnout. I know part of it is the time zone challenge, as we’re spread all over the world and it’s tricky to find a time that suits everyone. I also know we’re all busy mums, with never-ending to-do lists and limited pockets of free time. However, when these Zoom meetups work and we get a good group, the conversations are magic and inspiring and I really love them. So I don’t want to give up on them entirely.
So I’d love to know… How interested in the Zoom meetups are you? Would you like to join one but just haven’t had the time? Have they been scheduled at a time you can’t make? Should I just scrap them entirely and move the conversations to the chat section here in Substack?? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and if you are interested in the Zoom chats, I’d love to know which of the three times below would work best for you? (To convert the time to your local time zone, you can google ‘6am AEST is what time for me in XXX’.)
Also, if we hold another Zoom chat, what would you like to talk about? I recently got a request to talk about age gaps in children and how it plays a role in sibling relationships. Someone else asked to discuss chores, table manners and other family rules. We could have another conversation about romantic relationships and how to feel more connected to our partners (I loved the conversation we had last year!). What would you like to talk about? Do you have a burning question? I’m an open book when it comes to sharing, so I’m happy to talk about anything.
Lastly, how can I improve my newsletters? What topics resonate the most? Do you want more recipes? More interviews? Do you like the deeper reflections on motherhood or are you here for the more lighthearted stuff?
I would be so grateful to hear any thoughts or feedback you have. Please leave a comment below.
Courtney x
I would love it if you recorded them and turned them into a podcast! I personally prefer to listen to conversations in my own time but I’m interested in those topics you suggested - romantic relationships, age gaps, chores. Another tricky thing I’ve had to navigate is step parenting and navigating a complicated relationship with my partners ex who is unpleasant but pretends to be otherwise. There’s not a lot online on how to manage that sort of relationship when you don’t want to foster one. Thanks anyway love your articles! I haven’t subscribed yet but I read what I can! X
Hi Courtney,
I've been meaning to send you a note for a while now, so thank you for the reminder by including us in your creative process.
First of all, I want to say how much I appreciate your commitment to this community and the variety of topics you cover. The motherhood content you share really resonates with me, and I agree that a podcast sounds like a great idea—especially since I also find it difficult to join the Zoom meetings.
I do remember, though, that the original goal of the Zoom meetings was to help community members engage, connect, and share with one another. I think these days, it’s easy to get a bit lazy about real communication, so I agree it's important to make the effort toward more meaningful interaction. Maybe, in addition to the Zoom meetings, you could also open up discussions on Substack Chat so we can participate and share our thoughts in our own time?
As for content, I’d love to see more interior design ideas—you're so talented at creating and appreciating good design. I'd also enjoy more videos and visual content in general.
Sending a big hug!