Part-Time Working Mummy

A Patchwork Life

By: Rachaele Hambleton

Narrated by: Rachaele Hambleton

Hundreds of thousands of fans flock to the Part-Time Working Mummy page for its heartfelt posts, honest accounts of complicated family life and its appeal to 'bring parents together to support each other through all the sh*t that life throws at us!'.

This book channels the amazing spirit of the page, with Rachaele sharing behind-the-scenes experiences that have shaped her own views on parenting and life; packed with personal stories and lessons learned, it's about the best, the worst and the ok times in a 'normal' family.

As well as tackling subjects like single parenthood, patchwork families, unexpected pregnancy, domestic violence and bullying, the book ultimately spreads a message of kindness amidst the chaos and inspires you to change the world for the better - and, of course, a good laugh to see you through the tough times!

Written and Read by Rachaele Hambleton

©2018 Rachaele Hambleton (P)2018 Orion Publishing Group

such a good listen

loved this! I related to so much from my teen years and early 20s. amazing.

What an absolute MESS of a life

I genuinely enjoyed reading this book, even though it was a heart breaking read at several points, and I became really engrossed in Rachaele’s story written in her own words. Her story feels so real and raw.

Rachaele’s frank depiction of her life from age 5 when her mother inexplicably left to the current day is nothing short of tragic. SO much pain!!

I felt so sad for her, and ALL the children in the story (herself, her siblings, and her children and step-children) who were victims of adults and their selfish and destructive behaviour.

I did try to remain uncritical, and to refrain from judging a woman who had clearly gone through the absolute ringer.

But I couldn’t help but think: what an absolute MESS of a life.

Couldn’t she maybe have taken more responsibility for her decisions and behaviours? It felt almost like wilful self-sabotage at times. Especially as she had innocent and vulnerable children to think of; not just herself.

It feels like we get quite a one-sided view of her situation. Does she just have really bad luck? Is she just a martyr to all life throws at her? She makes it sound like the whole town seemingly turned on her and her policeman boyfriend for no reason. Maybe they saw her as a troubled homewrecker, getting her claws into yet another man? She has four children to three different fathers, and a really unstable track record. I find it hard to believe that the family would just get attacked from all sides for no reason.

She kind of glosses over all the drama which happens around them, such as her partner (now husband) being ARRESTED BY HIS OWN COLLEAGUES - like its normal or something. And the incestuous bedswapping going on among partners and ex-partners sounds like something off a tv show.

She seems to be the common denominator among all this drama. She herself says it’s hard to explain how her life seems to go from one shit storm to another.

I just feel so sorry for her poor children growing up in this quagmire of all the fighting and screaming and instability and all the different partners moving in and out of their parents’ lives.

I do genuinely feel for this poor woman, and I’m glad she seems happy in her life now.

These are just my thoughts and impressions on the story.