Why did she give up wine for Lent? Polly was more sensible. She had given up strawberry jam. Cecilia had never seen Polly show more than a passing interest in strawberry jam, although now, of course, she was always catching her standing at the open fridge, staring at it longingly. The power of denial.

Falling in love was easy.anyone could fall. It was holding on that was tricky

It was like she was thinking, How far can I go with this? How much more can I fit in my life without losing control?

The medication, the hormones and the relentless frustrations of our lives make us bitchy and you're not allowed to be bitchy in public or people won't like you.

I see lots of differences between Australians and Americans - but as mothers, I think were pretty much alike!

If parents had children who were good sleepers, they assumed this was due to their good parenting, not good luck.

So now I just assume that it won't work, and that if it does work, I'll lose it anyway. This is meant to protect me, although it doesn't, because somehow the hope sneakily finds its way in. I'm never aware of the hope until it's gone, whooshed away like a rug pulled from under my feet, each time I hear another "I'm sorry.