Reviews from

Shopping list

Em*s shopping list as a new and first time mum

8 total reviews 
Comment from Marilyn Hamilton
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A good entry for the Acrostic Poetry contest. The criteria is met with the words HELP ME I CAN'T COPE down the left side. I thought this was a clever way to do this poem. And it also goes to the point that new mothers have no extra time to work on whacked out Acrostic poems, thank you very much! LOL. It killed two birds with one stone. Poem for contest...check.
Grocery list....check. :-) Nicely done. Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 21-Mar-2024

Comment from s.m.kirby
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I think every first-time moms at some point can relate to this. I know I did. I remember telling my mom I couldn't cope with everything when I had my first- born son. I also just wanted my chocolate ice cream. The picture of the baby is priceless.

 Comment Written 19-Mar-2024

Comment from Michael Ludwinder
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I didn't see the acrostic until you pointed it out. Very creative. I thought this was funny and very creative. You somehow turned a shopping list into a poem. haha. Great job.

 Comment Written 19-Mar-2024

Comment from Jeano
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The photo you chose is alone worth 1000 words. It's the sweetest one I've seen in a while. As for the poem, not sure what to think. It does seem like a very logical shopping list for a new mother. I would change the order and put diapers and double chocolate ice cream at the top! LOL Just messing with you.

 Comment Written 08-Feb-2024


reply by the author on 10-Feb-2024
    Haha! Hi Joan, the perfect picture is meant to contradict the desperation in the poem. The acrostic reads "Help me I cant cope" The items on the list are a mix of things showing a fight between breast feeding, bottle feeding, the pain and difficulty of breast feeding (savoy cabbage, kamillosan) and a realisation as a new mother that maybe she cannot be the perfect mum she planned to be. And of course the chocolate ice cream for something to take the physical and mental pain away for Em. I?m really interested in peoples? reactions and how they interpret it as it is an unusual poem! It was shortlisted for a publishing prize some years ago and was a very controversial choice - meaningful to some and meaningless to others - but that is what I love about writing and it?s a core part of the way I write. Thanks for your review and your candid comments Joan. With my very best wishes Caroline
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
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Oh stupid me! I read it first from the start of the list and then queried my own definition of acrostic because I couldn't make sense of it. Maybe losing the 2 gaps and putting those lines in bolder font? But what a great idea for an acrostic and the thing is, even without your helpful notes, it oozes unspoken emotions of new birth anxiety, love and protectiveness. I'm not aware of the use for cabbage but lived on ice-cream before and after birth. Also a good idea to include the American word for dummy. Imaginative, modern and a pleasure to read. And the image is an absolute joy! So it ticks all the boxes for me. Good luck! Debbie

 Comment Written 30-Jan-2024


reply by the author on 30-Jan-2024
    Thank you Debbie - as are your reviews (a pleasure to read!)
    Yes I think perhaps I am making the reader work too hard with the acrostic - but maybe that?s the mischievous sprite in me! ;-)

    Thanks for sharing how you experienced the poem - that?s really helpful and insightful. And for the sake of clarity - You put savoy cabbage leaves in the fridge and they can be used after feeding to help soothe soreness with their cool concave clasp!
Comment from Wy Jung
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I like this as an acrostic poem. There are lines to read between (especially for those of us who have given birth) and this does a very good job of offering a glimpse into her new world of motherhood. Even the fact that she has someone (Hattie) who is shopping for her gives a few little clues that she is a supported new mother.
My friend has always collected rubbish shopping lists she sees about in parking lots or left in the carts, and shares them on her social media page. They've always fascinated me. Grocery lists are one of the last places we see handwriting these days. And the lists are never the same. Interesting share. Very different, yet also effective. I vote to keep it as a poem. ~Wy

 Comment Written 30-Jan-2024


reply by the author on 30-Jan-2024
    Yes absolutely that was what I wanted to share, and aren?t friends important in those sometimes challenging days!
    I love the shopping list collection - yes they are fascinating indeed, a glimpse into someone?s life.

    Thanks for the comment re a poem - I think I shall indeed!

    C :-)
Comment from Sally Law
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I can certainly relate to this one. My breasts hurt so bad at one point I filled the kitchen sink with ice water and lowered them in. Everything on your list worked too but sometimes I just had to have extra relief. Ya know?
Sending you all my very best.
Sal :))

 Comment Written 30-Jan-2024


reply by the author on 30-Jan-2024
    Ow ow ow! Heavens yes, I never did that - but if I had thought of it I expect I would have too!

    Interesting times balancing the pain and discomfort with the joy and wonder (and fear) of having a newborn!
Comment from jim vecchio
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When my daughter was born, my wife had qa difficult c-section and later developed a pretty bad infection. (As I would have, anyhow) I had to obtain whatever she needed, so I entirely sympathize with the wants and needs of the newborn's mother. I thought this was a clever poem.

 Comment Written 30-Jan-2024


reply by the author on 30-Jan-2024
    Thank you Jim, And I bet your wife really appreciated everything you did - you don?t quite prepare for things like infections when you are celebrating new birth do you!
reply by jim vecchio on 30-Jan-2024
    No. I had to be part surgeon and all husbnd. But the covid got her later, anyhow.
reply by the author on 31-Jan-2024
    I am so sorry to hear that Jim. That is the hardest of life?s blows. I send you my condolences and best wishes. Take care
    Caroline
reply by jim vecchio on 31-Jan-2024
    But she was worth every moment of it! I just wish I could have taken the suffering from her.