I love my mother in law...honest I do

Well, what's there not to love? She's strong and knows how to stand her ground and speak her mind. Not to mention that she gave birth to the man I love. She's hardworking and strives to care for her family.


So why shouldn't I love her? I mean all the other stuff is minor and can be ignored. I mean stuff like her phoning her son every evening to make sure that he's eaten a healthy meal, that's just concern for her son and does not mean that she does not trust me. Which mother wouldn't do that. Of course the fact she disapproves of me having a full time job should not be taken in a negative light. She has made it clear that a woman's place is in the home and that's her belief, so even if she repeatedly brings it up, I must not be irritated, she's only looking out for my family.


Well when it comes to money matters, she's right on point! All the money in our home definitely belongs to my husband, and yes my shopping habbits do indicate that I married her son just for his money. And well, I did buy my mum an expensive outfit for christmas so mother in law dearest is right in suggesting that all her son's money is being spent on my family. Afterall the fact that I also work and bring in some income is trivial isn't it? So you tell me, why wouldn't I love my mum in law?

What's the baby's name

So who really has the authority to name a child. Is it the mum, dad or overbearing in laws from both sides. You see, I spent nine months researching baby names, i even bought a book for meanings of names, lest a nice sounding name turned out to mean something not so nice. That's how seriously I took the name calling business. So imagine my dismay when on the day I gave birth i got a million suggestions, gentle hints and not so gentle shoves of what I should call my son. I was even told that it was customary for a grandchild to be named by grandparents, which really did not hold any water because both Khulekani (hubby) and I were named by our parents and not our grandparents. I was tempted to ask why our grandparents had not named us then, and maybe and I would have gotten off with a name like Langa, which means the sun and is my childhood fantasy name.
Anyway, eventually the names that my husband and I had chosen prevailed. You see, i chose at that moment to be as strong headed as I could be, because a name is not something you change every year. This was a name that my son would stick with for the rest of his life, so I had to make sure that it had a good meaning and would never cause him embarrassment. Maybe the only embarrassment would be that we gave him 3 names! I just couldn't resist it and so I convinced hubby that 3 was not so bad ( of course it is bad)
The whole name saga therefore got me thinking, what right does anyone have in naming a child?I would insist that only the parents have the right, and out of the goodness of their heart they might allow someone else to do the honours.
Whatever the case, I am just glad that my son is called by the name or names that I chose!

Of man and flu!

First things first - guys, flu is just flu. It is not a death sentence, it is just flu! No need for you to wrap yourself in 2 electric blankets and write a will. What, you may ask, has made me put pen to paper(or finger to keyboard) about this issue? It's because I have a father, a husband, a son and many male friends, and every time any one of them has the flu I start wondering if maybe I should call the undertakers! Take my husband for example, every time he gets sick I have to almost literally feed him because he seems incapable of anything other than holding the remote in his hand. I mean the guy will die with a remote in his hand but that's another subject altogether.The man becomes a baby, he even demands certain types of food! I remember once when he had the flu,I had to rush and buy bacon, and another time I don't know how many times my hand had to feel his temperature on his forehead. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if men were to give birth, then I marvel at the wisdom of God for leaving that task with women. I cannot even begin to imagine what someone who cannot handle a common cold would do with labour, they would just die.
Sad thing is, my son is not any different. I have to kiss every scratch, big or small, or else the screaming will not stop. Right now he has got a scar from a mosquito bite which has fully healed, but he wakes me up in the middle of the night to scratch it or else sleep will not be had. He repeatedly says "ouch" until I apply vaseline to it and kiss it. What can I say, the apple did not fall far from the tree....

Thabo Jayden Rapelang

I've been a mum for just over two years now and wish I had started this blog sooner. Well, I don't know what I'll blog about but what I do know is my son will always provide me with the inspiration and material to write!

That's us on the picture, more than a year ago before he even turned one! He had just woken up and was confused by all the people in the yard - it was my sister's 21st birthday party!