Welcome to the family beat of Emily Hawker, mum of two smalls and all-round lovely lady. Em blogs at emhawkerblog and is my all-singing, all-dancing friend. She’s married to her childhood sweetheart, a love that forms the structure for their young family life.
Where to begin? And once I’ve started, where to stop? I am Emily. I am a social introvert: I love people, and I love interaction, but I recharge my battery with alone time. I have a few close friends, and many of those close friends are more extroverted sociable types who keep me connected to larger groups.
I love words and language. I love music (which, really, is another form of language). I love reading, writing, singing and being with my family. I find it easier to write things down than to say them aloud. But that doesn’t stop me from gabbing on and on and on … so I’ll stop myself right there.
I tick every box of privilege except the gender one, but I’ve also worked hard from that privileged position to get to where I am. We enjoy life, but we also like to help out where others can’t. For example, I volunteer at my children’s school, kinder and care facilities, and I host a weekly toddler music group. I’m a big believer in giving back and giving others a leg up. I also think that life is there to be lived. Work to live instead of living to work? Yes please.
I read. I read read read read read. Two years ago I made reading a priority, committing to reading 50 books in a year. I read 100 that year instead.
When I have reading fatigue, I play the piano instead.
Meet my husband
My husband has been the love of my life for almost as long as he wasn’t before that. We met in high school, made it through a few rocky getting-used-to-life-in-the-real-world patches, and have been married for more than nine years. He’s a builder, he’s a realist, he’s a quiet achiever, and he’s the person at the party who sits there silently, taking it all in, before delivering the killer one-liner that floors everyone.
He completes me. He’s the calm to my usual storm. And he’s smokin’ HAWT.
Meet my kids
I have two children: an almost-six-year-old daughter, and a just-turned-three-year-old son. They are adored and adorable, loved and lovable, and sweet and – let’s face it – sweetly infuriating.
My daughter loves pink and frills and tutus and all manner of stereotypically girly things, much to my surprise and occasional consternation. My son loves making noise and dancing. And I feel other passions brimming away below the surface, ready to make themselves known as his language improves each day.
Our home life
I live with my adorable family in Melbourne’s inner north. My husband and I bought our house 11 years ago, and we’ve renovated it. (By we, I mean he. Hooray for marrying a builder.) We’re very happy with the extension and renovation, but this is probably not our forever house. Our forever house might be nearby, or perhaps back in the country. (We grew up in country Victoria.) We’re still deciding.
My work life
I do some freelance work from home, but am first and foremost a stay-at-home mum. My son goes to childcare one day a week, which gives me about five daytime hours each week to get shiz done. Any other work (and blogging) fits in around that – evenings, weekends and those rare times the children are playing together and don’t need or want mum’s involvement.
This said, I’ve recently started looking for flexible part-time work. If the right role comes up, and they think I’m the right person for it, this answer will change significantly!
A day in my life
My husband’s alarm goes off early. He hits snooze, I get up. Shower; dress; write until the kids wake up; breakfast; dress/teeth/hair for the kids; walk/ride to school; morning activity with little man; little man naps (this is disappearing from most days. SOB); walk/ride home from school; read/ballet/music/try not to shout at misbehaving kids; dinner; bath/teeth/bed for the kids; BREATHE; write some more; maybe some form of housework; maybe chillax with hubster; maybe stay up all night writing about the Budget (it’s May!).
Click here for Em’s tips for how she manages everyday family life.
Our family life
I love my kids and love it when they call me their best friend. But, while it’s nice, that’s not my role. I’m their parent. I’m their mentor, their life coach, their role model and, sometimes, their police officer.
I’m also their biggest champion and president of their respective fan clubs!
I find that everyone in our house is happiest when we have a routine and everyone knows what to expect from each day. I’m not overly strict, but my kids go to the corner or to their rooms if they misbehave, and have to apologise if they have hurt someone. They don’t have to hug or kiss anyone they don’t want to, but they do have to be polite about it and say hello and thank you when appropriate.
I speak to my children with respect and expect them to do the same with me. I don’t smack; I don’t think it’s possible to teach a child that violence is never okay if you use violence on them yourself. Similarly, I’ll not accept smacking, biting or other violent behaviour from my kids.
I want my children to be confident. I want my children to be happy. And I want my children to be confident enough to know what will make them happy, and to strive for it, no matter how big or small it is.
Click here for Em’s top 3 recipes, cleaning tips, organising must-dos and more.
Visit Em on her blog or say hi on Facebook.
Shell Parsons says
I liked what you said Emily about being your child’s best friend isn’t your role. I am a writer, voracious reader and mother of two daughter’s, 19 & 15, and I have always said to them ‘I’m your mother, not your best friend. Your best friend tells you what you want to hear, your mother tells you what you need to know.’ Shell.x
Maxabella says
So true, Shell! Our kids will have many friends, but only one mum. x
Emily says
Thank you for having me! So happy to be here. I’m going to fall head over heels in love with this series, I can tell. x
Maxabella says
It’s my great pleasure, Em. I am LOVING this series. I want to interview myself!! x
Kit@lifethroughthehaze says
This is gorgeous! I love getting to know people more with your family beats stories.
Em completes me in the sense that she is a recovering chocoholic and I am a current chocoholic and she is forever sharing great chocolate bargains with me on Facebook. Well not just me but the Facebook world but I do like to think that Em goes in search of bargains just for me.
xoxo
Maxabella says
Of course she does, Kit! x
Jodi Gibson says
Em. One of my favourite bloggers. Loved learning even more about you and your family Em. And thanks Bron, crushing on this series. xx
Maxabella says
Me too, Jodi. Once you’re all settled, you know you have to email me! x
Renee Wilson says
Lovely to take a sneak peek into your life, Em. I love being a fly on the wall and seeing how other people do this whole motherhood/parenting thing. Your family warms my heart. So happy and darn cute all of the time!
Robyna | The Mummy & The Minx says
It’s so lovely getting to know a little more about the bloggers I adore reading (and enjoy style-stealing from ). Em, your family is gorgeous and your parenting philosophy even more so.